Hi, my name is Zach Dewhurst and I am the founder and owner of Print Fundraising. As a former DECA member, I understand what makes DECA great and how DECA can continue to improve. In 2008, I became my chapter’s first member to compete at the ICDC. I was also in charge of managing our school store, where we primarily sold apparel and candy. While studying marketing at the Ohio State University, I started a t-shirt printing business. The business primarily worked with local restaurants around Columbus, helping them to brand themselves through custom-printed apparel and other promotional products. Our business model has evolved over the years, and in 2015 we launched Print Fundraising. Printing Fundraising is an educational program and fundraising opportunity specifically created for DECA chapters and members interested in competing in DECA’s Learn and Earn Project, School-Based Enterprise, and Entrepreneurship events.
Last year, Print Fundraising began working with my alma mater, Licking Heights High School, to test market our student based enterprise (SBE) decoration business opportunity. The program was a big hit for the school and the students. In just one order of transfers, the school generated over $6,000 in profit, and the students enjoyed the experience of printing the shirts themselves. The program proved to be a great motivator for the students, and we even had one student establish his own decoration business after graduating as a direct result of his involvement with Print Fundraising.
This success was largely possible because I have had experience with DECA at every level of the organization. I am a member of the DECA National Advisory Board, operated the Ohio DECA website for two years, have judged at local and state DECA competitions, and have worked closely with my former DECA advisor and good friend, Steve Varricchio, on our program. Varricchio has been a DECA advisor for nearly 20 years, and his experience with DECA has been vital in developing Print Fundraising to work perfectly with DECA chapters.
Print Fundraising’s one-of-a kind curriculum focuses on three basic areas: entrepreneurship, owning and operating a product decoration business, and the successful operation of an SBE with Print Fundraising. The curriculum covers everything from operations management to an in-depth dissection of the various product decoration processes. Print Fundraising’s expert content is especially designed to meet DECA members’ needs, and we believe it will be an excellent support tool for DECA chapters who partner with us.
Print Fundraising’s primary purpose is to provide schools and DECA chapters with the ability to in-source their own garment decoration. Print Fundraising prints high-quality screen print transfers, and supplies them to DECA chapters for a great price. This allows DECA chapters to improve their margins, and to print garments on-demand. In addition to allowing schools to make more money per garment, printing on-demand eliminates the cost of maintaining printed inventory that may, or may not, sell.
The flexibility of transfers also means that they can be pressed onto a wider variety of products than any other decoration process outside of direct screen-printing. This means that you will be able to provide exactly the products that you want or need in your school store, or for special events or functions. Print Fundraising offers all of the blank products that you want to sell, and we make it easy to determine your markups and profit.
The easy use of screen print transfers also makes it easy for other students to start their own printing business. I made an immense amount of money in college by printing and selling shirts for just a few local businesses. With connections in students’ communities, it would be simple for them to find clients just like I did.
Print Fundraising’s startup package includes the highest quality manual heat press, all the transfer supplies you will need, apparel product samples, and shipping costs. To learn more about what all is included in our kit, please give us a call or send us an email.
I hope you have a greater understanding of Print Fundraising and our goals for your DECA chapter & school store. Print Fundraising wants to help cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs while helping DECA chapters generate revenue at the same time. Print Fundraising is here to help you. There is a plethora of teaching materials available, and we will be here to support you throughout the process. If you have any further questions, please check out our FAQ on PrintFundraising.com or contact us at support@printfundraising.com or 614-500-3022.
