Want a heavy duty Pressure Washer for $495-12% discount; no-freight cost?

We’ve shared this for your pleasure!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Want-a-heavy-duty-Pressure-Washer-for–495-12—-no-freight-.html?soid=1102591137272&aid=dFRx9jYNCUg.

ANOTHER GREAT DISCOUNT EVENT for SCREEN and GRAPHICS PRINTERS EVERYWHERE. A PRESIDENTIAL-WORTHY SHARE!

 

 

An Accidental, Screen Printed, NYC Discovery!

It’s a Chalkboard T-shirt!

While perusing St. Anthony’s Market on Houston Street between Thompson and Sullivan in the Lower East Side, on the look-out for interesting screen/graphics printing items, we came across the Chalkboard Tee by Class Attire. We were knocked out with this idea!

The little Tee’s were screen printed with a special chalk-ink (a tightly held secret by the originators, Chis and Jinyen) and featured a large star, heart or other design. The designs were big enough for little hands with little chalk to create to their heart’s content. We bought one for our 4 year old niece to test and witnessed first-hand the happiness and creativity that this shirt inspired. Especially important to her was the little chalk pocket where she was able to store one piece of chalk. Nice touch!

For more info: info@thechalkboardtee.com

Love these finds! Thanks for reading.

 

1 Step Self Weeding Color Laser Heat Transfer Paper

Reblogged from Screen Printing Blog: How To Screenprint Tee Shirts:

Here’s a video about a new product made by RhinoTech. I really wish I had a digital thermostat on my heat press because I think it would have helped me out a little in working with this paper but overall I liked the results very much. It’s nice to be able to do a self weeding process in one step rather than having to do the adhesive sheet at a different temperature and the pressing at a higher temperature like most 2 part self weeding…

Read more… 259 more words

An addendum: SingleStep™ is rapidly becoming the most requested heat transfer laser paper due to its natural self-weeding capability that transfers the toner, not the background film; for the fact that a final design appears as if it were screen-printed onto the fabric. And it uses a one sheet process to print on white and light colored t-shirts, hats and other products.   To decorate DARK fabrics, SingleStep™ can be used with Textile Metallic Foil to add texture;the color and design pop. This step offers immediate, value-added highlights.   SingleStep ™ can be used on most color laser copiers or color laser printers (both the older low temperature color laser copiers/printers that use fuser oil and the newer high temperature color laser copiers/printers that do not use fuser oil). It will not work on ink jet printers.   RhinoTech will demonstrate SingleStep ™ at ISS/Long Beach, Jan. 18-20, 2013 on Booth 255. Jonathan Monoco of Catspit Productions will be available to share his experiences with this product and other RhinoTech products/equipment. Contact information: www.rhinotechinc.com info@rhinotechinc.com 888.717.4466 651.686.5027 youtube.com/rhinotechcompany facebook.com/rhinotech twitter.com/rhinomitemn Pinterest rhinoblast.blogspot.com  

Emulsion News

Emulsion is a light sensitive liquid product that is coated onto a screen frame to create a stencil (required in order to create an image to print).  Emulsion hardens where light hits (exposes) it and then washes away where light doesn’t hit it leaving the desired image to be printed on the screen frame.

Emulsion Remover is required to “reclaim” a screen; so that the stencil (emulsion) can be removed from the screen making it able to be used again and again. There are emulsion removers on the market including biodegradable ones that are water soluble, non-toxic and work quickly on most emulsions. Some are concentrates that are mixed with water while others are ready-to-use.

Fresh, emulsion-free frames

RhinoSol 600 is just one example of an emulsion remover that is a dual cure photo emulsion intended for use with most textile printing using plastisol, water based and discharge inks. It uses a powder sensitizer that, when used in conjunction with this high solids emulsion, offers excellent durability during printing.  Make sure to have the emulsion completely dried for best results.

Wishing you the best of results!

A SingleStep™ to Radical Heat Transfer Printing by RhinoTech

RhinoTech has introduced SingleStep, a new heat transfer laser paper. The video demonstrates how fast, easy and incredibly simple it is to use this new system and produce professional “looks like it was screen printed” fabrics.

RhinoTech offers this explanation of SingleStep™ that works as a self-weeding paper. Use a single-sheet process to transfer a solid image without the background. Only the toner with colors that are 30% or darker on the grey scale (the image) transfer, not the background film. The image appears as if it were screen-printed onto the textile.

SingleStep™ can be used on most color laser copiers or color laser printers (both the older low temperature color laser copiers/printers that use fuser oil and the newer high temperature color laser copiers/printers that do not use fuser oil).  SingleStep ™ will not work on ink jet printers. SingleStep ™ can also be used with Textile Metallic Foil to decorate DARK or light fabrics!

RhinoTech has extended the following: a 15% discount – 8/7/2012 using Code: SS8712 with your on-line order @ http://www.rhinotechinc.com. Check out Free Shipping options with a $50 purchase.

Contact information: 888.717.4466, info@rhinotechinc.com; Facebook

More “How to Screen Print” training videos @ youtube.com/rhinotechcompany

 

 

So You Want to Start a Screen or Graphics Printing Business. Here is your Business Plan.

There are many notable, highly successful business people who, without a Business Plan, took a big idea and just plunged forward with their life’s savings and made it. Some went bankrupt a few times before hitting the big time. Many will tell you today to just to “go for it” and don’t waste time on writing a Business Plan. The following will help you decide whether or not to just plunge in or to write a clear plan that you can have in your head and on paper. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Posted on July 17, 2012 by CAPS International

Don’t be afraid to “Create a Business Plan”. By following the sample outline that provides added explanation, we offer you a simplified way in which to write a logical, compelling plan that you will need if applying for funds to help with a start-up or existing business. Whether asking for financial support from family or friends; completing a grant or loan application, you will need a focused, clear business document to portray your well-thought out plan of action and repayment for Year 1 of your venture through Year 5 (potentially).

Here is the link to a the Small Business Administration, business plan template that, from a former Business Plan writers opinion, is a an outline worth using. Other resources include a whole host of books on the subject that often include a sample plan on disc. or those on-line that are uploadable.

BUSINESS PLAN SAMPLE

The Executive Summary is the beginning two pages (or less) of your Plan document even though it is actually written after the entire Plan is completed. It is the all-out final, enthusiastic descriptive summary of  who you are, what you want to do, why you can accomplish this great business venture; goals/objectives. Write it as if  the Shark Tank entrepreneurial crew of the world will be your audience (watch it ABC and you’ll understand). Along with the written plan, Robert Herjavec, a Shark Tank member, recommends  finding time to talk to people who will actually buy your product. Designate abundant time to his suggestion that will only make your Plan more powerful.

Business Description and Vision: short/concise business purpose, a vision statement (that is your perception based on research/talking to people of the company’s growth potential in 1, 3 5 years); goals and objectives; brief history for existing or start-up business – discuss how/why/goals met/will be met to date; name of company officers or board members.

Definition of the Market: Use trade publications and stats to describe screen printing industry/outlook; define the critical needs of your perceived or existing market or why you believe (facts/#’s) your business will fulfill a niche in the industry; your target market and how you found them along with their general profile (non-profit agencies, senior clientele etc); your current and potential market share and how you figured that out (interviewed 100 people, etc).

Description of Products and Services (why they’re so great/how they fulfill a need): description of your products/services (how much they sell for) and why they are/will be competitive. In this segment, reference images of your work, brochures, a website; physical location of business (walk-in traffic, web site potential) that will be in plan appendix.

Organization and Management: Include an Organization Chart and description of how company is organized. Keep it short/concise so the general flow of operations is understood; convey whether it’s a proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.; identify necessary or special licenses and/or permits you have acquired or will need; list of key managers/staff w/brief bio (education, experience, financial background etc.).

Marketing and Sales Strategy: identify/describe who your customers are/will be; what/how you will fulfill their needs; what the demand is for your products & services (and how you figured that out; how you will distribute and promote products/services (social media, web store, outside/inside sales etc.); identify the 4 Ps of your SALES STRATEGY that are pricing, promotion, products and place.

AND THIS IS THE BIGGIE because the individuals and/or institutions who you are requesting a loan from need to know that you have a REALISTIC knowledge of the financial projection/commitment it’s going to take to build and sustain the business.

Financial Management for a New Business: estimate of start-up costs and how you figured them (CAPS International will provide you with a free estimate of screen printing equipment and supplies); a projected balance sheet (1, 3, 5 years forward); a projected income statement (1, 3, 5 years forward); a projected cash flow statement (12 months forward).

For an Existing Business (this is standard):  balance sheets (last 3 years); income statements (last 3 years); cash flow statement (12 months).

If Applying for a Loan (in addition to the above): current personal financial statement on each principal/partner/investor; federal tax return for prior year. These are standard.

 

Powerful Business Tools Learned from a Book on Child Rearing

How to handle the irate customer? Check out How to Talk so Kids will Listen & Listen so Kids will Talk  by Adel Farber and Elaine Mazlish (the teen version is equally excellent). This bible of child rearing is one of the best non-business books that makes perfect sense in the business world. Read it and you will believe.

One of the best take-aways from the book was how to use the following expressions Uh-huh, Oh, Interesting, Really? I See and Mmm, along with sympathetic silence, during a customer rant. It was astonishing at how powerful these simple little words made it possible to diffuse/resolve a situation with the irate, unreasonable, emotionally charged, often loud, unhappy-and-wanting-justice customer in the calmest, most peaceful way possible. Speaking from experience, these practical tactics (and some appropriately interjected humor) help to restore sanity and harmony in a tough customer/workplace situation. Though we might fantasize about strongly articulating, why you gotta be so mean?, logically, we know that a defensive posture will just be a lose-lose situation. In the end, what we really want is to retain a customer who will remember that we tried hard to solve a problem to his/her satisfaction.

Here is an excerpt from a summary of the book …..The more I move through life and the business world, however, I am struck how the same techniques enhance communication between adults in all aspects of life. This book should also be listed in the Business/Management section. It says all the same things the high-priced consultants say — treat people with respect, do not deny their emotions, state the facts (only) and shut up and listen. This book also talks about giving praise and recognition, which makes it another reason to use it in real life, inside the family AND outside in the “real” world.

Some tips with tactics from the book:

Apologize and Listen. Immediately respond to the customer problem with, You do sound unhappy, my apologies. Let me help you. (or)  I’m so sorry, I want to try and turn this around (or)  if all else fails, It sounds like we owe you an apology.

Then…let the customer talk and respond at intervals with, Oh (or) Interesting (or) Uh huh (or) Really? (or) Mmm (or) I See (non-judgmental words) so that the customer knows you are listening.

Treat people with respect: actively listen, acknowledge with short bursts of Oh (or) Interesting (or) Uh huh (or) Really? (or) Mmm (or) I See. If appropriate, throw in a that does sound frustrating. As the customer is able to air the complaint, he/she should start to calm down.

On the other hand, if the customer is just becoming increasingly angry and/or abusive, try to retain integrity and calm and say something like,  I understand that you’re very unhappy and I want to help you, but at this point I need to put the president of the company on the phone (or) I need to ask for your name and number so that the president of the company can call you back. 

State the facts back: Ask yes or no questions, only, to get the full details  of the complaint. And to reach a resolution. Once you think you  have it, remain sympathetic. State back the problem and resolution. Gain agreement that the resolution you’ve discussed is understood by the customer. Say something like: So that we’re both comfortable (another good word from the book), we’ve decided that our company will fix the equipment and you will pay to have it shipped to our location (or) Just to confirm, you understand the step-by-step set-up instructions and you are now comfortable in completing the set-up?

Thank the person for calling; document the conversation point by point.

And be awed at the huge impact of Oh (or) Interesting (or) Uh huh (or) Really? (or) Mmm (or) I See!

Hope this was helpful. Thanks for reading and subscribing!

How To Photograph Your Screen Printed Tee Shirts 101

Wanted to share this blog by Jonathan at Catspit Productions. It’s well done and answers the question for many of us who are often frustrated with the process. The Catspit Forum is a great place for Q and A.

Thanks for checking out this video and subscribing.

 

 

Sustainable Screen Printing – Motion Toward Functional Harmony.

This small, screen printing shop strives to offer sustainable, fairly-traded t-shirts and other products that are screen printed. Check out their website at www.sustainablescreenprinting.com. It’s a great source with lots of practical information besides showcasing their products and business.

This is their Modus Operandi that is: We print t-shirts! (among other things).

We seek to work with businesses, organizations, musicians, artists, crafts-people and anyone who would like to see their vision become an amazing screen-printed reality. We are here to promote beautiful situations and empowering surroundings for whole living.

Sus•tain: v. 1. To keep in existence; maintain. 2. To supply with necessities or nourishment. 3 To keep from falling or sinking. 4. To support the spirits or resolution of; encourage. 5. To endure or withstand: sustain hardships. [< Latin. sustinere, hold up.]–sus-tain´a•ble adj. -American Heritage Dictionary

Sustainability- “…meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet there own needs.” -1987 Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development

What does it mean to use sustainable practice in screen printing?

Small is Beautiful~ 1st we are a small shop. Being small allows for great efficiency in the use of resources and materials, such as water, electricity, ink, and  other tools of the trade, while still being able to handle large volume orders.

There are several other practices we use to bring our products closer to an ideal of sustainability.

•We use water-based inks, which have a much lower environmental impact than the pvc-based industry standard.

•We print on garments made of 100% certified organic cotton.

•We print on garments that are sweat-free, either American-made or in foreign facilities using fair-trade standards.

This does not mean our products and our process is perfect. We are always researching and tuning our process to provide a product that creates the least possible impact on our home, the Earth.

Hope you enjoyed this information as we all strive to consciously be sensitive to Mother Earth.

 

 

 

A Late Night Blog…

Beware of late night blog attempts to churn out “just one more”  even though you believe that you are at the top of your game despite the fact that you’ve been running on high for the previous 15 hours (with no caffeine – based beverages).  I share this fresh experience and ask that you please re-read,  the MUST DO blog completed in the early hours of 5/23 that now includes the CORRECT link to the American Screen Printing website. Please click HERE to check out this site.

I offer sincere appreciation!