[pmonkey]

I recently started my own screen printing and embroidery business. Growing up in the offset printing industry (family business) I figured it was the perfect thing to do as I basically already have a customer base. So far so good as business is pretty darn good.

The only problem major problem I am dealing with at the moment is trying to figure out a way to accomodate the customers that want just a few t-shirts. I despise having to turn any customer down but I feel I would be ripping them off if I was to print just a few shirts for them.

I am looking for a way to print small quantities of shirts and I am torn between spending tons of money on a dtg machine or just simply getting a laser printer and heat press to do transfers.

What are some opinions on both ideas? I wouldn't be running a dtg machine every day so I am not sure it would be worth the money.

At the same time, can heat transfers get a close enough look to silk screening that I would be looking for?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LaTonya]

The smaller amount of shirts that, I do is 1 dozen, any thing lest than that, I would do a tranfer are charge more if they do lest than the dozen. A tranfer looks good for lest than that. Do one for a sample to let your coustomer know what a tranfer will look like. I just did 5 tranfer on black shirts, and the coustomer love them. Show one for White and Dark shirts.
LaTonya

 

[out da box]

Maybe outsource plastisol transfers? Also heat transfers can work for a lot of customers- they do not look like screenprinted work though. A vinyl cutter can really help for names and numbers. Other than that it's 6-25k for a dtg or 7-25k for a versacamm. Don't feel bad, I'm in the same boat kinda- can't do small runs profitably right now- especially with a lot of color.
Another point is that with offset printing, you don't do 20 flyers and customers understand this. If you do screen printing, you must educate your client base on your process and set-up time required.

 

[pmonkey]

Thank you both for your opinions. Think I will look into getting a laser printer and heat press to do some transfers on small orders.

 

[knifemaker3]

If it is just a simple 1-2 color job do it with heat pressed vinyl. Last every bit as long as screenprint and looks fantastic. Honestly I think it looks better for 1 color jobs than regular screenprint.

If it has alot of color and is going on a white shirt then do it with jpss transfer paper. I have a customer who has been wearing some shirts done this way in her restaurant and even though they did fade after a time they still look pretty good considering she bleaches them everytime with color safe bleach to help get out the grease stains from the grill.

But DON'T TURN DOWN THE SMALL ORDERS!!! Just get the stuff that works, educate your customer, and everyone will be happy.

Good Luck!!!
Craig