Just over a year ago, I took a leap of faith and accepted a job with Campus Ink. And while the title of this blog could be considered click-bait (I can’t possibly tell you everything), I have learned a heck of a lot in the last 365 days. So, in honor of my one-year workiversary I’m going to share some insights with you.
Content is king
This might not have been “new” information to me, per se, but working for Campus Ink has made me realize how important content is in order to drive traffic to your website or social media pages. Thoughtful, engaging, insightful content will bring people to you. We have a great team of marketing professionals that are consistently pumping out great content.
There are SO many kinds of hats
Seriously, did you guys know how many different kinds of hats there are available in the world? It’s crazy. Dad caps, trucker hats, relaxed fits, 5 panel, 6 panel, mesh, canvas, structured, adjustable, flat bill and the list goes on. Before Campus Ink all hats were ball caps to me.
A business that has been around since 1947 can still feel like a startup
On paper, Campus Ink in some iteration has been around since 1947. However, when the NCAA started allowing college athletes to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL) Campus Ink began to change a LOT. When I started one year ago. The only school we officially had singed was the University of Illinois. Going into this year’s March Madness, we have 19 men’s and women’s basketball teams across 13 schools. With the rapid growth there are days that our business truly feels like a startup. We’ve learned to be quick to react, flexible, determined and adaptable to the ever-changing climate of NIL.
Heat presses are hot
Sound obvious? Well it is, but when you accidentally catch the edge of a 300+ degree heat press, you’ll definitely know just how hot they are. Use caution when heat pressing or pay the price.
Sports are a lifelong commitment
We are a team full of sports junkies. A hodge-podge of former athletes and fans that just can’t get enough. During game days we’re constantly checking scores, watching replays, checking Twitter. I (hope) I can speak for the team at Campus Ink when I say that we are truly blessed to be able to be involved with college sports everyday and call it work.
You can’t please everyone
If there is one takeaway from this list, let it be this one. Even if an order is printed absolutely perfect right down to every last drop of ink, there is still a chance that someone might not like it. Art, printing, design, marketing – all of these things are subjective. I’ve learned to do my best, but not get too hung up on pleasing every single person.
At the end of the day, they’re just t-shirts
This is one of the first things I heard when I started working for Campus Ink. And, it’s not to say that we don’t take pride in our work, we absolutely do, but at the end of the day, we aren’t solving world hunger or creating world peace. They’re just t-shirts.
