You are your best and most loyal client; if you don’t like the final product, no one will.
Q & A With Dario Vera, Owner of INKspired Promotions Inc
What services or products does INKspired offer?
Screen Printing, Pad Printing, Product Fullfilment and Digital printing options.
How did you come up with the idea to start the INKspired Promotions Inc, and what purpose did you intend to serve with the concept?
The idea of starting my own business came from a young age, I always dream of being my own boss and building something I can be proud of. Screen printing and printing, in general, was a hobby I picked on during high school in my native country - Ecuador. While being part of the school music band we wanted to create merch that can be given to students and fans during our presentations, I started to do some research for options and I came across screen printing. From the moment I printed my first shirts using a paper stencil and spray paint, I fell in love with the technique. The rest is history.
Which milestones have marked meeting benchmarks towards the fulfillment of your personal goals/ the company's vision and goals?
The major milestone I fulfilled is to hire and form a reliable and hard-working team. It all started with a one-man-show but in the past five years, we have worked very hard to hire and train the best possible team we could, always keeping in mind these three words - Safety, Efficiency and Simplicity. Since 2018 we have hired and trained a wide range of individuals, and now we count on an exceptional team of five hardworking employees. All the hard work started to pay off during the end of 2021 when we were chosen to be named the Best Promotional Products business in Peel Region by Consumers Choice awards. We also became part of the growing group of CBRB Canadian Business Review Board in 2021.
Which steps have you taken for the company to achieve the level of consumer trust that has been nationally recognized?
Since day one, my priority has been to build a screen-printing business that is transparent and honest, where every client, supplier and employee is treated like family with respect and love. By creating and refining various processes, we have been able to grow as a company and individuals.
Our Vision:
To help evolve the screen printing industry with safety, efficiency and simplicity and to help educate the next generation of screen printers in Canada.
Our Mission:
To help the Creative Minds make their vision a reality through various printing techniques/services. By producing quality prints in a safe and friendly environment always offering fair and honest pricing.
Our Values:
- Be accountable
- Show up and work hard
- Treat each other like Family
- Always go the extra mile
- Hasta la Victoria Siempre
Which strategies have you found the most effective in growing your audience/ bringing awareness of your service to a larger consumer group?
Since day one, my main focus has been to make each and every customer happy by going the extra mile so they can become my best marketing strategy; word of mouth referrals is the number one way we grow our business. Get as many reviews - good or bad - as you can, it's the only way to know how you and your business are doing.
Which partnerships, if any, have been the most constructive in bringing your goals closer to becoming a reality?
If you can form a partnership with a reliable and trusted marketing company that can help you generate quality leads, I would suggest you jump on it. As much as every business owner thinks they can do it all, simply hiring someone for the specific job will always pay off in the end and it will help you grow as an entrepreneur.
Are there any challenges that made it difficult to continue operation and that you managed to overcome? What was your approach to get past these?
Covid was a huge factor or eye-opener of what we needed to fix for the company to be able to thrive and move forward. The challenges brought by Covid in the past two years made us think and plan better any new steps we would make towards growth. The value of hiring the right employees and supplier help us refine our processes and find our true niches.
How do you balance work, passions/hobbies, and relationships?
I don’t think there is an exact formula to this, but the best advice I can give is to stay true to your values and always make time for family. No matter what happens in life, family will always be there. Work hard; play harder!
What are your future plans to build on your personal/ company achievements and fulfill your vision for success/ what developments can your audience or clientele look forward to expecting next?
Our future is clear. We want to become a business that is trusted by everyone and easily accessible, therefore, our online presence will be heavily invested in this year. Expect to see our brand appear on a lot of social media channels.
What advice would you like to give readers that hope to achieve success in your field?
Make a plan, study the plan, make changes, and always stay true to your values. You are your best and most loyal client; if you don’t like the final product, no one will.
Is there anything else you would like to share with Winner Magazine readers?
Challenges will always be present in your day-to-day life, but the way you choose to handle them will define your destiny. Give good and you will receive good!
We thank Dario for sharing these insights and experiences with Winner Magazine's readers. If you are looking for specialized Printing services in the Mississauga Area, we would recommend reaching out to Dario at INKSpired!