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How to start a Sublimation T-Shirt Printing Business Blog

Jun 30, 2022

Interested in starting your own company of your own? Sublimation t-shirt printing could be the best option. T-shirts are a high-demand product, as people are often looking to have custom designs for their clubs, groups, or events.

What tools do you need for Sublimation T-Shirt Printing?

Sublimation Printer

The primary piece of equipment you'll need to buy for your sublimation t-shirt printing enterprise is the printer. This printer must be capable of printing using sublimation inks, since standard printer ink won't transfer onto the t-shirts.

Note that there are conversion kits that can turn ordinary inkjet printers into sublimation printers. There are a variety of opinions about whether these are worth it, though. If you're trying to run a profitable sublimation printing enterprise, your best bet is probably to purchase a specialist printer, so you can be sure you're getting the highest quality ink and the most vivid designs for your shirts.

The cost of a sublimation printer can vary, but you should be able to find a reliable one at somewhere between $500 and $2,500--and possibly less if you buy used.

Heat Press

Apart from printing, you'll require a heat press to transfer your designs onto the t-shirts. Be sure to purchase an clamshell heat press (also called an swivel away heat press) it is specifically designed to transfer onto flat surface. Be aware of the surface area capabilities of the press as you'll be using it to suit a variety of t-shirt sizes.

A new heat press runs anything from $180 up to $800, but again you could locate a second-hand one if you want to save some money.

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Other printing supplies for sublimation T-shirts

Apart from the sublimation printer, you'll also need to buy some essential supplies in order to get your company up and running. Certain of them you'll need to constantly stock up on, so find suppliers that work with your budget and deliver reliable service right to your door.

T-Shirts

It's likely to come as not a surprise that you'll have to purchase t-shirts to run the printing of t-shirts for your business. Buy them in bulk to save money, as well as a range of sizes. As you get settled with your company, you'll begin to understand what sizes and types are bought most often, as well as how much you will need to store at a period of. For best results with sublimation, buy blank t-shirts in light colors that are 100 percent polyester, or a mix with at less than 50% polyester.

Buy a few t-shirts to start with (including t-shirts for practicing on) However, don't think that you have to purchase a complete inventory out the gate. Cost-wise, it's better to buy less and then purchase a bulk t-shirt order with rush delivery to accommodate a big sale than to purchase too much and have a ton of unsold inventory.

Printer Ink

Sublimation printing needs a specific type of ink, known as dye-sub inks or disperse dyes. These dyes easily bond to polyester fabric, which makes the perfect buy for any t-shirt printing company.

Check your printer manual to see if there are specific specifications for the type of ink to utilize, and always have one extra ink set at all times in case.

Sublimation Paper

Sublimation papers are designed to the use of sublimation printers, inks, as well as heat presses. It has a polyester coating which allows it to soak up dye during printing and then let the dye out onto the fabric after the heat is applied. This makes it an important component of sublimation printing. Get at minimum two boxes for start with to ensure you are able to practice with enough and for beginning sales.

Heat Tape and Gloves

When using your press to heat up your designs, you'll require the heat-resistant tape that will keep your artwork in place, as well as warm gloves to protect your hands. These are both low-cost items and can easily be located in art supply shops or online.

Design Software

High-quality design software including Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, is key for creating professional-looking t-shirt designs. Adobe Design tools are available for purchase through an annual subscription that begins at $20.99 per month, or you could look into alternative design tools which have less expensive or need only to be purchased one time.

Set Up Your E-Commerce Website

You have a couple of various options with regards to your sublimation t-shirt printing website. Decide whether you want to design your website from scratch or go through an existing e-commerce platform, paying attention to things like the ease of use the design, flexibility, and traffic potential. Both options have advantages and drawbacks, but either can work for you if you put enough energy and time in your venture.

The creation of a site using Scratch

To build a new site for your business You'll have to pick a website building platform that offers e-commerce capabilities (for examples: BigCommerce, Wix, or Shopify) as well as a host, and a domain name. It's then an issue of enhancing the design of your site and adding the content. And fortunately, these platforms come with a wide range of design tools to make the process effortless and simple, which means there's no need for HTML or coding experience.

The process of designing from scratch allows an absolute control over the overall design. This also allows you to create a better-rounded brand. It may not be required if you're only selling t-shirts for a little bit of additional revenue.

Installation on an existing Platform

As an alternative to building an online presence, you can establish your business on an existing platform, like Etsy or eBay. This means you have a lot less work to complete at the back-end of the process, even though this isn't as brand-oriented and could be more suited to part-time work as opposed to a full-time business.

Marketplaces like these have built-in audiences, but there's plenty of competition too. Test them out if sure you've something you can give buyers that they can't find elsewhere. Just be prepared to adjust your tactics as needed if the algorithm is changed and interferes with your traffic.

Marketing and shipping your T-shirts

There's an enormous market there for custom sublimated t-shirts. You'll need to find ways to bring the potential buyers to your business, and to keep them satisfied once they've purchased.

How can you earn these five-star reviews? A great product is an important part of it however, it's not the only thing. Provide your customers with accurate estimations of delivery times and ensure that your products shipped in an acceptable timeframe. In the meantime, you should ensure that your customers are kept up-to current with personalized tracker updates for orders so they know exactly the time when their T-shirts will arrive.

Some helpful tips for starting the business of a sublimation T-shirt

You won't know if your sublimation t-shirt printing business can succeed until you take the plunge and start going. There are a few actions you could take to improve your odds of making it be successful:

  • Choose a nicheYour store doesn't have to be unique or one of a type however it shouldn't be a dime a dozen also. The ability to differentiate your products will distinguish yourself and provide potential customers a reason to pick you over other. A few niches to consider might include student shirts, corporate t-shirts gear, or event T-shirts. Also, you could concentrate your focus on an aesthetic that is distinctive.
  • Be aware of who your ideal audience is:The more customers the more effective, however when you attempt to reach out to too many different people simultaneously the message you are trying to convey will become confused. Consider whom your ideal clients are and then design your products and marketing efforts with them in mind.
  • Check out your competition:Identify a few of your biggest opponents (i.e. print companies that specialize in t-shirt sublimation that are in the same industry as you and with an audience that is similar to yours) as well as do some research to find out the kinds of tactics they're employing. It's likely that you'll come up with some useful takeaways you can apply to your own business.

Sublimation printing for t-shirts could be lucrative however, it requires a lot of work. Do your research, put out great designs, and prioritize customer satisfaction--success is bound to follow.

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