New member: Wildcard

[Wildcard]

Hi TSB,

I've been browsing this forum for a while now, picking up excellent tips and info, so firstly a big thank you to all of the contributors. I felt I should introduce myself before I get stuck into a few questions though:
I have been a designer (industrial & graphic) for about 15 years and in that time worked with screen printing through both big factories and small local printers. After years of brewing on my plans to spend less time glued to a PC, I finally took the plunge and bought a small screen printing business 8 months ago. It's been a real baptism of fire trying to learn the skills while still keeping the business turning over. Currently just a one-man operation, I am struggling with the workload and now looking to employ some help.
Other details: Based on the Gold Coast, Australia, I have approx 110 _m2 space with a 6/4 manual and 6/8 Adtec automatic with a very old Marvel electric tunnel dryer. Mostly using plastisol for simple orders of school/workwear and also an in-house range of infant apparel. I also have a Roland GX-24 to take care of very small orders and sports numbers.

Naturally being new to the technicalities of printing, but knowing the potential, I have a long list of questions to try and get the quality of my printing up to my designer standards. I'll try and pace them out over a few different posts. I look forward to receiving any help and advice available.

Regards
James

[Crazy Mike]

Welcome Mate.

Just wondering is the automatic presses there rotate in the opposite direction just like we here
water flushes do.

[Dottonedan]

Hello James,


Thanks so much for registering and posting up. We have a ton of lurkers and it's important to the welfare of the forum (for numbers purposes) for the lurkers to simply register as soon as they can feel comfortable with it. It really benefits to be able to interact with the viewers and assist them in their goals faster than searching the forum on their own.


Is your shop a retail location or in more of an industrial location?  Retail (small orders) can take up a ton of your time when it's just you, making it even harder to produce more profitable jobs. I had a retail location for a while. I ended up raising my prices much higher than my local competitors (for the small quantity jobs or one off jobs to help steer them away from those (but), if they wanted them, I'd offer it.  Same goes for samples. You gotta up charge enough on the sample shirts enough to make the same profit on your smallest (12 order shirts). Stuff like that.  Some printers charge a flat such as $200.00 (or equivalent to a 12 piece order) at whatever # of colors, for samples that would get applied to the cost of the order if or when they placed/approved the sample. If they didn't approve it, and walked, then you've still profited on that labor.

I think the most I had ever charged was $60.00 for one shirt.

Also, start NOW for charging for art. Any amount but do charge something. Many do the first hr free and charge a fixed rate after that. That can be $20.00 on up to $65.00  It WILL come to you, that you've done X amount of work or paid someone else for "concept work" only to not get the order. Many printers start out not charging, then find it's too hard to start charging later. So CHARGE for concept work and after so many revisions. After 2 revisions, (someone has to have a meeting) to nail down whats needed. Otherwise, if you don't charge for revisions, you can get the occasional customer that has 15 revisions.

[Frog]

Welcome Wildcard. Looking forward to your questions.
Sounds like we'll probably see you over in the Newbie or some other more specific section soon.

[Maxie]

Wildcard,
I'm coming to Sydney for a wedding at the end of Nov and am planning a trip up the gold coast.
Send me your details, I'll try and stop by.     Hope you make good coffee.

[Wildcard]

Crazy Mike kicks off with the technical questions right from the start - I found myself staring at the toilet bowl for ages this morning pondering the flow of my workshop.
My biggest problem right now is finding the time to sit down and put my questions into coherent writing, but I'll get there, I have a pressing need to resolve an inconsistent emulsion/coating/exposure process.
Maxie, being a tea drinker my coffee making is terrible but I'll send a PM regardless and will welcome a visitors

[Screened Gear]

Welcome Mate.

Just wondering is the automatic presses there rotate in the opposite direction just like we here
water flushes do.

lol...

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Welcome Mate.

Just wondering is the automatic presses there rotate in the opposite direction just like we here
water flushes do.

Here ya go...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDorTBEhEtk

and the "other" video Destin referenced:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihv4f7VMeJw

(I love the Smarter Every Day youtube channel. I wish my Sophomore Science Class had had Destin as the teacher.)

WELCOME, WILDCARD!! Nice to have you aboard.

[Dottonedan]

Overlooked me?  I had some goodies down there.

[Wildcard]

Is your shop a retail location or in more of an industrial location?  Retail (small orders) can take up a ton of your time when it's just you, making it even harder to produce more profitable jobs. I had a retail location for a while. I ended up raising my prices much higher than my local competitors (for the small quantity jobs or one off jobs to help steer them away from those (but), if they wanted them, I'd offer it.  Same goes for samples. You gotta up charge enough on the sample shirts enough to make the same profit on your smallest (12 order shirts). Stuff like that.  Some printers charge a flat such as $200.00 (or equivalent to a 12 piece order) at whatever # of colors, for samples that would get applied to the cost of the order if or when they placed/approved the sample. If they didn't approve it, and walked, then you've still profited on that labor.

I think the most I had ever charged was $60.00 for one shirt.

Also, start NOW for charging for art. Any amount but do charge something. Many do the first hr free and charge a fixed rate after that. That can be $20.00 on up to $65.00  It WILL come to you, that you've done X amount of work or paid someone else for "concept work" only to not get the order. Many printers start out not charging, then find it's too hard to start charging later. So CHARGE for concept work and after so many revisions. After 2 revisions, (someone has to have a meeting) to nail down whats needed. Otherwise, if you don't charge for revisions, you can get the occasional customer that has 15 revisions.

Thanks for the advise there, I tend to read the forum on my phone and prefer to reply properly by PC which actually just means I forget to do it.
I'm in a light industrial area and I don't have much of a shop front, just a small room with some samples hanging. I don't really do much in the way of samples, but I have been trying to encourage orders over  20 with my pricing structure. I definitely had the problem early on of customers that become time-wasters because they want 1 or 5 shirts with 4 colour prints and a digital mockup to boot. In fairness though most of my customers are simple jobs with only the most basic artwork requirements.
I'm very keen to get into some more complex printing but I need to dial in much of my processes to work into that. I have a lot of questions as mentioned before, but I rarely get the time to post anything (especially when the drama's are unfolding). I hope to make some posts really soon.
Cheers
James

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[blue moon]

Welcome aboard!

beautiful area you live in. I have relatives in Tallebudgera and spent few days there back in the day. After visiting 30+ countries so far, time spent in that area is on top of my list!

pierre

[Wildcard]

Tallebudgera is amazing. I'm fairly new to the area myself but enjoying it so far.


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