our story
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
The beginning
In 2006, Chad Schilmoeller opened American INK in a leased space on N. Marion Road outfitted with hand me down fixtures. The first order was written on notebook paper and his aunt, Barbra Christian, created the graphic design work. Soon came the first full-time employee, Nicole Pechous, our valued office manager of 20 years.
The inspiration
With an entrepreneurial mindset and 15 years in the industry, Chad opened his own family business, American INK. Two years later he added an embroidery machine with Chad's sister, Nicole Benning, as Embroidery Production Manager.
The classics
For the first five years American INK operated with one manual and one automatic press, an embroidery machine and business office in under 4,000 square feet. In 2011, additional squart footage was added at the Marion Road location creating separate working spaces for each division. The largest order printed in 2006 was under 500 garments. To date, we have produced 28,000 garments in a single order, and counting...
The growth
Today, AmericanINK operates in a state-of-the-art 11,000 sq foot production facility with three automatic presses, one manual press, two dryers, three embroidery machines, an art department, modern showroom and eleven employees. It is employee dedication, loyalty, and hard work that make American INK a living, breathing, company committed to customer service and satisfaction.
The generations
Chad Schilmoeller; owner and operating CEO
Brooklyn Schilmoeller;(daughter) marketing and social media
Luke Schilmoeller; (son) part-time sales
Nicole Schilmoeller; (wife) part-time summer support
Nicole Benning; (sister) embroidery production manager
Barbara Christen; (aunt) graphic design
Mason Leonard; (future son-in-law) screen-print production
Billy Bob Dorrel; (grandpa) former quality control manager
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expanded production & showroom in
southwest sioux falls
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American INK Screen Printing & Embroidery Announces Relocation to a Newly Renovated Location in Expanding Southern Sioux Falls Area at Tea Exit
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American Ink Screen Printing & Embroidery, a locally owned Sioux Falls business for over 20 years, has relocated to a newly remodeled industrial facility near Tea, just off I-29. The former Thornton Flooring warehouse at 47057 98th Street offers 9,300 square feet of production space, a modern office and showroom, and a 1,800-square-foot mezzanine overlooking the operation.
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“We’ve been busting at the seams for years, and expanding into our own building creates exciting new opportunities for our team and customers,” said owner Chad Schilmoeller.
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The move allows American Ink to expand operations, upgrade screen printing and embroidery equipment, and improve workflow and customer experience. The new location also features ample parking and drive-in loading docks for large orders.
Founded in 2006, American Ink is a family-owned screen printing, embroidery, and promotional products company serving the greater Midwest.
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Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, American INK is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
