Timing Is Everything For Cranford Print Shop

Timing is everything. So when Dennis Concha found himself unemployed, just as his brother and father looking to do more with their printing businesses, the 33-year-old co-owner of think d'sign print saw it as an opportunity to take his career in a slightly different direction.

Concha and his 25-year-old brother, Brian, opened in downtown Cranford in January. Dennis said the bright, roomy shop on North Avenue East was exactly what he, his brother and father were looking for.

"The space was perfect," he said. "It was a prime location for us, since it's right across the street from the train station. Everything just came together."

Brian and his father previously owned a similar shop in Roselle Park. But when the space became available in Cranford, they decided that the new location would be a perfect fit.

According to Dennis, think d'sign print is a is a printing and t-shirt design business. It offers custom-printed shirts, apparel, pet wear, decals, banners, canvas prints, magnets, business cards and more. And unlike a lot of larger printing shops that deal in bulk orders, customers have the ability to order just one item from the Concha family.

A graduate of Seton Hall University, where he studied communications and advertising, Dennis spent several years working in the customer service department of a stock transfer company. His business background came in handy when he and Brian and their father decided to open up shop in cranford.

And while Dennis handles the business end of things, Brian "is the designer," according to his brother. But often, they work together on concepts and designs. At the moment, the actual printing is done off-site, but the brothers are hoping to bring their printing equipment into the shop soon. They're also considering extending their office hours from five to six days a week. In addition, they'd like to expand their website to allow customers to go online and design their own apparel, signs, banners, etc.

In the short time the owners of think d'sign print have had their shop in Cranford, the Concha brothers have also become active members of the community, and they're hoping to continue their involvement. Recently, for example, the brothers printed T-shirts for the Cranford Teen Advisory Board's Polar Bear Plunge Team, the Cranford Plungers. They donated a portion of the proceeds to the New jersey Special Olympics.

Dennis said the residents and members of the business community have been very welcoming since the shop opened earlier this year.

"The town and everyone around us seems very supportive and curious about what we do."

think d'sign print is located at 11 North Ave. East in Cranford. They can be reached at 908-967-6244 and on Facebook at www.​facebook.​com/​TDPNJ. The shop is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They're closed Sunday and Monday.