AdamB
08-08-2010, 11:31 AM
First of all, can I just shout a big thank you to everyone on this forum. For the past 24hrs I must have read every post on this site that I hadn’t read already (been up all night), all with some information that will prove to be a great bonus if armed with it. The members of this forum are not only highly knowledgeable but also friendly, and that’s where the difference lies with many other communities, and for that I must say than you.
So, ’this post’ (and I’m sorry if all I do is ask questions) is regarding my future. I’ll lay my cards on the table and try to explain why I am in this predicament. I have just completed 22yrs service in the Army and whilst in I have always took advantage to making a few bob on the side. I have done everything from customised CD’s to clocks, and about 10 years ago I learnt about web design. I have always been pretty handy with photoshop and the like so I took to web-design like a duck to water. Since then I have made a few sites that are up there with the professionals and really thought that ‘this’ would be my future. So, many months ago I bought a mug machine and have been ‘knocking out’ mugs on a regular basis through ebay, friends, family and other forums I am a member with (a perfect accompaniment to the web design thing).
But, there’s not just me in this story, I have a family. This includes the missis and twin boys (aged 5), so after many a talk, what started as enquiring about a market stall has now evolved into opening a shop. We have a business plan, a theme and a name and our ‘business’ will basically be a children’s clothes shop selling clothes and stuff for 2 to 10 year olds. We live in South Wales and the location is perfect and no one is in direct competition for the ideas we have. Yes, we know it will take a lot of work but we have some great plans ranging from loyalty cards to free gifts if purchases go over certain amounts. The shop is going to be themed with some great ideas we have and I also want to have a Train Track running around (above head height) going into tunnels etc as I have fond memories of Hornby shops and just wanting to go with my mum ‘to look at the choo choo’.
We are also going to add a personalised section in the shop, where customers can look through a range of ‘examples’ on display and then in a catalogue that I will produce to pick up items 24hrs later. Plus we will have generic ‘impulse buys’ like key-rings, coasters, pens etc near the counter.
So, a lot of planning has gone into this and I’m not naive to think that people will come to me for no reason in today’s market – we have to make’ the customer ‘want’ to visit us, and then once there grab them with visual and memorable display’s and most importantly great value and quality.
The shop opens in a few months and I want to add another sideline to it, which I can use in the shop and also through ebay etc and this will be t-shirts (plus other garments that can be printed).
This is where my questions lie, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
As I mentioned, I have been up all night reading posts on this forum and the t-shirt forum and have come to the following conclusions – I don’t know what I need! I am looking to produce mostly t-shirts that will be white and dark (i.e black) colours. Ideally I want to be able to sell designs that are multi-coloured with a catalogue that customers can choose from. The competition doing t-shirts and stuff in out town is the iron on sheets that you can purchase from PC World!
So hopefully, anyone with any experience in the categories below can comment?
1. ChromaBlast printing:
I have read a little on this and have a few questions if anyone can help?
As far as I know (and please excuse me if I’m wrong), the process is done through using special ink through a printer onto special paper. This is then ‘pressed’ onto the item through the heat press and then pealed off.
But,
a. Can ChromaBlast transfer onto 50/50 shirts (50% cotton, 50% polyester)?
b. Can ChromaBlast transfer onto other things like hats, mouse-mats etc?
c. I read somewhere that (I quote)
“ … the blank area is washed away and the result is a very graphic and crystal clear print on the cotton surface.”
Surely t-shirts don’t have to be washed before they are sold, and if so can you see the “blank area” after pressing?
Any advice in ChromaBlast would be greatly appreciated, as in what the quality is like when printed and after washing etc.
2. The Magic Touch Process:
After reading and seeing many videos regarding this process it seemed to me that although it’s an excellent ‘end result’ – the process is a little fiddly?
As far as I know (and please excuse me if I’m wrong), the process is by printing a mask, then an image. Then laying the mask over the image and pressing, then pressing this to the garment – all of the sheets need to lined up perfectly.
Any advice in Magic Touch would be greatly appreciated.
3. Vinyl & Robo Cutter Process:
Although this is a tried and tested method I don’t think that it can cater for my needs. Some of the designs I have are multicoloured and as far as I understand vinyl is great for t-shirts ………… if it’s one colour only (like text and once colour vectors etc). Kids stuff and the designs I have in mind are multi coloured so this may be an option that’s not suitable?
This, plus the need to have rolls and rolls of different coloured vinyl’s and flock ready to use and the weeding bit seems very long winded to me ………… although I am open to advice?
4. DTG Printers (Direct to Garment):
This is the luxurious option, and the most expensive! I think the process is outstanding and easy, but with this comes a very hefty price tag.
I have been looking at ex-demo models and refurbished models to keep the costs down, but they are still ‘very expensive’.
Anyone ever purchased an ex-demo / refurbished model?
So, as you can see – I want to be able to offer garment printing on both light and dark materials. T-shirts will be the most popular range (adults and toddlers).
Sorry to ramble on, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
So, ’this post’ (and I’m sorry if all I do is ask questions) is regarding my future. I’ll lay my cards on the table and try to explain why I am in this predicament. I have just completed 22yrs service in the Army and whilst in I have always took advantage to making a few bob on the side. I have done everything from customised CD’s to clocks, and about 10 years ago I learnt about web design. I have always been pretty handy with photoshop and the like so I took to web-design like a duck to water. Since then I have made a few sites that are up there with the professionals and really thought that ‘this’ would be my future. So, many months ago I bought a mug machine and have been ‘knocking out’ mugs on a regular basis through ebay, friends, family and other forums I am a member with (a perfect accompaniment to the web design thing).
But, there’s not just me in this story, I have a family. This includes the missis and twin boys (aged 5), so after many a talk, what started as enquiring about a market stall has now evolved into opening a shop. We have a business plan, a theme and a name and our ‘business’ will basically be a children’s clothes shop selling clothes and stuff for 2 to 10 year olds. We live in South Wales and the location is perfect and no one is in direct competition for the ideas we have. Yes, we know it will take a lot of work but we have some great plans ranging from loyalty cards to free gifts if purchases go over certain amounts. The shop is going to be themed with some great ideas we have and I also want to have a Train Track running around (above head height) going into tunnels etc as I have fond memories of Hornby shops and just wanting to go with my mum ‘to look at the choo choo’.
We are also going to add a personalised section in the shop, where customers can look through a range of ‘examples’ on display and then in a catalogue that I will produce to pick up items 24hrs later. Plus we will have generic ‘impulse buys’ like key-rings, coasters, pens etc near the counter.
So, a lot of planning has gone into this and I’m not naive to think that people will come to me for no reason in today’s market – we have to make’ the customer ‘want’ to visit us, and then once there grab them with visual and memorable display’s and most importantly great value and quality.
The shop opens in a few months and I want to add another sideline to it, which I can use in the shop and also through ebay etc and this will be t-shirts (plus other garments that can be printed).
This is where my questions lie, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
As I mentioned, I have been up all night reading posts on this forum and the t-shirt forum and have come to the following conclusions – I don’t know what I need! I am looking to produce mostly t-shirts that will be white and dark (i.e black) colours. Ideally I want to be able to sell designs that are multi-coloured with a catalogue that customers can choose from. The competition doing t-shirts and stuff in out town is the iron on sheets that you can purchase from PC World!
So hopefully, anyone with any experience in the categories below can comment?
1. ChromaBlast printing:
I have read a little on this and have a few questions if anyone can help?
As far as I know (and please excuse me if I’m wrong), the process is done through using special ink through a printer onto special paper. This is then ‘pressed’ onto the item through the heat press and then pealed off.
But,
a. Can ChromaBlast transfer onto 50/50 shirts (50% cotton, 50% polyester)?
b. Can ChromaBlast transfer onto other things like hats, mouse-mats etc?
c. I read somewhere that (I quote)
“ … the blank area is washed away and the result is a very graphic and crystal clear print on the cotton surface.”
Surely t-shirts don’t have to be washed before they are sold, and if so can you see the “blank area” after pressing?
Any advice in ChromaBlast would be greatly appreciated, as in what the quality is like when printed and after washing etc.
2. The Magic Touch Process:
After reading and seeing many videos regarding this process it seemed to me that although it’s an excellent ‘end result’ – the process is a little fiddly?
As far as I know (and please excuse me if I’m wrong), the process is by printing a mask, then an image. Then laying the mask over the image and pressing, then pressing this to the garment – all of the sheets need to lined up perfectly.
Any advice in Magic Touch would be greatly appreciated.
3. Vinyl & Robo Cutter Process:
Although this is a tried and tested method I don’t think that it can cater for my needs. Some of the designs I have are multicoloured and as far as I understand vinyl is great for t-shirts ………… if it’s one colour only (like text and once colour vectors etc). Kids stuff and the designs I have in mind are multi coloured so this may be an option that’s not suitable?
This, plus the need to have rolls and rolls of different coloured vinyl’s and flock ready to use and the weeding bit seems very long winded to me ………… although I am open to advice?
4. DTG Printers (Direct to Garment):
This is the luxurious option, and the most expensive! I think the process is outstanding and easy, but with this comes a very hefty price tag.
I have been looking at ex-demo models and refurbished models to keep the costs down, but they are still ‘very expensive’.
Anyone ever purchased an ex-demo / refurbished model?
So, as you can see – I want to be able to offer garment printing on both light and dark materials. T-shirts will be the most popular range (adults and toddlers).
Sorry to ramble on, any advice would be greatly appreciated.