The Customization Experts

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With the end of the year quickly approaching, make sure you know how much you can save on an investment for your business - check out my webinar on Section 179!

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Equipment Financing

One question I get all the time is "how much will my payments be if I finance a printer or a cutter?"  Of course, your actual payments will depend on your credit history, the term of your financing and how much you want to pay down but an easy rule of thumb is...

You can count on $20/month in payment for every $1,000 financed over the course of a 60-month term - so, your $10,000 investment is going to be around $200/month over 60 months.

If you're thinking about a Roland BN-20, check out my start up package and plan on paying about $180/month over 60 months!

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Here is a link to my latest article on Name and Number Options - you can find it in the October issue of Printwear

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One of my customer's, John Hyde from Pine Images, sent me this pic of his daughter and her friends at homecoming.  What a great way to sell multiple shirts in one order?!  Only put one letter on each!  Thanks for the pic John and keep that VS300 running!

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Saving Energy = Saving Money

Have you ever wondered exactly how much energy your heat press actually uses?  Maybe you have been thinking about ways to save money on supplies or increase productivity so you can increase your capacity...well, think about your heat press.  Not only can the style of your press affect how much energy you are consuming (paying for) but the application temperature of your primary heat transfer vinyl can too!  Just by using a swing/draw combo press (like the Hotronix Fusion) you can decrease your energy consumption by 26%.  And using a heat transfer vinyl that applies at 280 F can lower your energy cost by 43% over a vinyl that applies at 330 F.

My in-depth report is published in this year's Hot Graphics Annual - click-through to learn more!

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Here's a sneak peak at the new 20" VersaStudio - designed specifically with the apparel decorator in mind!  You will be able to print your own full color heat transfers with an investment of only about $8,000.  Click the pic to go to Roland's site and see for yourself!

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I had the opportunity to participate in an open panel discussion at NBM Austin in March - click the link above to watch the video!

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Had a question this week about changing a cutting strip on the Roland VersaCAMM - I figured the best way to explain it would be to video our in-house Roland Technician actually changing one?!  So, here you go!

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Check out the link above.  A great example of a school capitalizing on their unpredictable success.  VCU definitely blew my bracket this year!  I just wish I would have thought of this T-shirt idea to make up for it.

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I have the opportunity to sit on a discussion panel at the NBM Show in Austin later this week - click the link above to learn more about the discussion and the other panelists.  I hope to see you there!

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Here's your invitation to come and see the Roland VS300 in action!  I will be exhibiting at the NBM Austin show next week and would love to have you come by the Imprintables Warehouse booth (#709) and see how it all works.  You can also take advantage of some of the great show specials including 15% heat transfer material.  Hope to see you there!  

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Every time I go to a trade show I gain a new insight into what my customers want from a supplier.  At NNEP Columbus, one of the most eye-opening things I heard was that my customers want to know how to reproduce what is found in their local retail stores.  You have clients coming in and asking for the latest look in Abercrombie or Aero except with their personal touch.  And that's why you are a customization expert!  Because you can take the custom vision that someone gives you and turn it into a reality with your heat printing, embroidery, vinyl cutting and digital printing equipment.  

Well, after hearing this, I thought I should pay closer attention to the printed shirts that are in the stores where I shop.  Last weekend, I was at Old Navy and saw a trend...this spring will be filled with neon colors!  Most of the new shirts I saw were Pinks and Limes and anything else that can be bold and bright.  

And as I studied the shirts that were decorated I saw another trend...watercolor prints!  Take a look at the pics scrolling above and see how Old Navy has put the watercolor concept to work for them...these shirts were the inspiration for the St Patty's Day shirt I made last week.

Next time you're shopping at the mall, take a few pics of what you think would be great to sell as a custom shirt - and if you can duplicate it, send over the pics of your creation to be posted right here on thecustomizationexperts.com!

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Did you ever wonder how much it really costs to produce full color banners, decals, heat transfers, window clings, repositionable wall graphics and more using a printer cutter?  Follow the link above to a worksheet that will tell you!  Simply input your design size (in inches) and it will output your cost to produce the graphic including the material, the necessary mask and the ink!!  Email me with questions or to place an order.

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One of my customers at Imprintables Warehouse recently sent me a few photos of some dresses they decorated with Spectra Glitz and rhinestones.  Here are a couple pics showing their results.

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Here is the video on how to create your own St Patty's Day shirt using Spectra Alloy, Spectra Glitz and ExactPrint Laser transfer paper.  Enjoy!

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Click the link above to read my article on Digital Transfers in Printwear's January 2010 edition

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This just happened in the IW demo room!!  Video of the whole process will be up tomorrow.  This design was created using ExactPrint, Spectra Glitz and Spectra Alloy all available at a 5% discount by ordering at imprintables.com and using promo code ZACH at checkout!!