approaching wrong side of 50...

[macca]

....and having worked in corporates for 38 years have decided its time to do something different and work for myself.

Purchased a Heat press and intend to do start up a nice simple mugs and Shirts printing service. Nothing fancy don't want to be a millionaire, just enough to live by is the only ambition. Compliments nicely the hobbies of machine embroidery and arts and crafts items.

Just researching everything now, knowledge is invaluable in business and so much to consider if I want to keep the wolves from the door in retirement.

Can't believe price of Sublim ink though and so little competition amongst suppliers in UK. Price looks fixed by many of the current suppliers.

Need to work out how many items can be created and sold at what price from 4 x 100ml of ink costing over £300 to return a profit.

This forum is missing an opportunity here, many members = bulk purchasing power = low cost ink - and any other materials like mugs, shirts, mats etc. Just a thought.

Anyway thats me...happy printing.

[hidehi]

Welcome Macca, lots to think about! Nice to have another machine embroiderer here What machine do you have?

[Justin]

Hi and welcome the forum

The price of ink is set by Sawgrass in the UK, this is because they hold the patent. Cheaper inks are available but are not legally allowed to be sold for use in small format printers, therefore we can't discuss them here.

We have discussed co-op buying power before and it's something that still comes up with suppliers now and then, not an easy thing to co-ordinate but I will still consider this. Premium members £10 per year and immediately get a discount with BMS which means all purchases can be made at the lowest rate available on a product regardless of quantity purchased. Other suppliers offer certain incentives and I'm always talking to suppliers about giving us more!

Enjoy the forum and many thanks for the feedback

Justin
DSF Admin

[Earl Smith]

Like your thoughts on a nice and simple mug and shirt print business. If only it was. Its good to have another embroiderer on here as well.
Ink can only be supplied from Sawgrass. Something to do with a licensing agreement for small printers. Others will chime in and explain Im sure. Price is around 46€ per 100ml. Yes you can turn a profit if you dont undersell yourself.
I know your voice is going as witnessed from your finale in the Olympics opening show. But why give up the music Macca, and go into mug printing? Is the music business not so good anymore?

[WorthDoingRight]

Hi Macca,

Sublimation Ink is protected under patent that means that the only 'legally' useable inks in small format printers are sold at a premium by the patent holder or their licensed agents. As such discussion of non 'legally' useable inks is a big forum no no.

I would however be very surprised if you could not make a reasonable profit from 400ml of ink given the amount probably used per transfer per item. The profit per item is in my opinion good, however it is selling enough items to make a living that is not so easy.

I would love to get hold of an embroidery machine or an old pantograph engraver or if I win the lottery a laser engraver and a 3 or 4 axis cnc machine. Realistically I need to however maximise what I currently have which is a flat bed press, a mug press and a cutter.

Richard

[purpledragon]

full a4 print = approx 50p (thats 2 mugs worth) 1 mug avg £1.08 electric few pence sell mug for avg £6.00 =£4.00 ish profit
no brainer really

[Justin]

There is still plenty of profit to be made despite the ink costs, as purpledragon has shown once you break things down it's quite straight forward.

[Charlie_]

The whole thing is not to undersell. This is so common on sites like ebay. But quality a USP and lesser sales can still make a fair profit.

[macca]

Just been reading up on Sawgrass - they do seem to have the market so we have to comply.

Singer Futura CE250 at present looking to upgrade to a multi head pretty soon. Use the Singer for basics like baby grows and also as it USB connects to a laptop I can digitize graphics...like so

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1104[/ATTACH]


Will see were this takes me in the coming months

[Earl Smith]

Careful with the copyrighted material.