The Dye Sub Column Business strategies for dye sub businesses
The product decoration business is an exciting one. In fact, many product decorators start out as hobbyists who fall in love with the colours, images and all the amazing things you can make with sublimation. Robin Kavanagh, Sawgrass’ public relations manager, reports.
T
here is so much creativity at the heart of what you do and so many opportunities to make money, it can be easy to lose focus on the bigger business picture.
Find your niche market and develop your dye sub business
When does a hobby become a viable business that can provide financial support, as well as growth and personal satisfaction? Making the transition from hobbyist to entrepreneur can be difficult if you donʼt keep the business aspect of your enterprise in focus.
Careful planning, strategy and adherence to plans can make all the difference when it comes to building a successful sublimation business. Here are a few tips for getting started on the right foot or ensuring the work youʼve already done pays off.
Create a business plan
Often, people spend time and invest money in establishing a sublimation business without building an actual business plan. A business plan is a document that you create, which includes market research, financial planning, specific goals and milestones, plans for managing changes and setting expectations. In short, a business plan is a blueprint for going from startup to sustained income and growth. Skipping over the business plan step is one of the cardinal missteps for any business owner. Business plans are crucial to finding long-term, sustained success. Take the time to research target markets, successful business models, prices and costs of operation and how other businesses have succeeded. Then build out a plan with specific goals, benchmarks, metrics and timelines. This will give you focus throughout your first few years and a way to keep your business on track.
Create a marketing plan
Within your business plan, you will have a section that focuses on marketing. In this section, you can build out some broad strategies of how to approach your markets. However, every year you should create a separate and detailed marketing plan outlining how you will achieve the goals in your business plan for that timeframe.
Choose specific markets to target and specific products to sell in those markets. Learn how customers in those markets want to be communicated with, what they respond to, and use that information to build plans that provide value. Be open minded as you analyse market needs and wants, and make your decisions based on what has worked in the past, new information you cultivate and your own experience.
Set your prices for profit
Whether you have a home-based business or your own shop in town, your cost formula is the same: divide all the operational costs for a given period by the number of units produced during the same period.
Operational costs include all anticipated costs: rent, power, insurance, phone, website, email, advertising, marketing
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collateral, chamber and professional association fees, depreciation on fixed assets (printer, heat press, computer), accounting fees, etc. They should also include your ink, substrates, paper, software and artwork expenses. Then there are labour expenses. Even if you are a sole proprietor, you need to pay yourself. Your time and expertise are valuable, which is why it is important
to establish an efficient system of sublimation production. Remember, your products are what people are paying you for – and you need to set your prices so that all of your expenses are paid for and a healthy profit is ensured.
The rule of thumb for most retailers is to multiply cost times two or three. This can leave a lot of money on the table because the cost of sublimation production in this formula produces a price that is much lower than people are willing to pay.
Develop a sample kit
Regardless of what your niche is, one huge key to making sales is having a high-quality set of samples to show what you offer. Remember, your clients donʼt know what you can do until you show them. Even if they only ask to see a single piece, make sure you show several other products to open their eyes and expand your sales potential.
Though you may have to invest a sizable amount of money and time into your sample kits, this is a critical step for making sales. Itʼs also useful to create a portfolio with pictures of orders you have completed. Group the items and take pictures, then put this into a slide show on a tablet or laptop for easy reference.
Embrace technology A website and social media accounts are no longer just nice to have. They have become essential business tools and a must- learn for any business owner. Content marketing, digital marketing and social media marketing have become so important to building perceptions and relationships. Content marketing is as easy as generating content that can be tweaked to fit the needs of many types of customers, and then providing customers that content through the media channels they use on a regular basis, while making sure what you provide is mobile-friendly. This means having a Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram feed, Pinterest boards, etc., building a following, providing quality content and creating fans. To develop an effective digital marketing strategy, consider first who you are trying to reach, and then, which mobile channels are most important in reaching them.
Social media marketing is a long-term, mobile marketing strategy that every retailer should become familiar with. Using social media in the name of your business is free and effective, if you follow the proper rules of engagement. Develop a communication strategy that speaks to the wants and needs of your followers (or the followers you want) and deliver messages that provide value.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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