Gen Z Entrepreneur Transforms Family Print Shop with Digital Innovation
Family Business Reimagined: Gen Z’s Startup Bet
Jules grew up in the same apartment above the family’s local print shop where his grandfather once laminated wedding invitations for couples who stayed loyal for decades. By the time he was 22, everyone seemed to assume he’d either run the shop or leave it behind entirely. Instead, Jules made a different bet—one that would bring together tradition and technology in a way that surprised his entire family.
Early Days: From Laminated Paper to Bits and Bytes
In 2022, business at “Picard Printing” was steady, sometimes even brisk—thanks to schools, churches, and the odd small business. But Jules saw warning signs. “Everyone I know gets their photos in the cloud. Why do we only do paper?” Jules recounted to his older brother one evening. While his parents dismissed these worries as the panic of youth, Jules couldn’t shake the feeling that something fundamental was changing.
Instead of walking away, he started shadowing customers. He noticed some people brought in thumb drives with digital files, frustrated by how clunky the process was. Others wished they could preview custom designs without multiple trips downtown. Sparked by these insights, Jules sketched out an idea: an online storefront that let customers design, preview, and order print products from anywhere, blending the old-school charm of family craftsmanship with the digital ease Gen Z prized.
"Everyone talks about disruption, but I didn't want to kill the family business—I wanted to help it adapt. The heart had to stay, but the tools had to change."
Convincing his parents was the first real challenge. They were protective of their reputation and wary of venturing into “risky online ideas.” The family went in circles at the dinner table for months. Jules, feeling alone but undeterred, built the first prototype on nights and weekends—relying on free online tutorials, campus Wi-Fi, and friends who owed him favors. That scrappy MVP, duct-taped together with open-source plugins, would soon test if anyone cared as much as Jules hoped.
Making it Real: First Customers and First Revenue
The launch was less a launch than a cautious ripple. Jules quietly added a “beta” link on Picard Printing’s barely used website and sent DMs to a few university clubs. The first order—a set of flyers for a student theater troupe—almost didn’t go through because the payment gateway broke. Jules spent four hours on customer support, but in the end, the flyers shipped, hand-packed by Jules himself.
Word of mouth mattered. The theater group posted their flyers on Instagram, tagging the business, and orders trickled in from other clubs and local artists. By month three, they made enough to cover the costs of the web hosting and then some. Jules’ parents grudgingly took notice, asking “How do we issue digital invoices?” and “Can you make the holiday cards editable for school PTA groups?”
Not everything worked. Attempts to automate print-ready file checks nearly derailed the shop’s workflow, so Jules learned to balance automation with human review. When a surge of graduation photo orders pushed the tiny team to its limits, Jules recruited his siblings and friends, proving that a Gen Z founder’s network can be just as valuable as venture capital.
- Fall 2022: MVP live for local test users; feedback mostly harsh but actionable.
- Early 2023: Beta orders from university clubs; first positive customer stories online.
- Spring 2023: Integrated payment gateway after initial hiccups, enabling online sales.
- Summer 2023: Offered custom design preview tool—big hit with creative customers and brought in their largest single order yet.
- Pivoted from “order anything” to “specialized, high-quality prints for young creators,” which clarified messaging and operations.
Lessons Learned: Practical Takeaways for Founders
- It’s okay to start analog. Jules realized early on that “digital transformation” wasn’t about switching everything on Day 1. By listening to real customers and respecting existing shop routines, upgrades felt like natural progress, not forced disruption.
- Customer empathy beats assumptions. The decision to narrow in on creative youth and organizations stemmed from seeing real friction points. “The best feedback was tough to hear, but it kept us honest and sharp,” Jules recalled.
- Your network solves bottlenecks faster than most software. Whether recruiting family for crunch periods or enlisting friends for design feedback, every small favor compounded into resilience. Jules’s approach was to “ask for help, repay in kindness, and build little by little.”
"Don’t chase viral launches—involve people early and let your community surprise you."
Looking Ahead (and Inviting Others)
As of this summer, Picard Printing’s digital storefront now accounts for more than half of all new orders. Jules’ parents now champion the digital arm with as much pride as the offset presses in the back room. The family regularly debates what feature to build next—AI-powered design templates, or collaborations with local artists? Jules admits there’s nothing easy about blending generational perspectives, but he wouldn’t trade it for any other startup bet.
What is your biggest takeaway from this journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
