Local Stars: The T-Shirt Factory

By Lauren Alvey
Dave and Cheryl Preston, owners and founders of The T-Shirt Factory, are Oceanside locals and self-proclaimed forward-thinkers. It should be no surprise then that together they built this highly successful local screen-printing business now celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The T-Shirt Factory was originally founded as Mariposa Graphics in 1984 under the sole proprietorship of Chuck Snyder, a local surfer. Dave and his band were customers of Mariposa Graphics, having t-shirts printed for gigs, etc. The Preston’s took over the ownership in 2009. At this time it was basically an 'underground' screen printing service known only to those loyal customers who had been getting t-shirts screen-printed there for years. Dave and Cheryl recognized that they had a lot of work to do to put the T-shirt Factory on the map and to expand their printing services to Oceanside's local businesses, residents and tourists.

The T-shirt Factory now provides a myriad of printing services (screen printing, embroidery, plotted vinyl cut lettering and graphics, hand screened band posters, heat press, graphic arts creation, letterpress, business cards, outdoor signs and banners, letterhead, truck and store front lettering, magnetic signs, and even retail which they “print ourselves for fun, for sale to the public - an homage to O'side pride.”) Cheryl points to employees Hendrick and Tyler, The T-Shirt Factory’s “pressmen”, as the cornerstone to their business’s ability to provide high-quality production and service. The T-Shirt Factory’s philosophy is to, “provide all existing and prospective customers with the very best products, options, and value for their needs.” Owners Cheryl and Dave pride themselves on their honesty by providing as much guidance as possible to their customers in order to create whatever they may have in mind.

The T-Shirt Factory shines out as an anomaly in the small business sector during the current economic climate. Cheryl credits their success to her ten years of prior private business ownership and operation along with Dave's 30 years of management in the printing industry. The Preston’s are looking toward a bright future and would love to open a second location dedicated exclusively to their registered retail line. These two play just as hard as they work and keep life exciting with their alternative country band, Three Chord Justice. “Our recipe of business vision and musician lifestyle makes us stand out in the community and in our customers' minds and hearts. They love us, and we love them too”, says Cheryl. She and Dave invite you to stop in at The T-Shirt Factory to say hello and take a look at their “Band Brag Wall” or even to get a facility tour from Dave! Let them know you are coming; drop them a line at [email protected] or 760-757-3662.