Ross Screenprint

'Dependability and innovation imprinted at Antigonish company'

Customers count on Daniel Ross and his staff at Ross Screenprint to deliver quality products with a creative touch and a warm smile. Many of those customers have been counting on the Antigonish native since he started his business as a 16-year-old high school student.
 
“I’ve been in business over half my life,” says Ross. “I didn’t even realize I was a businessperson until after I was one.”
 
That realization first started to dawn on Ross when as a Grade 10 student he purchased his first screen-printing equipment and began to produce customized t-shirts out of his bedroom. From there, he convinced his parents to let him build a 10’ x 12’ shop in the backyard. Next came a 16’ x 20’ building on his parents’ land. Finally, at the ripe old age of 18, Ross moved into commercial space in downtown Antigonish.
 
Today, his company has eight full-time employees, who are joined by part-time workers during peak periods. In August, for example, the business runs 24 hours a day.
 
What customers have consistently come to expect from Ross Screenprint are t-shirts with flare. “We’re very creative here,” says Ross. “I like to draw. I like to put things together. We work to make sure our shirt designs are over the top.”
 
That same commitment to excellence is evident in the two other areas of Ross’s business: embroidery and promotional products. The former includes customized logos, designs, and images for everything from ball caps to golf shirts to hockey jerseys. Ross recently purchased new equipment to replace four older embroidery machines. “We are totally, 100 per cent up to date,” he says.
 
The promotional component of the company, a big part of the firm’s growing business, includes school bags, totes, aprons, mouse pads, towels, bandannas, napkins, heat transfers, hockey crests, badges, magnets, cup holders, tournament banners, seat covers, and business cards – to name but a few items. “Whatever a customer needs, we can do it,” says Ross.
 
That’s one reason why customers keep coming back and why more customers keep calling. It’s a philosophy of service around which Ross has built his business. “If you keep your own customers happy, then you’ll attract other customers,” he notes.
 
That certainly has been true for Ross Screenprint. The business started out serving a local clientele and today has customers across the country. In particular, there is a growing customer base out west, especially in northern Alberta and British Columbia. And the company’s single largest client is based in Bermuda.
 
There is no trade secret to this growth, says Ross. “You provide products to people at a fair price – and build an enjoyable relationship. We treat people well.”
 
That genuine service ethic is complemented by the reputation Nova Scotia has as a warm, friendly place to live and work. “Customers want their job done by someone they can trust,” says Ross. “Nova Scotians are genuine and easily trusted. People have respect for us. They speak highly of us and this province wherever I go.”
 
Ross Screenprint believes in returning that trust through a commitment to people, starting with the people who work for the company. “I pay my staff well,” says Ross. “But it’s not about chasing money. They’re family – and they’re committed to the business.”
 
It’s a business that supports their lifestyle. Employees, for instance, are often given the option to work flexible hours, which is helpful for parents and students. Educational initiatives are supported, and training, such as safety courses, is always provided.
 
Ross also recognizes the importance of work/life balance. The shop shuts down over the holidays, providing a paid break for employees. “We also don’t keep track of sick days,” says the 33-year-old owner. “When you have a great staff, this type of policy is not abused.”
 
Indeed, that’s apparent in the staff that Daniel Ross does not have: sales people. The dependability and creativity of the business literally speaks for itself. Most work is conducted, at least initially, over the phone so staff can get a clear picture of what a customer wants and help ensure that the design, material, price, and production time are all more than satisfactory.
 
After that initial contact – and easy accessibility to the company’s staff – technology steps in. “E-mail and the web have been revolutionary for my business,” says Ross. “If a customer wants to know what something looks like, they can go to the website, and we can E-mail proofs.”
 
Indeed, it was technology that helped ensured seamless ordering, approving and delivery of a full range of products for the most recent Arctic Winter Games.
 
Technology has also infused screen-printing itself, the oldest form of reproductive art in the world, as well as the other elements of Ross’s business. “Advanced equipment lets us do things faster and more efficiently. It also lets us do things we otherwise couldn’t do,” says Ross.
 
“If someone says, ‘Can you do this?’ and you can, it’s a big plus,” he adds. “Innovation is the way that your business can reward the customer.”
 
Last year Ross undertook a review of processes to make certain they were as efficient and comprehensive as possible. Next up: an expansion of the business.
 
It’s a step that has taken its time in coming. “I have not wanted to get bigger until recently,” says Ross. “I don’t want to work for the end; I want to enjoy what I do. But I’ve learned that I need to grow to meet capacity. We never say no.”
 
It’s too early to say how or when that growth will occur. It’s not too early to say where headquarters will be, however. “This business is in Nova Scotia,” says Ross, “because I love Nova Scotia.”