Printing with Heart: The Cowboy Custom Printing Story

In an era of automated online checkouts and faceless corporations, Jarret Forrester is proving that the best way to do business is still with a handshake and a direct conversation. As the founder of Cowboy Custom Printing, Jarret has spent the last five years turning a passion for quality apparel into a local success story built on one simple foundation: personal connection.

From Frustration to Foundation

The story of Cowboy Custom Printing began not with a grand corporate plan, but with a desire to do things better. After experiencing the pitfalls of poor communication and long fulfillment times in the industry, Jarret knew there was a better way to serve the community.

What started as a small operation relying on subcontractors has blossomed into a fully in-house production powerhouse. By taking control of the entire process, Jarret has significantly improved turnaround times, often delivering finished products in roughly two weeks—or even less than seven days if materials arrive promptly.

Quality You Can Feel

For Jarret, “good enough” isn’t an option. While the market is flooded with cheap, thin transfers that can crack or wash off, Cowboy Custom Printing focuses on durability and professional-grade finishes.

Screen Printing & Transfers: Jarret primarily uses traditional screen printing or high-quality screen-printed transfers for shirts to ensure the art stays vibrant for years.
Custom Headwear: The shop specializes in DTF (Direct to Film) specifically for foam trucker hats, a method that allows for detailed, colorful designs on a classic style.
The Professional Standard: Jarret often uses his expertise to guide clients toward better choices. This includes making decisions on product quality—like switching to a better garment brand—to ensure the final result is something the customer will be proud to wear.

More Than Just a Transaction

If you ask Jarret what his favorite part of the job is, he won’t point to a machine or a finished shirt. He’ll tell you it’s the relationships.

Cowboy Custom Printing has become a trusted partner for the music scene, creating merchandise for notable artists like Edwin McCain and Dallas Moore. Being an integrated part of an artist’s project or a local business’s growth is what keeps the passion fueled. To Jarret, accountability is everything; he wants his clients to know they can always reach him directly if they have a question or a problem.

“The hardest part is competing with low online prices, but those sites can’t give you a phone call when something goes wrong. My value is in the customer service and the handshake.”

Keeping It Simple

Jarret deliberately keeps his business “human-sized.” You won’t find a complicated, automated ordering system on his website. Because printing involves so many variables—from garment brand to ink color and placement—Jarret uses his site as a landing page to start a real conversation.

To make life easier for his clients, he developed a simplified package pricing. Instead of a confusing breakdown of taxes, fees, and upcharges, Jarret offers a flat, all-inclusive rate for 50 single-color shirts. It’s a transparent, easy-to-understand approach that cuts through the noise of the industry.

A Legacy of Balance

At the end of the day, Cowboy Custom Printing is a family-first business. Inspired by his own father’s journey into entrepreneurship, Jarret prioritizes work-life balance. Being self-employed allows him the freedom to be present for his child’s milestones, which he considers far more valuable than the bottom line.

As the business looks toward the future, the goal remains clear: increase production and reach new milestones while maintaining the small-business feel that makes every client feel like a partner, not just a number.