T-SHIRT.CC
Newbie
 Offline
Age: 59
Location: Big Rapids, MI
Posts: 4
|
 |
« on: October 30, 2009, 01:45:19 PM » |
|
I have been self employed for 30 years. I printed garments, stickers, metal, glass and rubber for the first ten years for other local screen printers, sign shops and ad specialty guys in the Jackson, MI area. About 20 years ago, I narrowed down to garments. I developed low cost full color printing about then, no setups and sold for $2.95 per shirt on 100 6oz white in the early 1990's with no art charges. Discovered the web about 1995 and started selling to nonprofits and animal rescues. 2005, divorce, closed shop and moved to Big Rapids, MI farther north. I operate out of a pole-barn next to a trailer and work primarily with animal rescues, some nonprofits, and military dependent schools in Japan. All work done online.
My first cutter was a Roland Camm1 with 2 hotronix presses. I got rid of those a few years ago when I stopped doing press on.
I have had my Pcut for at least 3 months before I got it running, just too much printing to do - customers first, play second.
Why a pcut? -this forum, and the do it yourself approach of UScutter - fits with my personality and skills. I try to help animal rescues market with t-shirts, thought it might help if I added in reflective stickers.
At first I was a little concerned about the quality of 1/4 inch letters, adjusting the drag knife off setting solved that.
It is a nice little cutter.
I have seen a lot of people bad mouthing these cutters, people with lots of spare time to talk in forums talking about the production limits of these machines. Believe me, if they were utilizing the capacity of their high price machines that they tout, they wouldn't have time to post or care.
Business is about minimizing risk; a Pcut 630 will pay for itself with a couple small jobs. With minimal risk, start doing 10 jobs a week and then buy another cutter when you see a good cash flow if you want. You can easily sell your cutter to someone that won't compete with you for more than you bought it for if you them get it set up. Knowledge is valuable.
Every piece of equipment has limits, just focus on what you can do and sell that. Success is about using what you HAVE to help others get what they want.
For the last 15 years, my approach has been a little unusual. Orders are prepaid 100% in advance. This is possible by doing art in advance at no charge. Shipment is based on a number of days after payment is received. Yes, things can get a little rushed, but it creates a situation where the ball is in the customer's court. Customers that leave little time to develop and process a job, the less choice they have in art.
Another unusual thing is that when we are done, the art is theirs.
The work is primarily one color, and all communication is through email, from font selection to final graphic. This is an awesome way to work with no phone interruptions; it makes it possible to be much more productive. Of course the work is beautiful and guaranteed, and working with animal rescues and nonprofits, the people are really nice to work with.
I have started doing wholesale for small town sign,ad specialty and press on transfer shops that have trouble competing with large screen printers that come into their area and take the local work away from them.
It is a long introduction, but now you know a bit about me and I am open to questions in any areas I have knowledge.
This is a great forum that gave me the confidence to buy from Uscutter. Looking forward to trying out some of Banner John’s homemade application fluid.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Pcut 630, Harco 6 color manual & auto, violux 3002, neuman roller frames, xante 13x 18 laser
30 years of loving what I do
Corel X4 (Started with 1), and Adobe Master Collection
|
|
|
|
kenya
Guest
|
|
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2009, 06:27:55 AM » |
|
Welcome from Florida. It's nice to see someone compliment the pcut. It's a great cutter, I have a copam & a pcut & both are very nice machines. And I commend you for your work with animal rescues.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
JoeBlow
|
|
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2009, 03:25:44 PM » |
|
Welcome from "Down Under"
I like your advance payment policy:
"My approach has been a little unusual. Orders are prepaid 100% in advance. This is possible by doing art in advance at no charge. Shipment is based on a number of days after payment is received. Yes, things can get a little rushed, but it creates a situation where the ball is in the customer's court."
Joe
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Roland CAMM-1 PNC-1000 * Roland CAMM-1 PNC-1100 * PC * XP Pro * CorelDRAW X3 * VinylMaster Pro 2.5 * FlexiEXPRESS * Inkscape http://www.vinylforum.org |
|
|
|
Dakotagrafx
|
|
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2009, 08:05:53 PM » |
|
Welcome from michigan
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Graphtec CE5000-60 , Flexi, Corel x4, LXI VE master pro 8.6, Sunie Heat Press
''Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.''
Thomas Edison
Honesty Integrity Teamwork
|
|
|
|
Fader_Graphix
|
|
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2009, 08:02:59 PM » |
|
another welcome from Michigan.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Become a fan of Fader Graphix on Facebook |
|
|
|
Alien
|
|
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2009, 07:30:09 PM » |
|
Welcome from West Tennessee!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Rodger - unit # 982
|
|
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2009, 08:18:48 PM » |
|
Hey Mr T , welcome to the site . I really enjoyed & agree with your complete post . I have thought the same thing about this part in your post " I have seen a lot of people bad mouthing these cutters, people with lots of spare time to talk in forums talking about the production limits of these machines. Believe me, if they were utilizing the capacity of their high price machines that they tout, they wouldn't have time to post or care. " I wonder the same thing when some members say their time is worth at least this much etc , etc etc .  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
bigjimt
Hero Member
Offline
Age: 67
Location: Florida
Posts: 146
|
|
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2009, 10:14:43 PM » |
|
Yes........Welcome from Florida........I like my US Cutter very much........
also.........
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"Making Signs Since 1959"
Have a Blessed Day
|
|
|
|
LeviHartzog
|
|
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2009, 11:55:47 AM » |
|
Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you have been around the block a time or two. Experience is highly valued around here.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
YadirellT
|
|
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2009, 05:06:22 PM » |
|
Welcome Mr. T-Shirt. You certainly sound like you will bring alot of experience to this community. Your outlook is a breath of fresh air, and I certainly feel like you do. Welcome to the forum!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
BannerJohn
Global Moderator
Super Hero Member
Offline
Age: 55
Location: Tri-Cities, Johnson City Tennessee
Posts: 7874
|
|
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2009, 05:50:20 PM » |
|
Hey Mr T , welcome to the site . I really enjoyed & agree with your complete post . I have thought the same thing about this part in your post " I have seen a lot of people bad mouthing these cutters, people with lots of spare time to talk in forums talking about the production limits of these machines. Believe me, if they were utilizing the capacity of their high price machines that they tout, they wouldn't have time to post or care. " I wonder the same thing when some members say their time is worth at least this much etc , etc etc . LOL Rodger...stop wondering. many of those people who think their time is worth $75-$100 an hour have time to post on the forums because they are waiting for someone willing to pay their prices. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Sign Maker.
Drummer
Malcontent
Agitator
|
|
|
|
Rodger - unit # 982
|
|
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2009, 10:45:48 PM » |
|
I understand & agree with that . Experience wins over idealogy ! I have watched during & after every hard time the country has went thru ... seen who is still in business & taken notes . Everybody can use some gravy , but it is the meat & potatoes that pays the bills ( also makes repeat customers ) . I have read posts that said " they would never do something that cheap & would charge at least $___ , " then read posts from the same person saying they did not have ANY work ...... Hmmm , I wonder if there is a coinnection ? ( pun intended )  . If I find out I paid premium amount when I could have saved a bunch ( rarely ) , I make it a point NEVER to go back to that vendor . I don't want anybody feeling that way about my business . |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: November 20, 2009, 09:22:31 AM by Rodger - unit # 982 »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
mabscotthandyman
|
|
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2009, 09:42:48 PM » |
|
Hello from West Virginia
Dan
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Wild Wonderful West Virginia Americas Best Kept Seceret
|
|
|
|
