(Photo above: Flask Ink owner Dan Wellish and Jeren Brown prepare automatic press to print t-shirts for Vern Patrick Elementary’s Jog-A-Thon | by Krystal Marie Collins)
Since 2008, Dan Wellisch, owner of Flash Ink in Bend, has produced merchandise including business cards, banners, embroidery and apparel for many local companies. Wellisch first moved to the area via Arizona, though originally from Venice Beach, when his wife found employment as a physician assistant in Bend. Wellisch acquired Flash Inc when his wife’s co-worker proposed sale of the modest but profitable screen printing business.
“We started in a garage,” Wellisch explains, “a ten by twenty shop with one manual press and just me on staff. Now we are in a 2,000 square foot space, with three presses, two of which are six color manuals, one automatic and we have four employees.”
Expanding the shop space, hiring and plans to purchase a fourth press Wellisch says are all results of growth. This year he has already seen 47 percent increase compared with last year. “Businesses are putting more money into ad specialty or promotional products for their industry, for branding.” He points to this as a measure of Central Oregon’s current economic climate.
Having a strong focus on affordability has helped Flash Ink grow. “We get businesses the products they need at reasonable prices,” says Wellisch. Whether a startup needing to build a brand or a large company mass producing, we do low or high volume and keep it affordable.”
After many years in the action sports industry as a sales representative, Wellisch’s eye for what pops and detail means every item produced is of the highest caliber. Customers such as the Bend Brew Fest, local breweries, many dispensaries, Mt. Bachelor, Anthony Lakes, Express Way, El Sancho and Vern Patrick Elementary are pleased by Flash Inks precession and keep coming back.
Committed to keeping it local, Flash Ink will sponsor Central Oregon Pride for the second year this June, has sponsored the Warren Miller annul winter event for five years and plans to distribute merchandise at the Freedom Ride on July 4th as they did last year.
Wellisch encourages interested parties to check out their promotional products division at Flash Ink. He says 80 percent of questions about the spectrum of products they make can be answered by visiting the Flash Ink website, though, “don’t hesitate to call for a quote.” Lastly, keep an eye out on Instagram and in mailers for Flash Ink printing promotions.
Big local industries needing mass printing services for merchandise are especially encouraged to choose local printing and not seek these services out the region.
Company: Flash Ink
Contact: info@flashink.com, flashink.com, 541-32-FLASH (35274), 924 SE Wilson Ave Suite E
CEO: Dan Wellisch
No. Employees: 4
Year Established: 2008
Product/Service: Custom Screen Printing, Embroidery, and Promotional Products
Outlook for Growth: Killin’ it in 2016
