When launching your own clothing brand, picking a screen printer that will produce your custom
apparel is one of the most important decisions that you will make. If you’ve never branded a product before (or even if you have!), going to a screen printer can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be.
Finding the printer that works best for your clothing brand will help greatly in making your brand a success. At Omaha Shirts, we’ve taken the uncertainty out of the equation by providing a list of the top questions to ask a potential screen printer.
Below, we’ve listed the questions we recommend asking your local screen printer. The answers themselves are important; but also pay attention to whether the person you talk to is eager to provide helpful answers, this is an indication of the quality of customer service that will provided to you, the client.
List Of Question To Ask A Screen Printer
WHAT PRINTING METHOD DO THEY USE?
There are several different methods for printing your artwork onto your custom apparel. The three most popular are screen printing, digital printing, and embroidery.
WHAT TYPE OF INK DO THEY USE?
If you choose a printer that uses the screen printing or digital printing method then the next question you should ask is what type of ink do they use. The most common inks are plastisol, water-based, and discharge.
WHAT SHIRT BRANDS DO THEY CARRY?
After you’ve picked out the method and type of ink, the next question you should ask is what type of shirt brands does the printer carry. If you are unfamiliar with the common brands look at the tag on your favorite shirts, and do research online. When choosing a brand you should consider how fashion forward it is, the sizing, and where the apparel is produced.
WHAT IS THEIR TURNAROUND TIME?
It is important to know how long it takes for the printer to receive your order, and make your custom apparel. When talking with a printer make sure that both sides can agree on a turnaround time, and that the printer delivers your order on that date. If a printer turns out to be unreliable, don’t be afraid to switch to a different one. With your first orders it may not be a big deal if you receive your order late, but somewhere down the line, you may need a rush order by a specific time, and you will want to be assured that your printer will be prompt.
Here are a few more questions to consider asking a screen printer:
- Do your charge a screen setup fee?
- Have minimum orders?
- Charge a setup fee for reprints?
- Can you do rush orders?
- What type of shirts or products can you provide for my order?
This list should help you get started but be sure to ask all the other questions that have to do with your specific screen printed apparel project! For more information, please feel free to give us a call.
