Carbon Colors is celebrating nearly 15 years as Dracut’s “One Stop Print Shop” by opening its second location in town.
Now, if you have a commercial or digital printing job – for instance, a sign or direct mailer – your “One Stop Print Shop” will still be at the store at 1327 Lakeview Avenue. And if you have a screen-printing or embroidery job, you’ll make your one stop be at the new location, Carbon Colors Apparel, in Bridgewood Plaza, 1794 Bridge Street, Unit 28.
Dracut Economic Development held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Carbon Colors Apparel on January 26 at the former site of The Top Half Screen Printing and Embroidery, which had been located at the plaza since 1987.
Ann Tinnirella, owner of Carbon Colors and Carbon Colors Apparel, says The Top Half and owner John Gordon have helped her over the years with larger embroidery jobs.
“John’s been very good to us,” Ann says.
After about 40 years in the business, John recently started to think about retirement, at least from owning a shop.
“John approached me about a year ago and asked if I’d be interested in taking the shop over, and I said I’d love to,” Ann says.
John has agreed to stay with Carbon Colors Apparel as the operations manager.
“We’re real fortunate he’s staying,” Ann says. “When it comes to screen printing, John knows it all.”
Josh Bergeron has moved from the Lakeview Avenue location to take over as production manager at Bridge Street.
Ann has already made some changes in the new shop, including adding a six-head embroidery machine to add to the four-head machine and two one-head machines, increasing the capacity and speed for printing.
Throughout her 15 years in Dracut, Ann has become well-known not just for the quality work Carbon Colors produces but for her work in the community.
She was selected in 2013 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as one of the Commonwealth’s Unsung Heroines – “women who don’t always make the news but truly make a difference in the communities, businesses, or volunteer endeavors.”
“There is nothing more rewarding than to give back to the local communities that have given me so much,” she says.
Find more about Carbon Colors and Carbon Colors Apparel at www.carboncolors.net.