How NZ's Print Room Scaled with Supacolour by Their Side

When Jon Thom and his co-founder Chris first started Print Room over a decade ago, they weren’t printers. They were artists selling t-shirts—and learning everything else as they went.

In fact, their first major print job—4,000 tees for a university orientation week—landed before they’d even printed a single shirt.

Armed with a DIY press made from an old door and some hinges, three people printed around the clock for two weeks, one sleeping while the other two kept pressing. “It was rough,” says Jon, “but we got it done.”

From that chaotic but character-building launch, Print Room has grown into one of New Zealand’s leading direct-to-market decorators. With around 20 staff, two automatic screen-printing carousels, and a commitment to quality and sustainability, they now work with everyone from schools and breweries to big retail clients.

And through it all, Supacolour has been part of their journey.

Scaling Smart—with Help from Supacolour

As Print Room scaled up, they hit the same roadblocks every growing shop faces: more orders, tighter timelines, and increasingly diverse product requests.

One challenge stood out in particular—printing on difficult items. Cooler bags, totes, polyester sportswear, technical jackets, caps. “If it didn’t fit on a screen print platen, it was a headache,” says Jon.

They’d tried standard digital heat transfers, but the quality just wasn’t there. That’s when they discovered Supacolour.

“It ticked all the boxes,” says Jon. “The colour, the washability, the feel—it looked sharp. It let us say yes to more jobs. And more importantly, it meant we could deliver on those jobs with confidence.”

Supacolour became the go-to for anything tricky or time-sensitive. It helped them win high-value clients and build a reputation for saying, “Yep, we can do that.”

Built-in Flexibility, Without the Headaches

While some shops debate investing in a DTF printer, Print Room is happy to keep letting Supacolour handle the heavy lifting.

“We’ve had guys try to sell us machines,” says Jon, “but honestly, I’d rather have another screen print carousel than a DTF setup. We don’t need the hassle. Supacolour makes it easy.”

That simplicity helps them stay focused on what matters—delivering beautiful prints and exceptional service.

“It shows up. It works. You press it. Done. And if anything goes wrong—which is rare—Supacolour fixes it. No drama.”

Aligned Values, Shared Success

Print Room is proudly water-based and sustainability focused. They’ve built a tight-knit team, and it’s clear they care about people and the planet. So it’s no surprise they’re drawn to partners who share those values.

“Supacolour’s always been in our corner,” says Jon. “Even back when we were tiny. They’ve helped us grow without ever treating us like a small shop. That kind of loyalty matters.”

They now have regular check-ins with their Supacolour account manager, stay in the loop on new product releases, and give feedback on what’s happening on the floor. “It’s a good partnership,” says Jon.

From Face Masks to $400 Jackets

The real proof of that partnership came during the COVID pivot, when Print Room printed thousands of branded face masks using Supacolour. That success helped them gain momentum—and confidence.

“Now we’ll take on jobs we never would’ve before,” says Jon. Like a winter order for high-end jackets that couldn’t be screen printed or embroidered. “With Supacolour’s Lo Melt Blocker transfers, it was no problem.”

It’s a level of trust in the product that opens up new revenue—and helps them win more of their clients’ business.

Advice for Other Print Shops

So what would Jon say to someone who’s where he was ten years ago—looking for a heat transfer partner to help them grow?

“Honestly, Supacolour’s a no-brainer. The quality’s there. The service is there. The system is easy. And they’ve got a transfer for every surface.”

Plus, he adds, “You’ve got enough to think about running a print shop. You don’t want to be worrying about whether your transfers are going to turn up, or whether they’ll work.”

A Shared Kiwi Spirit

From a barn-door press behind a bakery to a team of 20 in a purpose-built facility, Print Room’s story is one of Kiwi hustle, heart, and smart growth. And Supacolour has been with them every step of the way.

Two businesses that began in New Zealand, built on the same values—innovation, reliability, and a genuine commitment to helping their customers succeed.

Because at the end of the day, Jon says, “you just want to make it easy. For your team. For your customers. For yourself. Supacolour lets us do that.”