Inside of IQ Ink’s showroom displaying different pieces they can screen print or embroider
Photo credit: IQ Ink and Embroidery
CHICOPEE — IQ Ink and Embroidery hosted a grand opening on May 2 to introduce the community to its new space at 35 North Chicopee St., on the third floor above The Good Dog Spot.
Owner Paula Dumas explained that this “small, family-owned,” business started about 14 years ago in Chicopee as a side job in the family’s garage, doing screen printing for friends.
After a few months, it became bigger than she and her husband, Brett, expected which made the couple realize that one of them should do it full-time.
Dumas was taking classes at Holyoke Community College for design and was able to get her degree to continue the screen print operation.
She stated, “It quickly became way too much for running a home business out of a garage.”
Dumas found an existing print shop in Chicopee that wanted to sell their business and took over the space. This also allowed them to add an embroidery option.
After renting the space for nine years, Dumas and her family felt constrained on sizing and couldn’t add more embroidery machines or expand the print shop and it was difficult for customers to get in and out.
This led the business to find their current space at 35 North Chicopee St., which they have been moving into since last June.
The space used to be the old Hampden Brewing building, which is connected to a warehouse, allowing for IQ Ink to separate its sales floor and embroidery operations.
Dumas and her family revitalized and renovated the space allowing them to add some more machinery.
She said, “We’re finally 100% in and feel like it’s home. I felt like it was time for a re-grand opening. We’re glad to be in Chicopee. We don’t want to move outside Chicopee. We raised our family here and my husband has lived here his entire life, and we love the working class feel of our small city and I love being part of that.”
IQ Ink has worked with the mayor’s office to design shirts for some of the city’s biggest events like National Night Out or Spooktacular.
Dumas is also involved in the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and explained, “It’s really opened the doors to a lot more connections and growth. It feels nice to continue growing in our business, but also helping out around the area,”
The shop is open Monday through Friday with walk-in hours from noon to 5 p.m. Dumas said they also take appointments before and after those hours to give IQ Ink flexibility on deliveries and meeting clients.
IQ Ink offers free local delivery to make it easy for their clients who may have full-time jobs.
Dumas also credits some of the growth of the business to her oldest son, Nate, who is the operations manager and brings in younger clients.
He also set up a vendor fair that took place on May 3 where approximately 10 different designers set up tables at IQ Ink to sell their work.
Dumas said the best way to inquire about an order or check out some of the apparel the shop offers is to visit iq-ink.com, or its Facebook or Instagram page.
The website also links to their main supplier’s page. Dumas explained, “This also allows people to shop some of the clothing, get an idea of what they may want and because we have a showroom, a lot of the items are on display here, so people come in and touch and feel the items.”
