Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Saravia.
Hi Joel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Me and my wife , (Joel Saravia and Karla Saravia) currently owners of plus Custom Printing
start our business on 2021 in pour house , we bought a embroidery machine and we start offering our services to companies who have a printing store but didn’t had embroidery machines , but with the time many people start contact us through social media to do custom embroider for them , and then the same clients start asking for more services , so we have to add them , so with the pass of the years we invested on a new equipment we gained valuable knowledge and built the store we proudly have today
The ability to bring my ideas to life and transform them into something tangible is what inspired me to pursue a career in the printing industry , when people saw the products we had produced they often asked who was behind them , so I realized that my work made an impact and that people truly appreciated what I created
Looking at the past and to our beginning , my wife and I are from El Salvador , she is Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory and I am Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science with graduate studies in Graphic design , in our country we work on the fields we study , but we come from a family entrepreneurs , which inspired us to build business of our own . We opened two dairy product store in our hometown , Joel always had passion for organizing modified car exhibitions , and in El Salvador he founded an annual event called Super Auto Show (SAS)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/131129576004916
everything was going well in our lives until we began receiving threats and extortion demands from local gangs , they required us to pay a monthly fee in exchange for being allowed to continue operating our business safely , if we refused , our lives were at risk .
At first we paid the amount they demanded , but over the time the payments kept increasing until they became impossible to afford , faced with this situation we made the difficult decision to leave our country in order to protect our lives and our future
We were forced to leave our businesses and everything we had worked so hard to build behind , and we start over from scratch in a new place
Like I already mentioned my wife and I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit , as we have mentioned before . As our business continued to grow the embroidery machine we operated from our home was no longer enough to meet demand, we realized it was time to take the next step and find a commercial space where we could better serve our customers and continue expanding our business. finding a suitable location was one of the first major challenges we faced , the process of obtaining permits , meeting the city requirements, securing insurance , and ensuring that everything was fully compliant required a significant investment of both time and money , despite these obstacles , we remained committed to our vision and worked hard to build a strong foundation for our business
Our business has continued to grow significantly , in February 2025 we opened our first physical storefront and received tremendous support from our costumers , since then we have expanded our services to more than three times what we originally offered , and we remain committed to staying up to date with industry trends so we can provide our customers with the latest products and services
Although we are still in a stage of growth , 2025 marked an important milestone for us as we celebrate our first anniversary . to recognize this achievement, we invited a small group of our costumers to celebrate the support and acceptance we have received, and we shared the occasion with our team , whose dedication has played a vital role in our success
Quality has always been at the heart of everything we do , We approach every project as if it were being made for ourselves . This mindset challenges us to maintain the highest standards because if a product is not created to an excellent standard, we do not believe it is ready to be delivered to our customers.
One of the most interesting projects we have worked on was when our team was hired to participate in promotional tours for several companies in the DMV area. During these events, we provided live laser engraving services, personalizing metal bottles on site , for attendees. dozens of people attended each event , giving us the opportunity to showcase our work and interact directly with customers , It was an exciting experience that allowed us to demonstrate our craftsmanship in real time and create unique products for each participant
We proudly serve all types of customers without exception, our process begins by listening carefully to each client, understanding their vision, the message they want to communicate, and the materials they would like to use it. We then create a mockup or design proof for their review. Once the design is approved, we begin the production process.
In Pasadena, we found a space that matched our vision and fit within our budget. The property owner recognized our determination to succeed and supported us greatly throughout the process. We are also fortunate to be surrounded by many neighbors, who own their own business and personal projects and who trust us with their printing and customization needs.
Seeing our products installed, displayed, or being used by our customers motivates us more than ever to continue growing and improving. Building strong relationships within the community is very important to us. We believe that staying connected to getting to know our surroundings and expanding our network help us strengthen our business and create new opportunities.
We are proud to be part of the Pasadena community where there is a wide variety of entrepreneurs local businesses , and established companies , Being connected to such a vibrant community has contributed greatly to our growth and success .
My family is my greatest motivation . it is incredibly rewarding to see members of our team pursue their personal goals and dreams while growing alongside our company , in addition knowing that we help our clients build a professional image , increase their sales , create meaningful experiences , and strengthen their brands gives purpose to everything we do
Entrepreneurship is not a short race it is a long journey that requires patience , dedication and consistency . Before starting a business, it is important to identify your ideal customer and understand the problems your product or service is meant to solve. It is equally important to recognize that challenges and obstacles will arise, and to view them as opportunities to learn, improve, and grow. Building genuine relationships with other professionals and seeking mentorship within your industry can also make a significant difference.
Looking ahead, our goal at Plus Custom Printing is to continue learning about new technologies, techniques, and industry trends so that we can keep both our company and our clients at the forefront of innovation. We want the Pasadena community to know that Plus Custom Printing is committed to supporting local businesses, organizations, and individuals through our talent, creativity, and dedicated team.
We warmly invite everyone to visit our store, get to know us, and see firsthand the wide variety of products and services we proudly offer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As our business continued to grow the embroidery machine we operated from our home was no longer enough to meet demand, we realized it was time to take the next step and find a commercial space where we could better serve our customers and continue expanding our business. finding a suitable location was one of the first major challenges we faced , the process of obtaining permits , meeting the city requirements, securing insurance , and ensuring that everything was fully compliant required a significant investment of both time and money , despite these obstacles , we remained committed to our vision and worked hard to build a strong foundation for our business
Our business has continued to grow significantly , in February 2025 we opened our first physical storefront and received tremendous support from our costumers , since then we have expanded our services to more than three times what we originally offered , and we remain committed to staying up to date with industry trends so we can provide our customers with the latest products and services
We’ve been impressed with Plus Custom Pringting, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a company that offer digital publish creation , designs , creation , elaboration and printing , we are the ones who make everything
We do DTF Printing , different kinds of signs , Business stationery , laser engraving ( the most special one ) and murals , our most popular services are neon signs, car wraps, and embroidery
The ability to bring my ideas to life and transform them into something tangible is what inspired me to pursue a career in the printing industry , when people saw the products we had produced they often asked who was behind them , so I realized that my work made an impact and that people truly appreciated what I created
Quality has always been at the heart of everything we do , We approach every project as if it were being made for ourselves . This mindset challenges us to maintain the highest standards because if a product is not created to an excellent standard, we do not believe it is ready to be delivered to our customers.
One of the most interesting projects we have worked on was when our team was hired to participate in promotional tours for several companies in the DMV area. During these events, we provided live laser engraving services, personalizing metal bottles on site , for attendees. dozens of people attended each event , giving us the opportunity to showcase our work and interact directly with customers , It was an exciting experience that allowed us to demonstrate our craftsmanship in real time and create unique products for each participant
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
that i founded the most popular annual event called Super Auto Show (SAS) on El Salvador
Pricing:
- Printing T shirts $15 each
- 500 Business cards $90
- Embroidery Polos $30
- Car wraps $800 – $4000
- Neon SIgns $60- $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pluscustomprinting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluscustomprinting?igsh=eWkzanN4dWxhNzR1&utm_source=qr
