Today we’d like to introduce you to Brogan and Geneva Costa. They shared their story with us below:
Brogan and Geneva Costa are a husband and wife team who opened Green Dream Screen Printing in downtown Sioux Falls, SD in 2016. Brogan is a seasoned screen printer and Geneva holds a Masters of Fine Art in Visual Art. This combination of talent and experience makes Green Dream what it is: a small business offering personalized customer service with top quality professionalism.
The idea for Green Dream came about during the couple’s time spent in Los Angeles while Geneva was earning her graduate degree. At this time, Brogan started screen printing for clients in both LA and the Midwest, and upon Geneva’s graduation from California State University Northridge, they decided to move back to Sioux Falls to open Green Dream Screen Printing. The couple combines Brogan’s decades of screen printing experience with Geneva’s artistic background to offer quality prints and products to both the local community, as well as customers nationwide.
The name of the company stems from the couple’s desire to offer sustainable and green options for screen printing services to their customers, as well as traditional screen printing services on quality apparel. Recycling materials, up-cycling inks, reusing water for cleaning screens, and offering the option of printing on recycled fabric tees are just a few of the ways the Green Dream team stays true to its name.
Aside from the sustainable aspect of this mom & pop shop, Green Dream also specializes in working with touring bands to print band merch. With Brogan being a musician himself, the couple has a unique understanding of touring and works seamlessly with bands and venues throughout the lower 48 to make ordering merch and touring easier for artists. Green Dream can’t wait to work with even more bands, businesses, and event organizers both locally and throughout the country, as they love to see people supporting small business owners.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Fortunately, we know a good amount of other small business owners, as well as musicians, that are all about shopping small and keeping money either within the community and/or within the small business model. Where you shop truly does make a difference. We’ve been lucky to have stellar reviews from clients and return customers happy with our customer service, as well as our quality prints, and we’re thankful to all those that support us.
That being said, just like so many other businesses, the pandemic hit us hard. Screen printing, as with any other printmaking, is a form of art that is specifically designed for multiple prints. We are a bulk printing business; we print promotional gear: logos and other designs multiple times on multiple garments. The screen printing process is meant to outfit people gathering at events, schools, concerts, etc.
When large groups of people couldn’t gather anymore, we were in trouble. The PPP loans truly did help small businesses like ours get through. So did the support of people making it a point to purchase apparel from the businesses and bands we print for to help them through that time. Without our wonderful customers, we wouldn’t be here!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
To add to our specializing in ‘green’ sustainable printing practices and working with touring bands, we really are just like any other print shop, except we really do specialize in screen printing. We don’t offer other services like embroidery or heat transfer; we truly specialize in screen printing. What sets us apart (aside from the aforementioned) are several things, the most important being customer service. We have taken out the middle-man (salespeople that don’t screen print or have an art background) and customers talk directly to us: the people preparing the artwork for printing, mixing the inks, and printing on apparel.
The person color matching and mixing your inks has 3 art degrees and taught color theory and printmaking techniques to students for 16 years. The person printing your shirts has been printing for over 20 years and is a perfectionist, almost to a fault. When you want quality prints from people who know what they’re talking about, we’re the people to come to. You’ll work with the same person throughout the project and have a personalized customer service experience.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Sioux Falls, SD is unique in its location, and many Minnesotans work and shop here. We’re honored to have been asked to be featured in your publication that recognizes this!
We’re located in downtown Sioux Falls, which is such a great part of town that showcases art, is full of small businesses, and is inclusive of all people. Sioux Falls offers so much in terms of the art and music scene, and that’s what we like best! Our customers are an eclectic mix of businesses, musicians, schools, churches, and event organizers. Screen printing for such a diverse group of people within our community helps keep us connected to all this city and the surrounding area has to offer. We are extremely lucky to live and work in this community with such wonderful people.
Contact Info:
- Website: greendreamscreenprinting.com
- Instagram: @Green_Dream_Screen_Printing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greendreamscreenprinting
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/genevacosta
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/green-dream-screen-printing-sioux-falls?osq=green+dream+screen+printing
Image Credits
Green Dream
