Feature Articles

Interview with Jeff Hill

This interview is with Jeff Hill, manufacturer of patches, badges, stickers and refrigerator magnets. Check out his business 2-Tone Graphics and order yours today. He specializes in Ska, Mod, Skinhead, Metal, Goth, Rock, Punk, and Oi! but also you can order your own custom-made ones as well.

Jeff Hill
2-Tone Graphics
1174 S. Diamond Bar Blvd. #106
Diamond Bar CA 91765 USA
voice 714-449-3229
jhill1@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~jhill1

Smother: Firstly, could you give a brief description (a paragraph or so) about your business and what you do?

Jeff: I am a manufacturer of patches, stickers, badges, back-patches, refrigerator magnets, mousepads, and coasters.

Smother: So, Jeff, what are your stats...age/location/career/anything of interest for the ladies?

Jeff: My stats are 28 years of age, in Diamond Bar California, I make all of this stuff for a living, and I am married so sorry ladies.

Smother: What got you started into the sticker business?

Jeff: I got started making patches for myself and friends because any good ska, or scooter patches at the time came from England. They were real hard to get and very expensive. They also seemed to fall apart in about 6 months. I said to myself, "I can make these" and here I am.

Smother: What kind of music are you listening to nowadays?

Jeff: I listen to the fastest trance, techno, tribal, industrial I can because I need to move fast and stay alert as I always have about 1,000 things to do all at once. Smother: About how much business do you get for the online catalogue?

Jeff: I just started last month so not very much, about 3 orders a week. From what I have read this type of thing takes time, like a snowball going downhill that turns into an avalanche.

Smother: How do you avoid any copyright problems because you do stickers of pretty much anything? I was really wondering that....

Jeff: I do whatever people ask for and then keep the design around. If someone calls and says "Stop doing that!" I will.

Smother: If you met a guy named Carbomb, what would your reaction be?

Jeff: Wow, cool name. My nickname is "Nature Boy".

Smother: What kind of movies are you into, and which are your favorites?

Jeff: I like science fiction horror. I always say "Bad science fiction is better than no science fiction." My favorites would be Aliens and Event Horizon.

Smother: Have you been approached by any other zines for promotion?

Jeff: Nope, you are the only one. I approached some but no replies.

Smother: What other sorts of stuff do you sell besides stickers?

Jeff: I make patches, badges, back-patches, refrigerator magnets, mouse pads and coasters as well as T-Shirts.

Smother: How long has your business been going?

Jeff: 11 years.

Smother: Do you have any really strange stories about something that happened with your business, or really about anything?

Jeff: I used to sell stuff at punk shows. Then, one day a fight broke out right in front of my table. The fighters threw eachother onto my table, breaking it and wrestling in my stuff. That was the last show I ever sold stuff at.

Smother: I was really amazed at how great the stickers were that you made for me. Does this sort of thing cost a lot to do?

Jeff: Thanks for the compliment. Cost a lot means different things to different people. In my opinion no. But then, it is what I do for a living. Some people think a Cheeseburger costs a lot, where as other people buy Cheeseburgers for whole groups.

Smother: Any advice for the readers at home?

Jeff: Start your own business. It is the only way to have a good time and make a living in the USA in my opinion.