casperboy77

Originally when planning my business it was to be a silk screen and embroidery business. Back in 2005 I purchased my first new heat press from boo-z warehouse with intentions on using it for silk screen (which I now know isn't the best idea). Anyways within the past couple years with my now Fiancee' we purchased a bunch of different presses and equipment and have a sublimation business as also make Photo Crystals & Metaza. We have been doing pretty well but people keep asking me about apparel. Well I have tried the Laser transfers and everything you can imagine onto regular shirts but I didn't like them. One day while placing an order with Conde' I asked about the Vapor apparel and they highly praised it, so I ordered a few shirts from them to sublimate on. I made my first sublimated shirt and honestly I didn't like it. The print came out good and there wasn't any ghosting because I used the pro-spray from Conde', there were slight press lines. But for me I just didn't care for it. I am very tall 6' 3" and the shirts fit and feel fine, I wish they were a tad longer. So I made one for one of my relatives that has been bugging me for a shirt. Well they liked it so much they want me to make more with in the next week or so. I wore the shirt I made for myself to work and a co-worked asked me about the shirt. I told him it was on that I made. He liked it so much he wants me to make 3 of them for him because he doesn't like the plastic stiff feel of silk screened shirts.

I have to charge $15.00 to $18.00 for a shirt and people are ordering them before I even have them. I'm not complaining or looking a gift horse in the mouth, but it just blows me away. Does anyone else have a bizarre story of how they came to carry certain products? I would be interested to hear stories.

-Jim

 

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DAGuide

Several of the key employees at Vapor Apparel / Source Substrates used to work at Sawgrass Systems and noticed the market for non-white sublimation tees was lacking. So they developed the line from scratch and now I believe they are considering coming out with other types of cotton shirts that fit a niche market. I think the key to their business is they are not trying to compete with all the other major brands of apparel manufacturers. They are just going after key market segments where they see a strong growth potential. A lot of what they do can also be applied to garment decorators. Instead of trying to sell shirts to any and everyone (i.e shot gun approach), going after niche markets with specific products can be more successful.

To get rid of the press lines, call the Tech Support Dept at Conde and they can walk you through the process. Odds are you are using too much pressure. The micro performance shirts will show the press lines faster than the basic t line. Using the heat resitistant foam or the teflon pillows will help a lot with the micro performance shirts.

Best wishes,

Mark

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Mark E. Bagley, Esq. - Marketing / Digital Consultant
Perfect Transfers - www.perfecttransfers.com / Hybrid Software - www.multirip.com

 

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EddieM

Good story.. I have been wairing a blank Vapor T for weeks now just to see how well it holds up to a lot of washing and i must say it has not shrunk at all and still looks fantastic every time i put it on.
I am very happy with it. Can t wait to start pressing designs on them.

 

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JaeAmera

Jim-

You can also pre-press Vapor shirts to produce uniformity.
Many times when pressing Vapor shirts (especially Performance Tees) the pressed area will have a sheen post pressing. You can pre-press the entire shirt to produce to resolve this issue.

Press lines can be all but a memory with foam or .5 inch nomex felt and a little practice.

Hope this helps,

Jae

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"Specializing in Sublimation Imaging and Transfer Printing"

 

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