Why It’s So Hard for Experienced Printers to Embrace Change (and Why You Should Anyway)
If you’ve been printing for years, you’ve seen trends, fads, and “game-changing” products come and go. You’ve survived the early days of plastisol that felt like tar, the first “miracle” white inks, and the hype of every new mesh type that promised perfect prints. You know your craft—and you take pride in it.
But here’s the truth that’s tough for even the most seasoned printers to swallow: sometimes our biggest obstacle to improvement is ourselves.
The Psychology Behind Resistance
When you’ve built a business on processes that work, changing them feels risky. Questions creep in:
- What if the new way doesn’t work as well?
- What if I waste time and money?
- What if I admit I don’t know everything?
This is human nature. Our brains are wired to avoid uncertainty and stick with what’s familiar, especially when that familiarity has paid the bills for years. But in printing, just like in life, the industry doesn’t stand still. New inks, equipment, and processes emerge for a reason.
Why Asking for Help Isn’t a Weakness
For many experienced printers, asking for help feels like admitting defeat. But in reality, it’s the opposite, it’s a sign you’re serious about growth.
- Fresh eyes can see inefficiencies you’ve gotten used to.
- Outside input can help solve problems faster than trial and error.
- Shared knowledge keeps your shop competitive and your prints sharp.
The best athletes in the world have coaches. Even the best printers can benefit from a mentor or consultant.
How New Techniques, Equipment, and Products Can Transform Your Shop
- Efficiency Gains – New presses, exposure units, and dryers often pay for themselves in speed and reduced waste.
- Better Print Quality – Modern mesh, low-cure inks, and advanced coatings deliver cleaner edges, brighter whites, and softer prints.
- Reduced Stress – Faster setups, easier registrations, and consistent results mean fewer late nights fixing mistakes.
Sometimes the smallest tweaks, like changing a squeegee durometer or trying a different mesh, can make a massive difference in workflow and profitability.
The Bottom Line
Change isn’t about fixing something that’s “broken”, it’s about staying ahead. In screen printing, standing still is falling behind.
Special Offer – Let’s Level Up Your Shop
I’m offering a full day in your shop or a one-on-one video consult to help evaluate your processes, suggest improvements, and introduce new tools and techniques that could save you time, money, and headaches.
Let’s take your years of skill and combine them with the latest technology to make your shop run smoother than ever.
Reply to this email to book your in-shop visit or video consultation.
