Discuss the wholesale blanks industry: Factory direct, custom labels. You can also use this forum to locate a wide variety of wholesale products including t-shirts, hoodies, mousepads, coffee mugs and other imprintable products.
Yes actually. I didn't mention that in the article but they are one of several similar services out there for global trading. I didn't use them as a direct service because their site is hard enough to navigate. However, I did use it to surf for potential manufacturers and only validated the ones that had a website and minimums listed on their pages or a contacts email address.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
What process did you use to narrow them down?
I had actually covered that in the article. I think on page 2 or page 3. To recap, I had to break them down by their credibility (using their websites as a first item identifier for credibility) and I used their answers to my precursor questions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney
Care to share which manufacturer you ended up using?
No, sorry man. I can't do that. When you find a really good source you should never reveal them. Its like a magician revealing his tricks. Some things you just don't tell. Especially since it took me 2 years in R&D to find the one I was going with. Maybe for some serious $ I'd divulge my sources but I spent too much time and effort in the R&D process to give it out openly. Sorry, I definitely don't mean to sound like a jerk. I hope you understand.
No, sorry man. I can't do that. When you find a really good source you should never reveal them. Its like a magician revealing his tricks. Some things you just don't tell. Especially since it took me 2 years in R&D to find the one I was going with. Maybe for some serious $ I'd divulge my sources but I spent too much time and effort in the R&D process to give it out openly. Sorry, I definitely don't mean to sound like a jerk. I hope you understand.
No problem While I understand wanting to protect sources for specific items, I just figured sharing a "manufacturer" would be no different than the other types of sharing that happens on this forum.
It's not like someone is going to order your same exact garment, as you said in your article, going with a manufacturer is for someone that wants something very specific.
Wouldn't you have loved it if someone saved you 2 years of R&D info by sharing their source (like when you were looking for info/sources on the forum and others shared what they knew )
But no worries if you want to keep it close to the vest. I do appreciate you taking the time to writeup the article and answer the follow up questions though
Thanks for understanding Rodney. Yea it sure would have saved me some time... thats for sure! But, I learned ALLOT about the industry, and the in's and out's by going at it myself. Some things are invaluable when you learn them by investing the time and energy. I defintely encourage anyone interested to go this route to do that. Even if you have a source to go from. Its pricessless knowledge and on the job training (the kind you don't easily forget years from now).
I have to hand it to t-shirtforums.com, there has been a wealth of information passed on here and I have certainly learned allot or found resources that I have learned allot as a direct result of the fine people who frequent here. There's definitely a ton of info in the post and the article to help get people interested in going the import route. I hope I was able to share some information others may not have known and give back. I still have allot to learn myself.
Thanks for understanding Rodney. Yea it sure would have saved me some time... thats for sure! But, I learned ALLOT about the industry, and the in's and out's by going at it myself. Some things are invaluable when you learn them by investing the time and energy. I defintely encourage anyone interested to go this route to do that. Even if you have a source to go from. Its pricessless knowledge and on the job training (the kind you don't easily forget years from now).
Very true, indeed. Actually, your article is very good at "teaching a man to fish"
I think after reading that, people will have the tools to make a good go of having custom work done for themselves.
go on, you know you want to tell us your manufacturer
Let's not badger Shaun about the manufacturer. He's already stated that he doesn't want to give out the info and he's given a lot of good info in his article.
im in the process of trying to get t's manufactured in china myself, through a source that was originally selling fake goods via ebay believe it or not !
just awaiting samples, ive asked for something similar to the AA 6401 t
I talked to some lady live in China I met off of Alibaba and they wanted $11 bucks a shirt for a basic design with a minimum of 300 or 3000 dont remember... I was like UHH I can get that done here for more than half.
But then again I dont know if that is including Tags, and packaging for resale.
Has anyone tried using a country like the Philippines? I mean most of them speak English and maybe as cheap as India or China, just wondering if anyone already has sources in that country they would share.
Overseas Manufacturing: The Missing Manual 
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