[Silver Star DC]

Hey guys.

I have a customer who has asked me to screen print their employees names on the front of 2200 shirts. There are probably 250 - 300 different names, using a specific font, and a specific Pantone color. I tried to talk them into a heat press vinyl, but they refused to use that material. Does anyone have any ideas on what would be the easiest way to approach this job? I have already talked with Transfer Express and my options are limited as well as the Pantone color. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[splathead]

Looks like you need 8 to 10 imprints per employee?

I do think transfers are the way to go. Versantrans can do pantones. You probably also want to use a transfer printer who can do jumbo ganged transfers.

Here is a list: http://www.t-shirtforums.com/plastisol-transfers/t77081.html

 

[Silver Star DC]

I tried to convince them to use transfer vinyl. One of them had a bad experience with a shirt that had that material, and she is the one making the decisions. But some of the employees ordered 5 shirts, and a few of the others ordered 10 or more. The only problem with ganging them on a sheet is making the quantities work out for each name. The other issue to this job is that they are wanting to order for full time employees as well as temps. And this could be a twice a month job with names always changing.

 

[sben763]

Screen your own transfers. Just charge accordingly. Make a set up fee per name, screen fee, basicly it’s going to be costly. For full time employee you can order extra. Most. Companies don’t understand the involvement for names. Just make sure to charge enough


I use to screen the names and gang on a screen taping off unused having a even distance between names so I can use the rulers on press to move platens. Then I got a call from the place and they said they had their shirts printed and needed the names. They were expecting the same price as when I printed the entire shirt. I hit them with every charge I could think of and sent over a quote for just the names. The said they wanted to move forward with order. That’s when I said I don’t print on printed shirts. I ran into a guy wearing one of their shirts without a name so I asked. He told me the guy who printed the shirts wanted $50 a name set up and $5 per imprint. They also wouldn’t except vinyl. They tried to have me print the shirts again this spring, I told them was too busy

 

[Silver Star DC]

I thought about doing that as well. I figured I could get 30 to 40 names on a screen. But I'm still a small shop and I'm not sure that I have enough screens to get all the names on. I guess I was just hoping to find an easier way to go about this.

 

[Silver Star DC]

Anybody else have a suggestion on this, or has gone through this before?

 

[KelceyW]

Can you convince them to go for embroidery? You could subcontract the work to someone with a six head to knock them out for you....

 

[Silver Star DC]

Can you convince them to go for embroidery? You could subcontract the work to someone with a six head to knock them out for you....

I've tried to do that as well. My partner does embroidery, which would make that great. But they want the shirt to look the same on the front.

 

[splathead]

Convince them to use white polyester shirts then you can use dye sublimation.

 

[Silver Star DC]

Convince them to use white polyester shirts then you can use dye sublimation.

That would be great! But unfortunately, they have already ordered the shirts and will be delivered tomorrow.

 

[splathead]

Anybody else have a suggestion on this, or has gone through this before?

1. All what you've said points back to screen printing. I see no other options except maybe sewn on name patches. (Think Joe's Garage).

2. Now that you know you will be screen printing a shoot-load of names, charge accordingly. The client has backed himself into a corner, he needs to pay for that, not you.

You said you don't have enough screens - buy some more. Add it to your bill.

3. Please, please, please don't forget to add in a spoil-rate. Otherwise you're going to find yourself buying replacement shirts on your mistakes. On one-off prints like this, it's not a question of if you'll mess up a shirt, it's a question of how many. Me, personally, i would quote a spoil rate of 1%.

 

[KelceyW]

And if you can, print the names before the backs.
Given the names will be size specific, at some point you will probably put a name on the wrong size garment (it happens). I find it less painful to toss one miss-printed name than something I have already also done a full back on.

 

[Silver Star DC]

1. All what you've said points back to screen printing. I see no other options except maybe sewn on name patches. (Think Joe's Garage).

2. Now that you know you will be screen printing a shoot-load of names, charge accordingly. The client has backed himself into a corner, he needs to pay for that, not you.

You said you don't have enough screens - buy some more. Add it to your bill.

3. Please, please, please don't forget to add in a spoil-rate. Otherwise you're going to find yourself buying replacement shirts on your mistakes. On one-off prints like this, it's not a question of if you'll mess up a shirt, it's a question of how many. Me, personally, i would quote a spoil rate of 1%.

Ha ha ha...yes it does. And the patches on the shirts are what they are wanting to get away from. That's good advice, I appreciate that. I usually forget to add in a spoil rate.

 

[Monster Press]

Tape off is not too difficult. Just mark your pallet Also just thinking you should be charging anywhere around $4-5 per shirt. That said you are gonna net 8-10 grand. That should be plenty to buy a few extra screens. Good luck with it.