Meet Matt Scott | Laser engraving, vinyl decals, sublimation, T-Shirts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Since I can remember, I’ve always been a risk taker. Many times it did not pan out well but was still a valuable learning experience. Then there’s been times where the risk took me places I’d have never been able to get to had I not taken the leap. I was a previous business owner in my 20’s and sold the business after 7 years to reinvent myself, going back to college in a completely different field, succeeding and and traveling Asia doing humanitarian work. Traveling Asia was a major risk as some of the countries I went to were engaged in civil wars that we could find ourselves in the middle of unknowingly and we knew this on the front end.

Thankfully we all came home and the risk was more than worth all of the incredible experiences I had. I was ruined for ordinary.

I’ve been in the Screenprinting, digital graphics and CNC fields for 24 years in some capacity across multiple companies. I was a traveling field tech for two companies across a 10 year time period, traveling weekly domestically and internationally for work. I got burnt out.

After Covid it was inevitable for me that I was tired of spending the majority of my life working for these companies and making them wealthier. Lol. One day I just said I’m done and began working on a plan to buy my own machines and do all of it for myself. Big risk but big reward in the end.

Shortly after having said epiphany, and having a few machines purchased, I and a few other techs were let go due to a company buyout and restructuring. (The old higher paid guys getting cut and replaced with younger and lower paid techs. This was a gift in disguise as it lit a fire under me to launch my company asap. I’m currently about six months in and I’m watching my company grow monthly which is truly and incredible feeling. Worth the risk.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was always drawn to graphics, especially textiles. Anything that can be worn or displayed. Symbols are my thing in art mostly. Symbols are powerful the way they effect the psyche and consciousness.

Symbols communicate vast amounts of information in a single glance. For example, when you think of a religious symbol, hundreds of things come to mind immediately, from personal experiences to daydreaming about it all and the endless possibilities.

I like simple, minimalist designs mostly in my own use in my products. I’m a huge fan of movies and music and am a bibliomaniac. I can’t read enough books. Lol. Die hard 80’s music and movie fan (the best decade). My artistic tastes have evolved over the years but my two favorite styles are retro/synthwave and symbolism. Huge Star Wars and sci-if fan (Nerd and proud), and it shows in my shop. Lol.

I wanted to offer products that I would buy but aren’t the easiest to find. Good quality products in small batches. From the darker side of symbolism to retro. Some fringe items but mostly nostalgic. I’m only 6 months in but releasing new products almost weekly. I offer t shirts, laser engraved items, vinyl decals and stickers, sublimated items (coaster sets. metal business cards, necklaces), coffee mugs, pendants, keychains and new products added all the time.

My challenges were mostly financial. Buying my machines and supplies up front without using credit. Learning which things I enjoy making and what’s easy to set up for and reproduce. Getting business accounts set up with product suppliers, learning the ropes of getting my LLC and Resale License, My other challenges are learning to be disciplined with all things state tax related.

The one thing I’m getting good at and proud of besides my products is e commerce. Man there’s so much to do and keep up with and update digitally. Marketing, boosting social media posts, using correct keywords in listing titles and tags so you’re actually seen.

It’s been a slow start in getting results with my Etsy shop and website but it’s starting to pay off. Also learning the best types of packaging for and finding where to cut shipping costs. None of this was necessarily easy but fun in the process as well as frustrating sometimes waiting for results but it’s so rewarding.

I’m learning many lessons about my own capabilities and areas I need improvement on and growing in my knowledge of business, e commerce, digital art, marketing, all of it.

Craftsmanship and an eye for detail go into my products after years of being in the field seeing millions of different types of products and ways of making them. I utilize every aspect of my 24 years of learning in my own processes.

I just want to make products that are unique, sometimes risqué, and that are generally hard to find in good quality. Graphics have the ability to say or stand for whatever you want wherever you want. If people are as passionate as I am about certain things, they should be able to display that a plethora of ways. I want to help make that happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d say downtown Fort Worth in Sundance square. The arts district, water and Japanese gardens. We’d go to Texas de Brazil for dinner one night and Lucille’s stateside bistro another night. Shoot down to New Braunsfells and eat at the Gristmill and float the Brazos. Then shoot down to Austin to eat at Trudy’s for the best and biggest stuffed avocado ever. There’s so much to do and so many great places to eat.

I’m mostly a homebody these days when I’m not working since I travelled so much work but those are the places I enjoy around here.

When the Oddities show comes around that always cool to check out. Cool folks. There’s also a great little Metaphysical shop in Fort Worth that’s been there forever called The Enchanted Forrest. Super nice and knowledgeable folks there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom and dad. Two of the people I cherish most in life who’ve always been my constants of encouragement, support, love, Grace, understanding and help many times when I was down.

My sister who started her own business just before me. For being brave and taking the risk and inspiring me in the process to get going on my own business.

My daughter, that blows me away with her brilliance and talent at just 10 years old. I see so much of myself in her . The good parts. Lol. That little girl has been my reason to live in my darkest times.

My girlfriend.
A truly brilliant, beautiful and loving soul. Her creativity and talent exceeds my own. She’s the best thing that’s happens to me that I wasn’t looking for. Lol. One of those things that just happens on its own naturally when you weren’t looking. Without her and her support during my work/life transition, this endeavor would not have been possible.

So many more who’ve invested into my life that I could name but I’ll leave this here for now.

Webpage: https://greatscottdesignsllc.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MScott1978/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatscottdesignsdfw/

Etsy: https://etsy.me/3GEB6zV