DICKSON CITY, Pa. — "She was grading papers on the washing machine and dryer, and I'm over there printing T-shirts in the basement while we both were working full time," explained Talk Shirty to Me co-owner Ron Aueglli.
Those are the humble beginnings for this business that Grace and Ron Aueglli started ten years ago. Never did they think their print shop called Talk Shirty to Me would be getting ready to print Super Bowl merchandise.
"We were watching that championship game two Sundays ago, and as soon as the Eagles won, Ron kind of bolted up and said, 'OK, we've got to get going on this,'" added co-owner Grace Piconi-Augelli.
Even though the couple has grown their business in the last decade, this is still a little risky.
"The early preparation is the gamble that we take because we're going to have all the presses set up and the people here, but we get the call at 11 that will really make it all come true, and we just print 12 hours straight all the way till the end," Ron Augelli explained.
If the Eagles win, merchandise made in Lackawanna County will be featured on the official NFL website and shipped to fans across the country.
"Maybe people who buy merchandise thinks it just magically appears or topples down from the sky somewhere. But there's people making the shirts, there's someone playing the shirts, there's someone boxing the shirts, and it's here in our backyard," Grace Piconi-Augelli said.
"Being able to walk into a Friday night stadium and see all of your local friends, and family, and colleagues out there and business owners wearing something that you made, you feel a part of it, you really do," added Ron Augelli.
The Augellis say having a part in the Super Bowl is a win regardless of the game's final score.
"It's exciting. It's shown our team how to come together to prove that we can plan for anything and be ready for everything. There's no losing tonight, regardless of what happens; it's winning all around," Grace Piconi-Augelli said.
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