Need to Register?

spangalang · November 20th, 2008

Hi,

I'm wondering if one can really run a T-shirt or baby clothing biz using heat transfers, given that their quality is lower than, say, screen printing. Of course transfers make it more affordable to produce. I'd be interested in hearing from people who actually do business selling garments at retail using heat transfers, particularly JPSS. How often do you get complaints or returns from customers who are unhappy with the quality?

Thanks!

Steve

Daniel Slatkin · November 20th, 2008

I have never received a single complaint. As long as you use Quality Transfer materials people don't usually even care. Go to walmart and feel their shirts you will find a good even mix of transfer and other methods. As long as it looks good feels good and holds up well no one really cares. I worked in shops in Estes Park Colorado where they did hundreds of transfer shirts a month and people loved them.

splathead · November 20th, 2008

There are some here on the board who will argue that inkjet transfers are not quite ready for prime time.

Girlzndollz · November 20th, 2008

Steve, there is a fellow here names Treadhead. He has a DTG. He will substitute the JPSS for the DTG. He's said it a few times on the boards, and just this week again. John offers his customers DTG, vinyl, screen printing.... etc. He knows the quality of all the different processes and he has no issue with JPSS.

It's true some folks will not accept *any* inkjet paper as a process that is on par with screen printing, but even some of those folks will admit that JPSS has raised the bar for inkjet heat transfers.

Screen printing is the industry standard still... and if you are uncomfortable with JPSS, a great alternative is Plastisols. That process is indirect screen printing, and every bit the same quality as plastisol screen printing.

PS: Did you mean retail as in supplying a retail store?

treadhead · November 20th, 2008

I agree that screenprinting is still the standard but....as Kelly said....we use various methods depending on what the job requires. Currently we offer screenprinting, DTG, heat transfers (JPSS), plastisol, vinyl and dye sublimation. But, with photo realistic type of designs we use JPSS on white shirts and get a much better image than the DTG gives us. We have had no issues or complaints from people when using those transfers. But, it would probably be a different story for dark or colored shirts which is why we still use the DTG for those orders.

Also, use plastisol transfers also are well accepted and are very good quality.

Girlzndollz · November 20th, 2008

Thank you so much, John.

Because you do offer all the various print methods,
your opinion on the JPSS is particularly important to me.

Have a great night.

Shuffy · November 20th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by spangalang


	Hi, using heat transfers, given that their quality is lower than, say, screen printing. Steve

I wouldn't say my heat transfers are of a lower quality . . .

I have been using JPSS over a year now . . . *knocking on wood*~ . . . no complaints . .
my retail price ranges between $11.00 to $24.00 . . . very few have an issue with the price . .
when I do large orders . . of course I give the buyer a price break . . and sometimes give the buyer FREE shipping on top of the price break . .

the weekend after Thanksgiving . . I'll have my new heat press and custom built bench set up
and hopefully -- on the spot custom shirts will be a hit . . . *crossing fingers*~

Diane
;o}

sunnydayz · November 20th, 2008

I didnt use jpss when I was doing transfers, I was using the jetwear light, but I did start with transfers and later invested in dtg printing for my childrens garments. For me there is a major difference in the way it feels on a garment for kids. I myself was not happy with the feel of the polymer on the garments so I invested in dtg. There is a major difference in the way it feels as with a light color garment, with dtg, there is no feel at all. With the transfer there was always that feel to it. That is just my opinion though and all of my kids stuff is sold at retail.

When I was doing transfers I never had any complaints, It was more of an issue for me. But I can say that my customers did notice when I switched and have commented on how nice the dtg feels compared to my previous products. I have seen alot of people using the jpss and if you want to go in at a cheaper price it does work. That was how I worked the first year, was using transfers. I guess though that I am one of those people that does not think that transfers are as nice as dtg

I really dont think they are near comparable.

spangalang · November 20th, 2008

Thanks, everyone, for your informative comments! Sounds like using JPSS transfers is a viable possibility for starting a retail T-shirt business. Glad to hear some of you have done them and not had complaints from customers.

I would love to get a DTG printer eventually but can't afford it now. And using plastisol is a possibility although from what I gather you have to order a sufficient quantity per design to get a cost-effective per-piece price (and number of colors factors into the price too).

Thanks again. I'm really learning a lot on this forum.

Steve

sunnydayz · November 20th, 2008

Hi Steve,

When starting on a limited budget, and seeing how you will do in the field of retail babywear, it is a very smart way of getting into it. I myself did it this way and it allowed me to build up a good customer base in that first year on a fairly cheap budget. Once I built up my customer base is when I invested further into more expensive equipment.

The great thing of starting this way is that you can see where your business is going to, and then gear your future purchases in that direction, while learning the ins and outs of the business. It really is best to only invest in what your business can afford, and while I was starting out there was no way it could have supported the expense of my dtg printer. Because I am more established now and made many contacts, it allowed me to further my direction of my business. When you hear people talk about having a business plan, it is really important, as it really keeps you on track of what your future goals are.

Hope this helps explain some of why I did things the way I did

Do I think you can start a business with transfers? Absolutely. Do I think dtg is better then Transfers? yes. But I started with transfers because that is what my starting budget allowed. Most business's are going to start on a smaller scale and grow from there. Most do not start out with the most expensive, they work their way up to it

I myself would still like to add a few things, but I need to wait till I grow some more to justify the expense

treadhead · November 21st, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnydayz


	There is a major difference in the way it feels as with a light color garment, with dtg, there is no feel at all.

Hi Sunny....

This I agree with...as nice as JPSS feels for a transfer (a slight feel to it), there is NO feel at all with DTG. But wash it once and JPSS feels the same as a DTG...but that requires some explaining to the customer..

The biggest reason I mostly use JPSS is for the image reproduction on photos. When my DTG is behaving (which has not been very often lately...grrrrr

) it works well for spot color and gradient designs.