• Brian D Gryphon
• Owner & Photographer: Digital Gryphon LLC
• Brian D Gryphon's LinkedIn Profile
• http://www.digitalgryphon.net
What segment of the T-shirt industry do you work in?
"Our primary focus is design, but we also work on marketing. On-line POD firms produce for hundreds of thousands of designers; they are most interested in marketing their own brand. "
Tell us about your company and your role in it.
"The Digital Gryphon LLC offers various merchandise featuring my photography- with an emphasis on florals and felines. We use POD ("print on demand") firms such as CafePress, PrintFection and Zazzle to do everything from production to customer service. I am pretty much the entire company."
What makes you/your company remarkable?
"I have 35 years of photographic and almost three decades of business experience combined with an artist's curiosity and desire to blend old and new."
Tell us about your T-shirt expertise and areas of interest."I began working with Screen Printers to produce t-shirts as fundraisers for various community organizations in the late 80s and early 90s. I investigated doing my own set up, but decided it was best to leave production in the hands of experts."
From where do you draw your inspiration? Motivation? Ideas?
"My florals are mainly from the world-famous Whetstone Park of Roses in central Ohio, although I take a camera on all travels and so have images from a wide range of places.
My feline images are from the Cat Welfare Association, a 'no kill' shelter in central Ohio- used as a fundraiser for that organization."
What are some challenges you currently face or have overcome in your career? Lessons learned?
"Using POD firms guarantees I can't compete on Price. Fortunately my previous Sales experience included training on how to sell around pricing issues... it may sound cliche but there really are people who want service and quality and will pay for it."
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
"I've reached the age of fifty- and still enjoy learning."
What advice would you offer to someone new to the industry? Any tips or trade “secrets” you want to share?
"Enjoy what you do- or move on."
What is something unique that you can contribute to the LinkedIn T-shirt Professionals group?
"I like to be a bridge between Designers and Producers; make sure everyone appreciates that while actors get the glory, 'the crew' is the foundation. I was both an Account Manager and a Customer Service Consultant- the former paid more, but I know that the latter position is where the real work gets done."
What are you looking to find in the LinkedIn T-Shirt Professionals group? What types of people do you want to connect with?
"I want to keep in touch with other small businesses- we sell product that might not seem 'luxurious' but which are most definitely 'discretionary'."
Do you have an experience with the LinkedIn T-Shirt Professionals group you’d like to share? Have you made some valuable connections?
"Still very new here."
Is there anything else you want the world to know about you or your company?
"We take time to stop and smell the roses."
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