To Sub or not to Sub...

[Russ]

So I've done some research into my prospective markets - some good, some so-so - but with the amount of subliminator printers around (many on here, probably loads more not...), I have another question - have any of the members considered giving up because they cant make enough money at it?

Just thought I'd throw it out for discussion...

[WorthDoingRight]

I am in the process of just starting out and already thinking whether I can make enough money to give up my full time job. My only saving grace is that without any real effort to promote my business I have generated a few small orders and that is still with my website needing a hell of a lot of items putting on. So ask me the question in 12 months or better still 24 months and see what my response is then.

[Paul]

probably most of us lol
well. i am only doing this as a hobby. so i am not selling this on ebay and other sites. doing it more for fun. i seriously think ONLY sublimation wont make you an millionaire. in most cases this is addition to other business.

[Justin]

Going from part-time to full-time was my mistake a few years ago. You have to find your niche in the market, your Unique Selling Points etc. How you stand apart from everyone else is the key to success.

I had the key (or so I thought!) and given a couple more years down that route would have probably made it but you still have to pay the bills and put bread on the table. If you're running it along side something else all the better, otherwise do what I did and work part time at night

I'm personally back working full-time so the pressure of having to make money from the business is gone but I'd love to go back some day soon.

[Earl Smith]

Ive been self employed since 1986. Business has been great one or two years then, bang, its all gone. Then a few years later its up again and then down. Its a damn big struggle to keep going. My business that I have now has been going for 4 years. Its only just starting to break even and thats because I have two embroidery machines that are working 8 hours a day each. Sublimation is an add on to my business.
My opinion. Keep your day job. You have sickness benefit, unemployment benefits and a pension at the end of it all.

[Jersue]

Not so sure about the pension bit, that's why I am doing all this stuff, like most of here I guess pension we have paid in for is worth nothing?

[socialgiraffe]

Its pretty much the same as any other market. I bet most of us on here could name 4 or 5 local litho printers yet most of them continue to survive. Do I think the market is flooded... yes. BUT... that assumes that all the dye sub people on here do the same thing. For example, I never print my own design work as I do not think it is good enough, pretty much all my work comes from the music industry where I am well known for this sort of work. Am I in competition with WorthDoingRight or Justin or the photographers on here? No I do not think so which is why I am willing to share my dye sub problems, tips and tricks to anyone on here.

It is just like any other business, know your market, concentrate on that market and perfect it. I am not ashamed to say that I have ventured into other printing methods and it has been a mitigating disaster costing in excess of 20-30k in losses. Now I concentrate on what I am good at, I make three times the money and have at least one day off a week (plus weekends!).

The great thing about being your own boss is that you have that freedom, and in particular with dye sub, you can start it as a small part time evening business and grow from there. If it works great, if not, then you will have the smartest coffee mug collection in your street

I think the only question you need to ask is can I sell the items I print at a profit? If the answer is yes then you do not have any worries, regardless of the number of competitors in your area, or even in the UK.

[Charlie_]

Its pretty much the same as any other market. I bet most of us on here could name 4 or 5 local litho printers yet most of them continue to survive. Do I think the market is flooded... yes. BUT... that assumes that all the dye sub people on here do the same thing. For example, I never print my own design work as I do not think it is good enough, pretty much all my work comes from the music industry where I am well known for this sort of work. Am I in competition with WorthDoingRight or Justin or the photographers on here? No I do not think so which is why I am willing to share my dye sub problems, tips and tricks to anyone on here.

It is just like any other business, know your market, concentrate on that market and perfect it. I am not ashamed to say that I have ventured into other printing methods and it has been a mitigating disaster costing in excess of 20-30k in losses. Now I concentrate on what I am good at, I make three times the money and have at least one day off a week (plus weekends!).

The great thing about being your own boss is that you have that freedom, and in particular with dye sub, you can start it as a small part time evening business and grow from there. If it works great, if not, then you will have the smartest coffee mug collection in your street

I think the only question you need to ask is can I sell the items I print at a profit? If the answer is yes then you do not have any worries, regardless of the number of competitors in your area, or even in the UK.

Any market in any nitche in any country in world is fooded. With no compition wouldnt it be a boring exsistance!. If for the last 40 years I'd have worried about flooded markets, I dont think id be sane now. If you have product that people want it will sell at your price. i never worry about what so and so is selling for, i value my product at 14.95 thats price, even if so and so is selling what seems to be same for half my price. I have survived in business for 40 plus years so I must be doing some thing right.

I remember once in the 1960's being told be a very good friend (a Jew) that to make money is easy in any line, just follow 3 rules never under sell your product, always have faith in it, and lastly don't over work yourself.

I have followed that now all my life and im still here, maybe my pension pot has dwindled. But what the heck im alive at 62 a lot of who i went to school with are dead, infim etc. So heres to the next few decades.

Sorry about rambling on

[logobear]

For a small few, sublimation can be a full time business, for most, it is an add on, or just pocket money. I have over 10 different print technologies, now turnover near 150k, have 2 staff, and still don't get a great return. This will never be a get rich quick product, - for 1, - cost of entry is too low, it is easy to become a sublimator; don't quit your day job (if you still have one)
On the other hand, it is rewarding!
While on this note, I had a hot inquire, 100 T's A3 both sides, I gave a great price, was ready to have my kids do the work (school holls) - and the prospect folded...... lucky I didn't start. I asked for 50% up front. He gave the go ahead, but never paid the 50%. ..... as said, lucky I didn't start!
You never know where the next job might come from!

[Russ]

Thanks for the replies guys - pretty much what I expected to be honest. I dont expect to make a fortune or even a living out of just one line, and wont be giving up on my day-job - just hoping I'll be busy enough to worry about not having any free time But with the current climate I feel it'll be good to have something started that could be expanded should I be affected at the next cull at work. No-one seems to get to retire any more...