Scope: Founder, Application Architect, and Platform Engineer
incthread.com
Situation:
Small-to-midsize screen printing and embroidery shops often rely on outdated ERP systems or disconnected manual workflows to manage orders, approvals, artwork, and customer interactions. Through direct conversations with print shop owners, I identified an opportunity to build a modern, all-in-one platform tailored to their real-world operational needs.
Task:
Build a scalable, full-featured SaaS platform that automates core business functions for custom print shops—combining eCommerce, mockup generation, order approval workflows, and supplier integration into a single, intuitive system.
Action:
As the sole engineer and founder, I led the platform from concept to production, driving architecture, development, and deployment:
- Platform Architecture: Combined WooCommerce (WordPress) for eCommerce with custom PHP plugins for order workflows and Python microservices for backend logic and automation.
- Mockup Generator: Built an in-browser artwork editor using Fabric.js that lets users drag, position, and preview artwork on apparel templates—dynamically tied to product variations.
- Quote & Payment System: Designed a multi-step quoting workflow with automated pricing logic, email approvals, and Stripe-based payment triggers.
- Inventory Integration: Integrated with the S&S Activewear API to sync live product data, inventory, and automate garment ordering.
- Import Tools: Wrote Python-based REST API clients to manage bulk imports of SKUs, mockups, and pricing data, reducing admin workload.
- Infrastructure: Deployed on a hardened Debian LAMP stack with Apache and MySQL; future-ready for containerization and CDN optimization.
Result:
- Production-Ready MVP launched and trialed with multiple real-world print shops, validating UX and workflow coverage.
- Built a scalable feature foundation that supports custom artwork workflows, pricing automation, and product sourcing.
- Platform actively being pitched to early customers, with positive feedback driving roadmap development and investor interest.
- Incorporated forward-looking capabilities like AI-based artwork validation (e.g., resolution checks, print-readiness scoring), positioning IncThread competitively against legacy systems.
IncThread represents my end-to-end ability to conceive, architect, and engineer real-world SaaS solutions—blending full-stack skills, business insight, and hands-on delivery.
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