Here are some things to look at. I'm putting in here what I would do. Yes, what you mentioned is different you're not going to get into large projects like me but you did mention "business" maybe down the road so it is wise to have options and stay open if you do. Being limited or stuck on only being able to do certain things will lower your chances on expanding into more.
Now I do want to say 1 thing, what you are looking at doing is a tough market because everyone is doing it. So many stay at home people have done this. It amazes me how many crafters show up at my shows that do this with those cricuts. And to be honest with you it's because of that that businesses like me struggle with it. It's killing the market. Everyone has to reduce pricing to compete. Which is why there are a lot like me that won't do it. Our costs don't change, but our price has to or we don't get the sale. So in the end, with our expense on equipment and material it's not worth it. Aside from racing, my machines sit and collect dust.
Below are some things I would look into. You mentioned the cricut but like I said you are limiting yourself. I wouldn't do that, even just getting started I would keep those options open. Your cost to get started is going to be about the same. So do the research and put thought into that.
The software is going to be the hardest. Cause you have to learn it. What does what. How do you do certain things. Youtube. It's a GREAT way to learn. And you'll pick up more as you go.
Fonts. Oh you are going to want fonts. The computer you use will have it's own, but over time you will find yourself needing more. You can download for free many fonts that work. I have a collection on my backup drive and I keep finding myself searching for different styles.
Material, like I mentioned material is key for good product. Too many people try to cut corners by buying lower grade/cheaper material and that never works cause they end up replacing product because it never lasts. Don't do that. Faulty product means less sales.
I wouldn't get into cups and such with vinyl. Never really works out well. Stick to fabric. If you decide you wanna do cups, tumblers things like that down the road find other options.
A big thing to keep in mind when making stuff is try to stay as original as you can. So many people copy others work. It may be me, but when people copy what someone else created they are simply selling there stuff, not your own.
Blades for the machines. Have to figure out which angle blade works best. I normally use 45 and 60 degree blades depending on the material I am cutting. You will need a stock of those. material can chew threw blades like no tomorrow. And this will be on anything you decide to get whether it's a cricut or something else. Blades are important. Hopefully you purchase a machine with blades that don't cost 160 per blade like my Summa does. But! The Summa is a specialized machine, commercial grade cutter so my costs are way higher then yours would be.
Now I do want to say 1 thing, what you are looking at doing is a tough market because everyone is doing it. So many stay at home people have done this. It amazes me how many crafters show up at my shows that do this with those cricuts. And to be honest with you it's because of that that businesses like me struggle with it. It's killing the market. Everyone has to reduce pricing to compete. Which is why there are a lot like me that won't do it. Our costs don't change, but our price has to or we don't get the sale. So in the end, with our expense on equipment and material it's not worth it. Aside from racing, my machines sit and collect dust.
Below are some things I would look into. You mentioned the cricut but like I said you are limiting yourself. I wouldn't do that, even just getting started I would keep those options open. Your cost to get started is going to be about the same. So do the research and put thought into that.
The software is going to be the hardest. Cause you have to learn it. What does what. How do you do certain things. Youtube. It's a GREAT way to learn. And you'll pick up more as you go.
Fonts. Oh you are going to want fonts. The computer you use will have it's own, but over time you will find yourself needing more. You can download for free many fonts that work. I have a collection on my backup drive and I keep finding myself searching for different styles.
Material, like I mentioned material is key for good product. Too many people try to cut corners by buying lower grade/cheaper material and that never works cause they end up replacing product because it never lasts. Don't do that. Faulty product means less sales.
I wouldn't get into cups and such with vinyl. Never really works out well. Stick to fabric. If you decide you wanna do cups, tumblers things like that down the road find other options.
A big thing to keep in mind when making stuff is try to stay as original as you can. So many people copy others work. It may be me, but when people copy what someone else created they are simply selling there stuff, not your own.
Blades for the machines. Have to figure out which angle blade works best. I normally use 45 and 60 degree blades depending on the material I am cutting. You will need a stock of those. material can chew threw blades like no tomorrow. And this will be on anything you decide to get whether it's a cricut or something else. Blades are important. Hopefully you purchase a machine with blades that don't cost 160 per blade like my Summa does. But! The Summa is a specialized machine, commercial grade cutter so my costs are way higher then yours would be.
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The MH Series was a good series. I had one of these machines and it worked VERY well.
For me it a small machine, but when I had smaller jobs to do I always went to this one. It can cut normal vinyl as well as HTV by simply changing the blade pressure. This machine cuts by what is called Drag. What that means is the blade never leaves the sheet while it is cutting that charactor. It works well. Another cut feature which I feel is WAY better are machines that have Tangential knife cutting. What this does is it puts points of the charactor, no matter what and drops the blade and brings it up at those points. It gives it a much finer cut and also for weeding it's a lot smoother. But those type of machines are more expensive. I have a Roland which only does drag knife and I have a larger Summa which does both. I use the Summa for pretty much everything. lol HTV material is thicker so you want a nicer cut. but the drag knife DOES work and work well. I recommend a machine like this because your options stay open. Yes I understand you want to do HTV only, but having the ability to do more is a smart move. $366 for a bundle package. HERE |
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I am not familiar with Landteek material BUT! to start out save the money. This bundle is only $48.99 for 14 rolls of different colors. A good start for playing around and learning while at the same time making some fun/cool shirts for yourself or family.
HERE |
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GIMP.
It's design software but it's FREE. With any design software you have to learn how to use it, but with GIMP at least you don't have a chunk of cash invested in something that frustrates you which they all will. And if you decide this is not for you, you lost nothing on software. It's a smart move. I use Adobe software which back when I purchased it years ago it was very expensive. Prices have come WAY down today, but still carries a cost. Some use CorelDraw. Same type of software just different company. HERE |
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This heat press is what you are looking for and for only $205 your sitting pretty good.
It has all the options with it for what you mentioned. You can do shirts, hats, cups, flatwear. I've had a couple different Vevor's and they worked good. Teflon. You have to have teflon sheets. When you find a pack, you'll get 5-6 sheets in it so you will be good for a while. But very important to have. Once your sheets is layed down, you have to place a teflon sheet on the shirt before you press. HERE |
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Weeding tools. You have to figure out which ones work best for you.
And you are going to need them. You would be smart to have a few exacto knifes available. they are cheap. but the rest, it all depends on what works best in your hands. We all have the ones we like the most. You have to figure out yours. |
When you figure out everything you want to get to get started and spend some time figuring it all out, hit some craft shows. It's a good way to see what the people in your area are interested in. What sells, what doesn't at what times of the year.
But DON'T ever get discouraged over short sales. NEVER! Don't start giving up because things are not moving like you want. You have to push through that part. If you stick to it you CAN make it work. Maybe a full time gig or maybe just a pass time, either way you can make money off this stuff.
And don't get crazy and push to fast! To give you an example there is someone I know who started small, went to learn and grow, tried couching him, helping him and he happened to get his hands on a chunk of cash and went NUTS! Expensive machines, rented building, new business, pushed it TOO far TOO fast. Learned nothing. After 1 year of being a glory hound with all his new stuff, everyone has nothing but bad things to say about what he is doing because he didn't take the time to actually learn anything. He got the money and ran with it. Doesn't work that way.
Working with this stuff is fun, well I think so anyways.
Do the math on your stuff. Don't just make up prices. And don't just focus on what others sell stuff for that matches yours. Figure out what your cost is and go from there. Set your prices so you can offer discounts and not hurt your profit. Your starting point should always be twice what it cost you. And you go up from that point.
But DON'T ever get discouraged over short sales. NEVER! Don't start giving up because things are not moving like you want. You have to push through that part. If you stick to it you CAN make it work. Maybe a full time gig or maybe just a pass time, either way you can make money off this stuff.
And don't get crazy and push to fast! To give you an example there is someone I know who started small, went to learn and grow, tried couching him, helping him and he happened to get his hands on a chunk of cash and went NUTS! Expensive machines, rented building, new business, pushed it TOO far TOO fast. Learned nothing. After 1 year of being a glory hound with all his new stuff, everyone has nothing but bad things to say about what he is doing because he didn't take the time to actually learn anything. He got the money and ran with it. Doesn't work that way.
Working with this stuff is fun, well I think so anyways.
Do the math on your stuff. Don't just make up prices. And don't just focus on what others sell stuff for that matches yours. Figure out what your cost is and go from there. Set your prices so you can offer discounts and not hurt your profit. Your starting point should always be twice what it cost you. And you go up from that point.
