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In Episode 139 of the CAS Podcast, we dive into the seven most common—and most dangerous—mistakes that stunt the growth of custom t-shirt, embroidery, sign, and promotional product businesses. These growth killers can quietly drain profits, frustrate customers, and hold back your brand from achieving its full potential.

Whether you’re just getting started or already running a thriving shop, these insights will help you recognize and correct the habits and decisions that may be holding you back.

1. Bad Accounting – Not Knowing Your Numbers

If you don’t know where your money is going, you’re running blind. Many small business owners think they’re making a profit but are slowly bleeding money because of:

● Poor recordkeeping

● Misunderstood costs

● Underpricing products

📊 Pro Tip: Understand your material costs, labor time, overhead, and profit margins for every order.

🎧 Listen to:

1. Episode 17 – Know Your Numbers: Value of a Customer

2. Episode 18 – Know Your Numbers Part II

2. Ignoring Customer Feedback

Your customers are your best advisors—especially if you ask the right questions and listen. Dismissing or brushing off feedback often leads to:

● Unmet expectations

● Bad reviews

● Loss of repeat business

💡 Instead of saying, “That’s just how I do it,” ask: “How can I do it better for them?”

3. No Plan for Customer Service or Experience

Customer service isn’t something that happens after the sale—it’s part of every interaction.

Neglecting customer experience can lead to:

● Missed opportunities for repeat sales

● Confusion and frustration

● Low customer retention

🧭 Build systems for communication, order tracking, and follow-up. Even small businesses can create exceptional customer experiences with consistency.

4. Focusing on the Making, Not the Money

Crafting t-shirts is fun—it’s creative, expressive, and rewarding. But if you spend all your time in production and neglect sales, marketing, or profitability, the business can suffer.

💸 Your time is valuable. Every hour at the press or machine should support a strategy that leads to revenue and growth.

5. Trying to Be Like Your Competitors

It’s tempting to chase what your competitors are doing, but building your identity around their playbook can blur your brand.

🚫 Don’t be a copycat. People will buy from you because of your unique personality, style, and customer experience—not because you offer exactly what someone else does.

🔑 Be aware of the competition, but be confident in your value.

6. Change for Change’s Sake

In the custom business world, there’s always a new niche, product, or trend to chase. But constant change can:

● Derail what’s already working

● Create confusion for customers

● Burn out your team

📌 Stick with what’s bringing in results. Optimize before you innovate.

7. Hiring Mistakes

People make or break businesses. A bad hire—or keeping the wrong person out of guilt or fear—can:

● Lower productivity

● Damage customer relationships

● Hurt your brand

👥 Hire intentionally. Evaluate strengths and fit. And don’t be afraid to make tough calls if someone is holding the business back.

Final Thoughts: Growth Requires Focus

Growing a t-shirt or custom product business isn’t just about getting more orders. It’s about building a strong foundation, learning from feedback, protecting your time, and staying true to what makes your business special.

Eliminating these 7 growth killers is one of the fastest ways to clear a path toward more profit, smoother operations, and long-term success.