How a new DTG business started from having to print a company’s logo to their own work shirts. And soon became a local and online supplier for digital decoration for t shirts and garments.
Meet Kristy Pritchard, owner of Cotton Colour. It’s hard not to feel her enthusiasm for printing quality colour onto t shirts and apparel. And the pride she has in adding the Epson F2160 fabric printer to her business - it’s clear to see.
“We couldn’t be prouder of owning this machine. Because of what it can do,” says Kristy. “It means our business can deliver quality.”
Cotton Colour is a garment decorator in the Hunter Valley, offering custom printing on t shirts and apparel, vinyl transfer and embroidery.
After Kristy and her husband Shawn started investing in garment decoration equipment for work shirts, as part of Shawn’s transport company, they recognised a new business opportunity.
And the idea for Cotton Colour was born.
“We can now print photo images or any artwork on shirts, work shirts, kids clothing or any other apparel,” says Kristy. “And we’re working on our Cotton Colour Kids range .”
Wind back only a short time ago, Kristy and Shaun were screen printing at home to provide Shawn’s transport company with branded work shirts. “The artwork didn’t last long” , says Kristy. “It kept washing out after only a few months. It was also time-consuming and messy.”
“We started buying heat presses and vinyl cutters to add our logo and artwork to our work shirts. Very soon, we realised that we’d be able to do this for others” , says Kristy.
Why direct to garment technology?
“My logo for Cotton Colour is gradient”, says Kristy. “Screen printing can’t do this without any colour change, but DTG can.”
After researching the options online, Kristy saw what DTG technology could do. “We watched a few of Machine Plus’s training videos on YouTube and they were fantastic” , says Kristy. “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The t shirts, when they come out of the printer, are bright and vibrant.”
Kristy says that the decision to choose the Epson F2160 was easy. She had used Epson for computer printing and it was a brand she trusted.
And with DTG printing, there’s no need for minimum orders. Gus Altmann, Founder and Product Specialist at Machines Plus says, “DTG printing gives you the flexibility to print just one shirt or hundreds.”
From installation to printing in a matter of hours
“Gus installed our Epson F2160 and showed us how to use it” , says Kristy. “With the way he presents it and trains you, we were printing shirts in a matter of hours.”
“I tell all our clients to do your checks of the machine in the morning” , says Gus, “go make a cup of coffee, come back and the machine is ready for you.”
What you see is what you’re going to print
Gus suggests always doing a test print beforehand, which you can then use as samples. “By printing on each side” , says Gus, “using the different settings, you’re able to see which works best for the particular artwork.”
Kristy agrees and says using the Garment Creator RIP software is so easy. “I was expecting it to be fairly hard, but was pleasantly surprised. You go to settings, select the platten size, size the image to the platten, select the quality setting, pick which colour shirt you’re printing on to and away you go.”
What’s next?
“We’ll do some local markets to get our name out there and so people can see our products” , says Kristy. “We’re also planning our own label for Cotton Colour and Cotton Colour Kids online. And service as many customers as we can, printing photos, business logos and whatever our customers would like printed onto fabric.”
And we wish Kristy and Cotton Colour every bit of success.
Machines Plus are a digital print supplier for garment and digital decorators, of any business type or size. Gus and his team help digital decorators to get ahead in their business by selling the latest in machines, consumables and apparel for garment printing (DTG), UV printing, sublimation and heat transfer. Brands such as Epson, Ricoh, Roland DG, SawGrass, Hix, Stahl's, Siser, and Image Armor.
They partner with customers, matching the right solution to their business and provide unbeatable value and experience. Gus and his team support customers in regional Australia as well as the major cities domestically and internationally.
