Meet Chris Breazeale | Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Breazeale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I first started Buckets of Ink, the concept of work–life balance looked very different than it does today. In the beginning, it was just me, a personal vehicle, and a strong belief that if I worked hard enough and showed up for customers, the business would grow.

I spent my days driving throughout Arizona, knocking on doors and introducing myself to potential customers across the Phoenix metropolitan area. Many of those early trips extended far beyond Phoenix. I regularly traveled to Tucson, Parker, Lake Havasu, Prescott, Payson, Show Low, and Pinetop. My approach was simple: meet people face-to-face, understand their needs, and earn their trust one conversation at a time.

As the years passed, the business began to grow. What started as a one-person operation slowly expanded. The first major step was hiring our first employee. That moment changed everything, because it meant Buckets of Ink was no longer just an individual effort—it was becoming a team.

Today, Buckets of Ink has grown into a company with 10 employees, four transit vans serving customers throughout Arizona, and a large warehouse supporting our operations. We have built strong partnerships with many of the leading manufacturers in the garment decoration industry, allowing us to distribute some of the best products available in screen printing, embroidery, and digital printing technologies. Being recognized as a trusted distributor for top manufacturers is something we take great pride in.

With growth, however, comes new challenges. Balancing the demands of a growing company has been both exciting and challenging at times. Over the years, I have learned that work–life balance is not about perfectly splitting time between work and personal life. Instead, it is about managing several important areas at once.

One of the biggest balancing acts in our industry is meeting customer needs. The garment decoration industry moves quickly, and many customers are working under tight deadlines. Last-minute orders are common, and when customers need help, they often need it immediately. Being responsive and supportive is a core part of our company culture.

Another major balance is inventory management. Carrying the right products in the right quantities is critical. We constantly work to maintain inventory levels that allow us to support customers quickly while still operating efficiently.

Staying current with marketing and communication is another area that requires constant attention. Today’s business environment requires an ongoing presence through social media, websites, email outreach, and industry communication. Continuing to grow our reach while maintaining excellent customer relationships is an ongoing focus.

At the same time, personal life remains incredibly important. Many of the challenges in business mirror the challenges families face. When you have a family and children, balance often means being present for school events, sports games, doctor appointments, and the everyday moments that matter most.

As the owner of Buckets of Ink, I recognize that these same responsibilities apply to our employees as well. Everyone on our team has personal commitments and family responsibilities. Because of this, we try to maintain a flexible and supportive work environment.

When life happens—and it always does—we work together as a team to adjust schedules, redistribute tasks, and make sure the day’s priorities are still handled. Sometimes that means someone stepping up to help cover a delivery route, assist with warehouse work, or support customers when the team is short-handed.

For me, work–life balance has evolved from simply working nonstop to build something, into building a company culture that supports both business success and personal well-being.

Looking back, the journey from driving a personal vehicle and knocking on doors across Arizona to operating a growing company with a dedicated team has been incredibly rewarding. The challenges have been real, but so have the opportunities.

In the end, balance is not about slowing down—it’s about building a system, a team, and a culture that allows everyone to move forward together.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Buckets of Ink was built around a very simple idea that ended up becoming one of the things that truly sets us apart: “We bring the store to your door.”

From early on, we realized many of our customers in the garment decoration industry—screen printers, embroiderers, and digital print shops—are extremely busy running their businesses. Taking time to leave their shop and drive across town to pick up supplies isn’t always easy. So we developed a model where we bring the supply store directly to them.

Today we operate multiple fully equipped transit vans that act as mobile supply stores. Each van is fully air-conditioned and organized with cargo racking systems filled with many of the products our customers use every day. The vans are equipped with GPS tracking and cameras inside and outside for safety and efficiency, but the real value is that customers can actually shop directly from the van when we arrive at their business.

Our drivers deliver orders, but in many cases customers end up purchasing additional supplies right from the van because they can see the products and realize what they might need next. On average, we sell additional items during nearly every delivery. What’s even more rewarding is watching the reaction from new customers when they first see the vans. They’re often amazed that a company would bring a fully stocked mobile supply store directly to their shop.

Our team loves those moments because it reflects what our business is all about—making things easier for our customers.

Getting to where we are today definitely wasn’t easy. Like most businesses, the journey was filled with challenges, risks, and a lot of hard work. Early on, one of the biggest challenges was gaining trust in the industry and securing relationships with manufacturers so we could distribute their products.

One person who played a big role in that early growth was Gary Voelz from WM Plastics. Gary took a chance on me when Buckets of Ink was still very small and it was essentially just me trying to build the business. His trust in allowing us to sell WM Plastics products meant a lot and gave me the opportunity to prove that we could represent their brand well. That opportunity pushed me to work even harder to educate customers about their products and build strong relationships throughout the industry.

Becoming a distributor for manufacturers and expanding the range of products we carry didn’t come easily. Those relationships had to be earned through consistency, honesty, and proving that we were serious about growing the business the right way.

The one part that always felt natural, though, was building relationships with customers. That part came easy because we always focused on telling the truth, being transparent, and genuinely wanting to help our customers grow their own businesses. When customers know you’re there to support them and not just sell to them, those relationships tend to last.

Over the years there have been many lessons—some small, some very important—but one lesson stands above the rest: don’t be afraid to change.

Every business eventually has to adopt systems and processes—accounting software, CRM systems, inventory management, logistics planning, and many other operational tools. Those systems are necessary as a company grows, but the real key is being willing to adapt and evolve as the business changes.

Growth requires change, and sometimes that can be uncomfortable. But the companies that continue to move forward are the ones that embrace that change instead of resisting it.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about Buckets of Ink and our story, it’s that we were built on relationships, hard work, and a genuine desire to support the industry we serve. We started small, knocking on doors and introducing ourselves one customer at a time, and today we continue that same mindset with a larger team, more resources, and the same commitment to helping our customers succeed.

At the end of the day, our success is directly tied to the success of the people we serve. When their businesses grow, ours grows too—and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If it were summer, the first place I’d take them would be Parker, Arizona, where we have a vacation home right on the Colorado River. Parker is one of those places that really shows off a different side of Arizona. Most people think of desert landscapes, but the Colorado River creates an incredible environment for boating, water sports, and relaxing with friends and family.

A typical day there would start early on the water. We’d spend the mornings wakeboarding, water skiing, and wake surfing on the river. The water is calm in the mornings and perfect for getting out and enjoying the day before the afternoon heat really kicks in. It’s one of those experiences that makes you forget about everything else and just enjoy being outdoors.

After a morning on the water, we’d spend time cruising the river, stopping at different spots along the way, and enjoying lunch or drinks at some of the local riverfront restaurants. Parker has a fun, laid-back atmosphere where people come to relax, celebrate, and enjoy the lifestyle of being on the water.

What makes Parker especially interesting is the contrast you see throughout the week. On the weekends, the river can be full of energy with people boating, playing music, and enjoying the party atmosphere. You’ll see all kinds of boats, groups of friends, and people having fun. Then during the week it becomes quieter and more relaxed, which makes it perfect for quality time with family and close friends.

Evenings are some of the best moments there. After a long day on the water, we’d wind down by grilling dinner, enjoying a drink, and watching the sunset over the river. It’s the kind of place where time slows down a little and you can really appreciate being around the people you care about.

Arizona has so many incredible places, but Parker on the Colorado River is one of my favorite spots because it combines adventure, relaxation, and great memories all in one place. Whether it’s the excitement of the weekends or the peacefulness during the week, it’s always a great place to escape, recharge, and enjoy life with friends and family.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would first Shoutout my parents, Dave and Sandy Breazeale. They were incredible business role models for me growing up because they ran a family business themselves. Watching them work together and seeing the different roles they each played gave me a real-world education in entrepreneurship long before I started my own company.

Each of them contributed something unique to my understanding of business. My dad showed me the importance of hard work, persistence, and building strong relationships. My mom brought organization, structure, and a thoughtful perspective on how to manage and grow a company. Being able to lean on both of them individually over the years—sometimes for advice, sometimes just to talk through challenges—has played a huge role in shaping who I am today as both a business owner and a person.

Another person who deserves enormous credit in my journey is my wife, Julie. She has been the daily backbone behind everything we’ve built. Running a business comes with constant challenges, and Julie has always been there when I needed support, encouragement, or sometimes a push to refocus. She often brings a different perspective to decisions, which has helped us navigate both the successes and the difficult moments that come with building a company.

Starting Buckets of Ink together was a leap of faith, and having a partner who believes in the vision as much as you do makes a huge difference. Her support behind the scenes has been instrumental to our growth.

I also want to recognize the employees who have been part of the Buckets of Ink journey over the years, as well as the incredible team we have today. A company doesn’t grow from one person’s effort alone. It grows because of the people who believe in the mission and work every day to make the business better. Our employees have played a huge role in helping us improve our operations, support our customers, and continue moving the business forward. Their dedication, ideas, and willingness to step up when challenges arise have helped shape Buckets of Ink into the company it is today.

What makes this even more meaningful today is that the values we’ve learned along the way—through challenges, successes, failures, and growth—are now being passed down to Julie and my three sons. They are beginning to work and become involved, learning the same lessons about responsibility, work ethic, and perseverance that were passed down to me.

To me, that’s one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. What started as lessons from my parents has grown into something that now carries forward to the next generation of our family, our team, and our business.

Website: https://www.bucketsofink.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckets_of_ink/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-b-11b789176/

Twitter: https://x.com/Buckets_of_Ink

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/buckets-of-ink

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bucketsofink/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/buckets-of-ink-tempe

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bucketsofink

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