Just setup a new printer. Brother TP-M5000N Tape and Ribbon Printer

[Tubstar]

Came home from work today to a set of packages in the Hall way.

So, having setup the driver, updated the firmware and installing the print design software I have just made my first Printed 50 mm packaging tape run.

I must say I am quite impressed. I am on a day off tomorrow so I might do some Ribbon. Has anyone else tried this? I think it will be nice offer custom small runs for Etsy orders. But also I think a market for selling branded packing tape to other Etsy sellers etc.

I am really impressed with speed/quality of the print. I just need to work out definite costs and sale prices now. I think i'll leave that for a more active brain in the morning.

Alex.

[Justin]

Looks like a fantastic bit of kit, not cheap but looks very professional. Interesting to see what you do with it

Tapes don't look too expensive.

[willd]

Came home from work today to a set of packages in the Hall way.

So, having setup the driver, updated the firmware and installing the print design software I have just made my first Printed 50 mm packaging tape run.

I must say I am quite impressed. I am on a day off tomorrow so I might do some Ribbon. Has anyone else tried this? I think it will be nice offer custom small runs for Etsy orders. But also I think a market for selling branded packing tape to other Etsy sellers etc.

I am really impressed with speed/quality of the print. I just need to work out definite costs and sale prices now. I think i'll leave that for a more active brain in the morning.

Alex.

Coincidentally yesterday we unearthed a zx-40 ribbon printer that we bought some years back, as we had a customer wanting some printed sashes.

We printed a trial one yesterday, so I'll upload a pic when I get into the shop.

Pricing is always tricky - we work out our costs then decide how much we can realistically sell at retail for, without going ott.

Online sales are a good starting point as a basis, but we don't aim to equal them...

[willd]

Having looked online it's not quite what I was expecting so I deleted my previous post, as it wasn't very relevant!

It's certainly fast in operation, though as Justin said it's not cheap...

[Tubstar]

That's true its not cheap. We needed to get it for some jobs we have, but now I need to look and see if it can add value to the business in other ways.

Its fast, and importantly easy to use. Within minutes I had imported our logo and was printing the first role of 50 mm Clear tape with black print on it. It works out at about 25p per meter to make. We will using it also on orders we send out. Sealing the box with normal cheapy tape and then putting this at the top of the box for a nice finish.

I'll put some pics up when I have had a bit more of a play and printed some stuff without company logo's etc. I don't really want to put those online.

Alex

[willd]

That's true its not cheap. We needed to get it for some jobs we have, but now I need to look and see if it can add value to the business in other ways.

Its fast, and importantly easy to use. Within minutes I had imported our logo and was printing the first role of 50 mm Clear tape with black print on it. It works out at about 25p per meter to make. We will using it also on orders we send out. Sealing the box with normal cheapy tape and then putting this at the top of the box for a nice finish.

I'll put some pics up when I have had a bit more of a play and printed some stuff without company logo's etc. I don't really want to put those online.

Alex

Is that 25p per metre likely to drop when you purchase supplies in bulk, or locate a cheaper source?

Compared to online prices for bespoke printed tape it looks a little scary, though obviously you have the advantage of printing small order runs at a premium price.

[Tubstar]

That price does seem to be from the cheapest source I can find at the moment. It can do 15 mm, 38 mm and 50 mm widths in both packaging tape and ribbon. I think the 38 mm width tape works out at about 17p per meter. Its pretty new though and maybe if it takes off economies of scale may drive price down. Its not something I am counting on though.

One of the tasks I am using it for is to seal t-shirt boxes. The tape has a repeat pattern of the company Logo and either S, M, L, etc. Then 10cm of tape at each end of the box will secure the lid and make stacked boxes easy enough to identify.

[ArferMo]

Either I'm having a bad day on the calculator or something as I just can't work out the logistics with this gizmo for sticking a single colour logo or text on to packing tape.

Gizmo cost £700/800.... forget that as it just makes the calculations even more ludicrous.

A single colour cartridge costs £59 (forget the delivery) 50mm x 310m, most people use 50mm tape. A normal 50mm roll of packing tape is 66m long. So one cartridge gives you the equivalent of 4.7 rolls of packing tape (not counting the cost of the cores that you also have to buy) so works out at cost price 19p/m OUCH. How much mark up 80%, 100% 240% then add on small parcel post and packing to get it to a wealthy customer. Even at cost that's about £15 per roll sent to a customer with no profit or recuperation of initial outlay on the printer. Can't see many going for that when you can go online and buy 66m rolls or 3 (three) colour printed packaging tape to your own design delivered for £2.78 per roll.

Think if it was me I'd use it for ribbon printing weddings/birthdays/florists where you can add a decent mark up and shorter run lengths and superb profit margins.

[Tubstar]

Yes, the numbers don't exactly add up that favourably for mass use. We got a very good deal on the unit itself.

The main thing I intend to use it for is branding/sealing garment boxes. Also using it to make ribbon to personalise for premium guest/benefactors to our visitor attraction.

We will use it for my wife's etsy shop to sell small custom runs. Also, to brand the outgoing orders with our logo without having to buy 72 rolls to secure the price you mention AferMo.

Its definitely not a great money earner, but the idea for us to to try and supplement the cost of something we need for some very specific tasks. I have found it better in the long run to do things ourselves if we can as our standards are high and others can let us down on time scales as well as quality. I guess I may be a control freak at heart.

[webtrekker]

Yes, sometimes profit is made indiectly, but using processes that, while costly in themselves, enhance, and therefore make more desirable, other products that you sell.

A simple example are the badges I sometimes give away free with items I've sold.