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What we do |
| At T-shirts etc...
we pride ourselves in being able to handle all your customized needs.
Whether you need 200 screenprinted tees or just one photo tie, we can handle
the job. We carry a variety of gift items that can be imprinted with
photos, drawings, company logos, or anything else your heart desires (as
long as it's not copyrighted). We can do numbering for teams or
specially cut lettering for that gag shirt. We are also a distributor
for hundreds of promotional products. Just ask. We probably can
do it. |
|
Who we are |
| If you came in to
the retail store or called since 1996, you have probably spoken with either Barbara
or Lisa. Barbara started the business in 1989 and has been the heart
and soul ever since. She knows the ins and outs of every facet of
printing, constantly searching out ways to improve the technique. A
true people person, Barbara loves to get to know her customers. (If
Lisa had a dollar for every fellow Boston transplant Barbara has uncovered,
she wouldn't need to work!) Lisa started working for Barbara when
the retail division T-shirts etc... opened in 1996. It was supposed to be temporary, but
she soon became part of the family and never left. Even her kids have "worked" at the store. And
let's not forget the dogs. Barbara's dogs have always been the
unofficial mascots (and doorbell) of the store. Ben is the reigning
top dog, with help from his young assistant, Cooper. New trainee, Coco
has taken over as official greeter as he's more a lover, than a
fighter. |
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Ben & Cooper |
Coco |
|
How it all started |
| It all began in 1989 in a
basement in Olney, MD, just a short drive north of Washington, DC.
Barbara combined her
knowledge of clothing and art and her business savvy to start Silkscreening
Unlimited, Inc. Initially, her primary business was screenprinting,
for which she did the ordering, the artwork and the printing. Often,
it was a true family business, with her husband and children pitching in
during the busy seasons. |
|
10 Years, 4 Stores, 3 Dogs, 4 Grandkids: Our Retail Journey |
 |
| After her kids
left for college, Barbara decided to make the leap to retail. She had
found there was a need for a business that could handle the "onesie twosie"
as well as the bulk orders in a reasonable turnaround. In 1996,
T-shirts etc..., a retail division of Silkscreening Unlimited, Inc. was born
in a strip mall in Fairfax, VA. The business expanded to
include stock transfers, heat press lettering, photo transfers and
embroidery. With all these added products
and long strip mall hours, it was time to bring in outside
employees. Lisa
was among the first employees hired for the new store. She headed up the
new embroidery department, complete with a brand spanking new embroidery
machine, and managed the retail front. Over the
years, the product line continued to expand, including promotional items for
her business clients and gift items for the busy holiday seasons. With
new equipment and technology, our in-house capabilities expanded as well.
Over the next ten years, the store moved 3 times, but our loyal customers followed
us on a tour of Fairfax City. |
| Full
Circle |
| In May of 2005, less than a
year after moving into their 4th (and hopefully last) location, Barbara was
diagnosed with Cancer. When she went into remission and
recovered her strength, it was time to make a decision about the fate of the
store. In April of 2006, the
retail location of T-shirts etc... shut down and the business moved into a
building behind Barbara's house. Going back to home based and
expanding the website was the best way to keep T-shirts etc... alive.
And while the face to face interaction is not there, T-shirts etc... is still able to provide customers with the same quality
products and service. T-shirts etc... has been proud to preserve so
many special moments over the years and hopes to continue to do so for years to come. |
