[Mtnview]

We recently sent in a bid which I hate doing to begin with. I try not to get into bid jobs. Anyway, the request was for 2,000 lavender colored t-shirts with with white and a darker purple to offset the lavendar shirt on the front with one color (white) on the back for sponsors. Since we would have had to contract this size of a job out we tried to keep the cost down as much as possible but the winning bid came in at $3 per shirt.

I saw the finished product and they used the same shirt we quoted which unless they are getting better than case pricing from the same supplier (about half hour away) sells for $2.05 ea by the case. If we were set up to screen those ourselves is $3 per shirt profitable or did the winner do this at cost?

 

[adivito]

If they are a large operation it can be done, but I wouldn't want to work on those margins a couple mistakes and you would be out of business

 

[JAF]

I just checked my prices for large screen printing companies and appears to be the going rate. The problem you ran into is having to contract it out. You needed to add something for yourself and that put you over the top on your price.

 

[dptk]

There is a good chance they get better than case pricing, and even if not, it's 2.05 for the shirt & .95 for printing, which could be figured at .60 + .35 for 2nd location & I've seen contract pricing even better than that for 1000 pcs.

 

[Mtnview]

I just checked my prices for large screen printing companies and appears to be the going rate. The problem you ran into is having to contract it out. You needed to add something for yourself and that put you over the top on your price.

Right. But I was wondering if even doing the screen printing ourselves if that could be a moneymaker or just a cost job. Wanted to hear from some of you that do in house screen printing if you price out that kind of job for $3. 2 color front / 1 color back on a colored shirt.

 

[dptk]

A large printer I use would charge $.85 for that job @ 1000 pcs , but I don't print my own

 

[Mtnview]

A large printer I use would charge $.85 for that job @ 1000 pcs , but I don't print my own

Just in case there was some misunderstanding that $3 includes the shirt (I am not talking white shirt but color), 2 color print front, one color back. What does he do for $0.85?

 

[dptk]

.85 would be 2 color print on front & 1 color print on back w/ flash. pricing goes .50 for printing, .35 for additional location. no screen charge for 1000 pcs order. , I would use a 5.5 oz ringspun shirt for $1.75 , but $2.05 sounds reasonable for the shirt.

I realize these prices are super low, but that just give you an idea of what some of these big printers get.

 

[JAF]

For low prices like that you have to realize that these guys have large automatics. A job like this might only take them 3 or 4 hours and that includes counting in and box it up. Of course I'm guessing at this. I'd be interested in hearing from someone with more accurate knowledge. How long would a job like this take?

 

[Mtnview]

.85 would be 2 color print on front & 1 color print on back w/ flash. pricing goes .50 for printing, .35 for additional location. no screen charge for 1000 pcs order. , I would use a 5.5 oz ringspun shirt for $1.75 , but $2.05 sounds reasonable for the shirt.

I realize these prices are super low, but that just give you an idea of what some of these big printers get.

$2.05 is what One Stop charges by the case so that leaves $0.85 for ink, labor and profit. The place that got the order is a good size screen printer so I know they are paying labor. How much in ink cost does an job like that on average take with approximately 70% coverage at 9 x 12?

 

[JAF]

$2.05 is what One Stop charges by the case so that leaves $0.85 for ink, labor and profit. The place that got the order is a good size screen printer so I know they are paying labor. How much in ink cost does an job like that on average take with approximately 70% coverage at 9 x 12?

They would have expenses for ink, labor, taxes, equipment, rent. So lets say the profit was $.15 per shirt on 2K shirts. The job took 3hrs, that's $100 per hr profit. I don't know about you but I would be happy with $100 per hr.
I've been in the same situation and hate it when I don't get the job but we all have to eat.

 

[selanac]

I wouldn't kick my self, other jobs will come your way. I'm sure you're like the rest of us who hate to lose any type of work even though it's not profitable for us.

After the cost of the t-shirt you're looking at anywhere from .95 to $1.25 for the ring spun. Two gallons of ink is about $130 or so. At 2,000 t-shirts if you had .95 you would have $1900. They might have already had the t-shirts in stock and written off from last year. Plus they could get a much bigger discount than the rest of us do.

 

[CNClark]

Yes, for big printers this is a profitable job. Figure they are making around $.95 per shirt. That's $1900. This job would take a max of 6 hours in a big shop..another 20 to setup and tear down. Do the math.

I can run fast at my shop, but I don't price out jobs near that low...it's bad for the industry as a whole.

 

[whimsywhit]

We have priced shirts at this price before. The university in town bids everything out, they are required to. And they are our biggest customer. They use mostly maroon shirts, too. They also request on their bid 6.1oz Gildan shirts. I call my sales rep at our supplier, we go over the numbers, he give me a quote for that many shirts (which usually runs around 1.80 to 1.90, sometimes better if he can). Our press can print 1500 prints in a day (ten hour day). That's give or take a few, because I will stop and eat but I've run it straight before. But that's also PRINTS. So, for 3000 shirts, it would take us about four days. A guy down the road has TWO bigger and faster automatics, and he prints the fronts as the backs get printed and they come out the dryer. Anyway, if I print them myself, and I pay for the shirts, the rest is profit. Of course, I would have someone helping pull shirts and stack and fold.
Basically, if you have an auto it's definitely profitable. It's not the easiest profit to make, but it can happen.

 

[brianmot]

Great thread, thanks for the info guys!

 

[Mtnview]

All this info has been a big help. Next job like this I will have to call One Stop to see if I can work out a better price for an order that big. With some of the other things we want to do we made need to look into setting up screen equipment. How many shirts can you get out an hour with a 4 station / 6 color manual?

 

[JAF]

When pricing a big job you should ask for quotes from a few distributors. You might even be able to negotiate for free freight.

When we print a one or two color job it is the dryer that can't keep up with us. It is especially slow going when printing a one color left chest. It was suggested that we buy a larger dryer when we were setting up the shop but our budget kept us on the low end. If I had it to over again I would buy a better dryer.

 

[selanac]

If you haven't screen printed yourself it'll take you a little longer until you learn all the little steps. I know a guy selling a wash out booth, a six color four station manual press, and 5 foot conveyor dryer if you're interested. You can probably make him an offer. He's in NJ, but I know another guy that has a Transport business.

You can make these guys offers and see if they'll do the work for a little less to save you money.

 

[Mtnview]

If you haven't screen printed yourself it'll take you a little longer until you learn all the little steps. I know a guy selling a wash out booth, a six color four station manual press, and 5 foot conveyor dryer if you're interested. You can probably make him an offer. He's in NJ, but I know another guy that has a Transport business.

You can make these guys offers and see if they'll do the work for a little less to save you money.

Wonder what freight to MI would be? I keep looking on Craigslist and nothing is popping up within a few hundred miles. Been trying to keep an eye out for a shop closing.

 

[selanac]

Don't know, but my friend Jon just moved from Michigan. Are you in Michigan or did you think the equipment was there?

Like I said, you can offer my other friend a price to ship it for you and see if he takes it. Also offer the guy with the screen printing equipment another price for the equipment.

If they want the business they'll jump on it.