Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
DOWNTOWN SHOP — Blaine Jackett has opened a new business in downtown Houlton. JEI Sports has been making screened shirts and other products since 2008 from his home, but Jackett recently opened a storefront on 3 Water St. to increase visibility and foot traffic.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Achieving one’s goals is something every person strives for. For Blaine Jackett of Houlton, one of those goals has become a reality.
After doing a home business for a short time, JEI Sports recently opened a downtown location at 3 Water St.
For several years, Jackett has operated a line striping business, which takes him around the state and beyond. In 2008, Jackett decided to expand his horizons from painting stripes on pavement, to putting ink onto T-shirts, mugs and more.
“It was something that I started doing to help my wife out,” he explained. “She wanted some T-shirts done up for her kindergarten graduation and it snowballed from there. I started seeing all the different things that are out there and available to be done and I liked the creative side. It’s fun.”
In February of 2012, JEI Sports bought out the Houlton-based Designs Unlimited, which included T-shirt and mug business. Jackett expanded the business to include screen printing, vinyl cutting, signature shirts, cursive writing on a T-shirts and heat transfers.
JEI Sports stocks everything from clothing to photo plates and mugs to water bottles.
“Screen printing is a process of using a fine mesh screen to squeeze ink through it, onto a shirt, in a designated area,” Jackett said. “We also do heat transfers and sublimation, which is putting ink into high pressure and high heat to permeate the surface of the product. It becomes permanent. Whatever is envisioned on a computer screen can go exactly onto a surface.”
Customers can bring their own images to Jackett to have printed, or can simply give him some ideas for what they wish to have and let him work his magic using various software programs.
“I have had people come in who saw some shirts online and said they wanted to have something like that,” he said. “I’ll try to create what they are looking for.”
Bridal party shirts are a popular new trend, Jackett said, as they provide a keepsake for those in the wedding party for years to come. Softball/baseball jersey and graduation T-shirts are always popular items, he added.
Another business avenue waiting to be tapped, Jackett said, was for businesses or groups to have custom-made products, such as backpacks, totes, T-shirts, mugs or anything they can dream up, for fund-raising projects.
JEI Sports can also make custom banners for businesses or parties and can also do magnetic signs and window clings to place on vehicles.
Locating his shop downtown was important for Jackett.
“The exposure is really good,” he said. “We still need to change people’s method of thinking. So many feel they are getting a better deal if they go out of town. People need to support local businesses. It’s changing a mindset.”
Jackett will be open during Midnight Madness this year and is selling specially made slipper socks for cancer awareness.
JEI Sports Inc. is open Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call Jackett at 532-1577 or e-mail info@jeisports.com. JEI Sports can also be found on Facebook.
