As a sign shop, have you explored the world of digital fabric printing? If not, then you could be missing out on one of the hottest trends in the wholesale sign industry today. No longer limited to the world of fashion, large format digital fabric printing is producing everything elegant banners to corporate flags to well, the possibilities are virtually endless. Savvy sign shops are adding digital fabric printing to the product mix and most would agree that the risk is worth the reward. Competition has caused price drops in the sign shop industry, and when the price drops the profits drop. Digital fabric printing is putting the profitability back into the sign industry.
There’s little question that sign shops can generate significant revenue through digital fabric printing. Experts say upscale department stores, exhibit companies, sports stadiums and schools are among those beginning to realize the unique benefits of fabric versus vinyl, paper or canvas signage. Sign shops also flaunt the soft look and feel of lightweight fabric banners with their flowing movement that catches the eyes of people passing by. Sign shops know that attention-getting motion is a key selling point in retail settings where consumers are inundated with buying options. Digital fabric printing produces the most elegant large format graphics you can own! Fabric is durable it doesn’t crack or fade - it’s striking.
With direct printing you get much more brilliant and sharper images than you do through dye sublimation, the brilliant resolution of direct printing is sign shops are choosing it. The downside is the cost. Instead of using a heat press that is common with dye sub, direct printing requires a steaming process to embed the ink into the fabric, which then must be washed and dried. This translates into more labor on the back end. The required paper-coated fabric also adds an additional expense, but direct printing onto fabric is still a profitable business.
Digital fabric printing is relatively new to the sign shop industry and the expectation is that the margins are going to remain in this field for the next five to eight years! |
