Is Direct to Garment Worth the Investment?

In these economic times it is even more important tocustomers are then you need to create a business
make prudent investments. Over the past 6 yearsplan and envision exactly who your customers are
the direct to garment industry has exploded and withand how they are going to get to you. If you are
it screen printers, embroiders, and entrepreneursunsure then you might want to invest in a heat press
have asked is Direct to Garment worth theand do transfers to start with. It will be more cost
investment? And the answer is it depends. Like mosteffective in the short term. If you know that you
investments it is not ideally suited for every investor.are going to do smaller runs with photo quality
Most see it as a shiny new toy and are taken by itsimages than Direct to Garment may be right for you.
technology. This may be all well and good but thatThe other part of the equation is that people under
shinny new investment may be nothing more thanestimate how they are going to get customers. In
200lb paper weight if not utilized. Before we considerorder to make your investment pay off you need a
which model or manufacturer might be right for youplan to get customers. Direct to Garment Machines
lets first consider if you should even be looking atare expensive 12 to 250 thousand dollars. Most run in
one.the range of 15-25 thousand dollars. A manual Screen
Most Direct to Garment Printers are not designed toPrinting set-up is around 8-16 thousand dollars and a
print large volume jobs. A print on a dark coloredSublimation set-up is 2-5 thousand dollars. So if you
garment will take most Direct to Garment Printersare going to go with a Direct to Garment set-up
2-10 minutes to produce depending on printer speedmake sure this is your market or you will be spending
and image size. This does not include pretreatment orunnecessary funds.
heat pressing. You can probable count on doingThe other thing to consider about Direct to Garment
between 6-15 dark colored garments per hour. This isis how comfortable you are with technology and
not a lot when you consider a manual screen printerfixing things. The reason I say this is because you will
could do a similar job and produce between 30-60better off having a graphics background. Familiarity
per hour and an automatic printer could producewith Photoshop, Corel Draw, Illustrator will increase
upwards of 300 shirts per hour. So if you are doingyour likelihood of success. It will also make it easier
larger jobs on average then screen printing may be ato understand the RIP and any other graphic
better investment. Also, screen printing is better forsoftware that may come with the machine. Some of
special effects printing such as high density, glow inthe people that have struggled with the Direct to
the dark, puff, special bases, glitters, and shimmers.Garment Technology have struggled on the software
With Direct to Garment you are dealing with usuallyside. I bring up being comfortable with fixing things is
five colors (white, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow).because if you are handy it will help you avoid
The white is used to underbase and the other colorsexpensive service calls. Which brings up one of the
are used to render a process image. This is the goodbig reasons people give for giving up on Direct to
and the bad. The image comes out just like theGarment - mechanical trouble with the machines. Now
image on your home ink jet printer. However, youthere are definitely some machines that are more
can't hit some colors because they are beyond theproblematic then others but that doesn't excuse you
color gamut of process printing. So make sure yourfrom taking care of your investment. Some machines
clients are not incredibly picky about getting exactrequire a lot of maintenance others just some but
Pantone matches. If they are picky then you maythey all do require some preventative maintenance.
not be able to satisfy them.Understanding this is one the keys to being
So if it is so limited then why would you invest insuccessful in Direct to Garment. Another thing to
one. You should invest in one if you have the rightconsider is environment. Keeping a clean environment
type of market for one. If you are printing smallerwith the proper humidity is essential. When we began
runs that include multiple colors you may be ideal fordealing with Direct to Garment machines we used to
this type of equipment. Screen Printers have a largerhave to replace print heads every 2-3 months. Once
set-up cost and smaller runs are not as advantageouswe added a humidifier to our room to keep the
for them. A 5 or 10 shirt run is going to cost themproper humidity we never lost another print head. It
the same as 100 or 200 shirt run to set-up. Also, awas night and day and the prints came out better
Direct to Garment machine costs virtually the sameand more vibrant with a properly maintained print
to run whether it is a one color or four color job.head. So make sure wherever you are putting your
Screen Printers have to compensate for more colorsDirect to Garment Machine you have the proper
as each color will add time to the run. Smaller runenvironment.
reprints are also cost effective on a Direct toSo if you are going into the Direct to Garment
Garment Machine.market please make sure you have your business
The other part of the equation is you need to haveplan ready. Make sure you have the right customers
a business plan for what you are doing. Too manyand you know how you are going to reach them.
companies and individuals enter the Direct toAlso, make sure you have the right environment and
Garment business without an understanding of theiryou feel comfortable with the technology. Direct to
own customers. Customer base is a large factor inGarment is worth the investment for those with the
whether or not it is worth investing in a Direct toright business plan.
Garment Machine. If you don't know who your