Ink Slingers: Keeping School and Community Spirit Alive

In Huntsville, Texas, school spirit has a name: Hornet Pride, in honor of the school district’s mascot, Buzzy the Hornet. Walk through the halls of a school campus in Huntsville on any given day, and you’ll likely see several students, teachers, and administrators sporting a variety of Huntsville Hornet t-shirts that demonstrate their unmistakable school spirit and an enduring pride for their community.

Well, maybe not any given day.

Just a few short weeks ago, the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the United States forced schools across the state and the nation to close their doors and make the challenging transition to online learning, leaving school hallways and classrooms empty far earlier than anyone expected. The pandemic came at a high cost for many people throughout the world, but, in Huntsville, Hornet Pride is alive and well.

Peek in on the many virtual meetings going on between students and staff throughout the district on a daily basis, and you’ll still see students and staff proudly wearing their Huntsville Hornet gear, a symbol of the community’s unwavering commitment to continue rallying together, even in the midst of these challenging times, to keep their school and community spirit strong.

And where did all of this Hornet gear come from?

Known as “the t-shirt experts,” Ink Slingers in Huntsville is the one-stop shop for promotional screen printing not only for Huntsville Independent School District and its many organizations, such as Huntsville High School Student Council and Mance Park Middle School Yearbook, but for the promotional needs of nearly every business and sports organization in the Huntsville area and beyond.

Ink Slingers owner, Nate Smith, was already working for a screen-printing company for several years after graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design from Sam Houston State University in 1999, and he wasn’t looking to start a business on his own. But in 2003, when a friend and customer recognized his exceptional talent for promotional design and clear business acumen, Nate began his journey toward being a key part of the Huntsville small business community.

“I don’t know anything about running a business,” he said after his friend suggested branching out on his own. The friend’s belief in Nate’s potential wasn’t swayed, however. “He told me to bring him a list of what I needed to start,” Nate says. “Don’t get a quote for the cheapest equipment,” his friend said. “Get quality.” So Nate did, and the next week, the equipment was delivered and set up. Thus, Ink Slingers was born.

Wanting to show his appreciation for his friend’s support and mentorship, Nate paid back the money he was fronted to start the business a year later. Going even further, Nate says, “The next year I got a loan for the amount he loaned me and gave it to him.”

In the beginning, Nate was the sole employee of Ink Slingers, but the shop’s success over the next several years meant hiring more employees to meet the needs of the company’s growing customer base. The company has developed a reputation as the leading screen printer in Huntsville and the surrounding areas. A reputation that earned them the opportunity to expand beyond their local community to print t-shirts for the USA Gymnastics Team with Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas during the 2016 Olympics.

Like many businesses, Ink Slingers has been forced to cope with the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a small business, the impact has been hard felt. “We depend on schools and sports,” Nate says. “When those are out, it pretty much takes us out too.” The shop has had to change lanes and begin printing face masks to stay afloat. “We are trying to adapt to the current need.”

The community of Huntsville is pulling for small local businesses like Ink Slingers. This is because Ink Slingers is more than just a screen printing company. As a staple of the community, Ink Slingers has always given back to the community, not only creating quality products to promote the great things happening in Huntsville, but helping to build a sense of solidarity and pride in the community. Nate describes the company as “a God-fearing, tithe-paying, giving back to the community, family-owned and operated business.” His customers would agree. As one reviewer said, “Nate... always takes care of his customers! He goes above and beyond to make sure that everything looks great and is on time!”

In the wake of this unprecedented global shift resulting from COVID-19, Ink Slingers continues to be a mainstay of the Huntsville community. When school returns in August, you can be sure to see the company’s t-shirts promoting community spirit with a renewed sense of excitement and appreciation for what our community has to offer.

Visit Ink Slingers at inkslingerstshirts.com.