Posted by Allen Wesson - webmaster on 7/20/2015


This week at Texsource, we are beginning a great new 'We Have Gone Mad' Promotion.

This promotion, which will run for a limited time, will grant you 10% off any order over $100, OR free shipping for supply item orders over $150.  One of the regular feedback items that we would receive from customers is that those who had smaller checkout prices and did not qualify for our old Free Shipping @ $150 promo, would get no benefit (other than our already low prices).  And indeed, if your cart did not have over $150, it seemed that you were left out of any running promotion (we have had other 'across-the-board' temporary promotions, of course).  This changes that, and puts the choice of savings directly in your control!  

SO WHAT DO I DO?
Try it out!  When you add items for purchase to your cart, simply enter the appropriate promo code at the 'view cart' page, or on the checkout page (you must be at or above $150 to qualify for the free shipping offer).  For the 10% off promo, if your order totals $100 or more enter the code '10off', and for the free shipping promo, enter the code 'freeship'.  The system will automatically apply the savings that you can see right there on the checkout page.  Are you over $150 and want to compare savings?  Not a problem - enter a code on the checkout page and observe your savings.  To compare, click 'Shopping Cart' back in the top-right portion of the screen - from there, enter the other code and observe the savings.  Repeat this as many times as you like.  When you have saved the most, use that code on the final checkout page to apply to your order.  

HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? 
The promo is aggressively featured on the front page of our website, as well as our social media pages, Facebook and Twitter.  We will, of course, be gauging the satisfaction of our customers while the promotion runs, but the total length of the promotion is currently unknown, so definitely use it while you can - as many times as you can!  

ANYTHING ELSE COMING SOON?
Texsource is always looking for new promotions and opportunities to help our customers grow their business, but these decisions are often made with the cooperation of our vendors, who we are in regular contact with.  Such examples of that include our Daily Deals and Midweek Deals features.  Our Texsource Giveaways have also been very popular, with thousands of entries for free equipment and supplies.  More promotions are coming!

As always, it is a privilege to be able to bring you promotions, and to be the trusted supplier to your company.  Texsource puts customer service and satisfaction at the top of our list, and to constantly be exploring ways to pass savings off to you is our business.  Lower prices, best selection, fastest shipping, best service - this is the Texsource way!



Promo Guidelines
- Only 1 code may be used per checkout
- 10% Off Promo excludes all Screen Printing Equipment Automatic Presses and crating fees that may be required of any equipment.
- Free Shipping promo is for supply-items only; equipment, crating, or special-order items do not qualify.  
- Promotion subject to end without notice

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Robin Bumgardner - Custom Color Mixing on 3/26/2015
As an everyday screen printer, it is easy to fall into bad habits that can be hard to break out of.  As someone new to the screen printing industry, it is a good idea to learn what habits to avoid from the very start.

Using Old or Outdated Equipment - New equipment is constantly being engineered and developed with the goal of being able to increase production and efficiency, yet many shops (who have the money to invest) refuse to do so because 'things are running just fine as they are'.  Upgrading equipment is especially important to higher volume shops as an increase in efficiency can often mean the difference in having to hire another person or not, which can be a considerable expense for any shop.  Are your exposures taking too long?  Have a look at some of the new LED units, or perhaps your dryer won't hold a consistent temperature.  These things cost you time and money. 

Not Marketing Yourself Properly - There was an excellent article here written earlier this month on this very issue.  The successful shops I see are the ones that keep their name in front of their customers.  In this age of electronic media, many avenues are open to you that cost you nothing more than some of your time - take advantage of that and watch your business grow.

Ignoring Industry Trends - This is a big one; business owners will get in a 'rut' where they are simply offering the same products over and over.  The market has changed. The customer wants softer prints. They want what they see hanging in stores. They want edgy graphics.  They want the distressed look. Do you print with discharge ink? No? Why not? You heard it was too hard? Discharge ink gives a softer feel to the print. OK, it is waterbased and can have an odor but a LOT of printers have found out that this is what the customer wants – no hand to the print. How about ink additives that give your plastisol a waterbased feel? How do you find out these things? You read the trade magazine, follow industry forums and get out to trade shows.

Take Advantage of Additives - These days many brands of ink are very rich and work well through high mesh screens. If your ink is too thick, simply add a little reducer and thin it. Get it creamy and smooth. It will flow through high mesh screens and on all of your multi-color jobs you will get less pickup, cleaner and softer prints and higher production.

Avoiding some of these common problems will lead to business growth and enable you to be a more versatile and in-demand screen printer.

   Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Learning to successfully market your screen printing business means following some tried and true methods, and also learning to think outside the norm in some cases.

Paging through marketing ideas can be a tedious task, and many screen printing businesses simply ignore creative marketing altogether, opting instead to print some shirts with their logo and give them away, or perhaps some tried and true business cards.  It is true that some of the older established methods such as yellow page listing may not be as effective as they once were, so it is important to take advantage of every avenue available to you.  With name recognition being extremely important, your reputation will definitely precede you when a customer is looking for a company to do business with.  You must have a reputation for value, honesty, and quality above all other things.  

Generate Return Business
You may look at new customer rate as an important metric, and it is; but a more telling number is your return business.  Show your established customers that you want to keep their business by periodically offering return customer discounts or specials.  This will also let a new customer know that yours is a company that appreciates and works with established clients. 

Stay Active on Social Media
Social Media of today are excellent ways to keep your name in front of customers, both new and established.  Platforms like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all free and fast ways to have your work be seen and keep up name recognition.  Remember that customers are not always looking for a print job, but it is important that when they are that your name comes to mind first.

Take Advantage of Other Outlets
There are numerous other outlets to stay active in front of your customers - write and promote a screen printing blog, have your local newspaper do a feature on your company, participate in screen printing online forums, get listed on as many business indexes as you can online.  

Almost everything mentioned so far are methods that will mostly cost you nothing more that time.  Compare this to marketing 10-15 years ago when you had to count on word of mouth and paid advertising and you can see how important these opportunities are to take advantage of.

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Ryan Bolin - Outside Sales on 2/11/2015

Spring is right around the corner, and with that comes Numbers Printing season.


Screen Printing numbers for athletic jerseys is one of the most common issues that I see customers facing - how to print numbers with the most efficiency.  Many shops will have screens on hand with numbers already burnt-in, but this method requires you to keep up with these screens for long periods of time.  Some burn screens each time an order comes in.  Athletic printing is the lifeblood of many shops, so an efficient numbering system can significantly impact your profit during this busiest of times.  

Consider a dedicated numbering system.  The Vastex DiGIT is perhaps our most popular one.  Here is a video that helps to introduce the system and demonstrate just how quick and easy it is to number a jersey (as demonstrated at Texsource by Paul with Vastex).



As you can see, this is far superior in almost every way to not having a system such as this.  Another way is with a dedicated Number Stencil pack such as those from Texsource by Prestige.  You can buy individual numbers in sizes form 2" to 12", purchase a complete package with all numbers, and also select block or outline.  This numbering method allows you to direct print numbers on most fabrics without investing inexpensive numbering equipment. These inexpensive stencils adhere to the screen on the printing stroke and are thrown away after printing. The next stencil is then adhered to the screen in the same fashion with no adjustment or clean up of the screen between numbers. Texsource also offers numbering systems from Brown Equipment.  

Lastly, a very efficient but not quite as cost wary method of numbering is by Heat Transfer.  Pre-printing your numbers to transfer paper in a variety of colors will allow you to always have numbers on hand for customers who need a print job done at the last minute.  You can simply pull from your inventory of numbers and press them right onto the garment. There is, of course, some setup time involved in this step, but having numbers on hand, ready to go, can sometimes mean the difference in making a sale or losing a customer.

   Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Doug Smith - Outside Sales on 1/29/2015

Is an investment in a new LED exposure unit worth the price?  With new units from Vastex and Workhorse available at Texsource, we can help you answer that question, and any other questions that you may have.  

LED technology is not new, but it is relatively new to the world of screen printing, particularly when used in exposure units.  The new E-2000 LED from Vastex and the recently released Lumitron LED from Workhorse are both excellent quality products that can offer significantly improved exposure times over standard exposure units.  

The Vastex unit in particular has been extensively tested here at Texsource.  Here is a video featuring Paul with Vastex that shows just how fast the unit can expose a screen - this particular video is shown using a screen coated with Ulano Orange emulsion.


As you can see, the exposure time is significantly faster than standard units.  But is it right for your shop?  Certainly the upfront cost  is to be considered.  In the case of the Workhorse Lumitron LED, retail price is around $600 more for a similar sized unit with LED than for one without.  Also, extremely fast exposure times, such as the claimed and tested 6-second exposure time for the Vatex, is accomplished by using specific emulsions - your favorite emulsion may have varying exposure times.  In any case, this is certainly an investment in efficiency and production.  High workflow shops certainly do not want to bottleneck at the exposure unit, same goes for shops who are rapidly increasing their production.  These units can offer significant time savings over standard units.  

Will this become the industry standard in the future?  Most think that it will, although the standard exposure unit isn't going away just yet.  If you have recently purchased a standard-type unit then there is likely very little reason to upgrade until you are having problems.  But if your unit is getting some age of you find your shop is waiting on screens, then this may be a purchase that will move you into the future of exposure technology.

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Harvey Cole - Outside Sales on 1/8/2015

Silicone Screen Printing Ink technology has been around for a while, but only recently have all the bugs and issues been worked out to where it is a viable type for screen printing.

A silicone screen printing ink does, in theory, have several advantages over standard plastisol for screen printing garments.  It is a very durable and stretchable ink, offers great resistance to UV sunlight, will not crack over time when exposed to air, is virtually fireproof and offers low chemical resistance.  But the introduction of the technology was not without its problems.  The ink did not stick to most substrates including cotton and polyester. After printing it is easily peeled away from the surface.  With technology, chemistry, and experimentation and research, manufacturers believe that they have now remedied the majority of the negative aspect and are almost ready to release these types of inks to be used in your shop.  

There are adjustments that may need to be made to your typical workflow, as this type of ink can behave quite differently from your standard plastisol inks.  Typical silicone inks will print best when printed through mesh ranging from 86 to 160 threads per inch.  You may also need to adjust your flash time and curing time / temperatures as silicone inks typically cure at lower temperatures than do standard plastisol inks.  More advantages of silicone inks include



  • Will not bleed on polyester garments
  • Unmatched elasticity
  • Will not dry in the screen
  • Soft hand
  • Perfect for athletic uniforms
  • PVC and Phthalate free

    • When used under circumstances that warrant in, the use of silicone inks can offer excellent quality and durability of the print job for your customers.  Though currently not available from Texsource at the time of this writing, we will soon be carrying a full line if silicone inks that can be ordered directly from our website. 

       Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com


    Posted by Dwayne Collins - Outside Sales on 12/11/2014

    Texsource Screen Printing Supply has some wonderful and affordable turnkey Screen Printing Equipment Packages from a variety of manufacturers.  What do you look for  and which one is right for you?

    There are many things to consider when looking for a screen printing startup package - so much so that it is often impossible for anyone to say which one is the 'right' one - some may have items that are not needed, others may not fit your shop footprint; all of these things should be considered.  

    One of the biggest mistakes I see customers make when they are looking for a package or asking me questions is that they fail to properly consider their growth potential.   When, for example, they choose a 1 color / 1 station press, that press can quickly get relegated to the corner shelf, collecting dust, as they have moved on to a more flexible press.  They may have saved money in up-front costs, but they have lost money in the long term, as a portion of their initial investment has lost its value to them.  

    Should your budget be the final deciding factor?  Well, ultimately if you have a limiting budget, then this answer is yes.  But even with that consideration, you should still consider your growth.  Take this package for example.  It can easily fit into almost any startup budget for what you are getting.  You will save money by getting a 1 color / 1 station press, which you will likely outgrow first, but you will be getting an upgraded exposure unit, which likely can last and be useful even when you do upgrade to a larger and more versatile press.  

    There is also the consideration of your shop size.  Are you relegated to a small basement room, or do you have an entire workshop in which to spread your equipment around?  These are important considerations as buying more equipment than your space allows will significantly impact your ability to work efficiently.  

    I tell customers to buy the best products and best package that their budget allows.  This isn't profiteering, this is doing a service to the customer.  In the screen printing business, your equipment is your livelihood; you want dependability and efficiency.  I take great pride in seeing our customers succeed and grow, and I have seen more than my share outgrow their initial purchase and that equipment now sits, generating no revenue for them.  Consider your startup package purchase carefully, and analyze your growth potential.  All of us at Texsource are here to help you with any equipment or supply item questions!

    Texsource Screen Printing Supply
    888-344-4657

    Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

    Posted by Harvey Cole - Outside Sales on 10/30/2014

    If you have ever considered attending one of our most popular Screen Printing 101: Introduction to Screen Printing classes but really didn't know what to expect, here is the low-down!

    Classes are offered here at our NC location normally on the 3rd Friday of each month.  Our locations in TX, IN, and GA can sometimes have less structured class dates, so a regular check of our Screen Printing Classes page will be helpful there.  By far our most popular class is this class, which will usually fill up within a week of posting on our site here.  This class is normally taught by myself (Harvey) with cooperation from Dwayne and Ronnie, two of our other outside sales guys and absolute treasuries of knowledge and experience.

    This class generally runs from around 9am to around 4pm, with a break for lunch (which we provide for you here).  During the first part of the class, you will be able to follow alone in a workbook with a lecture and demonstration of the very basics of screen printing equipment and techniques.  You are always free to ask questions at any time.  You will learn the basics of artwork (we have classes at other times of the year specifically geared toward Corel and Illustrator programs relating to Screen Printing).  Then the fun begins.

    No class would be worth its while without real hands-on training, and this is where Texsource excels.  Because we are one of the largest US supply warehouses of screen printing equipment and screen printing supplies, we have everything at the ready, and plenty of time and expertise to help you get the most out of your expectations of the class.  Everything from coating a screen with emulsion to press setup, screen exposure, ink selection, press prep, printing, flashing, and curing; it is all covered hands-on meaning you will be doing the work under the watchful eye of experienced, seasoned veterans who are there to help you with each step.  

    We have yet to receive feedback from a single attendee that the class did not meet or exceed their expectations.  Often you will see our reps staying for hours after the class to answer questions or perform even more demonstrations.  We don't want anyone to leave without feeling that they have a thorough understanding of the basics.  

    It is an absolutely outstanding introductory class that we have offered for many years.  Every year we look at our comment cards, analyze our techniques, and streamline our methods to make this the best class possible, and we know that if you are considering such a class, this one will surely be worth your while.  We look forward to seeing you here!

    Texsource Screen Printing Supply
    888-344-4657

    Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
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