Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
OK, I am at the show and a lot of people are here telling me they are in this part or that part of the business.. Then I ask so you have a heat press.. and they say yes.. So I ask do you get calls for screen printing? They say yeah, alot, but I don't do screen printing. Then I just stare at them and say.. but you do.. they say, no i don't, then I say yes you do.. OK this goes on.. then I ask do you know about plastisol transfers.. ahhh well I have heard the term... Then I explain the use of plastisol transfers... I really feel great about enlightening people about this process that so many of you pass over that could put the bucks in your wallet or support a poker habit... Look into it and rethink you decision to turn away business. Lou
I dont turn away any business ever..
Do i do business cards..
heck yes
flyers?.. all the time..
Menus.?? Sure.. would you like me to do the design too or just the printing?? lol.
you name it we do it..
(you can outsourse what every you really dont make yourself.. and make money without doing any of the work.. lol)
I agree Lou some people just don't think. I only did embroidery for years and sent a lot of business away. Then one day, I bought a used heat press( my beloved Hix 15x15 ,I call her money!!!!) and away I went. I then found that doing less than 24 wasn't as profitable so I bought a vinyl cutter. I now have 3 heat press',2 vinyl cutters and embroidery machines. I now have the money( if I hide it from my wife, if not she has the money) to play poker, but don't have the time to play. .... LOL ... JB
__________________ "Striving to help others, as I learn myself"www.coedsembroidery.comwww.coedstsaver.com "Heat Press Vinyl Remover" T-SAVERTurn Your Mistakes Into Makeovers
Being in the t-shirt business requires one to wear many different hats, or maybe it's shirts .
For me, being new to the business, I don't quite know how to do it all yet. But you are right, someone has to do the job & someone is going to make the money. Why not me, right?
We can't do everything for everyone all the time though. Some stuff might be above my skill or knowledge level. It comes with time I think.
I'm glad to have all the supportive people here for when I do need something.
__________________ www.teeprintz.com - Making you cooler one tee at a time!
I have been taking orders for everything from t-shirts (in-house) to low quantity embroidery, pen orders, plastic bag orders. I find that the frustration trying to work with vendors is not worth the $20-$50 I make off of those type orders. I recently had to refund a customer for a prepaid order because my vendor didn't meet the deadline when he said that it wouldn't be a problem.
Sadly I am one of those guys that finds it hard not to capitalise on a business opportunity.
Nowadays I only sell direct to the customer, as I'm really not interested in having dialogue with another business telling me how much they want to buy my product for.
Consequently the range of items I produce has extended quite dramatically, meaning I now have equipment for producing a lot more things than just garments. Downside is that I have to be really creative, as to how I utilise my space.
It would be nice to do it all, but there are times when it makes more sense to get someone else to do it, someone who has all the right equipment and knowledge. Right now i don't have space for embroidery or screen printing, maybe I'll be in the position to have it all one day, but for now i'm happy to contract out.
showing my inexperience here. How do you go about finding a source for your plastisol transfers? I am guilty of being one of those that say "I don't do screenprinting" or "I don't do hats". I hate when I have to but not knowing where to turn for these items makes it difficult to say yes.
showing my inexperience here. How do you go about finding a source for your plastisol transfers? I am guilty of being one of those that say "I don't do screenprinting" or "I don't do hats". I hate when I have to but not knowing where to turn for these items makes it difficult to say yes.
There is seceral articles about different company's that do them. I use Ace Transfer Company for all my needs. .... JB
__________________ "Striving to help others, as I learn myself"www.coedsembroidery.comwww.coedstsaver.com "Heat Press Vinyl Remover" T-SAVERTurn Your Mistakes Into Makeovers
I am the type person that researches (for hours), looks for the best price and does most of my shopping off the internet - so it always amazes me when someone calls looking for a particular item that I know they could find on the internet if they just LOOKED! Hasn't anyone ever heard of EBAY or AMAZON
We also have a video store and so many people have us order movies they could very easily order themselves or even find at Walmart - Sometimes it bothers me that I am charging more for something they could easily get theirselves - but oh well - I just think of myself as being their personal shopper and being paid for my time. I have even ordered flags for a lady that wanted a state flag - all it cost me was a few minutes searching on the web and a call to her that they were in - quick $$$
So, when asked what exactly we can do - my answer is always - ANYTHING and EVERYTHING - you name it -we do it!! They don't have to know that we outsource - I especially love screenprinted shirts - all we do is order the shirts, drop them at the printer, pick them up, call the customer and get paid! We called around town until we found a printer that would give us a decent deal and have used them for most of the screen orders we get! If it is a smaller order, we will order the transfers from one of the companies listed on this forum.
Overnightprints.com is a great place for business cards - which we do A LOT of!
Bottom line, I would NEVER turn any business away - a dollar is a dollar!
Victory.. Yups.
I think especially with sign shops this is really important..
We use 4over for our cards and broshures.. and they offer good prices and free shipping lol.
I get them in like 3-4 days from ordering..
I research alot and find the best to outsource too.. when it come to many items..
we also have sign shops that outsource to us..
When you turn away work you are actually many times losing more than just that one order.. but many jobs..
You can often turn a job for business cards in to orders for brochures.., signs, shirts, promo items..
etc
People really seem to like that they can use us for a one stop shop..
It would be nice to do it all, but there are times when it makes more sense to get someone else to do it, someone who has all the right equipment and knowledge. Right now i don't have space for embroidery or screen printing, maybe I'll be in the position to have it all one day, but for now i'm happy to contract out.
You can still do it, without doing it. I don't think Lou meant you had to physically do it. Right now I contract out the embroidery and screen printing, but I still "do it", according to my web site and business cards. I also do, magnetic signs, even though I've never done one myself.
I haven't done a lot of the things I do, but I still seem to make money doing them. Or should I say, not doing them.
People in my area have a bad habit of coming to me wanting screen printing done in like 1 or 2 days. I started to use my heat press vinyl for the jobs but it was way too much work weeding all that material. I have started to turn away last minute jobs because its not worth the headache at the quantity my customers want. They typically only want no more than 10 shirts printed but want to be cheap at that.
Make them pay a rush charge. No need for you to bust your butt trying to get them out when they decide last minute that they are going to need something.
It amazes me... don't turn business away.. 
