Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeff Marion. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jeff, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’ve been avid skateboarder since 1989 and in the summer of 1993 I decided I wanted to start my own company. When my family moved in the summer of 1994, I was fortunate enough to meet a fellow skateboarder, who happened to manufacture skateboard decks in his backyard. How awesome is this, right! Now I have access to blank decks, but needed a way to put my brand on them. Here comes my introduction to screen printing. I ended up at a local screen printer having my image burned onto a screen. Now I was able to print my first batch of skateboards in my parents garage, using a screen mounted to a clothing dresser! In 1995 I was working for a local screen printer, where I went from killing screens, printing shirts manually, running an automatic press to doing graphics in the art department.
Jeff, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been screen printing for a little over 27 years now and its been one hell of a trip. I love everything about it, including reclaiming screens. To this day i’m still fascinated with the whole process from design to finished product. I learned early on that quality matters, its what sets you apart from your competitors.
Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?
I also run a skateboard shop out of my screen printing business. They’re both my passion! I don’t skate like I used to, but just being around it is enough.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Quit fronting customers orders! You would be amazed how some customers are down to give you the shaft. I always try to see the best in everyone, but I should’ve known better. A local skateboarder here was stabbed to death and I did the memorial shirts for one side of the family. I fronted the order to them and asked them cover the cost once they were all sold. They said no problem, but instead of paying me, they had a party with the funds instead. Not once ever thanking me for my good will.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.devinaceskatesupply.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/deviancskatesupply
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/devianceskatesupply
- Other: www.digital-deviance.net
Image Credits
Brittany Mann (portrait)