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    Traxler Printing Moves to Larger Space, Expands Capabilities

    For the fifth time in nine years, Traxler Printing is on the move. The growing printing company is settling in at 3005 Silver Dr. – just across the parking lot from their previous location. With nearly three times the square footage, Traxler Printing has room to accommodate their recent growth, and then some.

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    The impetus for moving falls in the good problems to have category.

    Traxler Printing works with large NCAA clients that require them to run a stock program – meaning 10,000 – 50,000 shirts must be in stock at all times. When finding room for even just one pallet of an over two dozen that were scheduled to arrive was an issue, Founder & CEO Zachary Traxler knew it was time to move.

    Traxler worked with the Columbus Partnership and Columbus 2020 to scout for suitable spaces. It was important to him to stay in the area that has long-supported the business.

    Although Traxler Printing has large, national clients, “Clintonville and Columbus still account for more than 70% of our revenue,” Traxler says.

    He’d noticed the tenant across the street had moved out, and when he was able to view the space, found it to be an easy adaptation from its previous manufacturing use. It was a matter of paint and move in.

    More than expanded inventory needs has kept Traxler Printing growing.

    “Historically we’re known for t-shirts, and that’s a lot of what we do here, but we’ve expanded into promotional products, business cards, marketing material and collateral, and that’s actually been a huge driver of our recent success,” Traxler says.

    Traxler Printing’s UV Printer

    The move expands on Traxler Printing’s capabilities across several service areas. Traxler says they’ve expanded all of their screen printing capabilities, adding techniques like HD and HD stack. They’ve also added a pad printer, which allows for private labeling and re-labeling garments. It’s also largely responsible for the ability to bring promotional products in-house instead of working through a partner.

    A UV printer further expands the possibilities. The machine will literally print on anything that fits within the dimensions of its bed. A laptop, guitar body and wooden tap handles have all taken a spin in the printer.

    Direct to garment printing has been another big area of growth for Traxler Printing. The technology allows the company to digitally print directly on a garment instead of setting up screens and going through the entire process. It’s more expensive, but means no minimums on orders.

    Traxler Printing’s print on demand area

    To leverage printing on demand, Traxler Printing built out an app that integrates with ecommerce platforms like Shopify. A business owner uploads artwork to a t-shirt, a mock-up is generated, a description added, and the product auto-loads onto their site.

    Print on demand is driving part of Traxler Printing’s services as a third party logistics provider. As a 3PL, the company provides fulfillment services whether a business prints with Traxler Printing or not. They stock, pick and pull, and ship a partner’s products – all the easier now, as the new space allows for separate shipping and receiving areas.

    A service they added two years ago, Traxler says it has been one of the biggest drivers of growth for the business. It’s also added five jobs to the now 35-person company with more hires on the horizon.

    As Traxler is working to add three of their largest partnership programs ever, in addition to the 4,000 clients they already serve, he’s waiting to see the flow of orders in the new space, but expects to add another two to five employees by the end of the year. Two to three will be production staff, with another few employees focused on ecommerce and development.

    The company also created its own program for working with adults on the autism spectrum through Ability Matters. Traxler Printing employs two to four adults to do post-production work part-time.

    Traxler Printing works with clients like CD102.5, North High Brewing, BrewDog USA, Where I’m From Apparel, and non-profits like Clitonville CRC and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio. The company was also selected to be a partner in printing licensed apparel for Ohio State and Top of the World brands.

    For more information, visit traxlercustomprinting.com.


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    Susan Post
    Susan Post
    Susan is the editor of The Metropreneur and associate editor of Columbus Underground, and also covers small business and entrepreneurial news and the food scene in Central Ohio.Susan holds a degree in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing from The Ohio State University. She sits on the board of the Central Ohio Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and loves coffee, whiskey, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
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