A few questions, why the one week deadline? Do you have a source of income now? Do your contacts include screen printers? What equipment have you accumulated?
Thanks for the welcome Mr Frog. Yeah that and t-shirt forums were the only places I had ... I would get a couple responses after about a day but nothing like this : )
Okay, as for the deadline. (will try to make this somewhat short).. Okay, I am getting some help (due to my disability) through my local department of vocational rehabilitation (tied into the local workforce center).
I have been given the option to get help with schooling or help with starting a business. I have decided to get help with starting a business.
As far as there help starting a business goes they do a feasibility study to determine if the business is viable. If approved, they then look into funding resources, family, loans, etc. But they can help (the councilor themselves) ...up to $5000, or up to $25,000 if approved by the director of the office, and over 25k if sent to for approval. Also they will help pay for training that will help me on my way.
Okay, well I have an entrepreneurial spirit and have been interested in screen printing since my aunt opened her embroidery shop in a small town like 10 years ago. I have since been spending a lot of my free time researching and acquiring equipment so I chose my passion "screen printnig"
However due to the long struggle of acquiring equipment, and my lack of a place to set up equipment.. I don't have very much hands on experience.
Well without further delay here is my list of equipment and resources...
Screen printing equipment4 Color 2 Station Atlas table top press,
Flash dryer
50 Screen printing screens with mesh
Bolt of mesh (58 yards)
Epson 1400 wide format printer
Computer used for t-shirt design
Fast rip Screen printing Software
Illustrator/Photoshop (design software)
Assortment of different inks
Home made UV exposure unit.
Ink jet transparency film 100 sheets
Home Made screen storage racks
Inventory –150 shirts 200 hats
Jacket hold down
Makeshift washout booth
Pressure washer
Various chemicals
Vinyl Sign and Heat press Lettering EquipmentGraphtec CE-3000-60 vinyl cutter (24")
Computer set up with Vinyl cutting software
Hix Ht 1400 15x15 heat press
Several rolls of t-shirt Vinyl
Hat press
Office EquipmentEpson nx 420 all in one printer
Office chair
Computer for general office/filing needs
Will acquire the fallowing on my own:
Web Design and Logo Creation
Web Site Design/Creation
Logo Creation
Having that said, I also have contacts in the industry, people I know who have shops (which I need to get in and train with) . And have just met a couple guys in my target area that have screen printing experience and could help me get started. I will be leaving behind the word of mouth (from my area) and people I know, and also my aunt's embroidery shop (which wouldn't bring me that much business) ... but leaving these for a larger area with a lack of screen printers. I could allways move to this location eventually if needed.
I have a full basement now , but in a small town of 9k people versus a town with 300,000 people and way less competition (per person ratio) I think it is a no brainer. Although I will be starting fresh in this area with limited contacts I feel it is the best option.
Okay (if your still with me) right now I am in the phase of writing my feasibility study (well the place that was contracted out is doing it) but she has given me the opportunity to make any necessary changes to it before she turns it in on the 31st.. I have questioned if it's what I want to do, can I find something with less physical work, less messy closer to my home , or maybe even online that I could do from my house. Or with less or no learning curves.
However I am this far in it I don't think it would be advisable to change it now, ad it may affect funding.
I am working on making some changes to this document.
here is a list of what I am stating I need:
Items with Immediate NeedComplete Screen Printing Business Course $395+
Stationary & Brochures $500
Cash Register & Displays $500
Conveyor Dryer (for mass production) $2,000
Various Production Chemicals $200
Assortment of Sign Vinyl $500
total : $4095
Items Needed in Early Stages of DevelopmentSublimation Printer $300 to $2,500 (Estimated $1500)
6 Color 6 Station Press $1200
Total $2700
Additional Start Up CostsInclude rent deposits and rent, legal (filing fees, etc), insurance, and contracted help (to maximize profit potential). These start up costs will be further calculated once a location is decided upon, but may be in the $4,000 range or more.
[/u] Long Term Equipment Needs[/u]
DTG (Automatic Direct to Garment Printer) $5000+
Automatic Screen Printing Press $6000+
Total $11,000+
There is a lot of different variables stressed in the actual document ... such as "these items will not be purchased until the need is justifed" etc ... I also stated I need a contracted helper at first , and will have to determine if an employee will be necessary if production picks up.. But wanting to make this a huge success so , I am sure employee's would be a benifit, but to start out I think I will contract intil I can afford/justify an employee.
This is what I portray the business will encompass:
Screen Printing
Artwork Setup / Graphics Design
Team Logo Placement
Heat Pressing
Sublimation (prints on promotional materials)
Business Card Printing
Vinyl Sign Printing and Design
Basic Web Design (contracted out)
Although not sure about business card printing. I would also need a new printer if I decide to do heat transfers.. I have considered including retail but decided it won't be the best option. I have put a lot of thought into my company name , and location, and have a friend working on my website as we speak. Would also like to have a good web presence which only 1 or 2 competitors have..
Anyways (if by some miracle you made it through reading this) I thank you !! perhaps I should have started a new thread for this but ... hopefully I get some responses .. Would be nice to have someone willing to go over the whole document , but I think I stressed the major points ...
Thank you for taking the time to read this!