One of the T-shirts Kinteco has designed for a customer to sell online. PHOTO/SUBMITTED
With many small businesses closed due to the coronavirus, they’re seeking new and unique ways to earn money.
A Berks County screen printer is working on a way to support itself and other small businesses in the region by creating T-shirts businesses and non-profits can sell to customers and supporters on social media.
Karen Philip, owner of Kinteco Screen Printing in Temple, said her small business is closed like many small mom-and-pop operations, so she’s taking a cue from what other screen printers have been doing around the country. She’s offering to print T-shirts, when they’re allowed to open again, with half the funds going to other small businesses.
“We’re a 36-year-old company,” said Philip. “We’d hate to see anyone go out in this fashion.”
Kinteco has launched a project, where any small business or nonprofit can order a one-color logo T-shirt created. The business is not charged. The business can sell the shirts to supporters online and through social media, allowing their customers can show their support during this down time.
The shirts, which will also be available on Kinteco’s website, www.wearimagematters.com, sell for $20.
Each participating business will get $10 of the sale.
“There’s no risk to the business. They don’t have to put up any money,” Philip said. “We’re trying to see what we can do to give back.”
Philip said her shop, like many small businesses, is currently closed, but the shirts will be printed as soon as production starts again. Kinteco is applying for a waiver from the state to re-open.
In addition to the shirts they are printing for businesses, Kinteco is printing its own T-shirt with an outline of the United States and the words “One City, One Unity, One Goal #BerksCounty.”
“It’s a ‘we’re in this together’ kind of thing,” Philip said.
She said $10 from each sale of that shirt will go to charities in Berks County that are helping people during the crisis.
Kinteco has already had three participants and is accepting orders.
