The ShopWorks Story


ShopWorks is the product we designed when JAM Graphics Inc., A growing and respected apparel graphics company, and The Apparel Graphics Institute, joined forces to develop the smartest and most affordable industry-specific computer software offered in our industry.

By early 1993 JAM Graphics had been growing at 50% per year and suffering through growing pains associated with this growth. Information on orders was not traveling fast enough to keep up with the sales volume, bad information was rampant, and getting important business information took days of sifting through paperwork (sound familiar!?).

At this point it was evident that something had to be done to automate their business. Manual methods were not able to keep up with the demand for more and better information. After researching the problem and investigating existing programs, JAM Grafx decided that no programs existed that matched their budget, and more importantly, did what they wanted it to do.

After much deliberation, they decided to design and program their own industry specific system for in-house use. The initial program contained basic features, with new modules being added over the years. In 1995, after years of improvements, JAM Grafx decided to form a new company with Mark Venit, industry consultant and Impressions columnist. The purpose of this company (later named ShopWorks), was to make the program the best and most cost efficient industry specific software available.

We believe that our combination of computer skills and industry experience enables us to provide you with not only COMPUTER solutions, but BUSINESS solutions. Our perspective is your perspective. We have pulled a squeegee, threaded a needle and called a customer to collect on an account. All of this experience has been translated into our product.


The ShopWorks Team

Jay Malanga

  President, ShopWorks

Jay is an engineering graduate of Old Dominion University in Virginia. Before opening his own screen printing and embroidery business in 1991, he designed database and mechanical engineering systems for the Aerospace Industry. Jay is the primary system developer for the ShopWorks software product.

Mark L. Venit

  President of The Apparel Graphics Institute

Mark
is the apparel graphics industry's premier marketing and management authority. The industry's best read and most prolific author, he draws upon his more than 25 years of field experience with more than 500 companies, to create winning marketing strategies for his clients throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. The field tested fundamentals of Venit's management and marketing systems are integrated into the programming of ShopWorks. A graduate of Temple University (Bachelors and Masters degrees) Mark has trained literally thousands of executives, salespeople and production managers at the more than 1000 seminars he has conducted for the Imprinted Sportswear Shows. A recipient of SGIA's prestigious Magnus Award, he is a former vice-president of the SGIA Textile Division as well as founder of the industry's Variety Club Charity.


Mike Rauch

  Software Development Manager

Mike has been with ShopWorks since just after the inception of the company. Before becoming a ShopWorks employee, he worked at a promotional products company for 3 years, ending up as the Screen Printing Production Manager. Mike has extensive knowledge of the practical uses of the program, as well as behind the scenes technical knowledge. His role in our company has expanded and Mike is currently responsible for many of the improvements being made to the software. Mike can be e-mailed at m.rauch@shopworx.com.

Greg Stevens
  Technical Support

Greg is the head of our "frontline" technical support. His previous experience in screen printing, embroidery and customer service has helped him become an valuable contributor to ShopWorks and customers alike. Greg can be reached via e-mail at g.stevens@shopworx.com

Eddie Barreto

  Trainer & Technical Support

Eddie joined ShopWorks in 2005 and is the latest addition to our technical staff. In addition to phone support Eddie attends trade shows and performs customer installations. Eddie can be reached at e.barreto@shopworx.com.