Strategy September 20, 2021
Case Study: How a Promo Supplier Transformed a Myrtle Beach Printer’s Business
The next time you’re in South Carolina, you may just walk past some familiar Next Level Apparel pieces – especially if you’re near Myrtle Beach. That’s because Native Sons, a local apparel printer and decorator, has stocked their shelves with Next Level favorites for their customers to turn into screen-printed masterpieces.
What began with just a few college friends decorating and selling T-shirts back in 1984 has now grown into the beloved Myrtle Beach souvenir staple. Family-owned Native Sons has grown in their operations, now not only sponsoring local events but hosting their own – mostly those centered around the South Carolinian pastimes like surfing and volleyball. Why? Native Sons is community-minded above all else, which explains why they were seeking higher-quality products and a wider selection to offer to their loyal customers.
When Native Sons was still starting out, their apparel offerings were limited to only the same 100% cotton T-shirt, regardless of their clients' specific project requests. Now, that’s all changed. Today’s consumers demand options, which Next Level Apparel was happy to provide. Instead of just one basic tee, Native Sons is now able to offer an expansive product line filled with Next Level favorites, from super soft hoodies, trendy heathered tees, retail-approved raglans and more.
By being able to offer end-buyers a greater selection, Native Sons was in turn able to expand their business and satisfy the demand for high-end, high-quality garments. Not only that, but screen printing has come a long way since Native Sons’ start in 1984 too. While this decorator might have been limited on what they could screen print before, now they feel confident they can bring any client request to life when they’re using Next Level garments as their canvas.
What drove this change in the industry? One of the greatest reasons is that consumers today are simply more informed. While in the past a basic branded tee might have cut it, nowadays shoppers want retail-quality goods that will last long past their current vacation. That’s where Next Level steps in. Native Sons can simply order the styles their client requests and feel confident that the resulting product will be of superior quality that they’re proud to put their name on.
Don’t worry: These Next Level pieces are totally decorator approved. Not only can their 100% ring-spun cotton pieces be decorated with Native Sons’ house white ink, their tri-blends can be too. The ink also deposits evenly and optimally on each garment, which prevents pieces from being weighed down and keeps the shirts nice and light – a must for coastal South Carolina weather!
Lastly, let’s give it up for one of Native Sons’ most popular Next Level styles: the Unisex CVC T-Shirt (6210). It’s no surprise why this tee is a major crowd-pleaser. It features a trendy retail cut, soft and breathable fabric as well as advanced durability that’s so important for beachgoers and outdoor enthusiasts.