INKclusivity: Building a Better Business by Seeing Ability

What if one of the best ways to build a stronger business is to start looking at the talent most companies overlook? This week, we welcome back Jed Seifert, co-founder of Stakes Manufacturing and the reigning 2025 REGGIE Award Industry Ambassador. Jed joins us to talk about the newly released book INKclusivity: Company Benefits of Disability Inclusion & How-To Implementation Guide, which he co-authored with Vince Bartozzi, Patrick Bardsley, and Tim Howe. We’ll explore why disability inclusion is more than a social initiative. It can also be a smart business strategy. Jed will share what Stakes Manufacturing has learned from building an inclusive workforce, some of the misconceptions that keep businesses from getting started, and practical steps even a small print or decorating shop can take to create opportunities for people with disabilities. We’ll also talk about Jed’s new Raising the Stakes podcast and his mission to highlight business leaders who are using their success and influence to make a difference. If you’ve struggled to find and keep great employees, wondered how disability inclusion could work in your business, or simply want to build a company that creates an impact beyond the bottom line, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

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Aaron: Jed, it’s been a while since you’ve been on the show, so give us a quick rundown of your journey in the industry.

Terry: Let’s start with the title. What does “INKclusivity” mean, and what made you decide this was a book that needed to be written? But first, share the names of the other authors.

Aaron: You’re not approaching disability inclusion as just a social issue; you’re making a business case for it. What are companies missing when they overlook people with disabilities?

Aaron: A business owner might hear “disability inclusion” and immediately think, “This is going to be complicated or expensive.” What would you say to that person?

Terry: The subtitle calls this a “How-To Implementation Guide.” You mentioned that 10% of your 275-person workforce consists of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and read that you guys also run internships with your local school system that have led to full-time employment. What are some things a small business could actually do tomorrow to become more inclusive?

Aaron: I’ve seen you on panels shaking your head when the question comes up. We talk to a lot of decorators who are struggling to find and keep good employees. Is there an untapped workforce here that our industry simply isn’t paying enough attention to?

Aaron: What have you learned at Stakes Manufacturing from employing and working alongside people with disabilities that surprised you personally?

Terry: Where do companies most often get disability inclusion wrong, even when they genuinely have good intentions?

Aaron: Let’s switch to the Raising the Stakes Podcast. Why launch a podcast now, and what conversations do you want to have there that you weren’t able to have anywhere else?

Terry: The name Raising the Stakes obviously connects to Stakes Manufacturing, but I’m guessing it has another meaning. What do you want to “raise the stakes” on?

Aaron: If somebody listens to this conversation, reads INKclusivity, and then starts listening to Raising the Stakes, what do you hope they ultimately do differently in their own business?

Terry: Okay, Jed, let’s say I own a 10-person screen printing shop. What do I do Monday morning?

Terry: OK, Jed, where can people find the book, find the podcast, and find you?

We serve up bite-sized tips for our #regulators to instantly spice up their decorated apparel business. Just like the perfect wing sauce, these quick tips can transform your business experience, adding flavor and depth to your operations. Each video in this playlist is a nugget of wisdom, carefully selected for its potential to bring immediate value to your work. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the decorated apparel industry, dip into our ‘Secret Sauce’ for insights that can help you soar.