Meet Ian Simmons of Good Neighbor Shirt Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Simmons.

Hi Ian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started in the apparel screen printing industry in 2017 after a couple of other jobs upon graduating from the University of Kansas. I was looking for a full-time job in a new field that I had an interest in but really had no knowledge of – screen printing and custom apparel. I came across a position as a press assistant at a shop in Lenexa, KS. I enjoyed learning the process and quickly moved up to handling marketing and sales, along with graphic design for the small business. I worked there for several years and fully committed to learning the ins and outs of the apparel screen printing industry, enough to where I felt comfortable taking the jump to do my own thing. I will always be learning, and that is all a part of the fun and the business.

My wife and I both learned a lot in 2020. Upon both of us losing our jobs, and it’s honestly kind of funny because the cause was completely unrelated to the pandemic, we were forced to make a decision. Go find a job working for someone else, or finally take the dive and do what we’ve been talking about for years and start our own businesses. We chose the latter and it’s been the best decision we’ve ever made. We now get to pursue our own dreams and provide for our community in our own unique way, and we get to do it together.

When my wife is not buying or selling houses for her clients, she is at the shop helping out with admin, marketing, and shirt stacking (her favorite… lol). We opened up Good Neighbor Shirt Co. because of my passion for screen printing and because I wanted to provide high-quality, hand-printed merchandise for all. We believe in providing that neighborly feel when you walk in, and we enjoy connecting with all of our customers. One thing that I like to note is that I am not in the practice of production, I am in the practice of creating and crafting. Screen printing is an art that takes skill and a humble mind to accept that learning never ends. It’s an art that I developed a passion for and now I get to do it for a living, and that is pretty exciting. I’m very excited about the journey ahead.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Everything has gone relatively smoothly. Finding a space was difficult at first, and navigating commercial real estate can be a little tricky for first-timers like me! I’m in a good location for now, and I’m very pleased with how business is going so far.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Good Neighbor Shirt Company?
Good Neighbor Shirt Company is a small screen print shop specializing in hand-printed apparel and merchandise. I offer embroidery and screen printing on a variety of garments and accessories, small and large batch orders accepted.  With extensive knowledge of apparel brands and market trends I also enjoy providing merchandise/branding consultation services for customers looking to take their brand to new heights. I really enjoy working with high-quality products and I am always searching for brands that promote environmental sustainability. All screen printing is done by hand using high-end plastisol inks (water-based printing is available upon request).  I am extremely excited to be a part of the Kansas City small business community, and I can’t wait to continue to grow and provide even more for Kansas City.

What matters most to you? Why?
There are several things that I would put at the top of my list.  Number one is the human connection, number two is providing for my community, and number three is a perfectly printed, great-fitting t-shirt.  The human connection is connecting with other individuals, small businesses, artists, etc. I love listening to other people’s stories, connecting their journey with mine, and learning from new experiences.  Within my business I strive to provide top-notch customer service and a high-quality product. I can be hard on myself when it comes to perfecting something, but I really do want to provide something special for my customers, no matter how large or small the order. I take attention to detail and providing a positive customer experience very seriously, and I want that to be evident as soon as a customer walks into the shop.  At the end of the day I want to be a contributing member of the Kansas City community, and promote social and economic success for all of our neighbors.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.goodneighborshirtco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodneighborshirtco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodneighborshirtco