Special Report


The strategic shift: Why UK garment decorators are embracing third-party DTF partnerships


Phil Oakley, founder and director of OnPoint Supply Services, investigates why smart decorators are choosing specialist suppliers over equipment investment – and what this means for your business.


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ave you found yourself caught between the promise of direct to film technology and the reality of equipment investment? You’re not alone. The British garment decoration industry stands at a pivotal moment, and the decisions you make now could define your business’ future success. With the UK DTF printing market valued at £143 million in 2024 and projected to reach £199 million by 2030 – representing a healthy 5.3% compound annual growth rate – decorators across the country face a crucial strategic decision. Yet beneath these promising growth figures lies a more complex narrative about operational efficiency, capital allocation, and the evolving dynamics of British manufacturing.


My investigation into the UK market reveals why astute decorators are increasingly turning to specialist DTF transfer suppliers rather than investing in their own equipment – and how this trend reflects broader changes in British business practices.


The numbers don’t lie – but they don’t tell the whole story The statistics paint a compelling picture of opportunity. The broader UK custom T shirt printing market has surged from £248 million in 2023 to a projected £421 million by 2032, driven by an insatiable consumer appetite for personalisation and the explosive growth of e-commerce. This expansion reflects fundamental


| 34 | October 2025


shifts in British consumer behaviour, with personalised garments becoming a form of self-expression rather than mere commodity purchase.


But here’s what those growth figures don’t reveal: this expansion comes at a time when UK businesses face unprecedented operational pressures. Employer NI contribution rises and production staff shortages are just the beginning. Energy costs, which have plagued British industry since 2021, continue to impact manufacturing operations across the textile sector. Consider this: small businesses typically consume between 15,000 and 25,000 kWh annually, and with volatile electricity prices, production costs can fluctuate dramatically month on month.


“For DTF operations, energy consumption represents a significant ongoing expense,” explains one experienced production manager I spoke to. “The multi-stage process – involving printing, curing, and heat pressing – requires consistent power supply across multiple pieces of equipment. Any experienced production print factory will tell you that efficiency in the printing process is crucial to reducing costs, with well-maintained equipment being essential to avoid costly downtime.”


The hidden costs that catch decorators off-guard


When you evaluate the true cost of DTF equipment ownership, the financial picture becomes increasingly complex. Yes, initial investment costs for entry-level DTF


systems range from £2,000 to £3,000, while professional-grade equipment can exceed £12,000. But here’s what many decorators discover too late: these upfront costs represent merely the beginning of a substantial ongoing financial commitment. The operational reality proves even more challenging. UK-based industry analysis reveals that DTF equipment faces persistent technical issues that can devastate production schedules. Regular maintenance catches problems early, reducing emergency repairs and keeping jobs on schedule – but it requires ongoing investment in time, expertise, and resources.


For many UK decorators, particularly smaller operations, these maintenance demands represent an unforeseen operational burden. The requirement for skilled technicians becomes particularly acute given the current ‘lack of skilled operators’ across the DTF industry, forcing businesses to invest heavily in training and technical support.


The volume requirements for profitability present another significant hurdle that catches many decorators by surprise. Industry calculations suggest that you need to sell more than 3,500 custom shirts to recover your equipment investment – a substantial commitment that many smaller operations struggle to achieve consistently. Ask yourself: can you guarantee that volume? And more importantly, do you want to tie up capital in equipment when you could be investing in growing your customer base?


Why scale matters more than you think


Leading UK decorators are discovering that strategic partnerships with specialist DTF suppliers offer compelling advantages that extend far beyond simple cost avoidance. These relationships provide access to industrial-scale capabilities that would be prohibitively expensive for individual


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