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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Screened Gear on July 06, 2012, 02:00:33 PM
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What is not worth you dealing with? I don't print orders less than 24. I turn down about 3 to 5 orders a week for that reason. I also like to stay away from all mesh items, under armor type garments and names and number stuff. Its not like I am hurting my business much since most of this stuff is sports teams, I hate sports teams.
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The only stuff we wont print is racist stuff, anti christ, vulgar language. AND we now contract out all names and numbers.
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How much money do you make on 24 shirts?...If you price 6 or 12 shirts with that same profit, you can make the same about on smaller orders....
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The only stuff we wont print is racist stuff, anti christ, vulgar language.
Ditto. Here in the town of Cowford (pop. 1 million) there is a city ordinance prohibiting
the "display" of offensive language which includes T-shirts, bumper stickers, signs, etc.
We don't want to get into that mess even if it does prohibit free speech. Beyond that, if it
can be printed, we will try.
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we will print anything we can make good money on. . .personally, I don't like numbers or names. Never goes smooth enough for me, always double checking size vs spelling vs color -I can make money a lot easier than doing that bs.
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Homer living in New york you need to get with Al and Jessie you can make money LOL
Darryl
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How much money do you make on 24 shirts?...If you price 6 or 12 shirts with that same profit, you can make the same about on smaller orders....
I know. I have been trying to figure out how to price this. I have a strong customer base and I just find the small order guys take too much time to place a order. Ever since I switched to a 24 shirt minimum things have got a lot smoother. Many times clients call and ask what the minimum is and then order 24 shirts. If my minimum was 12 they wound have ordered 12. Plus having a 24 shirt minimum gets rid of all most all the sports guys.
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We still do 12 but its only a one color print front or back and the price is across the board up to a 3x, yep kinda high, but if you only want 12 thats what you pay.
Darryl
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we'll try just about anything once (at a reasonable price). After we know what it takes, we'll do what ever the customer wants as long as they are willing to compensate us. Monkeying around stuff we usually charge about $100 per hour and let them decide if they want it. If we can do it, we'll offer it (at our price though which is often too high).
pierre
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white ink on red 50/50 T's that can just as easily be served with cotton ;D
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I like doing small runs and I like printing names and numbers. I ship all over the US so feel free to refer those customers to me. (I work by myself, and several small jobs in a day are more profitable for me than one big one...)
I don't like to print on dark colored polyester or customer provided garments. And I don't like it when a friend of mine says "I thought of something funny I want you to put on a T-shirt!"
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I like doing small runs and I like printing names and numbers.
I don't like to print on dark colored polyester or customer provided garments.
I find these things would conflict a lot in my business. Most of my name business is on league provided shirts.
I am very similar in my business model as you except that I don't like to go too global. I have plenty of work within twenty five miles (be careful, there are some uber negative folks out here who scoff our legitimacy in the industry LOL.)
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And I don't like it when a friend of mine says "I thought of something funny I want you to put on a T-shirt!"
Well, I don't know your physique, but maybe you shouldn't stand around shirtless all the time... granted, I don't know why that only bothers him when he's thinking of something funny... well, unless it is your physique that inspires his thought process. ;)
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And I don't like it when a friend of mine says "I thought of something funny I want you to put on a T-shirt!"
Well, I don't know your physique, but maybe you shouldn't stand around shirtless all the time... granted, I don't know why that only bothers him when he's thinking of something funny... well, unless it is your physique that inspires his thought process. ;)
Gilly, good one, but it is one of those statements clarified by the lack of a period (or maybe even a comma) after funny.
I am reading a book right now that discusses, among other things, incorrect punctuation vastly changing the meaning of a statement.
It takes its title from the simple statement about a panda, that eats shoots and leaves. By incorrectly adding commas, this panda is dangerous as he now Eats, Shoots, and Leaves!
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I punctuate more to mimic how I would speak. So when I type ellipses, though I may over use them, it is because I'm adding a dramatic... pause.
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I like doing small runs and I like printing names and numbers.
I don't like to print on dark colored polyester or customer provided garments.
I find these things would conflict a lot in my business. Most of my name business is on league provided shirts.
I am very similar in my business model as you except that I don't like to go too global. I have plenty of work within twenty five miles (be careful, there are some uber negative folks out here who scoff our legitimacy in the industry LOL.)
Dont sell yourself short. You are a player as far as I am concerned..... ;D
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Don't print under 24 pieces. Been doing that for yrs and I know its saved me some headaches. Someone just asked me if they could order 10 shirts today and I said, yeah but it'll be $25 each. They stopped thinking about it right away. As time has gone by, some of those 24 piece lovers become headaches. Like 2 weeks later they order the same thing. Ugh! So I just started upping my minimum to 36. We'll see how that goes. Don't do names and numbers as well. Also, don't do red/yellow/green prints, haha! I wish! Gets old doing those colors here in Hawaii.
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we have learned to not print anything that has profit in it :o
mooseman
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Anything that I find offensive.
I like the idea of no white on red 50/50. Will add that to list.
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We don't print hats. Anything less than a quantity of 24 shirts. I'll tell the customer that we will print less than 24 but they will be charged as if they ordered 24. I'll say it in a joking type of manner to avoid being rude but they know I'm serious.
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I like doing small runs and I like printing names and numbers.
I don't like to print on dark colored polyester or customer provided garments.
I find these things would conflict a lot in my business. Most of my name business is on league provided shirts.
I am very similar in my business model as you except that I don't like to go too global. I have plenty of work within twenty five miles (be careful, there are some uber negative folks out here who scoff our legitimacy in the industry LOL.)
Dont sell yourself short. You are a player as far as I am concerned..... ;D
That's what she said, I mean as far as my well over two thousand customers as well!
Do not worry about me worrying about this. The last guy to say it was merely echoing the first guy who said it, our inspiration for this forum. ;D
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I print 1 garment to multiple thousands on a regular basis. They pay the piper, they get the song. There are lots of jobs I don't especially like doing, but hey, it's bread and butter, and I love toast.
I'm jealous of Frog--I don't even think I've made it to the rank of "playa". But I'm still pretty young. ;D
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Oh yeah, I forgot Jackets. I don't do lined jackets.
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Unfortunately, not much. We have moved to screen printed transfers for numbering jobs instead of our numbering system, and our minimum is rarely inforced. There are always problems with having outside sales people and them having to be very competitive in their pricing and what they will say yes to.
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Alan, you don't print those transfers yourself do you?
I'm thinking that might not be a bad plan, print up a bunch of numbers. This would give us something to make up some screens for... give us a reason to "practice" coating screens.
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I've thought about doing a big run of the most common colors and having stock, but it's so damn easy to order it from transfer express. If we ever get a few slow days in a row I might put that on the schedule. If I were you I'd sure as hell do it. It will be good practice if nothing else.
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How much money do you make on 24 shirts?...If you price 6 or 12 shirts with that same profit, you can make the same about on smaller orders....
I know. I have been trying to figure out how to price this. I have a strong customer base and I just find the small order guys take too much time to place a order. Ever since I switched to a 24 shirt minimum things have got a lot smoother. Many times clients call and ask what the minimum is and then order 24 shirts. If my minimum was 12 they wound have ordered 12. Plus having a 24 shirt minimum gets rid of all most all the sports guys.
Right on. We have a minimum of 12 pcs and I tell you one thing, if we would have a lower minimum then 12 then half of them would go for that.
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ok. it looks like there is a huge niche market for under 24 pieces. I just cant get my arms around saying no if a customer will pay a fair price. we hate names and numbers but i know another local printer that loves to do them so i just send that part of the job to him.
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It's simple. Crunch the numbers, and price any quantity accordingly.
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It's simple. Crunch the numbers, and price any quantity accordingly.
The amphibian speaks wisdom. If it isn't worth it, price it so it is, then the decision is the customers.
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I did a quote for 8, 12 and 24 shirts this morning.....24 shirts were 293.76....8 shirts were 250.04....So the client took 16 more for the difference of 43.72.....
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i will not print
hats
jackets, unless I am forced
Reversible basketball jerseys, unless I am forced
Over zippers
Jerseys customer provides
Most things that you can't wear
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Actually if you have the right equipment, hats are easy to print once you get through the learning curve. I use a hat champ and I've gotten to the point where I can print a run of them without spoiling any. It does take some practice. The first few times I printed hats I was convinced it wasn't worth my time, but now that I'm used to it it's easier than printing shirts.
The process is rather slow, and I don't have a hat dryer so I use my flash cure unit. I've tried sending them through the conveyor but I've never been certain that they're curing properly because of the curved surface...)
So I add a dollar to the print price (1 color) for the slow pace. I can do about 25 hats in an hour for a profit of around 75 bucks.
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Actually if you have the right equipment, hats are easy to print once you get through the learning curve. I use a hat champ and I've gotten to the point where I can print a run of them without spoiling any. It does take some practice. The first few times I printed hats I was convinced it wasn't worth my time, but now that I'm used to it it's easier than printing shirts.
The process is rather slow, and I don't have a hat dryer so I use my flash cure unit. I've tried sending them through the conveyor but I've never been certain that they're curing properly because of the curved surface...)
So I add a dollar to the print price (1 color) for the slow pace. I can do about 25 hats in an hour for a profit of around 75 bucks.
Can you cock the panels in the dryer? In case we have censored "cock" it is the one that means "tilt" that I am using ;D
My current dryer, and old American has a 6" high vertical cap panel, but my old little Scamp from Ranar, allowed an extreme cocking of the panel for this.
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The only stuff we wont print is racist stuff, anti christ, vulgar language.
This is us also.... if they have the money and I have the time its on!
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Just printed 4 shirts front only one color black, I charged 50 for art 25 for screen and 13.00 a shirt. I usually turn these down but she wanted To pay. Then I upsold her some coffee mugs but usually I wont do less then 10
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
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I'm starting to consider a 48 pc minimum. Mix/match same material garments allowed within the minimum. Hoodies and any variant garments are a new run or a setup fee if doable with the same screens. Anyone done something like this with success?
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Someone must be, hence the success of my "small jobs welcome" niche. Keep it up folks! ;D
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And well on you sir for making it work!
I enjoyed that work as a one-man show and abhor it as a slightly larger operation. I don't think it's sustainable for us to print for most of these folks, they drink up too much time and energy for the faint trickle of revenue the jobs bring and I have a hunch that truly 'correct' pricing for small jobs, when serviced by a larger shop, are too high for most markets to bear.
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I can vouch for that!
My last 4 shirt job ate up WAY too much time. Granted, we are doing it in vinyl and charging $25 a shirt for it (all 4 the same). But she was a pain.
Here's to hoping she brings in bigger work further down the road!
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I save myself a lot of time by delivering or shipping all my orders. Since I don't have a staff, there's nobody but myself to deal with customers. Each time someone decides to "just stop by" I need to quit what I'm doing and it can really throw me off. If I deliver, I can do it on my own schedule, and can make it quick.
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I save myself a lot of time by delivering or shipping all my orders. Since I don't have a staff, there's nobody but myself to deal with customers. Each time someone decides to "just stop by" I need to quit what I'm doing and it can really throw me off. If I deliver, I can do it on my own schedule, and can make it quick.
I am in a very similar situation as you but I could save you even more time with;
1 A lock on the door
2. A sign that says closed
3. Information about calling for an appointment to pick up
When I do deliver, unless it's to fix a screw-up, I charge the same $40 an hour as I do for any work. So, granted, it would save me money, but most of my local and semi-local clients wouldn't stand for it.
I suppose it could be buried in the total, but, of course, that has ramifications as well, and/or if they merely came by at a pre-determined time, even that money would end up in my pocket and save me even more time.
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We get good rates with UPS and the way I look at it having someone come in to pick up
probably costs more in time than it does to pay 'ol brown.
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How do you get good rates with UPS? Every time I ship something on their website it says "retail rates were applied"
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How do you get good rates with UPS? Every time I ship something on their website it says "retail rates were applied"
Get a rep assigned to your account and give them figures on what you're shipping yearly. Once you hit a certain amount you'll get better rates. If you do at least $10k a year with them you can qualify for a Customer Technology Program where they subsidize some or all of the cost of various shipping equipment and computer gear from a handful of vendors. They're fairly accommodating so let them know if you have special needs, etc.
We started doing all in and outbound shipping that we pay for on our UPS account to help get better rates but there are some things, like small outbound packages that it's hard for them to compete with USPS on. But, they do great on larger packages.
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Get a daily/smart pickup account. If you ship often enough it makes sense,
and your rates drop dramatically.
I've used UPS WorldShit software in several different places of employment
and now use it at my own place. There is a special place in hell for the
folks that made that horrific conglomeration of code.
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We love worldship..simple and easy to use. with smart pick up for 10 bucks a week.
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UPS would not budge on my rates.....So I called Fedex and they were more than willing to give me what I thought was a good rate.....
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"Worldship software must update....."
"Worldship software must check for errors..."
every.single.time.
Almost as bad as quickbooks in terms of being overly bloated for what it does.
Almost.
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i agree it can be slow but i remember when we had to hand write labels for every box..
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i agree it can be slow but i remember when we had to hand write labels for every box..
Ooof. Had to do that once or twice. I guess in comparison....
Jeez, between that and hand setting type and stripping film it's a wonder anything ever
got printed.