The Beginning
Welcome to M72 Print, I thought I'd share the story of how this all started.
Back in December 2018 my then employer of 14 years decided to make me redundant just 3 weeks before christmas - i know booo hiss nasty employer.
I spent the first half of 2019 enjoying my new found freedom and have a little bit of money to be able to not worry for a short while, I followed my home town football team to a few places around the country on away days with some fellow fans and generally had fun (even visiting Wembley to watch my team for the first time ever with my partner and daughter).
Then in June made the decision to become a responsible member of society again and start to look for employment but also got the idea in my head to start my own little business up. I'd been watching videos on YouTube and stumbled across some showing how to do screen printing. "Ping" idea pops in my head that looks like it could be a) something that i could develop into a business and b) actually something fun to do as a career. I watched more and more learning as much as i could and thus M72 Print was born.
Why M72 Print i hear you ask, well the print part is obvious from the paragraph above but the M72 usually gets a few questions... well th M is for "Mackem" - I was born and bred in Sunderland and we are called Mackems (and NOT geordies as some like to say) and the 72 well thats the year i was born, quite dull when its explained isnt it ? :)
Since those initial weeks/months the ideas of what i wanted to do have pivoted and twisted and the whole screen printing idea that started this off didnt actually come to fruition, I instead pivoted the plan into creating printed products using the "Sublimation" method, Mugs, coasters, keyrings, mouse mats etc etc. Even doing a side branch of making my own Wax Melts and selling those along with the warmers they are used in.
The sublimation printed products are created using designs I've bought (the majority of which are from a great designer who only sells work that is exclusive to her and limits selling it to between 20 and 25 customers giving us the distinct advantage that there will only ever be myself and up to 24 other people selling that design anywhere in the world). When printed they can be put on the majority of the items mentioned above and can be left just as they are or customised with a name of the customers choosing. I can also create the products using photographs the customer has provided giving them a truely unique gift for someone.
There is many stores out there that will supply the products with copyrighted images on them, football teams crests, films etc etc but that is one thing I pride myself in staying away from.
So what has happened since June 2019 ?
- Well I've purchased the sublimation printer, mug press, heat press and more blank products than i have space to store :).
- Towards the tail end of the year I started having stalls at a monthly local craft fair and rented a market stall in Leeds Kirkgate market once a week (only once a week because at this point I had started working a full time job and did the market on my days off.)
- Then this year (2020) well we all know what a wash out this year has been, the first parts of the lockdown i neglected the business with all the uncertainty but now I'm back and with more drive then ever before.
Well i think i have probably bored you enough for now so i will leave you in peace, if you got this far thank you for reading it and i hope you enjoy the products i offer.
If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mark