A Holiday Tale of Custom Printing (Gone Wrong, Then Right)
By Little 6 Industries | December 2025
Every small business owner down in Maricopa liked Christmas a lot…
But Sarah, who ran a local sports team merchandise company, did NOT.
The Holiday Rush Begins
It was December 10th, and Sarah had just landed the biggest order of her year: 200
custom team hoodies for the Maricopa Youth Basketball League Championship. The
tournament finals were December 20th—ten days away.
She already had a printer lined up. We will call them… Big Box Printing Co. They
had promised her:
✓ Best price in town!
✓ Guaranteed 7-day turnaround!
✓ Professional screen printing quality!
Sarah paid the deposit. The order was placed. Everything seemed perfect.
The Grinch Appears
December 17th—3 days before the tournament—Sarah called for an update.
Big Box Printing Co: Oh, yeah, about that… We are running a bit behind. Holiday
rush, you know. We will probably have them ready by… December 23rd?
December 23rd. Three days AFTER the tournament.
Sarah felt her heart sink three sizes that day.
The Grinch's Excuses
When Sarah explained she NEEDED them by December 19th at the latest, Big Box
Printing had a list of excuses ready:
Our screen printing equipment broke down
We are short-staffed for the holidays
Everyone is backed up this time of year
There is nothing we can do
And then, the final blow:
Big Box Printing Co: Sorry, but deposits are non-refundable. Company policy.
The Grinch had stolen Sarah’s print job.
Who Saves Christmas?
Sarah had 48 hours. She started calling every printer in Arizona.
Printer #1: We need at least 2 weeks, sorry.
Printer #2: Our minimum is 500 pieces.
Printer #3: We are closed for the holidays!
Then, on her last Google search—rush printing Maricopa Arizona—she found a
website:
Little 6 Industries
48-72 Hour DTF Turnaround • No Minimums • Veteran-Owned
The Heroes of Maricopa
Sarah called. A real human answered. Not a voicemail. Not a ticket system. A
person.
Sarah explained her situation. The failed printer. The tournament. The 48-hour
deadline. The 200 hoodies.
There was a pause.
Little 6 Industries: We can do it.
How They Did It
Here is what Little 6 Industries did differently:
1. DTF Instead of Screen Printing
No setup time. No screens to create. No waiting for layers to dry. Just design, print,
and ship.
2. Climate-Controlled Facility
No equipment breakdowns from Arizona heat or cold. Consistent production year-
round.
3. Local Pickup Available
Sarah could pick up the transfers in Maricopa—no shipping delays, no extra costs.
4. Expert Application Support
Little 6 taught Sarah how to apply the DTF transfers herself using a heat press. They
even provided temperature settings and timing for the specific hoodie material she
had.
Spoiler alert: Sarah read our How to Apply DTF Transfers guide and nailed it on the
first try.
Christmas Was Saved
December 19th, 4:00 PM: Sarah picked up 200 DTF transfers from Little 6 Industries
in Maricopa.
December 19th, 9:00 PM: Sarah finished pressing all 200 hoodies with help from her
team. Every single one looked perfect.
December 20th, 8:00 AM: The Maricopa Youth Basketball teams walked into the
championship tournament wearing their custom hoodies with pride.
The Grinch did not steal Christmas. Little 6 Industries saved it.
The Moral of the Story
Not all printers are created equal—especially during the holidays.
When you need:
✓ Fast turnaround (48-72 hours, not 2 weeks)
✓ No minimums (15 pieces or 200 pieces—we do both)
✓ Reliable local service (Maricopa-based, veteran-owned)
✓ Real people who answer the phone
✓ Consistent quality (climate-controlled facility, not a garage)
…choose a printer who WON'T steal your print job.
Real Talk: Why This Story Matters
This story is fictional, but the situation happens all the time:
• Screen printers get backed up during holidays
• Equipment breaks down at the worst times
• Cheap prices come with hidden costs (delays, poor quality)
• Non-refundable deposits trap customers
• Small businesses get hurt when printers fail them
At Little 6 Industries, we built our business specifically to solve these problems. DTF
printing technology lets us deliver quality custom printing with speed and reliability
that traditional screen printing simply cannot match—especially for small to medium
orders.
Want to learn more about why DTF printing is different? Check out our DTF vs
Screen Printing comparison guide.
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DON'T LET THE GRINCH STEAL YOUR PRINT JOB
Get Fast, Reliable DTF Printing in Maricopa
Email: sales@little6llc.com
Phone: (520) 705-4026 Visit: www.little6llc.com
⚡ 48-72 Hour Turnaround • No Minimums • Local Pickup in Maricopa
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Related Articles:
• DTF Printing 101: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Apply DTF Transfers: A Step-by-Step Guide
• DTF vs Screen Printing: Which is Right for You?
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About Little 6 Industries
Little 6 Industries LLC is a veteran-owned, woman-led custom printing company
based in Maricopa, Arizona. We specialize in DTF transfers, UV printing, laser
engraving, custom stickers, and promotional products. With 48-72 hour turnaround
times, no minimum orders, and climate-controlled production facilities, we deliver
professional results you can count on—even during the holiday rush. "The Brand
Behind the Brand."
Happy Holidays from Little 6 Industries!
