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NoveltyStuff · March 6th, 2007

Hello Everyone,

I have my first job coming up in July. It is for a youth sports tournament. I don't have anything, yet, except a strong determination to make it all happen together with a weeks worth of reading all the posts I can on this forum and the book (recommended here 'How to Print T-shirts for Fun and Profit").

I will be using a Heat Transfer Machine (thinking of getting the Pheonix Phire 16' X 16"). Would like some input if that is the right one for this type of work. Also, any recommendations for making it portable?

Probably will have plastisol heat transfers made for the event. I was thinking about using the Duracotton HT and printing them myself, but with it still being perfected, and me being so inexperienced, I thought it not the safe way to go. Plastisol seems like the best quality option for a beginner like me. I have no room for mistakes, if I ever want to get another job in this town. Word will spread fast.

Will need to create original artwork as well as use custom artwork. So, I'd like recommendations on clipart I can use without anyone trying to take my BEhind to jail or make me pay them for it.

Will need shirts for youth and adult, boys and girls. I'm leaning towards the Beefy T's for boys and men. Need good ideas equivalent in quality for girls and women's. Something fitted. (let's face it, they're young athletes and can afford to wear fitted clothes. Plus, this is southern CA and that is the style.)

My budget is about $1500, for everything.

Does anyone else out there do this type of stuff?

If so, can you tell me if I'm totally out of my mind by having a job already set up in July, when I have nothing to start my business with yet. (I am planning on getting everything by the end of April.)

Also, are my choices above appropriate for this kind of work?

If I have an event like a hockey tournament with about 375 kids (age ranging from 6 to 18), plus sibblings and parents...how many shirts should I order to have on hand? I anticipate that most shirts will be for the kids participating in the event, but I hope to have other sports related designs available, too (i.e. 'hockey mom', etc).

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...someone give me some feedback.

Thank you SO much!

NoveltyStuff

Jasonda · March 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoveltyStuff


	Need good ideas equivalent in quality for girls and women's.

Try this thread:

Best blanks for ladies' shirts

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoveltyStuff


	My budget is about $1500, for everything.

I think you'll need to at least double that. The heat press you mentioned will be more than $1000.

If you buy a used press you might be able to squeak by with $1500, but I doubt it.

NoveltyStuff · March 6th, 2007

Thanks Jasonda for your post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	I think you'll need to at least double that. The heat press you mentioned will be more than $1000..

Could you recommend a heat press that is good, but less expensive and can perform well for what I need?

If I spent only $850 (Hix HT-400D Digital 15x15 Clam Shell Heat Press), do you think I could get what I need with $1500?

Once I feel confident with the equipment and supplies choices, I'm thinking the rest should fall into place quick enough.

NS

Jasonda · March 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoveltyStuff


	Thanks Jasonda for your post. Could you recommend a heat press that is good, but less expensive and can perform well for what I need? If I spent only $850 (Hix HT-400D Digital 15x15 Clam Shell Heat Press), do you think I could get what I need with $1500?

Hix is a good brand, and the size is fine. Usually I would say get a 16x20, but if you are going to bring it with you on the road a 15x15 is going to be a better choice. You might also talk to Josh at Imprintables, he should be able to tell you what press is the best value for your budget.

Whether or not you'll still be able to get everything for $1500, I still don't know. You'll need to price your blank shirts, plastisol transfers, etc. And don't forget about travel expenses, and you'll need tables/etc. for setting up at the tournament. You might also want to get some signs or banners as well.

Since you have a few months until the tournament, you should be able to figure out everything before then.

NoveltyStuff · March 6th, 2007

Jasonda,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	You might also talk to Josh at Imprintables, he should be able to tell you what press is the best value for your budget.

That seems to be the going advice, so...I will do that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	And don't forget about travel expenses,

Traveling will be local, so no hotels necessary. That may change eventually, though, and is an important thing to factor in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	and you'll need tables/etc. for setting up at the tournament. You might also want to get some signs or banners as well.

Fortunately, for starters anyway, I have some tables, since I have already been vending at tournaments with my novelties.

I do need some kind of rolling cart for the press though. Any ideas on that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	Since you have a few months until the tournament, you should be able to figure out everything before then.

I tell ya... if I am able to pull it off, it will be in LARGE part because of what I have been able to learn through this forum and people who are willing to help, like you.

Thank you,

NS

Jasonda · March 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoveltyStuff


	I do need some kind of rolling cart for the press though. Any ideas on that?

You can buy a rolling stand made specifically for this purpose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoveltyStuff


	I tell ya... if I am able to pull it off, it will be in LARGE part because of what I have been able to learn through this forum and people who are willing to help, like you. Thank you

You're welcome.

Good luck!

majkthreads · March 7th, 2007

NS here is the first press we bought and it works great.

HIX Swingman 15" x15" Heat Press: CASI/QLT: Photo Novelty Superstore

They do sell a lighter version of it too.

QLT Hobby Lite Heat Press by HIX: CASI/QLT: Photo Novelty Superstore

Either one might work for you. I know ours has done many a transfer and is still pressing away.

Good luck with your order.

NoveltyStuff · March 7th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by majkthreads


	NS here is the first press we bought and it works great. HIX Swingman 15" x15" Heat Press: CASI/QLT: Photo Novelty Superstore They do sell a lighter version of it too. QLT Hobby Lite Heat Press by HIX: CASI/QLT: Photo Novelty Superstore Either one might work for you. I know ours has done many a transfer and is still pressing away.

This is great to hear!!!! I just thought that the lower priced presses wouldn't be a good way to go for high volume (in a short period of time) quality performance reasons.

I anticipate (based on observing other such vendors at these types of events) that I will be pressing any where from between 300 - 1800 shirts at any given event. I wanted to make sure I got a press that wouldn't break down during an event.

But with the Hobby Lite, (if it is able to hold up to such demanding work), I can get two and my hubby and I can be in two places on the same weekend or have two stations working for faster service at the same event!!

Thank you SO much!!!

NS

MotoskinGraphix · March 7th, 2007

!. Find out how many folks are going to attend the event.
2. Create a design or designs and have them approved by the tourney director.
3. Make sure you are the only official tee vendor allowed on-site.
4. Use an-inexpensive FOL. Gilden, Hanes etc 5.6- 6.1 oz shirts in only one or two colors for events.
5. Have the design or designs screenprinted in various sizes in the numbers you think will actually sell. If you run out you hit your number and everything is wonderful. If you have leftover gear learn from the experiance and try to discount sell the shirts to the sports league. They usually have an office they can sell the gear out of and have events happening all the time.
6. I wouldnt even bother with the heatpress until you get some actual idea of what numbers you can actually sell.

You can have two locations if everything you offer is pre-printed. If you choose to go print on demand you will need someone to handle sales and another to handle production.

There are several stock plastisol transfers out there for a variety of sports to offer with your local tourney shirts...check out Pro-World and Art Brands(Impulse).

If you need to have transfers made check out Ace Transfers and look at the workbook for sporting transfer design ideas.

As mentioned you will need good visable signage on either coroplast or banners.

Fluid · March 7th, 2007

also for clipart check out the clipart seciton on the Industry Links page of U.S. Screen Print and Inkjet Technology. These are industry clipart packages that you can use for t-shirts.

NoveltyStuff · March 7th, 2007

WOW! That is a 'right on the money' check list and nicely communicated! Obviously, you've done this type of event before.

What I have noticed, when watching other t-shirt vendors at these sport tournaments, is that they heat press everything on demand. They have maybe 2 color shirts (white and ash), long sleeve and short sleeve, and maybe some hoodies. They work alone and just take the order (let the customer pick which size images they want and where they want them on the shirt (front, back, sleeve) and then press it to order. All other customers just wait till their turn to do the same thing.

Since it is a tournament, the same crowd is repeated at the event over a 2 - 4 day period. So, if the line is long, they will come back the next time they play a game that weekend. Then, at the end of the tournament, all the kids who won the championship want 'Champion' added to the shirts they just had pressed the day before.

I was just planning to do the same, thinking, if I have too many transfers, that is smaller loss than having too many t-shirts with images I can't reuse since they are tournament specific (date, location, name, etc.) I'm afraid to have any shirts pre-printed for that reason.

With all your experience, can you tell me if you think I am way off?

Thanks,

NS

MotoskinGraphix · March 7th, 2007

It is a catch 22 situation really and something you need to figure out way ahead of time. I do auto events and started with custom vinyl print on demand shirts. I soon figured out that no mater how busy you are...there are only so many custom shirts I can produce in a 8 hour period. Next we moved into stock transfers so we could do the custom gear but could just press the stock gear and keep rolling. Realization number two...you can only press so many shirts in an 8 hour day no matter how many customers you have. Realization number three....people dont like to come back and in your case teams get eliminated etc. I think having a set number of pre-printed shirts with a combination of transfers is our next adventure and probably a good way for you to get rolling.

I would screen print a set number of event shirts and that number can be simply 100 shirts. Really all depends on how many people are going to attend the tourney. Have transfers made on a gang sheet with the Champions or whatever and the tee design (two designs similar colors gang printed). Now you have two designs printed on the same sheet and you just cut them apart and add the Champions later when you need them.
I would also have a few stock transfer designs on display as well...you can order them in quantities of 1-to a pack of twelve and then in multiples.

The whole deal is time and what you can actually make in a given day printing on demand. Eventually there is going to be a trade off as we have found, printing on demand...you can only produce x amount of product in a given day.

NoveltyStuff · March 7th, 2007

WOW...perfectly pointed. I totally get what you mean, now. And it makes perfect sense.

I will do it like that.

David, really and truely...thank you so very much for sharing this information and saving me a lot of learning (wasting or keeping myself from making more profit) through trial and error.

I can't wait till I get enough experience to help someone, like you all are. I really appreciate it!

NS

MotoskinGraphix · March 7th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoveltyStuff


	WOW...perfectly pointed. I totally get what you mean, now. And it makes perfect sense. I will do it like that. David, really and truely...thank you so very much for sharing this information and saving me a lot of learning (wasting or keeping myself from making more profit) through trial and error. I can't wait till I get enough experience to help someone, like you all are. I really appreciate it! NS

No problem....hell, I wish I knew when I started what I know now. Its been a learning curve all the way and after every show we go over the specifics of everything on the drive home.

Here is our set up last weekend in South Padre Island Tx. at the Heatwave event.

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