Hot Mess Express: All Aboard - Funny Train T-Shirt

Print · Wrap · Tint — Barre, VT

How It Started

Granite City Graphics started because of a moment that didn’t feel lucky at the time—but ended up being a little bit of serendipity.

On July 3rd, 2012, I was at my last stop of the day doing a packout at the local Dollar General. I stepped up onto the second step on the fuel tank of my tractor-trailer and grabbed a piece of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum so my breath wouldn’t stink. As I turned around to leave, I rolled my right ankle off the top step and went down—landing on it sideways from about four feet up. I cracked the cartilage on the inside of my ankle, and that started a long recovery that eventually included six surgeries.

After the first year of being home, I got bored. I needed something to do—something I could build. So I borrowed $1,500 on a credit card, bought one roll of vinyl, a plotter, and design software, and started making graphics.

The funny part is: I had no design experience. I didn’t go to school for this, and I didn’t have a background in graphics. I learned by watching YouTube—graphic design, running plotters, installing vinyl, and basically everything I’ve ever done in this business. It was a lot of trial-and-error, a lot of late nights, and a lot of learning as I went.

At first, Granite City Graphics was built wherever I could make it work—starting in a basement and a spare room. As the work picked up, we moved out and into the garage. And as the community kept supporting us, we kept growing.

Today, we’re in our third location: a 2,000 square foot shop—and honestly, we’re starting to outgrow this space too. That’s a good problem to have, and it’s got us excited about what’s next.

Looking back, that fall is the reason Granite City Graphics exists. It’s a reminder that sometimes everything really does happen for a reason—the thing that knocks you down can also be the thing that points you toward what you’re meant to do.

Our Mission

Granite City Graphics’ mission is to support our Vermont community by helping local businesses, schools, teams, and organizations look their best—without the runaround. We deliver high-quality custom graphics, apparel, signage, and branding with quick turnaround times, clear communication, and a “we’ll figure it out” attitude that makes the process easy from start to finish.We’re a local shop, and we take that seriously. That means doing the job right, standing behind our work, and treating every order—whether it’s one item or a full fleet—like it represents both your name and ours. Our goal is simple: make great products, move fast when you need it, and be the kind of reliable partner our community can count on.

Our Values

Community First: We’re local, we show up, and we take pride in helping Vermont businesses, schools, and teams succeed.
Quality You Can Trust: We’re detail-obsessed and we don’t cut corners—because our name is on it too.
Fast, Reliable Turnaround: We move quickly, communicate clearly, and hit deadlines (with rush options when you need them).
Clear Communication: No guessing games—upfront pricing, honest timelines, and updates you can count on.
Problem Solvers: If there’s a way to make it happen, we’ll find it and guide you through the best option.
Respect for Every Order: One decal or a full rebrand—every job gets the same care and attention.
Stand Behind Our Work: If something isn’t right, we make it right.

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Hot Mess Express: All Aboard - Funny Train T-Shirt