Promo and Print Co elevate their DTF production with the Coltex D604+

Promo & Print Co was founded in 2011 by Jamie Williams, who leveraged his decade of corporate sales experience and insights from Australia's mining boom; the company identified a growing opportunity in the uniform market as high-visibility workwear became increasingly prevalent in corporate environments.

"I remember being in the Qantas Club and noticing how the clientele had changed," Jamie recalls. "Five to seven years prior, everyone wore suits. However, as FIFO (fly-in-fly-out) work took off, about 50% of people wore high-vis workwear. I realised someone must be doing well in this space, considering uniforms don't last forever."

This observation led to the establishment of what would become one of Brisbane's most versatile branding solutions providers.

"When we first started, customers would come to us for uniforms, then ask if we could help with promotional items," Jamie explains. "Then they needed signage, then digital printing. Each expansion of our services came directly from listening to what our customers wanted."

This organic growth led to the development of four distinct but complementary pillars: promotional products, print, signage, and apparel. However, Jamie emphasises that their success comes not just from offering multiple services but from understanding the deeper needs of their clients.

"We found that businesses want fewer suppliers and prefer to spend more with those they trust. They're looking for better relationships and better outcomes," he notes. "Our role is to make their lives easier."

Growth through investment in ordering technology

With that philosophy in mind, Promo & Print Co took a significant step by developing its own ordering technology more than eight years ago. "We created bespoke ordering portals that look and feel like our customers' own platforms," Jamie explains. "Some customers have one product, others have hundreds, but the system ensures brand compliance and creates efficiencies for everyone." This technology serves multiple purposes:

• Brand Compliance: Each portal is customised to the client's branding, ensuring all ordered items meet brand guidelines
• Operational Efficiency: Customers can order 24/7 without direct interaction
• Risk Management: For many clients, particularly in the OHS space, the portal helps ensure compliance with safety regulations
• Cost Reduction: Automated ordering reduces human error and processing time

The DTF Evolution

"The emergence of DTF technology has really enabled us to win new clients and generate new revenue streams," says Jamie. "We started our DTF journey with two Epson F2160 single sheet printers, which are robust machines that really opened up our business,especially for urgent jobs and detailed work around gradient and colour vibrancy. But as demand grew, we needed more capacity."

"We recently invested in a Coltex roll-to roll DTF printer from GJS to compliment the two Epson F2160 single-sheet DTF printers, explains Jamie. "The Coltex has revolutionised our workflow; we can print 100 meters daily, which could mean 1,000 to 2,000 logos, depending on size. Instead of having staff monitoring printers constantly, they can focus on heat pressing and other value adding tasks. It's given us about a 20% increase in capacity."

Jamie says, "The decision to invest in the Coltex roll-to-roll system came after careful consideration. We've had a longstanding relationship with GJS; they're more than just a supplier - they're a trusted partner. When you're running production equipment, it's not just about the machine but the support behind it. GJS has technicians on the ground and a great service and support team. If we ever have an issue, which is rare, they're there to support us."

Managing Growth and Resources

Promo & Print Co maintains a lean but highly efficient operation with seven full-time staff, including two in-house graphic designers. When needed, the team expands to fifteen people during peak periods, providing the flexibility necessary to handle everything from single-item orders to major distribution projects and event activations.

"When it comes to stock, we operate on just-in-time principles and maintain strategic stock levels of key items. With 66,000 possible uniform combinations, it's impossible to stock everything, so we focus on keeping essential items in black, white and high-vis that can help customers with urgent needs."

Future Focused

As we move into 2025, Promo & Print Co plans to focus on optimising their current capabilities rather than expanding services. "We're not looking at moving outside of our wheelhouse," Jamie states. "We want to stick to what we do really well and do more of that." Jamie's most important piece of advice for businesses considering similar growth strategies is to be customer focussed - "We're customer-centric and put them at the front of every decision we make. They don't want to hear what we can't do - they just want to hear what we can do and when we can do it," concludes Jamie.