Meet Robert Roberts | Screen Printer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
I would say attention to detail is really the thing I think about most in my work. In most things, but especially creative endeavors, getting the small things right is really what sets the great work apart from the merely good. And you just see so many people out there that just don’t hit that high level, so if you have the eye and the patience for it, it’s really easy to set yourself apart just by doing those things just a little bit better. Of course, there are always time & money constraints on how far you can go, but you have to at least have an eye on how to do something at as perfectly as possible, and then just back off until it’s commercially feasible. People really get excited about that kind of work, and they always remember your ability to make it happen.

What should our readers know about your business?
I run Saucebox, a screen printing and merchandising studio. We specialize in screen printed apparel and posters, as well as custom headwear. I think what sets us apart from other shops is our creativity and our dedication to the customer’s vision. We genuinely want our customers to be excited by their merch, and we want them to make money on it, and I think that we leverage a lot of design and production experience to help lead them to products that will tick both of those boxes.

I’m really proud of the customer relationships we’ve built. We started as everything was moving online, but it was already clear that for lots of things, you’re just not going to get what you want without having a relationship with a human being who can do that for you. That also dovetails with people’s desire to deal locally, and the renewed energy behind that, which has benefited us as well. The result is that we have a ton of great customers who I love seeing walk through the door every couple of months. It feels like running the hardware store in Mayberry, I imagine.

I’m honestly not sure how we got to where we’re at. It wasn’t the slightest bit easy. Not quitting sure helps. That sounds trite, but it really is key. Just keep doing the good work and don’t get dissuaded by obstacles. Also, get lucky once in a while. If you have an idea of what you want to build, there’s usually a way if you’re willing to find it and get creative. All of these lessons sound so canned, but I find myself being sincere about them. Think outside the box; don’t forget that one.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ah, well, I’m old, so I miss most of the new spots, especially since the pandemic, but Atlanta is a top notch food city. I’m mostly into hole-in-the wall places these days because I can’t stand driving and parking in all of the new developments around town. Salsa Taqueria on Buford Hwy. is the ultimate gas station birria. Pollo Primo in East Atlanta; if you’re into beans, those are a must. Masterpiece out in Duluth, worth the hour round trip drive. I’d probably walk it. Spiller Park for coffee… Steinbeck’s has the best bar food.

If the weather is nice, I would definitely recommend riding a bike through the city. It’s very green and hilly, and there are lots of quiet streets and neighborhoods linking everything together. Oh, and drive out to Arabia Mountain. I imagine it to be like hiking on Mars.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve gotten pretty much infinite help over the years, but, I think that a lot of what we’ve been able to achieve has been because of my employees. They’ve been incredibly loyal and have always put out the best work possible in every circumstance. The pandemic was a huge challenge, but we managed to make it through safely, and a lot of that is due to them. We’ve created an environment where we can work together as friends, and their willingness to help make that happen really contributes to our success.

Website: www.scbx.co

Instagram: @sauceboxink