Are you doing the sublimation printing business for the first time or you have been doing this for quite some time? Irrespective of that, it’s always great to learn new ideas along the way and perfect your investment. In this case, let’s have a look at how to make money from the sublimation printing business:
All Sublimation Items you need it:
To jump-start this printing business and start making profits, you will need all the necessary items. These items are essential and you cannot do without. At the top is the sublimation printer you will use to print your designs. But the printer will not work without inks and transfer papers.
And even after printing out, you will need a heat press to transfer the image from the sublimation paper to the sublimation blank. The following is a list of all the items you will need to start this business:
- Sublimation printer
- Sublimation transfer paper
- Sublimation blanks
- Heat Press Machine
- Computer and Software
- Core Draw
- Sawgrass CreativeStudio
- Illustrator
- Canva
- Adobe Photoshop
- GIMP
- Pixlr
- Inkscape
- Adobe InDesign
- Autodesk SketchBook
- Extra suppliers
- Foam pillows
- Silicone sheet covers
- Spray adhesive
- Thermal tape & tape dispenser
- Transfer gloves
This is any product you want to print but it should be made from either of the following materials:
- Plastic coated with a polymer
- Polyester fabric
- Metal coated with a polymer
- Polyester
- Polymer
- Polycotton textile
- Aluminum coated with a polymer
- PVC
- Ceramic
10 Success Sublimation Ideas:
- T-shirts:
T-shirt is the best selling business idea with the potential to general higher revenue. And not just you, many enterprises are making higher profits from this venture.
- Phone Cases:
This idea is centered on creating remarkable prints for the audience who want to personalize their phone. It’s a great venture with an attractive market demand you can utilize to generate revenue
- Socks:
With the right designs, you can generate a significant income from selling socks printed with different designs. Further, it’s a venture that’s currently trending in the fashion industry with many choosing custom printed socks over the ordinary kinds that have been there for many generations.
- Business cards:
Almost every business or brand has its business cards. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a startup or an established business; they all rely on it for marketing and keeping in touch with their clients. Thus, you can generate a good income from it.
- Mugs:
Mugs prints through this technique are also a lucrative business. They sell well and relatively easy to start and run successfully.
- Mouse Mats:
Mouse mats business is handy both as a marketing strategy as well as a product to sell and generate revenue. It’s upon you to choose both or one of them.
- Stickers:
Many brands are using stickers for marketing as well as the promotional surface. You can leverage this opportunity and generate income by printing out these stickers for various brands.
- Plates:
Plates with graphic prints have a huge demand over those that are plain or blank. Therefore you can create custom printed plates and make a fortune out of it.
- Canva:
Canva prints are increasingly becoming popular. Many brands are personalizing theirs to enhance business awareness. If you can manage this, you can make good revenue out of it.
- Flip flop:
Flip flops are essential for household use, especially in bathrooms. Thus, they are in constant demand. A great venture if you can create amazing prints.
Finding a Sublimation Niche:
Just like any other business, the sublimation gig has its fair share of challenges. And among the major is finding a niche. And while there is a great demand for personalized products through this printing technique, finding a solid position for your business in the marketplace has proven to be quite a challenge. However, most startups in this sector have made it by focusing on local demographics like the:
- Photographers – through dye-sub printing, you can reproduce the photo image on various products. When you market your service well, you and the photographer stands to make great returns from your partnership
- Local businesses – create a partnership with a local business that will love to brand their items especially those for promotional offers like caps, shirts, and stickers among others.
- Consignment shops – this is another potential place you can start to build your business. And this is because most consignment shops prefer local brands over other options in their shops.
- Schools – every school board, parent, and pupils have pride in their school. Therefore, you can take this opportunity and develop personalized school items like plates, mugs, athlete wear, sports logo, and school uniform logo for the pupils, teachers, and parents.
Create your Design:
After choosing the niche to work with, it’s time to decide on the personalization design you will use. In this case, you can choose to either charge the designing service on its own or part of the order. In most cases, other professionals charge it after agreeing with clients on the minimum order.
But you will also find some sublimation professionals getting free designs from the internet and do the same while offering their printing service. But if you choose to do the designing yourself, then consider the following:
- Avoid copyright issues:
You should keep in mind that you can be sued if you use copyrighted material in your printing business. And this is especially with the designing part.
- Use vector graphics:
If you are aiming at creating a remarkable end design, then vector graphics will assist you in doing that.
- Use the right proportions:
Creating a design especially a logo that’s out of proportions is a common mistake. And in most cases, it’s a larger image but of poor quality. And any attempt to resize it ruins it further. Therefore, you should the necessary tools to ensure your designs have the right proportions and of great quality.
Best 5 Places to Sell your Sublimation products:
- eBay:
eBay is a potential market place with millions of clients you can sell your product. However, there is intense completion in the marketplace with the need to up your marketing game and designing skills if you want to benefit from it.
- Etsy:
Just like eBay, Etsy is also an e-commerce site with millions of active clients you can sell your designs to. As long as you market your business well and you deliver remarkable products, you will be able to generate a good income.
- Facebook:
Facebook is a social platform with a remarkable number of audiences ready to convert to buyers if you can impress them with your marketing skills and product.
- Instagram:
Just like Facebook, it’s a social platform with an immense number of audiences. All it takes to make sales is effective marketing and delivery of great quality products.
- Local Market:
This is a basic point to start once you launch your printing business. You could start by opening a local shop or partner with consignment shops that will assist you in selling your products. Further, consider friends and family to assist you in building awareness for your business.
Conclusion:
Sublimation Printing business is a well-paying business in general, however, it also has its fair share of challenges. So, while you venture into it, ensure you are open-minded to ideas. Look for new ideas and use them to enhance your skills in this business further. That said, do not rely on your skills alone irrespective of how good at this business you maybe.
Further, consider various niche and market places if you want to generate more income. Meanwhile, apply the necessary tips to build awareness for your business and it will be successful as you desire.
