2008: A small start in Jeffreys Bay industrial area
When Brand-On Screen Printing opened in 2008, the work was focused on the basics done properly. Jeffreys Bay needed a local printer that could handle T-shirts for school events, clubwear for weekend teams, and printed clothing for businesses that wanted a neat look without paying more than they had to. The first jobs were local and practical, often for people who needed something turned around on time and ready to wear.
From the start, the business was shaped by the way the Kouga area works. Orders had to suit coastal weather, busy school calendars and the reality of load-shedding. That meant planning jobs carefully, keeping the workflow tight and making sure prints were consistent from one order to the next. It also meant learning which garments hold up well in local conditions, from sun and salt air to repeated washing.
In those early months, the focus was on building trust one order at a time. A good print had to look sharp, sit straight, and last. Customers came back because the service was direct and the product did what it was supposed to do.
2009 to 2011: Schoolwear, club kit and repeat orders
As the business settled into regular trading, more repeat work started coming through from schools, sports clubs and local groups across Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp. The needs were familiar, but each order still had to be handled with care. A rugby team wanted bold numbers and names. A school needed shirts that stayed neat through many wears. A social club wanted caps and tees for an event, not just for one day but for future use too.
This period helped shape the service mix that still defines the business today. Screen printing became the core, with one colour prints for simple runs and multi-colour prints for artwork that needed more detail. The team also began developing stronger repeat order support, because many customers came back for the same logo in a new size or a new garment range. Once a set-up was right, it made sense to keep it on file and use it again when needed.
- Local orders grew across Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp and St Francis Bay.
- More schools asked for bulk packing and bagging for easy distribution.
- Teams started requesting oversize back prints for sports kit and event wear.
- Clients wanted straightforward quotes and clear artwork checks before print.
2012 to 2015: Better artwork, better finishing, better control
As the work volume grew, so did the need for tighter production control. This was the stage where artwork setup became more important. Logos had to be cleaned up, resized and checked before they went to press, especially when customers had different artwork supplied over time. Ridwaan Isaacs became central to that process, making sure files were prepared properly and that the print result matched the brief as closely as possible.
At the same time, colour matching became a bigger part of the service. Some customers wanted a very specific shade for school branding, while others needed a logo to sit neatly on darker garments. That kind of accuracy is not about fancy talk, it is about checking ink, fabric and placement until the result is right. Sample strike-offs were also introduced more often, especially for new clients or larger orders where the final look mattered a lot.
During these years the business also started to offer more finishing options. Folding and bagging became useful for schools and stores, while neat packing made delivery and distribution easier. The move from a basic print-only service to a fuller production service was gradual, but it made the shop more useful to customers who wanted everything sorted in one place.
2016 to 2019: More garment types and a wider local reach
By the middle years of trading, Brand-On Screen Printing was handling a wider mix of garments. Hoodies became a regular request in cooler months, caps were common for sports days and promotions, and team kit needed a print method that could cope with repeated use. Sleeve printing and neck label prints also became part of the offering for clients who wanted a more finished, branded look.
These years also saw the business serve more towns in the Kouga and nearby areas. Jeffreys Bay remained the base, but the customer list kept growing into Oyster Bay, Cape St Francis, Kareedouw and Gqeberha. For many clients, it was easier to deal with one local printer who understood the area and could keep the order moving without fuss. The base in the industrial area helped with practical handling, receiving stock, finishing work and collection planning.
- Hoodies and caps became standard items for school and club campaigns.
- Team kit orders increased, especially for sport and event use.
- Clients began asking for cleaner repeat runs with exact logo placement.
- More businesses wanted printed workwear that held up in daily use.
2020 to 2023: Staying steady through pressure and change
Like many South African businesses, this period brought pressure from changing costs, supply delays and power interruptions. The difference came from staying organised. Jobs had to be scheduled around municipal realities and load-shedding, with extra attention given to timing, stock control and production planning. The team had to be practical about what could go through the press on a given day and what needed to be held back until the next slot.
Even with those pressures, the business kept serving local customers and repeat clients who depended on dependable turnaround. Leandi Smit handled quotes and sales with a clear eye on what customers needed, while Jason van Rooyen led finishing work so orders left in good order. Anele Mhlabeni kept production moving and Thobeka Nene focused on press operation, with Megan Daniels managing client communication so enquiries and order details stayed clear. It was a team effort, and that mattered more than ever.
For many customers in this period, the value was not only in the print itself but in the way the order was handled. People needed honest lead times, sensible advice on garment choices and a supplier who could cope with the rough edges of business in real life, not just on paper.
2024 to today: A mature local printer with a steady method
Today, Brand-On Screen Printing is known as a practical Jeffreys Bay printer with a clear service range and a strong local base. The business still handles screen printing for schools, clubs, surf-town brands and businesswear, but now does so with more structure, more experience and better coordination across the whole job from quote to finishing. The main aim has not changed. It is still about getting the order right and keeping the client informed.
Under the leadership of MD Brandon Michael Jacobs, the company has kept its local identity while building a process that works for the region. That includes production for Humansdorp, St Francis Bay, Gqeberha and surrounding towns, plus bulk orders that need careful packing and repeat orders that need consistency from season to season. The team understands that a printed garment is not just clothing, it is often part of a school image, a club identity or a business presentation.
What has remained constant since 2008 is the preference for plain, honest service. No unnecessary fuss. Just clear quotes, proper artwork handling, colour checked prints and finishing that makes the order ready to hand out or wear straight away.