"Let the experts handle it so you can concentrate on what you do best—running your print shop." - Gus Koniaris, Partner, T-shirt Gang
When Gus Koniaris made the leap from 20 years in telecom to join his family's print-on-demand business, T-shirt Gang, he brought fresh eyes to operational challenges that had been draining both time and money. What he discovered was a shipping operation that required constant manual oversight, expensive Canadian shipping rates, and the perpetual risk of workflow disruption if someone forgot to top up postage accounts.
Now, after implementing GelatoConnect Logistics, those problems are ancient history.
T-shirt Gang operates as both a printer and a platform, allowing sellers to create products and publish them across major marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Shopify. But their shipping setup was holding them back.
"For Canada, given the size of the country, it was the expense," Gus explained. "It was very expensive to ship, and if you're shipping to remote areas within Canada, it can be as high as $20-25 to ship a t-shirt."
The operational burden was equally challenging. Before GelatoConnect, T-shirt Gang relied on just two carriers—Canada Post for Canadian shipments and USPS for US orders—neither of which provided optimal rates or comprehensive coverage.
Perhaps most frustrating was the constant need for manual intervention. "We'd have to constantly be prepaying postage," Gus noted. "During peak, someone maybe two or three times would have to just top up our account so it wouldn't get disrupted. If they forgot to do it, then it could disrupt the flow—it had to be constantly on someone's radar."
When GelatoConnect Logistics was introduced, Gus was initially apprehensive. But the data-driven approach and promise of expert management quickly won him over.
"We worked very closely with Colin from Gelato. He provided us with supporting data that convinced us we could save some money. We liked the idea that Gelato has full-time resources on this—they're constantly looking for new carriers, better deals, and always negotiating rates with their partners, which we simply don't have the time to do."
The value proposition was clear: let logistics experts handle the complex world of carrier negotiations and rate optimization while T-shirt Gang focused on what they do best—running their print business.
The results were both immediate and ongoing. Within their first year, T-shirt Gang realized significant cost savings across both their Canadian and US operations.
Cost Savings
5-10% savings in Canada through optimized carrier selection
5% savings in the US with better negotiated rates
Eliminated peak surcharges - Gelato negotiated no surcharge during peak season, saving 40-50 cents per package
"During peak, Gelato even negotiated no surcharge, which saved us 40 to 50 cents per package," Gus shared. "We're hoping that will apply again this year."
Operational Efficiency
The automation eliminated the constant need for manual postage management. "It's all automated on our end. We just scan a barcode, and the label prints—seamless," Gus explained.
The billing process transformed from reactive to proactive: "Now it's seamless. We just print our labels, get billed monthly, and Gelato gives us payment terms. It's been great."
While the immediate cost savings were compelling, the strategic benefits proved equally valuable:
Marketplace Compliance: "We work a lot with marketplaces. If a carrier's tracking isn't recognized, it's a problem. Gelato helps ensure compatibility with those platforms."
Smart Carrier Selection: GelatoConnect's algorithm automatically chooses the best carrier based on customer address, helping manage costs for challenging destinations like remote Canadian areas.
Peace of Mind: "We really don't spend a lot of time monitoring it because we know that you guys are doing such a great job for us."
What impressed Gus most wasn't just the technology, but the collaborative approach. "Colin was constantly negotiating rates and looking for additional carriers to add to your network."
This ongoing optimization means T-shirt Gang benefits from market changes and new opportunities without having to track them internally. "We may negotiate good rates today, and then 6 months from now the market may change. If we're not in constant contact with carriers, we may not be getting the best deal all the time."
T-shirt Gang is now expanding their GelatoConnect implementation, planning to migrate to GelatoConnect Workflow to take advantage of the full integrated platform. "Once we roll that part of the process out, then of course we'll take advantage of all these great features your system offers."
The company has also introduced direct-to-film printing and is exploring new product offerings through the Gelato network, demonstrating how logistics efficiency can enable business growth.
For T-shirt Gang, GelatoConnect Logistics solved both immediate pain points and strategic challenges. The measurable cost savings—up to 10% in Canada and 5% in the US—provided immediate ROI, while the operational simplification freed up resources for core business activities.
As Gus put it: "Let the experts handle it so you can concentrate on what you do best—running your print shop."
The transformation from manual, expensive shipping management to automated, optimized logistics has positioned T-shirt Gang for continued growth, and Gus is eager to share the experience with other businesses facing similar challenges.
"I'd have no problem meeting with your customers who are apprehensive—like we were at the beginning—to let them know how it's worked out for us."