East Midlands Area(England) Help Needed

Thank you both, Janine and Dean for your advice.
I'll go to see magic touch, because my thing with transfers is that with washes they always end up braking. Had the idea (maybe wrong) that a printed t-shirt would last longer?
Embroidery is the "other" part of the business I always wanted to add. Have booked a provisional place on a SWF 1 day embroidery training course, with Yes ltd on 2nd of December to see how all works and if I can do it. Don't know yet how much it will cost, but will find out on Wednesday. The DTG HM1 cost £10,545.00

Dean, I had thought about take a couple of my own designs to print there, as on their email they said:
"... Unfortunately all our stock of sample t-shirts have already been sent out. Rather than sending you one out on Monday, I think it would be easier for you to print some samples for yourself when you come here next week and that way you can see how straight forward the process is." but was wondering if it would be to cheeky to ask them to let me print my own stuff??? What I can do is take with me a few blank t-shirts from my stock?
Anyway you're right, If I want a good measure of timing and costs, it's the only way to do it. And I'd have to sell in excess of 60/70 tees per day, to pay for all the costs and have a bit of profit, which it's a all loooaaad of t-shirts.
Thanks again,
I think that the boat is starting to change route, but I'm still looking forward to the experience, and I will let you all know how it went.
Kind regards.
Carlitos

Hi everybody,
I'm back, been a bit busy as it's not easy when you just started your business, so much stuff to take care of, that your start to spin.
But as arranged I went to Yes Ltd. annnnnndd was a very nice afternoon and learned quite a bit.
Andy new what he was doing, and was nice to see all the process from the pre treatment on the black t-shirts to the actual printing.
It takes a bit of time, much faster on whites, and yes like everybody says it's not a 100% straight forward operation special on blacks, but I think it's like that with all the other makes?
Noticed that on black tees after a close inspection was a slight problem with the fibers sticking up, and being noticeable on the design even on the finished product, they said that depending on the make of the tees some are more noticeable than the others, but happened to all of them, even on different makes, Pre treatment not right???? Temperature??? Pressing time???
After printing quite a few tees and not without a few hiccups, turned my attention to the embroidery machines.
A few nice models. Not cheap if you want to go for a brand new 2 head dual function 12 colours but very very nice, and the capacity to do 2 different designs at the same time on 1 machine (dual function) it's a great feature. If a tread brakes on one of the heads the other one keeps on working.
So conclusions?
After a bit of head scratching and cool thinking (I'm starting to learn to control myself and not jumping into situations head on) and after some advice from you guys (and girls) I got to this conclusion.
I will not be buying a TDG machine after all. Not for now, at least. Then to spend almost 15K on a new 2 head embroidery machine (with 1 cap frame, instalation, and training) without knowing if I'll have work enough for it is a bit risky, so back to first stage.
I started to do sublimation printing for personalised gifts in first place, but want to add some other stuff to have a wider customer base, and it was when I thought about the TDG and embroidery machines, as I'm doing tees anyway by subli or heat transfers.
I think if I come across any embroidery work I'll accept it, get it done somewhere else and go from there. Less profit (if any) but less investment and still get the customer.
Maybe a better investment for my line of work would be a Roland Versacamm VP540 printer/cutter.
Don't get me wrong but I've got to do something to have a bit more than sublimation, or am I a bit crazy??
Thank you all for your views and advice, well appreciated.
Regards
Carlitos

Hi Carlitos
Well you are doing the right thing and not jumping in as it can be a big mistake, and a costly one to boot
I like your self have always been doing subli items from mugs cups plates and so on aswell as T`s but wanted to do more and try attract more customers.
After a lot of reading and hints and tips from all the great members on here, i went down the line of the vinyl system to start off which i do now.
It was a great decision and has payed off very well, and with in 4mths all the costs for the items (various cutters from A4 to 54") i have had the money back and more.
You think in this line that the top machines like the DTG is best to get but like you i went and spend a day checking it out and was not very inpresses, out of 12 items done 2 turned out good to my knolage.
I bought myself a embroidery machine not so long ago so as to do business logos as was been asked if i done them, so i bought a cheap model and that in it self has payed for it self.
I`m going to buy a simular one as you mention in the new year, but as many will tell you, a good 2nd hand machine will do the job just as good as a new one, and will save you a lot of money.
I`m looking at geting the Brother PR620 in the new year.
There is also many good vinyl cutter printer combo machines on the market which look good, but i`m not sure which is best but the main thing is for you to take your time in choosing and not jump in.