For apparel decorators in the early stages of launching a business – or promotional products distributors looking to in-source their decorating needs – equipment is a necessary capital investment. Whether you’re in the market for an embroidery machine, screen-printing press, direct-to-garment (DTG) printer or are interested in creating your own direct-to-film transfers, it’s imperative to ask the right questions to be sure you purchase a machine that will meet your needs for years to come.
1
What type of output do I require?
First, think about how much work your business is going to be doing. You are buying decorating equipment to do a few small jobs or will you be handling all your apparel production. A single-head embroidery machine could be just the thing to allow you to personalize small orders, but if you’re looking to add logos to hundreds of polos per campaign, a multi-head machine may be your best bet.
2
How much space do you have?
Certain decoration techniques require significant square footage, while others are more compact – there are desktop DTG printers designed for homepreneurs, for instance. But if you’re launching a screen-printing business, you’ll need a darkroom with an exposure unit to burn screens, a conveyor dryer or other method to cure inks once they’re on a garment, and a washout booth to clean screens – in addition to a manual or automatic screen-printing press. Before you decide on equipment, make sure to measure your production area. Don’t forget about doorways; you’ll be in trouble if your shiny new machine gets stuck on the way in.
3
What type of features will I require?
For the most up-to-date information about decorating equipment companies, it is a good idea to reach out to vendors. You need to decide which tools are essential for your business, which are useful, and which ones are just nice. Don’t forget about computer equipment to load decorating and graphics artwork software onto. These programs can be purchased by many vendors as part of their startup packages.
4
How will I pay for it?
Is it possible to finance the equipment? To determine if a piece is worth your investment, calculate the return on investment. First look at the total cost of ownership – including the cost of maintenance, repairs and replacing parts – and compare that to your expected output. How many shirts can you print per month? What is the time it will take to return your initial investment at that rate?
5
What training and support is the vendor offering?
When you’re looking to buy decorating equipment, make sure you ask about training and support plans. Do they offer assistance with installation? What happens if there is a problem? Is there a strong technical support team? Do they offer classes, webinars and other online resources that will help you to improve your skills? They can connect you to reputable equipment-repair professionals in your area.