[Luka]

Hey, all. This has been my first week of looking for a printer to print my designs. I wonder if you have any advice on how to choose a reliable printer, or should I rather learn to hot press via DIY? I’ll also need a screen-printer for graphic tees, so any advice on what I should be looking for in a good printer, and what kind of printers would be interested in printing designer tees?



I’m asking for a specific advice, because my search has been frustrating.


In my city, there are hundreds of small family-owned printers in every area, because it’s an easy business to get into – any guy can buy some equipment and start a biz. But, in my experience, most of these printers come across as unprofessional and seemed unreliable. All advertise themselves as soliciting promotional prints, signage, business cards etc from businesses and printing of t-shirts for schools’ athletic teams, corporate give-aways and the like. Clearly they are looking for large once-off orders, cheap manufacture -- and none seem to be interested in printing designer tees, small orders. I contacted 2 such printers via email asking for a price quote. None replied. The third, a one-guy workshop next door operating from a converted residential house, I visited personally. This guy was either so hopelessly unprofessional or so reluctant to help, I was the one asking how can he help me. The guy quoted me $10.65 per screen-printed tee (minimal order 10 items). For hot press he couldn’t even quote me as a guideline, saying his pricing is “on the sliding scale”. Am I to place an order first and then find out how much it will cost me?! I asked him to email me the pricelist, to which he said will do – and, still nothing...


Do you have some advice on how to choose a reliable printer? How to find a printer specializing in designer tees? Not looking for specific names, just for some guidance on how to find a good one. Thank you for your help!

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[kirbymurphy]

I asked around at some car shows and other benefits that sold Tees that I thought had quality.
I stopped in at the shops they used and got pricing.
Several had one-color pricing around $7 or $8 for 20 pcs.
If I buy a shirt at $8, I can sell it at $16.

I guess I could do it cheaper, but I don't want to buy a lot of equipment and struggle to get good at it. I'm better at marketing and don't mind paying the MU. My latest shop will print me a few at cost for demo. (Free if they see potential.) Only one shop has stolen my crappy ideas.

 

[Tolli Ink]

It has been my experience that most places don't want to waste their time on the small orders like that because there is not much profit in them. That is actually one of the reasons I started my company. I have 2 brothers who are youth ministers. They have always had trouble finding people to do small orders. And the ones they do find to do them, the quality isn't good. So, that is why I started my company. Yes, I would love the big orders don't get me wrong. But people have gotten away from customer service. The small orders to me is considered customer service. Which is a big deal to me.

So to answer your question though, that is why you are getting blown off by these printers. They don't want to deal with the small orders because they get nothing out of it. There are printers out there, you just have to keep looking. Usually, it's either going to be the really big shop who don't mind breaking even on an order because the are so big, or the smaller shops who are just looking to get some business going. I hope this helps you!