How to Choose a Screen Printer

A question we get all the time is “Do you guys screen print?” and the answer is no.  We specialize in selling the blank t-shirts  at low prices.  By buying the blanks from us and taking them to a screen printer you can save money on your total cost because the printer usually makes money on the blank shirt as well as on the print.  When our customers realize we don’t print, the next question is always “Do you know a screen printer?”  The answer is yes but it comes with a “but.”.  We know many printers but it is hard to recommend one because different customers have different needs.  So we thought we would give you a road map for choosing the right screen printer for your needs.  There are many things to consider when picking a screen printer.
1.  Price.  How important is price to you?  Do you want the best print process possible because if you do that is more expensive.  Or perhaps you just want the cheapest price and a heat transfer would suffice.  Often times you get what you pay for but certain events do not require a high end print while others do. 
2.  Lead Time.  Some printers have a quicker turnaround than others.  I know printers that run night shifts and can often times get your product turned around in a couple days. Other prints can take weeks.
3.  Geography.  This one is similar to lead time but I thought it deserved its own bullet point.  How important is it that your printer is nearby?  Do want to meet them face to face?  Do you want to see the facility and examine your shirts as they come off the press.  Or does that matter.  If you are printing a ton of shirts freight could be expensive if you are getting them printed out of state.
4.  Reputation.  You want to make sure your printer has a good reputation.  Ask to see work they have done.  Ask to speak to other customers who have used their services.  How long have they been in business?  How updated is their printing equipment? It is amazing the things you will find out just by asking questions.
Good luck finding the right screen printer.  There are many good ones out there and if you ask these questions chances are you will find a winner.

Leave a Reply