Materials on CafePress

2989 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Rodney, Jan 23, 2008

dcmur21

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 2006

We're thinking of getting started with CafePress--not as a final solution, but as a means to an end to test the solubility of our initial designs.

Before we move forward, I am wondering about the quality of the materials the company uses in printing the shirts. Our hope is to print our logos and designs on ultra-soft cotton/polyester blend t-shirts, similar to those sold at Urban Outfitters and other modern/fashion outlets.

Can anyone tell me whether CafePress offers a vintage option, and, if so, how the printing looks when it's finished? Can you work with anyone there to tweak the design before setting orders? How about quality? Has anyone run into quality issues after washing, excess wear, et cetera?

Our slogans likely will drive our products, but brand creation is equally as important here and I wouldn't want to make the mistake of compromising quality and durability for speed and a quick buck when the ultimate goal here is to eventually start an enduring and lasting business.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Corey

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Rodney

· #2 · Aug 8, 2006

CafePress doesn't really offer any "vintage" styled garments. All are 100% cotton (no cotton/poly blends that I know of).

They do offer some AmericanApparel styles (white shirts only)

Can you work with anyone there to tweak the design before setting orders?

You can edit your design as much as you like before making your store go live. As for tweaking, you'd probably have to order your product (at a discount) to see exactly what it would look like as a finished product.

How about quality? Has anyone run into quality issues after washing, excess wear, et cetera?

They use direct to garment printing and heat transfer printing. I have some cafepres shirts that look good after serveral washes, I have some (from their earlier years, that have faded quite a bit).

Some will love the quality, some won't feel it's what they are looking for.

It seems you have some pretty specific standards, so my advice to you would be to create a design and upload it to a cafepress store and buy one or two of the products to see if it meets your needs before setting up a full store.

If you want to go the print on demand route, you may also want to check out spreadshirt, printfection and zazzle.

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tim3560

· #3 · Jan 18, 2008

Rodney said:
They use direct to garment printing and heat transfer printing. I have some cafepres shirts that look good after serveral washes, I have some (from their earlier years, that have faded quite a bit).

How big is the difference between dtg and transfers on the shirts that you've seen? What transfers/printers are they using?

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Rodney

· #4 · Jan 23, 2008

tim3560 said:
How big is the difference between dtg and transfers on the shirts that you've seen? What transfers/printers are they using?

The difference is pretty big. Although I haven't ordered a transfer printed shirt in a while from cafepress. No real reason to now that they do DTG. I'm not even sure they still offer a heat transfer option.

I don't know what kind of transfers/printers they used.

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