Josh Ford, 27
Owner and chief printing jedi, Giraphic Prints
Most business owners don’t celebrate their 10th anniversary at age 27, but that’s what Josh Ford is doing this year after founding his T-shirt printing operation while he was still in high school. Ford has gone from doing screen prints in the back of his grandmother’s shed to opening a full printing facility and office in Mid City in 2014. He has fully automated his screen-printing apparel business at the Government Street facility, and now oversees a multimillion-dollar business with a diversified client base that includes everyone from companies and colleges to community and school groups. This year he expanded operations to North Carolina with an office in Charlotte. Ford is a board member of The Walls Project, and he volunteers as a reading friend at Highland Elementary.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Founding Giraphic Prints in 2007.
- Partnering with Jared Loftus to grow The Tiger District in 2011.
- Expanding Giraphic Prints to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2016.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
I sit on the board of The Walls Project and volunteer as a Reading Friend at Highland Elementary.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
An entrepreneur, just like my dad.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My first job was at Fresh Pickin’s as a produce stocker. I learned that I only wanted to work for myself and that I hated pickling cucumbers.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Gumbo po-boy at Bistro Byronz!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
In a few months Giraphic will be 10 years old. I am so proud of the team and company we have built.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
Lots of house music.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Sunday evenings.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Very casual. A screen printing shop’s floor doesn’t welcome nice clothes.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
I love seeing people wear shirts that we have printed and I hate accounts receivable.
MAC OR PC?
PC
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Somewhat, mostly on Snapchat.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
750 to 1,000 texts and 150 emails.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
Twenty-eight, which is really high for me. I can’t stand having messages that aren’t at least briefly read, then labeled.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
The iPhone is 10 years old next year, I’d say that was a pretty good one.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Self-checkout! Why have it if it’s never open?
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
7 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
I try to make a smoothie most mornings, but once a week I grab Chick-fil-a.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
My partners and I redeveloped an abandoned, unfinished building on Government Street and I am proud we are a part of the revitalization efforts in Mid City.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
In middle school our family flew to Phoenix and took a road trip through northern Arizona, Nevada and over to San Diego. I got to see the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and San Diego, and I remember the details of that trip to this day.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Flying, so I wouldn’t have to get on an airplane.
FAVORITE DRINK?
French 75.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
This changes on a weekly basis, but I would have to say my favorite band right now is The Wood Brothers.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Patience is a virtue.
PETS?
Peter the cat.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
Yes, I spent a few days with Al Gore’s family on a ski trip and had dinner with Al one night. Most importantly, Tipper didn’t know where Baton Rouge was.
