Today we’d like to introduce you to Shonda Norman.
Hi Shonda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Many people that don’t know me, do not know that I started my printing business in my kitchen in 2015. All self-taught, it wasn’t until 2020 during the height of COVID-19, that with the help of my husband, I decided to take a leap of faith, branching out to rent, not one but two suits as my business began to grow.
The number one reason for starting my printing business, I wanted to offer a fast and convenient service to customers who didn’t necessarily need a large number of garments printed. The printing industry makes the bulk of its money by requiring minimum orders. I don’t require a minimum. When I discovered that I was able to offer a print-on-demand same-day service, I knew I had a leg up on most larger printing companies within my city.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I will say this, my journey hasn’t been an easy one by all means. Someone asked me, “Who taught you the printing and embroidery business?” My answer. No one! I taught myself, countless hours of research, Lots of money spent messing up before getting it right.
I’ve also been asked, “How long have you been doing it?” Six years printing, two years embroidering. What I do is not a fly-by-night business, skill, or talent. It took hard work, dedication, disappointments, tears, and sacrifices.
Every day I give God the Glory for every customer, contractor, and prayer warrior that plays or has played a key part in my success, but most importantly I thank my husband, because Lord knows he held it down for me, and without God and my husband support and sacrifices to help me to fulfill my dreams none of this would be necessary.
If I don’t know anything else, I do know that obedience, sacrifice, and consistency is the key to success. Owning a business isn’t easy, no one talks about the lonely days and nights, the late-night hours working once you leave your place of business, the self-funding from your own pockets to try to keep things going, and praying that a customer will walk through those doors each and every day, to keep you and your business afloat. Those are the times when you really have to speak words of affirmation and continue to see your way through it, even when I can’t see it happening in the natural form at that moment, I have to know that God is still in the blessing business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Same Day Printing and Embroidery, LLC?
I believe what sets me apart from others in this industry, is my character, my integrity, my heart, and my ability to build personal relationships with my customers. When my customers come into my shop, they get the feeling as if they have known me for years. They feel so comfortable around me, that they tend to sometimes express what they are going through or have been going through at that particular time. What is sometimes supposed to be just a garment drop-off ends up turning into a healing and release session?
Many don’t know this, but I’m the only black female-owned, print shop in Greenville, SC, and I actually have a meditation and healing room located in the back area, where I go for guidance and peace. I call it my secret place. That room was the foundation of what has now been birthed as Same Day Printing & Embroidery. “He that dwelth in the secret place of the highest shall abide under the shadows of the almighty” Psalms 91. My favorite scripture. My print shop is no ordinary print shop…. lol.
What I would like the world to know about me and my brand, is that I love to give back to the community. And by doing this, I open up my doors to many young designers who are entrepreneurs, allowing them the opportunity to come in and print and press their garments, while teaching them the process of owning and running a business the right way. I also have varies classes setup, from printing, crafting, and embroidery that are offered to those who are looking to get into this type of business.
My heart is big and I love helping others. My saying is “There’s enough to go around for all of us to eat”.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve taken many risks all by faith…. lol. I will say this, for those who desired to own their own business, research risk involved. Like I stated before, lots of money is spent, very long hours, people not believing in you or your dreams, sacrificing time with friends and family, just to see if you could bring that idea to life. Humiliation and negative words are being spoken to you and over your life from non-dreams/believers. It really wears on you, to the point that you feel like throwing in the towel plenty of times. But there will always be that voice within you telling you that you could do it, so you keep pushing. I told myself that I was going to push to see my dreams happen, even if I wasn’t able to see it in this lifetime, I would continue to push and be content even if my kids have to carry it out. That would mean God still kept His promise to me.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@samedayprintingembroidery.com
- Website: www.samedayprintingembroidery.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/same.day.printing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SameDayPrintingService
- Twitter: @SDPrintingEMBR
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1_qypH0Va9ZNIUmCJ6-Qg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/same-day-printing-and-embroidery-no-title
Image Credits
DelShaun Brooks
