News
Best Practices to Taking Care of Printed T-Shirts
It’s no secret that we all love screen printed shirts. But what happens when a shirt you love starts to age? Here’s how to take care of your printed shirts so you can wear them for years to come.
3 Ways to Improve your Screen Printing Production Schedule
No matter what size your screen printing operation is or what market it caters to, the goal is to get jobs through the shop and out the door on time — whether that means a two-week turn or a matter of hours. Screen printing businesses differ in terms of focus, equipment, staffing, capabilities, etc. But one thing successful ones have in common is an organized workflow. Let’s look at the various steps in the printing process and how they impact each other in your shop’s workflow.
Should DIY Screen Printers Get a Riley Hopkins 150 Press or a DIY Press?
If you’re just starting your screen printing journey, you might be a little overwhelmed. With the sheer amount of equipment options available, there’s a lot to decide. Choosing which press to buy is the first and most important step of getting started. But which press should you buy? Let’s compare two beginner presses: the DIY press and the Riley Hopkins 150.
How Avila Design Co. Hustles for Success
If there’s one motto in the screen printing business, it’s “the hustle is real.” Many screen printers work seven days a week, operating shops in spare rooms, garages, and basements. If it’s your passion, the grind is worth it. With a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, your print shop grows and evolves. That’s what happened to Joey Avila, owner of Avila Design Co. His business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, took off with some help from a friend and his constant hustling.
How Stark Screen Printing Added their First Team Member
Screen printing is a demanding, time-consuming industry. To turn a profit, you have to work hard every day to make sure your product is perfect and your customers are happy. But what happens when you’re stretched too thin? It may be time to get an extra set of hands. Daniela Murphy, owner of Stark Screen Printing, shares her experience on adding a new team member to her print shop.
How to Print T-Shirts
Ready to make your own apparel, but not sure where to start? Sounds like you need a guide on how to print t-shirts. In this 10-step guide, you'll learn about every process: making the artwork, preparing screens, printing, curing, and cleaning. Learn how to print t-shirts today, and start printing tomorrow.
Top 3 Customer Screen Printing Complaints and How to Handle Them
From ordering and printing to packaging and shipping, things can go wrong in many areas. If you have unhappy customers blowing up your email or your DMs, it’s always best to kill them with kindness. A screen printing expert and a few former screen printers share how to handle the three most common issues customers may bring back to you.
The Difference Between Wood and Aluminum Platens
One of the most overlooked variables for new screen printers is the type platen you're using to print on. Many times, the standard wood sixteen-inch platen does the trick. Depending on your needs as a printer, you might consider upgrading to aluminum or honeycomb platens. Printing guru Colin Huggins hashes out the differences between types of platens.
Research Suggests that FN-INK™ is the Most Opaque Plastisol Ink
When 12-year-old Lucy Wisnasky was assigned to do a science project, she knew she wanted to do an experiment related to screen printing. Her parents own Shirts Galore & More, a print shop where Lucy has uncovered her passion for screen printing. Why not perform an experiment that's interesting to her and potentially improve an aspect of their business?
Establishing a Brand: Creating Visual Elements
Creating engaging photos, intriguing videos, and attention-grabbing websites is crucial these days. According to Opt In Monster, 69% of Americans have shopped online so far in 2020. They predict that 91% of Americans will be shopping online by 2023. Therefore, it's safe to say that your business needs to be online. Making a plain website will not be enough though. Currently, 1.3 million businesses use e-commerce in the US, according to Kommando Tech.
For your brand to be successful, you'll need to cut through the noise. Digital Content Manager Robb Cummings and Creative Director Ryan Moore have shared their wisdom to create stellar photos, videos, and web designs.
Establishing a Brand: The Voice
When most people think of branding, they think about the visuals like logos, web design, photos, etc. You know what often goes unnoticed? The brand's voice. The messaging is just as important as the visuals. Let's look into what a brand voice is, the differences between voice and tone, and how to develop a brand voice.
Establishing a Brand: What is Brand Identity?
You want your new business to be successful right out the gate. Looking professional, knowledgable, and polished will significantly help. To achieve a highly credible look, you need to create a stellar brand. Throwing a logo together and picking a random name won't cut it. Building a great brand requires lots of brainstorming, planning, and creating. This isn't a light topic, so we'll dig deeper on a specific aspect of building a brand each week. For now, let's look into brand identity, finding your niche, and what to research.
