For owner, printing business is freedom

Employees at a printing operation on Franklin Avenue press ink through custom-made screens to create a range of designs on T-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel. It’s a small business that grew from even smaller origins, when the manager of a franchise restaurant started making T-shirts in his bedroom.

Sasan Shavanson was managing an Outback Steakhouse when his cousin, who was doing screen printing in California, recommended he give it a try.

“I wanted something different,” Shavanson said.

After running the business from his Great Neck home for three years, he spent $10,000 to equip his first full shop in 2008, on Roosevelt Avenue in Valley Stream. The business expanded every year after that, and now occupies a 5,000-square-foot facility on Franklin Avenue. He called his time in the village an excellent experience; a “real community” of good people in a small town he said has proved to be a great location from which to make T-shirts. One In A Million celebrated its 11-year anniversary on Aug. 28 with a party for its 15 employees.

Shavanson said his willingness to try new methods helped drive the business’ growth.

But above all, he said, honesty and patience are key. Trust has to exist between him and his customers, who often need their orders on strict deadline — in time for events, in the case of the many local clubs and businesses he works with, and for major retail clients. His business is 80 percent wholesale and 20 percent private orders, which are mostly small businesses that need shirts for special events. At the wholesale level, he produces apparel for several large-name brands that sell in department stores (he declined to reveal which). One In A Million also takes orders from the village for special events.

“I never thought it would get this big,” Shavanson said. “But I fell in love with the process.”

The operation uses two automated and three manual presses, as well as three embroidery machines. It competes with a handful of other printers in Valley Stream — six, by Shavanson ‘s count. His goal is a 20,000-square-foot facility with 10 automated presses, which would decrease turn-around time on large orders.

For Shavanson, the biggest win has been the freedom he’s found working for himself. “Pursuing my own dream instead of somebody else’s,” he said.