We recently connected with Nicholas Fiorucci and have shared our conversation below.

Nicholas, appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest parts of scaling a business is maintaining quality as you grow. How have you managed to maintain quality? Any stories or advice?

Starting out was simple. There were only myself and business partner handling every aspect of the company. The controls were 100% in our hands. As the company grew we had to hand off some responsibilities to employees. Every position in the business is equally important, from the bottom to the top. Hiring employees that have the same passion as we do for the business is easier said than done. We are now 14 years in and currently have the best crew I’ve ever worked with. It was a long road getting here, but when we found someone that shared the same excitement for the business that we have, we take care of them! This is the best form of quality control. Finding employees that enjoy what they do.

Having the right people is only half the equation. The other half are the tools you provide them to accomplish their job. We are tirelessly searching for the best way to produce our t-shirts. We’ve gone over every aspect, no matter how trivial, to make sure that what we are doing provides the best possible outcome. I have deliberated over screens, mesh, humidity, inks, exposures, fabrics, dot size, light sources, heat, angle, pressure, water, etc. The list can go on and on, but most importantly all of this has setup our staff to be successful. We make sure the equipment provided to our employees produces the best t-shirts.

Nicholas, 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 started in this industry 25 years ago working for my brother. I was with him on and off for about six years. As our paths began to diverge I decided to go out on my own in 2008. I really enjoyed the business as it encompasses technology, artwork, and producing products that customers are excited to receive.

Starting a business in 2008 during the housing crash was obviously not an ideal time. I didn’t have much money saved and banks weren’t lending. Fortunately my business partner and I found a leasing company that was willing to give us equipment with a high rate. We got our first press and built up from there.

The problem with screen printing is it’s easy to get into. There are a zillion shops to choose from and most won’t be here in the next five years. What sets us apart is our commitment to quality and meeting deadlines. Due to this, word of mouth has been one of our greatest assets. Locally, people know they can rely on us and that has paid off immensely. On top of this I’m confident in our product. I routinely direct people to our Instagram page and ask them to compare us with other businesses they are considering working with.

Through the years we’ve expanded and are no longer just a local company. We’ve grown into a business that caters to National Companies and International entertainers. The orders become larger but our unwavering commitment to quality and deadlines persist.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing moral, an art that I didn’t expect to learn when starting a business. This didn’t cross my mind at all, nope, not once. Now as I sit here 14 years later I can tell you that it’s at the top of my daily concerns. There are many tactics to managing it. The best one is to try to find employees that mesh well together. During the interview process I’m always considering whether or not the candidate will fit in. We have a great crew and for the most part moral is high. Throwing a new person into the mix that brings the energy down on a daily basis can be catastrophic.

Another way to manage moral is to just be good to your employees. Let them know when they do a good job. Ask them how they’re doing at work. Is there anything we can do to make life better? What are you struggling with? Ask them the obvious questions, but don’t put it off, make sure it’s being done. Hammer out any issues they have as soon as possible. Don’t let them dwell on problems or mistakes. They appreciate it and morale doesn’t suffer.

Also make sure the work environment is as enjoyable as possible. In our industry, screen printing shops are notoriously hot. Not just regular hot, but oh my god hot! It’s hard to make that comfortable. We’ve tried everything, fans everywhere, cooling wrags, wearable fans, gigantic swamp fans, etc. Our latest effort was to install AC in the shop, which is ludicrous for a screen print shop that needs to operate with the doors open. However, it helps make life more palatable for our employees, so it’s worth it. Having a nice work environment definitely improves morale.

When operating a small business it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day and put morale on the backburner. If you can stay on top and manage moral you’ll have a happier more productive workplace.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We do everything in our power to make our customers happy. We’ve spent 14 years perfecting our craft. re-investing into the company, creating the best product we can, all for our customers. We’ve taken the same approach on the frontend as well. My partner and I still handle 100% of the customer service to this day. When you call our business you deal directly with one of the owners. People appreciate the level of care we offer to each order and come back for the same great service. Through the years we’ve developed a solid reputation for quality and customer service.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.charmcityscreenprint.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charmcitysp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charmcityscreenprint/

Image Credits
All images were taken by myself. No credits necessary