| When I first started my tshirt company, my original | | | | benefit that really appealed to me was the fact that |
| plan was to use 'inkjet transfers' as my printing | | | | I was able to offer all shirt types; to me there was |
| method, simply so that I could produce them as and | | | | nothing worse than turning away a customer that |
| when I needed them. Just like most start-up business | | | | wanted to buy a specific design in a certain size |
| owners I had this nagging voice in the back of my | | | | which was sold out whilst the other shirt sizes were |
| mind asking 'what if it doesn't work out?', so I | | | | overstocked. Another benefit of plastisol transfer |
| wanted to keep my costs to an absolute minimum. I | | | | printing is the ability to purchase 'gang sheets', this |
| bought a heat press and a vinyl cutter so I could | | | | means putting several designs onto one sheet, for |
| contour cut. After literally months of not being able | | | | example if an a3 sized sheet costs $2.40, and you're |
| to get along with my cutter I decided to change my | | | | able to fit 3 designs on there, the cost of each |
| business model and outsource my printing, I figured a | | | | design would be $0.80, so it can work out to be |
| couple of benefits of this would be that the printing | | | | much much cheaper for some than screen printing |
| would be to a better standard if I left it to the | | | | depending on the design. |
| professionals, any error would cost them and not me | | | | Remember my problem I told you about earlier about |
| and I had more time to spend on actually running the | | | | too many colors? Well I found out about a type of |
| business. | | | | plastisol transfer/screen printing called '4 colour |
| I then began looking into different modes of printing | | | | process' which has the same price for 4 or 40 color |
| and screen printing seemed the best option. The | | | | designs and tackles gradients and shading well, I have |
| biggest problem for me was that my designs were | | | | even seen US companies offer quantities starting |
| very colorful and detailed, and since screen printing is | | | | from 8 pieces! |
| billed per color, it wasn't looking good (I would very | | | | However, screen printing directly onto shirts also has |
| much advise you guys to pick your printing method | | | | it's advantages, as many screen printers do not offer |
| before designing your shirts). The other problem was | | | | printing as plastisol transfers as a service, it may be |
| that I was offering my designs in 5 different sizes in | | | | that you are able to negotiate a better price, you |
| mens, 4 sizes in womens, 5 sizes in hoodies and 4 | | | | could also get a better price if your screen printer |
| sizes in kids, so for example if I wanted to order 5 | | | | gets good discounts for purchasing large amounts of |
| of each type for 20 designs I would have ended up | | | | blank garments, another benefit is that you get the |
| ordering 1800 garments in total! the nagging voice in | | | | complete product, so that you are spared from any |
| the back of my head was ready to explode! | | | | wastage due to errors whilst pressing. Outsourcing |
| After doing some research I found out about plastisol | | | | your printing completely would also spare you the |
| transfers, for those of you who don't know what | | | | cost of purchasing 'heat press' machine that range |
| plastisol transfers are, it is the same process and | | | | from around $200-$1000+. |
| quality as screen printing, however, instead of printing | | | | Whichever method you choose, I highly recommend |
| directly onto the garment, the design is printed onto | | | | that you request samples from potential suppliers and |
| release paper and then is heat pressed on, below is a | | | | give repeat test washes to ensure the quality of the |
| video of the process to help you get an idea of | | | | garments and also remember to include the cost of |
| what is involved (the t-square it tool is helpful but not | | | | screen charges to the cost of the transfers when |
| a necessity). | | | | comparing prices of different companies. To get you |
| And it really is as simple as that! For me it was a | | | | started here are a list and details of some of the |
| no-brainer, it felt like ordering plastisol transfers was a | | | | most popular plastisol suppliers: |
| much better idea as I didn't need to buy tons of | | | | I wish good luck to you all in whichever method you |
| preprinted shirts, I could simply press as I sold, | | | | decide to take. |
| minimizing costs if the business didn't work, the other | | | | |