Providing full service and custom designs
By Jennifer Minyard, The Bolivar Bullet
Candy Davis knew absolutely nothing about the screen-printing business when she purchased Flatlanders Printing Co. with her children three years ago.
“I bought the business from Eddie Gong who, ironically enough, just passed away last week. He had been running the business in Cleveland for a very long time but he had let it slow down some. I purchased it with my daughter and son-in-law, Aaron and Kathie Foster, and my son and daughter-in-law, Austin and Meredith Davis,” she said. “We knew absolutely nothing about the business, but we have had a YouTube education, and I have learned a lot and we are staying very busy. We have bought some new equipment and are adding new things to our capabilities all the time.”
Davis and her family have a farming background, and she is active in volunteer work.
“My husband and I farm, and I am very involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, so mostly I was just a community volunteer,” she said. “I’m very active in our farming process. Both of my sons farm, but this is really the first time I’ve had a regular Monday through Friday job.”
The idea to purchase the business came after an experience as a customer there.
“Actually, Mr. Gong had printed some shirts for a Cub Scout activity, and when I was picking them up, he was telling me about trying to sell the business, and I’m always up for a challenge so I thought it would be a good, big, fun challenge,” said Davis. “And I have a very good friend, Lyn Green, that I talked to who is very creative, and I asked if she would be interested in working for me, even on a part time basis. And she said yes. So she came, and we started and, of course, she has been full-time since day one. She pretty much leads the show as far as when it comes to new ideas.”
Despite Davis’ lack of knowledge, the business has remained busy.
“We do screen-printing, embroidery, vinyl, sublimation, direct to garment and direct to film services,” said Davis. “This time of year is very busy. It’s back-to-school, and we’re already talking about homecomings and class reunions and stuff. So yes, we do stay very busy.”
Davis has enjoyed the challenge of taking on the new enterprise.
“I love learning new things, and how you can take an idea and be very creative with it and then make it so you can see it around town, and people are wearing it and you say, ‘Hey, we printed that,’” she said. “I like to give credit to the people who are actually doing it, though. We have a graphic designer named Cameron Griffin, and we have the ladies who print, Courtney and Nikki, and they actually are the ones to get the product out. I’m very proud of our employees.”