T. Shaw Designs LLC
Wilmington
 

Year founded: 2015

Top local official: Tom Shaw, owner/operator

Company description: T. Shaw Designs LLC is a graphic design and artistry firm that offers silkscreened artwork, event posters, apparel and merchandise items, as well as marketing, branding and advertising services to corporate and music industry clients.

Products made locally: Handpulled screen-printed posters, art prints and apparel

Product distribution: Event posters are commissioned and purchased wholesale by a band’s or musician’s management; artist edition concert posters are sold online at tshawdesigns.com once the shows have passed. Art prints are sold on the website, as well as in some art galleries around Wilmington.

What made the company decide to make its goods locally? Tom Shaw: “The concert posters and art prints are made locally by default, as I design and print them in my home studio in Porters Neck. I recently launched a line of clothing with the end goal of keeping money in Wilmington and benefitting a local charity. #WilmingtonStrong Apparel items are designed by me, printed locally at Wahoo Screen Graphix and sold in local retailers. A portion of the proceeds go to NourishNC, a nonprofit that feeds underprivileged children of New Hanover County.”

What’s your target market? Shaw: “My target market for silkscreened posters are national touring musicians that draw crowds of 750-10,000 people and their fans, and I’ve established a following for my art prints both locally and internationally through social media. My graphic design services cater to small/ medium-sized businesses, bands and concert/music festival promoters; primarily those in need of assistance with brand development, advertising and social media marketing.”

What’s planned next? Shaw: “#WilmingtonStrong Apparel will be expanding into more retail locations including an online store and offering additional merchandise items in the fall. I am in the process of curating a team of creative professionals to expand my marketing and advertising services to include professional photography, videography, SEO, custom website design and more. Once the live music industry makes its comeback, I’ll get back to designing and printing concert posters for shows at Greenfield Lake and beyond.”

 EDITOR’S NOTE: To be considered for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s MADE feature, contact [email protected] wilmingtonbiz.com.