Scurvy Dogs Media Says Hello

172 Views 23 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Rod, Nov 19, 2008

Rod

Discussion Starter · Nov 17, 2008

Hello to everyone in the tshirt/printing community. I'm Craig, and I've been reading the posts in this forum for awhile now. I haven't posted anything yet b/c I haven't finished reading yet! There are so many informative posts here that it'll probably be a long while before I can give up any info that hasn't already been covered.

I started Scurvy Dogs Media in 2006, mainly in the resale of CD/DVD/game media. I've recently invested in a vinyl cutter and heat press, and with my Canon i900d standard printer, create bumper stickers, drum bass head decals, and just about any small, full color, outdoor decal you could ask for. I also provide your standard window/vehicle lettering, yard signs, banners, etc. With virtually no advertising (ironic, since this is the business I'm in), customers come slowly, but within the next 6 months I plan to make sizeable expansions, using both the money I earn from the business and the help I find here in the forums.

Anyway, looking forward to being a part of this 'family,' and learning as much as I can about the business. Thank you.

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

LaTonya

· #2 · Nov 17, 2008

Great having you to the forum Craig.
LaTonya

Rod

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 17, 2008

Thank you, glad to be here.

Girlzndollz

· #4 · Nov 17, 2008

:welcome: and to posting, Craig.

You're one of the many new cutter owners on the forum, myself included. I guess I'll be seeing you over there as alot of us are starting out, and I'm sure to have alot of Q's myself.

What kind of cutter did you get?

nascarbob

· #5 · Nov 17, 2008

Hey Rod, Welcome aboard. If I can help let me know.

Rod

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 17, 2008

I'm starting out with a USCutter LaserPoint 24 I picked up from eBay, and an OLD Hix press I picked up from an auction. I wanted to keep my overhead low in the beginning, just so if this doesn't work out, I won't be in the hole too much. Luckily, that isn't the case.

It's good to see so many ppl replying to this post; I really didn't think anyone checked out the new member section.

Girlzndollz, what did you get? Have you found any good suppliers?

Rod

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 17, 2008

nascarbob, can you make college football-type aprons? I may have a great xmas idea here.

Girlzndollz

· #8 · Nov 17, 2008

Rod said:
I'm starting out with a USCutter LaserPoint 24 I picked up from eBay, and an OLD Hix press I picked up from an auction. I wanted to keep my overhead low in the beginning, just so if this doesn't work out, I won't be in the hole too much. Luckily, that isn't the case.

Those are good, frugal choices. Plenty of folks make their way just fine with that equipment, which it sounds like you are, too.

Sometimes folks just upgrade to like the Roland, bc it is a nice machine to own, but the others get the job done, too.

It's good to see so many ppl replying to this post; I really didn't think anyone checked out the new member section.

Yeah, lots of folks do, and in particular, there are a few faithful members that make the rounds, and thank you to each of you... I don't want to say thanks by name in case I'd forget someone, but I see them, saying hello and keeping the welcome wagon rolling. It's so nice to get a hello... and admittedly, I don't get to this section as much as I used to. When I pop in, I usually head right for the threads.

Haha, a good name like Scurvy Dog Media surely got me in here, tho!!

Girlzndollz, what did you get? Have you found any good suppliers?

I got my cutter used on Ebay, same theory as yours. Mine does not do contour cutting tho. I decided to pass on that for now, I really need it to cut. That's my main goal.

I got an older Graphtec FC2100-50. Some friends here helped me with the auction, pricewise and checking it out.

I don't have a supplier yet. I've yet to cut a piece of vinyl... so for now, I have samples from Plan B and tshirtsupplies.com. I have to call around for more samples, then I suppose I'll find a supplier.

How about you? Oh, and I'm starting with tees, not going to signs until I get tees under my belt.

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Daniel Slatkin

· #9 · Nov 17, 2008

Welcome to the forum craig

Rod

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 17, 2008

Thanks for the welcome, Daniel.

I get all my sign/decal vinyl from Fellers; they have a website, and will also send you free sample sheets. They have a warehouse here in town, so it's very convenient to pick up. With my business account, if I order $75 or more, before noon and with a same-city plant, I get direct to door shipping free. I haven't had any problems with them. Their transfer vinyl's kinda expensive, but I guess it's the same everywhere.

I wanna expand into shirts, but I'm having trouble seeing how you can keep prices low yet still make money. That transfer vinyl's not cheap!

Girlzndollz

· #11 · Nov 17, 2008

Wow, that is an awesome set up you have with Fellers, and thanks for the tip on the samples. The rest, I guess we'll find out how others are doing that on here. From what I've heard here and there, money in the cutter comes more from signs than tees, but I'm a newbie in this vinyl world with limited reading and limited advice given to me. But the advice is from sources I trust, so I was just pretty sure as time went on, it'd flush out as true.

I just want to customize the clothes with vinyl because I am totally in love with glitter vinyl. I just have to find a way to get others to love it, too!
Enough to pay me well for it.

Good luck to you, Craig. Pls don't mind me if I call you Rod!

Dorktees

· #12 · Nov 17, 2008

Welcome aboard!

Rod

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 17, 2008

Girlzndollz said:
Good luck to you, Craig. Pls don't mind me if I call you Rod!

No problem, that's usually what I go by anyway.

What were you doing before vinyl cutting?

Rod

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 17, 2008

Thanks, Johnny. What is it that you do?

nascarbob

· #15 · Nov 17, 2008

Rod said:
nascarbob, can you make college football-type aprons? I may have a great xmas idea here.

I'm not sure what college football type aprons are. If you are looking for multi-color. No problem.

Rod

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 17, 2008

Well, I was thinking about just one, but I see you have minimums, so I wouldn't wanna waste your time over one apron. Thank you anyways, though.

nascarbob

· #17 · Nov 17, 2008

Rod said:
Thanks for the welcome, Daniel.

I get all my sign/decal vinyl from Fellers; they have a website, and will also send you free sample sheets. They have a warehouse here in town, so it's very convenient to pick up. With my business account, if I order $75 or more, before noon and with a same-city plant, I get direct to door shipping free. I haven't had any problems with them. Their transfer vinyl's kinda expensive, but I guess it's the same everywhere.

I wanna expand into shirts, but I'm having trouble seeing how you can keep prices low yet still make money. That transfer vinyl's not cheap!

You might want to try finding another supplier for heat vinyl. Try imprintables or stahls. With these companies the more you purchase the better the discount.

You can compete with anybody in the T-shirt world, especially with smaller orders. Most screeners have setup or screen charges which make small runs expensive. You will be able to make custom one of a kind garments for way less.

Rod

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 17, 2008

That's a great suggestion; I was actually on Imprintables' site last night looking at colors. My main conflict is that I want to have more variety than stock, so it's expensive off the bat.

For example, I would rather have six different colors in 15"x5yds than two in 15"x20yds, even though I would save money, unless you have a better method for me to follow. As I said, I'm fairly new at signage, but toally green with the tshirt biz.

nascarbob

· #19 · Nov 17, 2008

Rod said:
That's a great suggestion; I was actually on Imprintables' site last night looking at colors. My main conflict is that I want to have more variety than stock, so it's expensive off the bat.

For example, I would rather have six different colors in 15"x5yds than two in 15"x20yds, even though I would save money, unless you have a better method for me to follow. As I said, I'm fairly new at signage, but toally green with the tshirt biz.

IW are most likely one day ship to you. Only stock main colors, you can start with White, black, blue. The rest can be ordered as you need them. Nobody will have turnaround as fast as you. Same with garments no reason to stock anything, find people who carry your items and can get them to you in a couple days. Trust me people always want what you do not have anyway.

Rod

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 17, 2008

nascarbob said:
Trust me people always want what you do not have anyway.

Yeah, I've definitely already discovered that. Like I said, ordering small rolls keeps me with variety, but I tend to run out of the main colors quickly, which holds up turnaround. In this endeavor, I'll take your advice.

Have any of you seen the videos on here about homemade DTG printing? I'm curious about that, but don't have a spare printer...

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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