KORNIT FEATURE systems to accommodate growth by increasing production capacity, and Jared remains optimistic that focusing on what the brand does best will continue to yield strong returns as circumstances return to “normal.” they’ve acquired five Kornit Avalanche Poly Pro systems, the first platform designed for unlimited graphic and colour impressions that meet the unique demands of synthetic fabrics. “Back in 2011 there wasn’t much competition apart from VistaPrint, and we definitely had the nicest website around, so we grew exponentially,” says Jared of his business, which once made BRW Magazine’s “top 100 fastest- growing companies” list. “We’ve just launched a platform that allows anyone with a website—brands, bands, bars, even sports teams—to sell their merch and make money without investing up front. We can service them quicker than with the standard dye sublimation service they’re used to, without any minimum quantity requirements, and the quality of the Poly Pro prints are world-class.” While the pandemic economy and accompanying lockdowns brought a sudden and drastic loss of demand for apparel associated with live gatherings, The Print Bar quickly refocused on their print-on-demand e-commerce platform, which created a lifeline for both Jared’s organization and for many of his customers. While the disruption caused him to re-evaluate his assumptions and approach to long-term business planning, Jared’s in-house DTG capabilities offered an agility to capitalize on new opportunities and thrive nevertheless. “I’ve learned you need to constantly improve your processes and the customer experience, and embrace technology to support that effort,” says Jared, who recently opened a second production facility in Victoria to better serve his growing customer base. “Make sure you’re thinking of everything that could go wrong or pose a challenge, and come up with solutions pre-emptively.” The pandemic economy saw The Print Bar adding new production “I’m feeling positive about the second half of 2022,” says Jared, who sees his print-on-demand platform as a game- changer for sportswear customers needing custom goods in small numbers. “As we get on top of things in Australia, we’ll see more big events coming back and business confidence improving in general. We’ll also be improving our processes around larger print runs, and getting back to more research and development work, which slowed down during the Covid period.” In April, Kornit announced availability of its Atlas MAX Poly system for industrial-scale DTG polyester production, offering increased process automation, higher throughput, and new decoration capabilities, consolidating dye sublimation, heat transfer vinyl, threadless embroidery, and 3D graphic effects to one single, efficient, eco- friendly production mechanism. 30 JUNE 2022
