New Guy Florida

211 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Bumbleb, Feb 24, 2014

Bumbleb

Discussion Starter · Feb 18, 2014

Hi guys my name is Brandon. I am interested in joining the apparel business. I will be starting out with shirts and I honestly have no idea how to do it. I am extremely motivated though to be the best at everything I do and that is why I have come here, to learn. I have been doing a bit of reading on here and my first question is at what point do I need a vinyl cutter? Basically at what point did you justify the cost and expect your return.
If you are in the Tampa area I would love to meet you guys and ask my plethora of questions. I believe that is all for tonight and I am anxious to begin this adventure.

Regards,
Brandon

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gotshirts2ink

· #2 · Feb 18, 2014

Welcome to the forum from Daytona Beach area!
First off what is your business plan? what do you actually want to make? your own line of clothing, clothing for customers businesses.
Screen Print, Heat Transfers, DTG are the main printing options
If you do not have the means to screen print then there are alot of people on here that will contract print for you or you can find someone in your area or craigslists.
Heat Press you have some good options here, you can buy pre made anything actually and just heat press it on your apparel, They offer screen printed transfers too that you can buy 1-1000 or more at half the cost.
Vinyl cutter you will only need if you want to cut HTV Heat Transfer Vinyl then you can do all custom work and then you will need a heat press for that.
DTG looks awesome and no feel and last alot long that screen print and has as many colors as the rainbow offers.
I know that is not a good way of putting the ways to make shirts but it is all I can think of right now kinda tired of the computer
So like I said think what you want to do and see what is the best fit for you

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Reactions: 1

6stitches

· #3 · Feb 18, 2014

Hi Brandon, It all depends on what kind of printing you want to do. For example, I started screen printing and then a year later bought a cutter. I knew I always needed one but it was just a matter of which one I wanted to do more. My cutter is amazing and really helps keep customers with the low quantity easy weeding jobs. Make sure you charge accordingly for those complex weeding jobs. They can really take up a lot of time. The one piece of equipment that has paid for itself many times over for me is my heat press!

T-Shirt forums is awesome. Lots of helpful people here who are passionate about the same thing.

Reactions: 1

GHEENEE1

· #4 · Feb 18, 2014

Welcome Brandon. What I did first was bought a heat press, bought stock transfers and had custom transfers made, also outsourced dtg, screenprint. Then bought a vinyl cutter. If I I had to do it again, I would buy a heat press and then a cutter. I work out of my home.

Reactions: 1

Bumbleb

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 18, 2014

Wow thanks for the response guys.
My business plan is very basic right now. I am a religious guy and would like to have a line. I have a buddy that is a personal trainer and would like to make fitness apparel and use him to sell. I have another buddy that is a professional racer and would like to make some things and... you guessed it use him to help me sell it.

In reality I am going to spend the next six months learning and probably doing small things. I am looking into heat presses initially but found out yesterday that my wife's cousin took two years of screen printing in school so I guess if I got him involved then I could start that up at anytime as well.

You Florida guys I am actually located in Clearwater and as I get into this I would love to sub out some of the stuff that I can not door quantities I know I will not be able to fill time frames for.

gotshirts2ink

· #6 · Feb 19, 2014

From what you said, My own opinion Brandon, I think you Like the t-shirt business but you are Not ready yet to get into it
I think if you want your own line you need to start with a pencil and paper and start designing some shirts. Once you have a few designs on paper then see what the best way would be to print them. if you do screen print you will have alot of stock for inventory and alot of money out for the shirts that were just printed (you cant just print 1 or 2 unless you have the equipment), if you get custom transfers made then you can slide them into a folder and heat press when ever you need a shirt made
Research Research Research
Good Luck by them way I have a Heat Press, Mug Press and a Hat press I will be selling as a group

Reactions: 1

Bumbleb

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 19, 2014

Gotshirts,

Thank you for your response. I respect your opinion as you certainly have more experience than I. I have decided I will be using plastisol via heat press and am scheduled to pick it up on Saturday from a forum member. I have quite a few designs already and the other two gentlemen will be means of getting more shirts sold and my brand more public. I must agree with you research is the name of my days right now and with that i shall return to it.

Lisa-marie

· #8 · Feb 19, 2014

Hi Brandon! Welcome to the industry! I have been in this biz for awhile. I have been on the blanks side. I purchased a complete shop full of equipment several months ago to set up screenprinting as I already have garment dyeing and cut and sew but I have since decided that it is more cost effective for me to subcontract the screenprinting and have purchased several DTG printers instead. In So Cal there are too many options for printers and it's much less expensive to let someone else do it. Just my opinion. Best of luck to you!!!

Reactions: 1

Karny1979

· #9 · Feb 20, 2014

Sounds like your plan is coming together! Good luck!

Reactions: 1

Bumbleb

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 20, 2014

Thank you Karney! Being completely new to this business I know I have a lot to learn and will have some growing pains but I have already bought my domain name created a Facebook account and am working on my Etsy (kinda hard with no product yet haha). My plan is to use heat transferred plastisol so I am currently reading about and watching videos about it so my screw ups are not AS vast. I really appreciate everyone's support.

-Brandon

jburleigh1

· #11 · Feb 20, 2014

I am new here too but it seems like a great place to absorb new knowledge!

Reactions: 1

abdul razzak

· #12 · Feb 20, 2014

Hi Brandon, Welcome to the forum great place to learn & the members very helpful. Wish you all the success in days to come.

Reactions: 1

gotshirts2ink

· #13 · Feb 21, 2014

Plastisol Transfers is what it is called or screen printed transfers
I have been getting mine from ProWorld for years but havent had small order runs in a while but I have heard good things from Veratranz and Transfer Express

gotshirts2ink

· #14 · Feb 21, 2014

what is the facebook page? we can get you some likes

Reactions: 1

Bumbleb

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 23, 2014

https://www.facebook.com/reveredwarrior

This is the page do not expect much on it except for text but i will start actually making product pretty soon so please feel free to keep up with me and what I am doing. Thanks again for the warm welcome.

-Brandon

iamchu15

· #16 · Feb 23, 2014

Hello Brandon,

Welcome to the fun and exiting world of apparel decoration. I am out of the Brandon area, not far from you. I have over 7 years in the industry and can help you with advise here and there. Contact me at any time.

Reactions: 1

Bumbleb

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 24, 2014

I will hold you to that. I really do appreciate it.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

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