Our Story

In 2015, during his third year of an Exercise Physiology degree at the University of Canberra, Sam Jensen started Capital Prints as a side hustle to help pay for uni. With a dodgy heat press and small vinyl cutter, he set up in the back of a local workwear store, printing T-shirts for businesses, sports teams, and mates.

The 18sqm setup was small but it was a start. Within a year, he invested in his first digital printer, finally able to print in more than one colour (a game-changer at the time). As his client list grew, the space quickly felt cramped, and momentum picked up.

Sam also designed the first CP logo himself…

In June 2016, with the business growing steadily, Sam moved into a space of his own - just shy of 100sqm under the well-known ONA Coffee shop in Fyshwick. Fuelled by caffeine, study sessions, and long hours printing, the business took shape. A small showroom (even had a change room!) was built, and hiring the first employee became a real consideration. Things were getting serious.

Sam also made the wise decision to pay a freelancer $99 for a new logo.

By 2017, Sam faced a major crossroads - pursue a career in allied health or double down on what was shaping up to be a promising business. With growing momentum, a few employees, and a clear vision for how the industry could improve in Canberra, the decision became clearer.

Backing himself, he went all in on the business, eager to see how far he could take it. That year, he also put a hole in the wall and expanded into the next unit, doubling the space to 190sqm - another big step in Capital Prints' growth.

In 2018, Sam joined forces with his dad, Peter Jensen, who owned Capital Sports and Embroidery. With things steadily growing, 190sqm was feeling tight, so they moved back to Kembla Street into a 400sqm space. By then, the team had grown to four all-rounders, and the business was becoming more established.

This move marked a key turning point as Capital Prints transitioned to full in-house production, gaining better control over processes. Over time, the benefits became clear - faster turnaround, improved quality, and the ability to take on more ambitious projects.

2019 brought a major milestone - landing the biggest job yet: over 3,500 t-shirts with two prints and more than 1,000 hoodies. It was a massive task, with 4–5 pallets of stock and over 150 hours spent just on the press by the two-person team operating the heat press. With family and friends jumping in to help, they pulled it off, marking a huge step forward for the business.

After a few years of steady growth, the team expanded to eight. Having weathered COVID, Sam and the team decided it was time to reinvest. They purchased two four-head embroidery machines and another digital printer, increasing capacity and efficiency. At the same time, they focused on strengthening their online presence, which played a key role in shifting the trajectory of the business.

2024 started with an unexpected challenge - a flood in January forced a major decision. It was time to move again, this time to a much larger 880sqm space on Canberra Avenue, more than double the size of Kembla Street. The move required a major fit-out and a huge effort to relocate all the machines.

With the new space came new investments. The team upgraded printing technology, increasing production capacity tenfold and cutting turnaround times. Capital Prints now runs eight embroidery machines, three printers, and two heat presses, with a team committed to continuously improving and delivering better service.