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3 contributions to Print & Apparel School
So I've made the decision to close Print & Apparel School when the current subscription period ends.
I'm going to be unusually direct with this one. There are over 200 people in this community. Many joined because they wanted to start a print business, build a clothing brand, create a side income or learn how to sell their products online. Over the last few months I've shared advice, ideas, design tips, business experience, answered questions and tried numerous ways of getting people involved. Most recently, I offered to create completely FREE training showing how AI can now help build an entire e-commerce store — something that could potentially save somebody starting a business days or even weeks of work. I emailed the members directly so nobody could simply say they hadn't seen the post. Two people were interested. That told me everything I needed to know. And here's the uncomfortable bit. Most people don't fail because they don't have enough information. There's more free information available today than at any point in human history. They fail because they don't take action. They watch another video. Save another post. Join another Facebook group. Download another free guide. Research another business idea. Talk about what they're going to do. And six months later... Nothing has changed. There's a massive difference between being interested in having a business and being prepared to build one. Successful people aren't necessarily smarter. They don't necessarily have more money. They don't necessarily start with better equipment. But at some point they stop consuming information and DO SOMETHING WITH IT. I've realised that I could spend another year posting tutorials and free advice in here and it wouldn't make any difference unless the person reading it decides to take action. I can't want your business more than you do. And I won't keep investing my time trying to convince people to build something they originally told me they wanted to build. So I'm closing Print & Apparel School. Not because print and apparel businesses don't work. Not because there aren't opportunities.
1 like • Sep 3
Steve, I completely understand your frustration here, and your decision to close the group makes perfect sense. Regarding your point about the lack of response to your free AI e-commerce training, I want to offer an additional perspective from the tech side. While you are absolutely right about the general lack of action in these communities, there is also a massive, growing fatigue around the "AI will do it for you" pitch. In my work consulting and coaching executives on their technology operations, I see clients shy away from AI adoption all the time. The market is saturated with gurus making AI sound like a frictionless magic button. When people inevitably realize that setting up AI properly still requires strategic thought, a learning curve, and real effort, they get intimidated and retreat. You hit the nail on the head about why most people fail: they are addicted to consuming information rather than executing because execution takes actual work. When they see a training that promises to build an entire store with AI, the cynical part of their brain often assumes it's either going to produce a generic result or be much harder than advertised. It becomes just another excuse for them to stay in the research phase. Your final point is the only advice that actually matters in business—whether you are leveraging AI, running a print-on-demand store, or building a technical organization. You just have to start, put it in front of customers, and improve it. Kudos to you for protecting your time and pivoting your focus toward those who are actually ready to execute.
🌟 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY — What Have YOU Achieved This Week?
We haven't reached the stage yet where I want to invent a featured member just for the sake of having a Friday spotlight. The spotlight should be earned — and it should be real. So today, I'm opening it up to everyone. And here's the important bit: your win doesn't have to be a massive one. Maybe this week you: 👕 Created a design you're genuinely pleased with 🔥 Finally got your heat-press settings right 📦 Shipped your first order 💰 Made another 10 sales 🛍️ Added products to Etsy or eBay 🌐 Started building your website 🎨 Learnt a new Illustrator or Photoshop technique 🤖 Tried AI somewhere in your business for the first time 💡 Or simply stopped thinking about starting andactually did something When you're building a business, it's very easy to concentrate on everything you haven't achieved yet and completely ignore the progress you're making. So let's change that today. 👇 FRIDAY CHALLENGE Tell us ONE thing you've achieved this week that moved you or your business forward. Big or small — stick it in the comments. And I'll be watching these Friday posts, because as we get to know everyone and see what you're building, I'll start choosing real members and their businesses for future Member Spotlights. Your work could be the next one we feature. 👕🔥
🌟 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY — What Have YOU Achieved This Week?
0 likes • Aug 24
I got 8 designs into Shopify and learned to avoid designs my gut says are good and go with ones actually selling currently.
👕 A QUESTION FOR EVERYONE IN THIS GROUP...
I'm going to ask something a little different today. There are now over 200 people in Print & Apparel School, but only a tiny handful ever comment, ask questions or get involved. So I'm genuinely curious... Why did you join? Was it because you wanted to start a print or apparel business? Create a clothing brand? Make some extra money with a side hustle? Learn design or printing? Start selling online? Because if it was, I want to ask you another question: What's actually stopping you? One thing I've learned from years of running businesses is that information isn't usually the problem. You can watch another YouTube video. Read another post. Research another heat press. Spend another month thinking about your brand name. Save another 50 business ideas. But eventually you have to DO something. Your first design might be rubbish. Your first product might not sell. Your first website won't be perfect. You might make mistakes. That's business. The people who eventually succeed aren't necessarily the people who knew the most when they started. They're usually the people who started. That's why I'd genuinely like everyone reading this to answer one question. 👇 WHICH ONE BEST DESCRIBES YOU RIGHT NOW? A) I already run a print/apparel business. B) I'm actively setting one up right now. C) I genuinely want to start one, but something is stopping me. D) I like the idea of having my own business, but I haven't taken any real action yet. E) I'm already established and I'm here to learn how to grow. F) Something else — tell me below. No judgement. I actually want honest answers. And if you choose C, tell me what's stopping you: Money? Knowledge? Confidence? Equipment? Technology? Time? Not knowing where to start? Fear of wasting money? Because there's not much point in me filling this community with tutorials, advice, tools and training unless they're helping you move forward. I want Print & Apparel School to be a community of people who create, learn, try things, make mistakes, help each other and TAKE ACTION.
0 likes • Aug 24
For me it is A. I started out completely wrong and now I’m learning how important it is to do your research on designs to see what’s actually selling.
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Michael Mahony
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@michael-mahony-8767
Content creator/business coach

Active 10h ago
Joined Aug 24, 2026