Back in 2017, Okie Print Barn's journey into screen printing began in a humble garage, with Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) as the initial method for creating custom shirts. The team quickly realized that as orders grew, a more efficient and faster method was necessary to keep up without sacrificing quality. That's when screen printing came into the picture, first using a Riley Hopkins 4x1 manual press ideal for small orders.
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SCALING UP 
Driven by growing demand, the operation soon outgrew the garage, moving into a shop that housed three large manual screen printing presses by 2021. Today, the shop boasts a state-of-the-art ROQ auto press, efficiently churning out large orders for schools, businesses, and churches. As they look forward to an upcoming move to a larger production facility, plans are already underway to expand capabilities further, including adding another auto press.
Q&A WITH OKIE PRINT BAR
What drove you to start screen printing?
"We began in our garage, experimenting with various decoration methods. As larger orders came in, it became clear that other methods like vinyl were too inefficient for our scale. That pushed us towards screen printing."
If you had to start over, what would you change?
"If we were to do it all over again, we'd enforce a stricter pricing structure and set firm minimums from the start to streamline our operations and profitability."
Can you share a couple of memorable print jobs?
"One exciting project was printing shirts for Sylvester Stallone's stunt double and the crew during the local filming of 'Tulsa King.' We've also created several specialty ink prints, including glow-in-the-dark designs, which always turn out to be showstoppers."
What advice would you give to other printers just starting out? "Focus on honing your process and fully understanding your costs. This knowledge is crucial for setting correct pricing and achieving success. Always be open to learning—watch videos and learn from others in the industry."
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LOOKING AHEAD
As Okie Print Barn continues to expand and take on new challenges, their story serves as an inspiring example for aspiring screen printers everywhere. The road from a small garage using vinyl transfers to a commercial space equipped with high-volume screen printing equipment shows what’s possible with passion, knowledge, and a commitment to quality.
