“In 2008, having promo is what kept me from going out of business.”

That statement from Carla Sisk, owner of ColorMix Graphics & Printing (asi/165002) in San Marcos, TX, is not just a reflection on a tough period in American business, it’s a testament to the power of diversification and the resilience of an entrepreneur determined to survive.

Carla Sisk, owner of ColorMix Graphics & Printing (asi/165002), uses a Konica Minolta digital press for short-run printing.

Sisk founded ColorMix in 2002 as a print brokerage firm. Like many in the trade, she began without equipment of her own, partnering with established printers to fulfill client needs. Among her early clients was Sprint, a telecommunications company acquired by T-Mobile in 2020.

“I was printing rate cards and shipping them nationwide for Sprint,” she says.

But her path took a decisive turn in 2006 when Sprint launched a new campaign and asked for promotional products.

“Sprint came to me in the month of May and said, ‘We’re going to launch this campaign called ‘The Speed of Light.’ And we need stuff that lights up,’” she says.

At the time, Sisk didn’t know the first thing about sourcing promotional products. But she had the instincts of an entrepreneur. She called a friend in Austin, TX, who was already selling promotional items and asked for help. That partnership became her training ground. For about a year and a half she worked with her friend’s company, splitting commissions while learning the business. By 2007, she joined ASI, secured her own ASI number and officially became a distributor.

Promo soon became more than an add-on service; it became the foundation of her company’s survival. When the 2008 housing crisis struck, many printers collapsed. Sisk credits her diversification for keeping ColorMix afloat.

That diversification had already proven itself with Sprint’s campaign kits, which blended print and promo into a seamless package. She provided visors, playing cards, T-shirts and light-up bouncy balls along with printed pieces. By expanding beyond traditional print, Sisk positioned her business to withstand downturns that devastated competitors who depended solely on ink and paper. Today, only about 35% of ColorMix’s revenue comes from print. The rest comes from promo and wearables.

The Power of Partnerships & Relationships

Sisk emphasizes that her growth was never a solo act. She leaned on experienced partners, from her early mentors to her long-term wide-format printing partner in San Antonio.

“The best thing I’ve learned in business and in this industry is that you get to know people, you make relationships, you help other people and then, guess what? When you’re the one that’s down and you need help, they pick you up,” she says.

Relationships with suppliers, decorators and other printers remain at the core of her business model. She proudly tells clients that she partners “with some of the best people in the industry” rather than pretending to do everything in-house. That honesty, combined with careful color management and quality checks, builds trust with customers who rely on ColorMix to maintain brand integrity across banners, T-shirts, signage and promotional giveaways.

Business for Sisk has always been guided by values passed down from her grandfather. She recalls a moment from childhood when she wanted to open a lemonade stand. “My grandfather told me … ‘When your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will become your downfall.’” That simple financial lesson has stuck with her for life.

Expanding Into a Full-Service Offering

In 2015, ColorMix was awarded the Governor’s Small Business Award in Texas – a recognition of Sisk’s success as a woman-owned business and her impact on the local economy. Today, ColorMix is more than a print broker. While the company uses Konica Minolta digital equipment for short-run printing, ColorMix is best known for providing a complete marketing package.

“The biggest thing that we do in our industry is we take care of other people. If you don’t look good, I don’t look good. My job is to make you look good.” Carla Sisk, ColorMix Graphics & Printing (asi/165002)

“If you’re going to a trade show, you need your backdrop, your retractable banner, your tablecloth, your business cards and then you need a good promo item to go with it,” Sisk says. “So, what we do is we provide the right mix. We provide everything so you can deal with one vendor, one printer, and we ensure brand integrity.”

Her tag line – “Always the right mix” – captures this philosophy. From wide-format signs and banners to promo products and apparel, ColorMix delivers cohesive solutions that keep branding consistent across multiple platforms.

Sisk also stresses the importance of sourcing locally whenever possible: “I shop Texas first, as much as possible. Because if I go Texan, we put Texas first. We put our Texas economy first.” When items aren’t available in Texas, she looks for American-made alternatives before resorting to imports.

Advice for Printers

Sisk encourages other printers to consider adding promotional products, but with caution. “If you do want to … get into promo, you need to hire somebody with a little bit of experience and have somebody that specializes in promo to focus on promo,” she says.

Her advice is to learn the business, invest in experienced staff and build strong partnerships with trusted suppliers. Most importantly, maintain pride in the craft. “If you’re a small printer, and you’re struggling … diversifying to offer your client a wider variety of products is a good idea – but if you’re going to do it, you need to learn and be good at it,” she says.

For Sisk, the lesson of her journey is simple but profound: With strong relationships, financial discipline and a commitment to quality, diversification can transform a print shop into a resilient, thriving business.

“The biggest thing that we do in our industry is we take care of other people. ... If you don’t look good, I don’t look good. My job is to make you look good,” Sisk says. “I’m the secret behind that success that nobody else has to know about.”