[mcraatz]

I was just wondering how many of you, before you started your screen printing and/or embroidery business had customer lined up and were waiting for you to open.

We are in the process of opening a screen printing and embroidery home business. We already have a swim team, 2 high school basketball teams, a youth softball club, and a couple of business wanting apparel. I feel that we are in a good position to start.

I would like to hear from some of you guys and gals.

Michael

 

[ScaredPanda]

Hi there,

We started our t-shirt biz six months ago and at the time didn't have any existing customer base or anything like that. Only after our product was created did we go and get customers. So far it's been pretty good, but also quite hard.

But I think in any business if you have customers(and a handful at that) already lined up, you are in great shape.

So, how did you get customers to get on board before you became a company and without being established?

 

[mcraatz]

We were able to get a couple from friends who own a business, a friend that coaches a swim team, my wife works in the main office of a high school in town, and i am an asst coach for a high school basketball team.

Me being the coach is what got us to thinking of opening a business. I heard all the horror stories from the other coaches that they had with previous suppliers. The fun thing was that most of the time it was not price, it was customer service.

We are looking forward to getting this thing going soon.

 

[thutch15]

Strange story, but I somehow managed to land a $1,000 - $1,500 per month account without knowing one thing about screen printing. I am finishing up my second year of working with them. I had zero equipment and called Ryonet the day that I told the customer that I could take care of them...Ryonet walked me through some of the basics of the "graphic" ink printing process.

Started REALLY slow, but now I have got to the point that I can process each "item" every 25 seconds. I have done this by learning short cuts with the printing, but also by creating templates for their product.

 

[ScaredPanda]

It sounds like you have great contacts for your market already established. One of the biggest things that I've learned is how important word of mouth is. With your contacts and established customers you should be able to use that to your advantage to help spread the word of your company.

Good luck to you guys!

 

[foot print]

Strange story, but I somehow managed to land a $1,000 - $1,500 per month account without knowing one thing about screen printing. I am finishing up my second year of working with them. I had zero equipment and called Ryonet the day that I told the customer that I could take care of them...Ryonet walked me through some of the basics of the "graphic" ink printing process.

Started REALLY slow, but now I have got to the point that I can process each "item" every 25 seconds. I have done this by learning short cuts with the printing, but also by creating templates for their product.

I aplaud you...just last week someone was on here saying NO it's cant be done..and today we have proof and it be done..thank you for your story..You went from no experience to being succesful...I hope my story is a success as well 1 day..i have tons of experience, i have the equipment, now i just need the customers..of course i'm only in my first month as a solo business..my hats off to you ...

 

[girlsnamedtiff]

I had customers lol...The only thing is a lot of people are talkers when you actually come out with the product they're slow to react to it actually being on sale! Good Luck I am wishing you all the best!

 

[JBYoungdahl]

We did embroidery and had a customer wanting t- shirts for his restaurant. We out sourced our 1 st 2 orders. Then decided we could do this our self. Bought a screen printing set up from Ryonet in Dec. Thought we had time to learn how to print with plastisol and then learn discharge. First week in January received an order for 100 discharged shirts front and back and 100 plastisol shirts front and back. With both employees working other jobs (wife and myself) we were pushed. Made deadline and now receive orders from them every 6 weeks or so. Also have picked up some business from other restaurants in the area.

Good luck and have fun

 

[Bike Mad Alex]

It's nice to know you have a customer base before you start.
I've been sublimation printing merchandise for some motor clubs in the UK for a couple of years, things like mugs, mousemats, you know the sort of thing.
Now i did dabble with shirts last year, but only small logo's, using the heat pressed vinyl. While this was ok for some clubs, I was asked over and over if i could do big stuff and had to turn down work.
I dont like turning work away, so i now have the equipment, it's just the knoweledge i am lacking.

Good luck to you.

 

[afgsigns]

I Made the transition from strictly a graphics shop that was doing decals and signs and such and branched out into screen printing in december and business has been great, I made my push becuase I had so many customers coming to me for decals or vehicle graphics but going to the other guy for shirts and such, now I do more in shirts that i do in vehicle graphics... Slowly starting to even out again now that summer is here thou