Chamber road trip visits Kelley Print Shop

The Lake Township Chamber of Commerce held another Morning CONNECTIONS Road Trip on the morning of May 6, which started at the Chamber Office and Welcome Center and ended at Kelley Print Shop at 133 S. Prospect Ave. in Hartville.

Kelley Print Shop is a local business that specializes in screen-printed shirts and hats. They ship their products all over the U.S. and beyond.

Owner John Kelley told his story of growing up with “ink in his veins” as his dad had started and run a printing business while also working at Goodyear. John grew up in Randolph and went to the University of Akron to earn an information technology degree. He spent 20 years in IT before deciding to get back into printing.

In 2002, Kelley began HallStar Sports with partner Guy Hall. Hall is no longer with the business, and they are now located in the old post office building. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the importance of their retail sales. Today, their retail sports storefront accounts for approximately 5% of their retail business. Kelley said 40%-45% of their printing business is local, with the rest out of state. Last year, they sourced 200,000 T-shirts. They do not have minimums on bulk printing, but to get the best pricing, they suggest ordering at least 12. Customers pick the design, color and sizes, and then Kelley’s does the rest. They work closely with Get Branded Apparel and CFP Designs to give customers the best products. Kelley presently has three full-time employees, with his brother Tom now working part time after many years full time. Son Bradley is in Columbus and handles sales for the business, and son Nathan bought his grandparents’ home, where they ran their printing business when John was growing up.

In 2025, after years of serving customers as HallStar Sports, they announced their new name: Kelley Print Shop. They changed the name because, as the business had grown, so had their services. They enhanced the spirit wear area of their store and now offer custom screen printing of shirts and hats, Direct-To-Film full-color printing, embroidery and more. Their new name better reflects everything they do and makes it easier for customers to know where to turn for their printing needs.

The process works like this: Customers can choose from pre-existing designs or create their own custom designs for shirts or hats. The order is placed with Kelley Print Shop, specifying the design, quantity and type of product. The shop uses screen-printing equipment to produce the custom designs on the selected products and, once the order is complete, Kelley Print Shop ships the products to the customer. They also offer local merchandise in stock, and customers can visit the shop to browse or place custom orders.

Kelley is on the board of Challenge Ministries, which operates out of Marlboro Christian Church. John’s wife, Chris, works in the business and handles much of the nonprofit work. There is a large basement under the store that is used to sort and box up provisions for a domestic violence support organization and an emergency homeless shelter.

In other Lake Township Chamber of Commerce news, a meaningful addition recently took shape at the Heritage Gateway in downtown Hartville. The new backdrop wall was added to the Heritage Gateway by Jonathan Paul Fleming, architect, who created a meaningful space to celebrate the community and capture the moment. The featured black-and-white photo represents Hartville’s early development years, tying the modern gateway to Hartville’s historical roots and connecting the community’s past with its future.

The feature enhances the space and creates a welcoming landmark for residents, visitors and local businesses alike. The project reflects continued investment in placemaking along the West Maple corridor and reinforces Hartville’s identity as a vibrant, connected community. Residents are encouraged to stop by, take a photo and experience the new gathering space firsthand.