Meet Sharrelle Baker | Apparel Printing Specialist

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

Hi Sharrelle, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
The Biggest risk I’ve taken on my journey is when I left my $80k a year Corporate Job to work on my business full time back in 2016. My last job there was no work-life balance and I left work feeling drained and no energy to do anything else let alone having to print T-Shirt orders I had received . Growing up I always wanted to be my own Boss. I started selling candy in the 6th grade all the way up to my senior year of High School and I must say it was very lucrative ! Once I graduated High School I went to attend Thee Fort Valley State University where I would then major in Business Management & Marketing. While attending FVSU I had been printing shirts and selling them on campus. After obtaining my degree and going to work in the corporate field I was becoming unmotivated and I always wanted to be a barber so before I quit my job I started taking night classes at CEI Hair School in Atlanta,Ga where I obtained my Master Barber License. I completed that 6 month course and would do that part time as I had begun doing my T-shirt business Full-time and I haven’t looked back since . Sometimes I would think how crazy I was to leave my $80k year job to go work for myself and had no idea how I would make that same amount of money . Being an Entrepreneur is something I had always wanted to be and I stood by that. My quality of life meant more than the money . As everyone always tells me “ The Hustle was never on you it was in you!”.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Success in the apparel printing business comes from persistence, learning, and adaptability. Those who consistently deliver quality, market effectively, and build strong customer relationships find the most success. The journey isn’t always easy, but with passion and dedication, it’s possible to build a thriving apparel business. Many entrepreneurs in this industry begin with a passion for design, printing, or entrepreneurship and gradually build their business through trial and error. Without my beginning stage I made a lot of mistakes that I learned from and helped me to work more efficiently.

Atlanta Custom T-shirts is a custom apparel and printing company that was rebranded in 2014. We specialize in heat press vinyl, transfers, sublimation, and screen printing. We also offer a host of sublimate products such as mugs, license plates, key chains, trophies, plaques, wall decals and more. We are committed to excellent customer service and satisfaction and stand by the quality of our products. We are a full-service Custom T-shirt and apparel company whether you’re looking for custom music shirts, custom family reunion T-Shirts, corporate event shirts or Custom T-shirts for your business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta for a week, I’d make sure they got a full experience for the great food, nightlife, culture, history, and a little bit of everything that makes ATL special.

Day 1: Welcome to ATL – Food, Art, & Vibes

Breakfast: Atlanta Breakfast Club – Famous for their peach cobbler French toast.

Morning: Explore the Atlanta BeltLine and check out murals from Black artists like Fabian Williams.

Lunch: Slutty Vegan – The viral vegan burger spot with crazy good flavors.

Afternoon: Visit Trap Music Museum, which is Black-owned and celebrates ATL hip-hop culture.

Dinner: Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours – Soul food with a modern twist by Chef Deborah VanTrece.

Night Out: Parlor – A chic Black-owned lounge with craft cocktails and live DJs.

Day 2: Civil Rights, Culture & Classic Eats

Breakfast: Le Petit Marché – A cozy, Black-owned breakfast café in Kirkwood. One of my favorite spots!!

Morning: Visit The King Center & MLK Historic Site for an essential look at Atlanta’s civil rights history.

Lunch: Busy Bee Café – A legendary, Black-owned soul food spot since 1947.

Afternoon: Explore Auburn Avenue, home to Black businesses and the APEX Museum, which tells Atlanta’s Black history.

Dinner: Lake & Oak BBQ – A Black-owned barbecue spot in East Lake with amazing smoked meats.

Evening Fun: Apache XLR – Live music, poetry, and a Black creative scene.

Day 3: Shopping & Self-Care

Brunch: Breakfast at Barneys – A trendy spot known for luxury brunch vibes.

Morning: Shop at The Village Retail in Ponce City Market, featuring Black-owned brands.

Lunch: Greedy’s – A hidden gem with incredible soul food and fried chicken.

Afternoon: Spa day at Iwi Fresh, a Black-owned farm-to-skin spa.

Dinner: Rock Steady – Afro-Caribbean cuisine with amazing cocktails.

Night Out: Revel – A Black-owned nightclub with top-tier DJs and a stylish crowd.

Day 4: Outdoor Adventures & Neighborhood Vibes

Breakfast: Grits & Eggs Breakfast Kitchen – A casual Black-owned breakfast spot.

Morning: Hike up Stone Mountain, then check out Arabia Mountain for a scenic escape.

Lunch: Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar – Southern and Caribbean fusion with great drinks.

Afternoon: Walk around Castleberry Hill, a Black arts district with cool galleries.

Dinner: Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen – Black-owned and serving authentic Gullah Geechee cuisine.

Nightlife: Josephine Lounge – A high-energy, Black-owned club with Afrobeats, hip-hop, and hookah.

Day 5: Sports, Food, & Breweries

Brunch: Milk & Honey ATL – Known for their shrimp & grits and honey butter biscuits.

Morning: Catch a Falcons (NFL) or Hawks (NBA) game if in season.

Lunch: BQE Restaurant & Lounge – A Black-owned spot known for soul food and music brunches.

Afternoon: Brewery tour at Atlantucky Brewing, owned by members of Nappy Roots.

Dinner: Negril ATL – Authentic Jamaican food and a dope rooftop space.

Night Out: Rockefeller ATL – A Black-owned speakeasy with an upscale vibe.

Day 6: Day Trips & Relaxation
Brunch: Gocha’s Breakfast Bar – Owned by Gocha Hawkins, featuring delicious brunch dishes.

Lunch: Escobar Restaurant & Tapas – A Black-owned restaurant co-owned by rapper 2 Chainz.

Afternoon: Chill at Jeju Sauna, a Korean spa, then grab a dessert at Sweet Stack Creamery (Black-owned).

Dinner: The Beverly – A stylish Black-owned restaurant with great cocktails and comfort food.

Night Out: Whiskey Mistress – A Black-owned lounge with good music and a grown, sexy crowd.

Day 7: Chill & Reflect
Brunch: Toast on Lenox – Black-owned and known for their boozy brunch scene..

Lunch: Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria – A Black owned pizza joint from Tennessee with incredible pies.

Afternoon: Shop at Kupcakerie, a Black-owned bakery, and grab some sweet treats for the road.

Dinner: Apt 4B – A Black-owned Caribbean fine dining experience.

Final Night Drinks: Bar Vegan – Black-owned and serving creative, plant-based cocktails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My initial capital to start my business came from money I saved up from years of work because I knew the time was going to come when I took that leap of faith to become a full time entrepreneur. My mom has also been a big supporter in my Entrepreneurial journey as well.

Website: https://Www.TheTshirtTrapper.com

Instagram: @AtlCustomTshirts

Facebook: https://Www.Facebook.com/AtlCustomtshirts

Other: Email: atlcustomtshirts@gmail.com