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cut vinyl vs engraving vs banners

322 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  fotokard, 
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I would like to start a new business from a retail store.

In this depressed economy, it is hard to decide between cut vinyl, engraving or banners.

Your insight and experience would be greatly appreacited.

Thank you.:)
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vadan
It's not hard to decide at all.

Choose the 1 u feel most confident in.

There's no reason why u can't expand in the future if all goes well.
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DTFuqua
You realy need to elaborate if you want a decent answer. I do cut vinyl for signs, banners and shirts. No embroidery though and the only thing I actualy make money on at this time are the signs.
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IYFGraphics
fotokard said:
I would like to start a new business from a retail store.

In this depressed economy, it is hard to decide between cut vinyl, engraving or banners.

Your insight and experience would be greatly appreacited.

Thank you.:)
Click to expand...
Actually with a vinyl cutter you can do both cut vinyl and banners....both of which are profitable.

Hope this helps.
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DTFuqua said:
You realy need to elaborate if you want a decent answer. I do cut vinyl for signs, banners and shirts. No embroidery though and the only thing I actualy make money on at this time are the signs.
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I have spent last 2 weeks to find the best machine to start trophy, award and gift item.
I concluded Vision VE 810xd is the best machine but I was worried lack of the demand.

I really appreciate your reply to my question.
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vadan
$6k machine is that right? Have you looked at the Roland engravers? Plenty of videos for them on YouTube too.
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H
I've been in the awards business for 40 years. If I were to start over today, my 1st piece of equipment would be a table top laser and then a sublimation system. You can do 95% of awards with these and be much more productive than with an engraver. Because we also print garments, we also have a vinyl cutter, but I'm not sure I would own one if I weren't doing clothing.
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vadan said:
It's not hard to decide at all.

Choose the 1 u feel most confident in.

There's no reason why u can't expand in the future if all goes well.
Click to expand...
Your answer hold a lot of wisdom.
Yes. I should start with what I like to do most and it will expand into all the other areas because it all related each other.

Thank you.
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vadan said:
$6k machine is that right? Have you looked at the Roland engravers? Plenty of videos for them on YouTube too.
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Yes. I checked Roland Egx 350.
I looks pretty good but most of people online like Vision products. They say it make better , deeper and faster engraving.
I wish I would like to hear positive response about Roland Egs 350 from this forum members.

Thank you
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T
My actual company name is Teamwear, Trophy & Totes-that should pretty much tell you my answer!

We had been involved in the handbag business online for a while and really did not know where this was going to go. Today we primarily sell screenprinting, embroidery and awards-but we also make banners as well.

We have been at this for about 4 years and do not have an angraver of any kind. We sublimate all the medal for name plates and plaques-much more flexible and cost effective. A very inexpensive Epson with refillable cartridges is all you need with some reasonable ink (see echostore.com for cheap ink).

As for cutters-there are a LOT on the market-you can spend as much as you want. I first bought a desk top Roland-we wore it out and then bought a USCutter. It was cheap-but works great.

These two items would cost you about $1500 total. (sublimation and cutter set up)

If you were considering spending $6000 on an engraver-I would spend that other money on a screen printing setup. Buy used. Nothing wrong with a used printer or dryer and for $4500 that you would have left you can set up a whole shop with decent stuff if you are a little patient.

I would make a few dollars and expand where you think your business will take you.

Just my thoughts though.
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hal said:
I've been in the awards business for 40 years. If I were to start over today, my 1st piece of equipment would be a table top laser and then a sublimation system. You can do 95% of awards with these and be much more productive than with an engraver. Because we also print garments, we also have a vinyl cutter, but I'm not sure I would own one if I weren't doing clothing.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response.
Your experience and insight really appreciated.
I debated between laser engraver and rotary engraver for a while. I chose rotary because my research tell it makes deeper, more beautiful cut eventhough slower than laser. However, I plan to purchase laser engraver in 2nd phase. I wish I could start with small rotary engraver and vinyl cutter and sublimation system. As you said, sublimation is one of required processes to do trophy and awards.

Thank you again for your input for me.
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Teamwear said:
My actual company name is Teamwear, Trophy & Totes-that should pretty much tell you my answer!

We had been involved in the handbag business online for a while and really did not know where this was going to go. Today we primarily sell screenprinting, embroidery and awards-but we also make banners as well.

We have been at this for about 4 years and do not have an angraver of any kind. We sublimate all the medal for name plates and plaques-much more flexible and cost effective. A very inexpensive Epson with refillable cartridges is all you need with some reasonable ink (see echostore.com for cheap ink).

As for cutters-there are a LOT on the market-you can spend as much as you want. I first bought a desk top Roland-we wore it out and then bought a USCutter. It was cheap-but works great.

These two items would cost you about $1500 total. (sublimation and cutter set up)

If you were considering spending $6000 on an engraver-I would spend that other money on a screen printing setup. Buy used. Nothing wrong with a used printer or dryer and for $4500 that you would have left you can set up a whole shop with decent stuff if you are a little patient.

I would make a few dollars and expand where you think your business will take you.

Just my thoughts though.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your thoughtful setup information for me.

I am inclined now to have a sublimation system and US cutter as initial equipments. Do you have any recommendation for sublimation system between Epson or Ricoh?

Thank you.
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vadan
We have the GX7000, from having read reviews for weeks on end before buying it, it was clear the Ricoh was coming up top. Extremely happy with it.
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T
Epson seems to be more readily available where I am and the refillable cartidges online from inkproducts.com and echostore.com seem to work well too.

Thanks
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binki
fotokard said:
I would like to start a new business from a retail store.

In this depressed economy, it is hard to decide between cut vinyl, engraving or banners.

Your insight and experience would be greatly appreacited.

Thank you.:)
Click to expand...
cut vinyl and banners are the same thing. You can do pretty well with a vinyl cutter because you can do garments and signs/banners. Engraving is good also because you can do awards.

just putting up a retail storefront will take you 3 - 5 years to build a customer base depending on your location. if you have outside sales then you can do it faster.

be prepared to grow and work some long hours. once your customers find you they will come to you with short timeframes and larger and larger orders.

in a depressed economy you can negotiate a great space lease.
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R
What make you choose US Cutter?....Have you considered an Expert 24?....That is what I bought and it has been great so far..... 390.00 inc. shipping, 10 yards of heat press vinyl, 10 yards of sign vinyl and a weeder.... I got it through mike[USER=108410]@Imprintables[/USER].com
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royster13 said:
What make you choose US Cutter?....Have you considered an Expert 24?....That is what I bought and it has been great so far..... 390.00 inc. shipping, 10 yards of heat press vinyl, 10 yards of sign vinyl and a weeder.... I got it through [email protected][URL="http://www.t-shirtforums.com/member.php?u=108410"]Imprintables[/URL].com
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Thank you for your correction. I just forgot how good the machine is. I will write it down on my note of purchase.

Thank you again.
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T
Binki-you speak (type) the truth.

Long hours-short time frames......

You are even right on the money on the leases.

Just gotta be willing to work hard, long and cheap at times to get it going.

I do get frustrated with some of the unreasonable demands-but that is part of it.
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hal said:
I've been in the awards business for 40 years. If I were to start over today, my 1st piece of equipment would be a table top laser and then a sublimation system. You can do 95% of awards with these and be much more productive than with an engraver. Because we also print garments, we also have a vinyl cutter, but I'm not sure I would own one if I weren't doing clothing.
Click to expand...
I believe you have shown me to the right direction. Further research I do, further I directed to laser engravers. Right now I am reseaching on GCC Spirit Engraver at their website. They show a lot of applications with very detailed production information. I will let you know when I decide my purchase probably with leasing.

Thank you very much.
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