CFP Designs expands into larger Hartville storefront after first-year success

Christine Pilato, owner of CFP Designs, shared her story of starting and expanding her business at the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce MorningConnections ribbon cutting Wednesday, Sept. 17.

CFP Designs is located at 899 West Maple St. in the Hartville Centre, in the heart of a retail corridor with other retail and office spaces. The business recently celebrated its first year and moved into a larger location right next door to its original storefront.

“It’s an exciting time at CFP Designs,” Pilato said. “The support of the community, family and friends has been incredible over the last year and we would love for you to celebrate with us.”

She also highlighted collaborations with local partners including Kelley Print Shop and Get Branded Apparel, noting she feels fortunate to live in a small-town atmosphere with strong business connections.

Pilato’s expertise is direct-to-film (DTF) printing. DTF printers produce digital transfer sheets for everything from single-color shirt labels to left-chest logos to full-size prints. The process uses enhanced printing technology film that is 75 millimeters thick for better transfer characteristics, is roll-fed, designed for cold peel and translucent for simpler heat-press applications. “The possibilities are nearly endless,” Pilato said, noting that through collaborations with local suppliers, CFP Designs can deliver just about any request.

Pilato opened her business in 2024 in a 1,000-square-foot space but almost immediately realized it was too small to accommodate the printer, inventory, retail storefront and production area. The property owner offered a 2,200-square-foot unit next door and allowed workers to cut a hole in the wall so the printer could be moved without removing the front glass. With an electrician on site, the machine was disconnected and reinstalled within hours. The DTF printer, manufactured by ColDesi in Florida, was selected because Pilato wanted a U.S.-made product with strong support. She said its versatility and uniqueness allow them to use any color and virtually any fabric, offering advantages over traditional screen printing.

Her husband, Frank, an information technology teacher in the Lake Local School District, has been an ardent supporter, helping wherever needed. Christine said her interest began when Frank bought her a Cricut machine, which led her to search for the best methods and equipment before opening her business.

Today, customers can choose from pre-made designs on display — seasonal, sports or school-related — or order something custom. CFP specializes in acrylic patches and features a hat bar. It also offers spangle pressed directly onto clothing, a newer method that replaces the traditional approach of sewing onto another fabric.

In addition, CFP sells Siser heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and permanent vinyl for crafters. Siser is an adhesive material used to print designs on fabrics and other substrates. The shop also offers sublimation printing, a digital process that uses heat to transfer dye directly into materials such as fabric, ceramic, metal or glass. Unlike other methods that layer ink on the surface, sublimation embeds the dye into the material, creating a permanent, vibrant print.

CFP Designs has become a go-to source for DTF prints, vinyl supplies, digital images and sublimation products. Local customers looking for custom shirts, hats, cups or crafting materials can stop by the shop, visit cfpdesignsonline.com, or call 330-413-7968.