We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katheen Prosdocimo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Katheen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

What is trending at Print Charleston is expansion, that means more for our customers in one location. We are now offering to our customers paper goods such as business cards, stationary, menus and so much more. This is in addition to fleet graphics, vehicle wraps, signs, screen printed apparel and embroidery. This year let our team be your one stop shop for all of your graphic needs conveniently located in one place. Simple is back in style. The screen printing market has everything from one color prints to full color cmyk printing. But simple is coming back. With the cost of goods going up customers are getting back to the basics and it looks good! This year we are seeing that less is more. Embroidery is on the rise for that high end look everyone loves.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Print Charleston started in 1960 under the name of Bryant Signs, Inc. Its humble beginnings are the result of the vision and dream of its late founder Ted Bryant. Mr. Bryant was a passionate entrepreneur who grew the company specializing in signs and decal printing. In 1995 Mr. Bryant hired Kathleen Prosdocimo as a receptionist and his passion for the sign business was contagious. After working for Mr. Bryant for ten years and developing a unique father daughter relationship the company changed hands and Kathleen began to carry on the dream and vision in 2005.

With great financial risk, Mike Prosdocimo, Kathleen’s husband, joined the company in 2006 as production manager, trusting that God would provide. Kathleen began to expand the company into screen printed apparel and embroidery to allow customers to have the one stop shop they were looking for. God’s provision would prove to be strong and in 2022 the company would physically move from North Charleston South Carolina to Moncks Corner South Carolina just outside of Goose Creek. The new location was a leap of faith as many things had to happen in order to sell one property and build from the ground up a new one. It was nothing short of a miracle. 2023 will again bring new expansion to the company in the form of paper printing.

Not only has Kathleen been blessed with Mr. Bryant as a father figure, a company of her own, but also the opportunity to work with her husband as they together continue the dream and vision Mr. Bryant began in 1960. Throughout the years, God’s provision has been evident in Kathleen’s personal life and the life of Print Charleston. She is forever grateful to Ted Bryant and Mike Prosdocimo, but first and foremost to Jesus Christ, who makes all things possible.

How’d you meet your business partner?

In 1995 Kathleen was fresh out of high school where she had been in a very serious car accident her junior year leaving her with facial scars. She began college and the hunt for a job out of the public eye. A friend suggested she interview for a receptionist job at Bryant Signs, Inc. That ended up being a gift from God. Mr. Bryant the owner, in his sixties at the time, was very candid. I explained to him that I had no experience as a receptionist but had worked at Wal-Mart and was a quick learner just needing to get out of the public eye as people could be cruel. He had pity on me and said “I’ll hire you and if in a month you don’t like me or if I don’t like you we will part ways peacefully”. We shook hands and began work immediately. Kathleen began organizing and updating his processes and eventually moved to the production floor. The sign equipment that the company utilized did not have a screen it was a Gerber 4B and used x y moves to set type. Having the desire to learn the business Kathleen invested into the company purchasing newer equipment and a partnership in the business.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

There were very tough times in the life of the company as most companies experience. Specifically one Friday in July. Payroll was written and there was only about $30.00 left in the account. One can not help but be frantic as you know that payroll is weekly and there are bills continually. The saying “Cash flow is King” rings in your ears so loud and you almost buckle under the pressure. While locking up the shop I remembered where my help comes from and as I began to pray to God a peace came over me as I reflected that I made payroll and still had a little bit left. That Monday as I pushed the door open and picked up the mail that had been placed through the mail slot over the weekend to my relief several checks had come in that would get us more than caught up. This happened more often than I’d like to have experienced but it is not a unique story.

Contact Info:

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