Starter Pack

[Mug]

Hello,

I was all set to buy a mug press, mugs and paper etc from eBay, until I stumbled upon this forum.
First off, thanks for stopping me making a newbie mistake - buying cheap!

After reading a lot of threads on here, I've narrowed it down to a Start Pack from Listawood which includes:

Ricoh SG 3110DN printer
Set of 4 Sublijet-R cartridges
Box of 36 Durham Duraglaze Mugs
Standard Genie Mug Press
Pack of A4 trupix paper
2 rolls of heat tape

for £499 (less 10% discount for premium member here, once I join).

First question, is the above package Ok? Decent press etc.?
Are the mugs good quality?

Anybody any other recommendations before I spend my cash?

Thanks.

[mrs maggot]

its as good as you will get anywhere, but you are in derby so i could also check out xpress who are literally down the road from you as it may help you to have somewhere on your doorstep, they also i believe offer a discount to members

[purpledragon]

Hello,

I was all set to buy a mug press, mugs and paper etc from eBay, until I stumbled upon this forum.
First off, thanks for stopping me making a newbie mistake - buying cheap!

After reading a lot of threads on here, I've narrowed it down to a Start Pack from Listawood which includes:

Ricoh SG 3110DN printer
Set of 4 Sublijet-R cartridges
Box of 36 Durham Duraglaze Mugs
Standard Genie Mug Press
Pack of A4 trupix paper
2 rolls of heat tape

for £499 (less 10% discount for premium member here, once I join).

First question, is the above package Ok? Decent press etc.?
Are the mugs good quality?

Anybody any other recommendations before I spend my cash?

Thanks.

ahhhh at last common sense

[Mug]

Thanks Mrs Maggot, they made my Top 3 but the price put me off. I didn't realise they were so close, might give them a cal tomorrow to see what they can do

[mrs maggot]

dont get me wrong i love listawood and use their mugs all the time, but you if you are in derby and they are in Donnington - seems silly not to go over and have a look

[arthur.daley]

Xpres have a showroom with all of their equipment in and I am sure they would be only too happy to demo it to you. I don't know what back up they give but it OUGHT to be good. I also see they have some pre owned kit for sale at the moment - no idea of prices but if they are prepared to put a warranty on it and it is sensibly priced it would be worth considering. However they are more expensive than Listawoods as you have already seen. I am 99% sure I am right in thinking that all of the Xpres presses are rebadged Atkins presses? Someone will soon put me right on that point if I am wrong!

There is a lot to be said for having your supplier just up the road when things aren't going entirely to plan and you need some help or you need a replacement blanket, a box of mugs, paper or ink in a hurry!

Good luck


Arthur

[Quinsfan]

ahhhh at last common sense

I agree whole heartedly!!
Also I got my printer and some other items from Listawood and they have been a great help when I have had an issue or problem. I would recommend them as well. As the BBC says there are other suppliers available as well.

[Mug]

Thanks for all your replies.
I've decided to go with Xpres, they're a bit more money but they're only down the road, which has swung it for me.
Although things are totting up - I was just informed this evening that I need Corel Draw (preferable) or Photoshop elements - I thought I would've been OK with MS Publisher or Adobe InDesign.
I guess it's best to go with the software they recommend, that way if I run into problems they'll be able to help more - just gotta sell more mugs!

BTW, I suppose I should've asked this first - do mugs sell well?
I picked mugs as a starter as I think they'd be good to push my other business, but I'd like to sell a few as well.

[arthur.daley]

photoshop elements doesn't cost much I purchased the bundle of Photoshop Elelements 11 and Premiere Elements 11 together for something like 40 quid. Elements is way better than any of the freeware image apps I have used - Gimp etc, and more importantly there is an ICC profile available from Sawgrass. You would need to check if there is a profile for elements 12 - the latest version, or if the profile for 11 would do. If its not on the Sawgrass webpage give their techies in Sheffield a ring - a very helpful and long suffering bunch!


Arthur

[purpledragon]

Thanks for all your replies.
I've decided to go with Xpres, they're a bit more money but they're only down the road, which has swung it for me.
Although things are totting up - I was just informed this evening that I need Corel Draw (preferable) or Photoshop elements - I thought I would've been OK with MS Publisher or Adobe InDesign.
I guess it's best to go with the software they recommend, that way if I run into problems they'll be able to help more - just gotta sell more mugs!

BTW, I suppose I should've asked this first - do mugs sell well?
I picked mugs as a starter as I think they'd be good to push my other business, but I'd like to sell a few as well.

Fristly ask yourself where you want to go with this if itsa serious business you want then getting right at the beginning is essential. Its easy to start off cheap and sell loads but then overheads start creeping in and before you know it starting cheap is not such a hot idea remember , its easier to come down in price than to go upso dont follow the heard assume you have all the overheads even if you dont cause one day you will. Take into account everything , thats not just ink paper and mugs , you need to consider electricity tape wear n tare on equiptment time spent marketing domain names phone bills the list is endless but its all stuff that comes out your profits.
Mugs do sell well but everyones doing photo mugs try find a niche, something you already know is always a good start. If youre a trzin buff then think about targetting other train buffs stick to what you know.
Bware of copyright , if you didnt draw it you can be sure someone owns copyright to it never think im small time they aint gonna bother with me they will! At best you get a cease and desist letter at worst you lose everything after being sued and when i say everything i mean your house car the lot , though thats the extreme. And lastly listen to advice given it usually comes from those who have already made the mistakes
Good luck