HISTORY:
If longevity is a sign of success, then Gary Brown (owner), Surf & Ski, Mesa, Arizona, is the most successful printer in his area and maybe the entire state. Celebrating his 41st year anniversary in October 2009, he's outlasted the hundreds of shops he's seen come and go.
"When we started, there were three T-shirt printers in town," he says. "(Starting a screen printing operation) is not as easy as it appears. Most of them do not last."
Brown has always provided the same high level of customer service, but he hasn't always provided the level of quality that he does today.
"Back in 1968, a friend came to me with a proposal to buy a screen printing business that was available for $2,000," he says. "It consisted of 80 screens, two tables and 5-x-5 foot drying racks made out of chicken wire. All the inks were air dry."
"In those days, printing was 
accomplished by laying a shirt over a light, which was imbedded in the tables. The screen was then eyeballed into place. Once the shirt was printed, it was placed on the drying rack."
"We'd do four-color designs with each person having a different screen," he remembers. "We got pretty good at it. We could hand register to within a quarter inch.
Aside from the logevity of the business itself; Surf & Ski is housed in an historic building with a rich history of it's own. Our facility 
is over 100 years old! Originally the "Stapely Hardware Co." this building's main structure was built in 1895; in the days of horse drawn covered wagons.
Surf & Ski has made it a priority to share its successes with the community. The 16,000-square foot space it occupies was purchased in an effort to help revitalize Mesa's withering historic downtown area. The bustling shop has indeed increased pedestrian traffic down Main street.
Stop by and visit us here in beautiful downtown
Mesa and share our history!
