TSB
General => General Discussion and ??? => Topic started by: 3Deep on July 22, 2025, 03:12:27 PM
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Been a minute or two since I've been on the forum, for some reason I can't login on my computer, just checking up with everyone
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Slow, but picking back up. 2 weeks until back to school here, so it's off with last minute vacations.
Gave us a chance to reclaim every screen and catch up on housekeeping stuff.
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It's been balls to the wall since April, taking next week off and rushing to finish eveyone's last minute sh#%. Bumped all pricing about a month ago and may do it again when I get back.
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It has been strange here. We are busy as hell but it seems like I have very few “normal” orders. Everything has a special request or 10… DTF is taking a huge chunk. All the cricket Karens in our area are selling bella canvas printed on 2 side for $12.00.
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Picking up but we will slightly contract again this year a small amount. Not alarmed either, from what I know of most people they are hurting worse than us. So Ill take it.
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I know things are slow when I have reps calling and talking to long LOL, been slow here this month, kinda glad of it needed to get some other stuff done
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Sa LOOOW.......then balls to the walls, too much to do in a short time frame.....then back to slow as hell, it's unreal.....we are WAY down in overall sales in all departments, like an alarming amount. It's these cheap wrap shops and criKet Karens undercutting us, 2k for a fully wrapped box truck, come on man wtf..... Our market is absolutely flooded. Between BSN taking over all the schools and DTF, that has ruined a lot for us. No panic button yet but the cover has been lifted.. which on one hand I'm fine with it because this industry isn't what it used to be, but the other hand, I've been in it too long to start over...
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Sa LOOOW.......then balls to the walls, too much to do in a short time frame.....then back to slow as hell, it's unreal.....we are WAY down in overall sales in all departments, like an alarming amount. It's these cheap wrap shops and criKet Karens undercutting us, 2k for a fully wrapped box truck, come on man wtf..... Our market is absolutely flooded. Between BSN taking over all the schools and DTF, that has ruined a lot for us. No panic button yet but the cover has been lifted.. which on one hand I'm fine with it because this industry isn't what it used to be, but the other hand, I've been in it too long to start over...
I still enjoy what I do, but my wife was asking if I'd consider changing fields. At 45, that's tough. not impossible, but tough.
The industry has been changing for a long time.
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Sa LOOOW.......then balls to the walls, too much to do in a short time frame.....then back to slow as hell, it's unreal.....we are WAY down in overall sales in all departments, like an alarming amount. It's these cheap wrap shops and criKet Karens undercutting us, 2k for a fully wrapped box truck, come on man wtf..... Our market is absolutely flooded. Between BSN taking over all the schools and DTF, that has ruined a lot for us. No panic button yet but the cover has been lifted.. which on one hand I'm fine with it because this industry isn't what it used to be, but the other hand, I've been in it too long to start over...
I still enjoy what I do, but my wife was asking if I'd consider changing fields. At 45, that's tough. not impossible, but tough.
The industry has been changing for a long time.
At 53 it's even tougher to change. last year and this Jan - March sucked ass. Bad. So what do I do, last year DTF in house and Brand spankin new 6 Head Barudan..LOL..so now im not going anywhere.
April to present we are up over last year but prob because we raised prices.
Im also working on another something that takes money, so now im 53 and really broke and a daughter going out of state for college...
Oh im sure ill be in good shape in my later years..hahahah
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It has been strange here. We are busy as hell but it seems like I have very few “normal” orders. Everything has a special request or 10… DTF is taking a huge chunk. All the cricket Karens in our area are selling bella canvas printed on 2 side for $12.00.
We are busy but have had more slow times than normal this year.
There is the same situation here with all Karens selling heat pressed shirts out of their house whether it be DTF, sublimation or cricket. What sucks about that is, they don't have extra utilities, business insurance and all of the other overhead that we have. I'm sure most don't even charge sales tax so it's just extra cash for them.
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It's tough out there. Big Corp. buying everything via private equity. Dtf makes everything easier to produce for Karens and large corporations. It is a pickle. Be nice to help out small business one of these days.
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We are busy but have had more slow times than normal this year.
There is the same situation here with all Karens selling heat pressed shirts out of their house whether it be DTF, sublimation or cricket. What sucks about that is, they don't have extra utilities, business insurance and all of the other overhead that we have. I'm sure most don't even charge sales tax so it's just extra cash for them.
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They just have no value for their time. They are bored. Kids are at school and husband is at work so they have to fill the time. I think they should start day drinking but that’s just what I would do. ;D
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Glad I'm out. I know too much or so I am told. Best to all who hang. tp
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My long drawn-out gradual retirement seems to be progressing at just the right pace at just the right time.
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Sounds like we all are bitching about the same thing, and like a few of you I'm in to deep and way to old to start over
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what really grinds my gears is the S&S buy out and teaming up with Ninja transfers. S&S will open an account for anyone with a pulse and now suddenly they're in the game.... what other industry is like this? It's gross.....I vote to boycott S&S but they don't need my piddly little purchases...
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what really grinds my gears is the S&S buy out and teaming up with Ninja transfers. S&S will open an account for anyone with a pulse and now suddenly they're in the game.... what other industry is like this? It's gross.....I vote to boycott S&S but they don't need my piddly little purchases...
Well, as said before, private equity is making things awful, not to mention the corporations and billionaires need their profits, so here we are.
Late stage capitalism doesn't look good imo.
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We got the economy we voted for.
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We got the economy we voted for.
LOL!
Our year over year customers a re down at least 20%. We got lucky with 2 new customers that are offsetting that and a little bit more, but at lower margins.
Jury is still out on the final verdict…
pj
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I've taken my time to steam my grits but here it is. Yes, back in the day I've had the pleasure and enjoyment to work for the largest, best and most famous, profitable ops in the country. All of which went out of business. What happened? Extremely broad statement but they ran out of money to one extent or another. That was pretty much two thirds of my career. The last third was working for smaller operations who had the same issues. Hire the best and work with what you got went out the door.
"I know best because I saw it at trade show". However learning the craft and understanding production efficiency left.
all the best
time to swallow my bitter pill
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We're down a bit. Not worth getting ulcers over. If we were a lot busier, like last year, I doubt we'd be able to keep up. I have they same people as I did a year ago, but they can't seem to produce as much. Group and one on one meetings do no good. They will see the results of their decisions when we have our seasonal slow down. But all in all, another profitable year and room to grow. And I am very thankful for the good people I do have.
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We're down a bit. Not worth getting ulcers over. If we were a lot busier, like last year, I doubt we'd be able to keep up. I have they same people as I did a year ago, but they can't seem to produce as much. Group and one on one meetings do no good. They will see the results of their decisions when we have our seasonal slow down. But all in all, another profitable year and room to grow. And I am very thankful for the good people I do have.
I've noticed through the years that production efforts tend to mirror production requirements. IE production knows
when they can take a breather. In the past I've tried to keep them at at volume 11 because one never knows what tomorrow
may bring, but they instinctively switch to James Taylor mode, it's human nature.
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We're down a bit. Not worth getting ulcers over. If we were a lot busier, like last year, I doubt we'd be able to keep up. I have they same people as I did a year ago, but they can't seem to produce as much. Group and one on one meetings do no good. They will see the results of their decisions when we have our seasonal slow down. But all in all, another profitable year and room to grow. And I am very thankful for the good people I do have.
I've noticed through the years that production efforts tend to mirror production requirements. IE production knows
when they can take a breather. In the past I've tried to keep them at at volume 11 because one never knows what tomorrow
may bring, but they instinctively switch to James Taylor mode, it's human nature.
I refer to them as a gas. They fill their container. Not saying this in a negative way at all. You're right, it's human nature.
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Hey all, just checking in, and it seems that retiring last year was the way to go for me. I still see some of what's going on though, through YouTube and FB. Decorating a t-shirt has become so easy for a newbie that it kills a lot of trade for the skilled folks in the game; between that and a rash of crap employees, I'm glad to be home taking care of the wife and indulging in a hobby or two. I do however, miss the camaraderie of the crew and my business partner (32 years), and being in touch with you folks. As Tony P laments, it seems that what I did for just shy of 50 years doesn't have much of a place in our world anymore. Anyway, best to everyone, enjoy your summer!
Steve
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Obviously I'm with Steve on this. Just got back from the morning walk and time to reflect. First off, with help, I am learning to let go of the bitterness. Many industries go this way. Made me think of my friends in the sign painting industry. All done by hand back the day. These guys were true artesians, but they have been replaced by technology decades ago. Panera bread just announced layoffs in the hundreds as they begin to outsource the instore bread making. So as I approach 65 ys of age I am realizing that being spiritually, emotionally, financially, and physically healthy is not only paramount; textile screen printing has nothing to do with any of this.
Yes, back in the 80's at Harlequin, Oats, Winterland and a select few others we were the only game in town for high end sim process etc and pretty much everything we produced was magical. Fast forward to "We can't afford shirts today but when they get here we need them same day" or every order is an exact count so save eight screens and re-setup for three shirts. For the most part, graphics are dumbed down with less colors so why not DTF?
For me, am living off SS and UE and actually making mor money (for now) and working in the studio. Quit the wine and cigarettes, coffee has switched to tea, increased workout, catching up on reading, music, etc.. When it comes time for PT work it will most likely be neighbors at the Antique mall, the Bistro two doors down (they serve lunch only and it's first rate and healthy), or Ace Hardware 200 yards from me. Home for lunch with flexible hours and basically zero stress. Plenty of time for one/two, or three day travel in the Southeast. Sorry abut over personalizing but that's what of the befits of a good morning walk! Best of luck to the "Rogue printers I fear many of them will be in for a rough ride. tony pep out