Screen printing has been growing in popularity over the recent days that a lot of people are considering investing in this growing industry. Before we can delve into whether screen printing is a profitable business, I want us to discuss first why screen printing has become so popular and its downsides. This way, you can be able to make an informed decision whether this is a profitable venture before investing your hard-earned money into this profession.
What makes screen printing popular?
There are several reasons why screen printing is popular these days. Some of the reasons include;
- Screen printing produces a higher quality of prints when compared to digital prints.
- Screenprints are more durable than digital prints. If you are looking for a print that you are likely to use for longer, then screen prints are your go-to solution.
- You can use screen printing on different types of material. It doesn’t matter if your material is glass, wood, plastic, canvas, or even textile. You can print on any material using screen printing.
- You can easily print on a specific area of the print material using screen printing than any other method.
What are the downsides of screen printing?
With its popularity and advantages, screen printing has its downsides as well. They include;
- It is not cost-effective to do screen printing when you have to deal with small quantities of print material.
- It is also becoming quite expensive to use screen printing if you have to print in 3 colors or more.
- Screen printing is only cost-effective if you are replicating similar graphics on each piece of material.
- Screen printing requires specialized knowledge and materials to execute.
While screen printing has its share of advantages and disadvantages, it is still a profitable business to do if you execute it properly. In this article, we are going to give step by step guide on how you can be a screen-printing business successful and profitable.
Plan well
A well-thought-out plan is a must for any business. You should know and determine beforehand if it is going to be a big industry or a small one. And plan all the financial, marketing, purchasing, and operational details accordingly. If you intend to start a big industry then you need to hire an experienced business and market consultant.
You need to identify a market niche before you can do anything else. Once you have identified your market niche, then you can decide on the products you would like to print to satisfy the market niche that you already identified.
Screen printers can be used to print on a wide array of products including banners, stickers, t-shirts, electronic machines, and automotive parts among many other products. It is the market segment that you choose that will determine if your venture becomes profitable or not. Do thorough research on relevant magazines, newspapers, and other literature. It is also important that you research the equipment that you will need for your screen printing venture.
Invest in your equipment
After deciding on the products that you will be printing, next you will need to acquire the machines and equipment for the same. Screen printing equipment can be pretty expensive and it is therefore wise that you buy the correct equipment for your products. In addition, buy equipment from reputable manufacturers to guarantee proper and efficient operation.
Proper training
With your equipment ready, next, you will need the right skills to guarantee that your venture will be successful. Screen printing requires a lot of skills and knowledge that can be acquired overnight. You will need to take your time to learn how to operate your machines correctly. Moreover, you will need to learn about inks and mesh and practice a lot before you can get started. Watching videos, attending seminars, and even doing apprenticeships are good ways of acquiring the skills you need to run your business.
Convenient environment
The next phase of your business venture is to acquire the premises you will be operating from. The premises should offer you enough space to accommodate your machines, equipment and work materials.
Additionally, your premises should offer sufficient ventilation as you will be working with inks and other chemicals that may produce toxic fumes. You also need to arrange for appropriate waste disposal. It is also important that you acquire the right permits and certificates from local government authorities before you can begin any operations.
Narrow down on your target market
It will take time before you can build on your customer base and reputation as well. However, the fastest way to grow is by narrowing down on your target market. For example, if printing a t-shirt is giving you a good response from the market, then concentrate more on delivering high-quality t-shit prints.
Specializing in one area and delivering high-quality work will help your business much faster than diversifying in different products whose quality is not as good. Plus, specializing in a single area allows you to develop an effective marketing plan and thus easily grow your venture into a profitable business.
Utilize the local market
There is no better way of getting established than by stabilizing your business in the local market. A local business will not only help your business grow, but it will also help market your products as well as enhance your reputation.
Brand your products
You need a unique and attractive logo or tag o brand your products for increased visibility. As more people see your brand and appreciate the quality work you are producing, your business will continue getting increased business and this will make your venture profitable in no time.
Screen printing is just like any other business. You need the drive and motivation required for any business to be successful. The biggest advice we can give you is to take more time in the planning and prepping phase. Acquiring the right equipment, the right skill for the right job is what’s more important when it comes to screen printing. Moreover, because of the complexity involved when dealing with various types of products, we recommend that you deal with a specific line of products where you can produce high-quality prints. This will grow your reputation easily and thus attract more business to you.
We have covered the most important aspects of making your screen printing business profitable in this article. We are confident that if you follow our guide, you will be in the market in no time doing what you love the most. Keep checking our website for more information and tips on how to make your screen printing business successful.