By Angela Norval
With a creative flair and a dedication to quality, GC Supply Co owner and printer Jessica Herbert is starting to be the name literally featured on many a person around the region.
Jessica started the business as an opportunity to get back into the workforce and having also seen a gap in the region for a direct to garment printing business.
Having developed experience using a printer for three years previously, Jessica has found this career choice both enjoyable and flexible with her two children both in school.
Jessica said although only operating since late March, she had already learnt so much.
“I have experimented with things I probably wouldn’t have but my lovely customers pushed me to give it a go with no pressure with nine out of 10 having been a success,” she said.
“We have been investing in more accessories like our Junior Platten so I am now able to print onto children’s clothes and I have only just purchased a hat press so we can move into doing a hat and shirt combo deal.
“There is a bit of a process for each shirt, as we do both direct to garment and direct to film which both have a different process, while I now have a DTF Oven, Heat press, pre-treatment cube and of course my Brother GTX Pro printer.
“Art work is the first thing that needs to get sorted and it usually takes the most time.
“Luckily, I now have a local graphic designer Arin Crook to help with all the little fix ups and logo designs.
“We then need to load our image onto the printer pretreat the shirt and brush the fibres flat and then press the shirt.
Now we can load the shirt onto the platen (like a table that slides into the printer), press the button and the printer prints ink directly onto the garment as the name suggests.
“After it is complete, we then need to press the shirt to cure the ink and that shirt is done.
“DTF is a little different, we don’t need to pretreat the shirt only press the moisture out.
“We load the image onto the printer to print reverse onto a special film, we then cover that with our DTF powder and cook it in our DTF oven.
“We can store these for about eight months and we do sell the prints to small business who press their own shirts however we usually just print on demand.
“Once we have cured the ink in the oven, we then press this into the shirt, peel off the film and then press the shirt again to set it.”
For Jessica, one area she will not compromise on is quality, using AS colour which is a part of the Better cotton initiative as well as responsible sourcing.
“These shirts are the reason we can get a crisp print using DTG, the tightly woven cotton that is standard with AS Colour is why most DTG Printers will stock their shirts.
“They are the industry standard and we are thankful to have an account with them.
“I also take great care as listed above with every shirt to make sure the fibres are flat to get that print, we all want, I won’t send out something I’m not happy with.”
Needless to say, the feedback for GC Supply Co has been fantastic feedback regarding their shirts.
“We did shirts for the 1770 super jam event and we were so excited to do those, as I’m a sucker for kids and charity.
“Wattle Woman, what can I say, Lili is so creative and the printer had no trouble creating her images onto the shirts; they were so vibrant.
“As a fellow business woman, I feel honoured to be working with Lili and to grow with her.
“As with Off Tap Apparel their success goes hand in hand with my business success, my biggest supporters are the little guys and I am truly thankful.
“With small businesses who only need a few shirts, this option in the region has been missing and we have had fantastic support from people who have been using DTG Printers from Brisbane who were looking for someone closer and also all the small businesses who love to support another local small business.
“Business owners appreciate the opportunity to speak to someone in person in regards to their design and shirts and also be able to try them on making the process a whole lot easier.”
For more information visit their Facebook page or phone 0491 706 676.