Outer Edge Screen Printing Co.

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Outer Edge Screen Printing Co.

February 20, 2021

The Outer Edge Screen Printing Co.

Outer Edge Screen-printing Company

While browsing Facebook, I found a T-Shirt and stuff Screen-printers in Van Horne, IA. Everyone that knows me, knows that I like the mom-and-pop companies and the little guy businesses. This is one of those! I was checking out their Facebook site and notice the horrific damage they endured during the Derecho. Now, I had to call them.

When I called, one of the owners, Kim, answered and I began the interview. I asked all the normal questions, when did you start? Kim says, 16 years ago with her husband, he was partnered 10 years prior and decided he wanted to be independent business owners with me, his wife.

We then had to discuss the Covid pandemic and the hindering effects of it on the company. Kim said she had six employees standing by her to assist where and when she needed assistance. These employees where not going to leave her!

Now, here comes the nasty storm that took over businesses all over the state of Iowa in a day! She explained the different world she was in for six to eight weeks. Her husband and her were constantly running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to run any sort of business. They were missing a roof over a huge part of the mechanics space and had to cover any machines when it rained or started to storm. She said she is an incredibly lucky person and was lucky to have a company like the company she has, the help rolled in. They had a plumber, we knew an electrician, we knew a roofer, we knew a gutter guy so everything that needed repaired, we knew someone. It was like we had our own little family.

We got a roof after about a week. Which was good because we started getting a little bit busy for the holidays. I was able to bring back a couple of the staff that we could, we kept having to stop doing the repairs, because we cannot have drywall dust floating around when you are doing screen printing. The shirts, the screens, and equipment could not be near the dust.

We are constantly trying to figure out where we want to be. Our children are graduating and moving away, one in Michigan and one in the Air Force. We know that our staff can keep the business running while we walk away for holidays, birthdays, and anything else that comes up. Figuring out the staff situation is the tricky part. It sucks they are not employed right now, but they are still there when we need them. Those are the kind of things that are going to be a challenge. They have all been given the opportunity to go elsewhere, but none of them have wanted to, so they are still waiting for that call.

I ask the question, why no website? Kim says that they have a website name but that they make people and businesses so happy that they get their business from word of mouth. She says she likes who and how many people she helps. They are busy enough and can not wait for the business to return.

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