[mike1w]

Physically speaking, how demanding is a t-shirt business? Is it " injury or illness " friendly?

 

[CNClark]

Are you selling t-shirts or are you referring to the screen printing business where you print the shirts? If you are referring to printing them, then NO...if you are sick or injured often times you can't work. If you have an A'C'ed shop and an auto, then, yes, it can be possible, but you're still standing up all day.

 

[mike1w]

how about heat press shirts? what is the physical labor involved? I have to go to an orthopedic doctor about a knee injury that won't heal, likely from my regular full time ( non-retail ) job.

 

[CNClark]

That would depend on the heat press. some are automatic and require very little effort, some manual HP's require a significant amount of effort and you'll need to stand up.

 

[foot print]

every job/ profession has it's hazards heck you can throw out your back picking up a pencil in the office. Manual screen printing is repetetive you can push or pull a squeege it is still repetetive. Printing with a "auto press" still repetetive someone loads someone unloads, plus you run the hazards of falling into the auto and that hurts..getting hand slammed by the aluminum pallets as the press moves also hurts. You can slip and fall near the screen washing station because somone was to lazy to mop up the water. Someone has a shop with AC...? WOW all the shops I have worked at felt like sweat shops...LOL

 

[CNClark]

I think most people will find that printing crews are much more efficient when they are cool. And depending on how your billed for electricity, alot of times the A/C doesn't cost that much per month. It's the initial investment in the A/C system most shop owners have a problem with. Wise shop owners realize you make that money quickly by having work done faster with less water and rest breaks in the summer months.

 

[lben]

My "shop" is in my basement and the other day it was 62 degrees in there! Brrr, I was happy to turn on the flash drive. When business picks up enough to move into a real location, I will make sure I have AC.

And as for standing all day, if you buy table top presses and make the table yourself you can make them low enough to be able to do the work from a sitting position. Injuries from a heat press would be burns if you aren't careful where you are putting your hands when positioning material to be printed on.