Trading in Used Heat Press Equipment When You Want to Make a Lasting Impression

When I decided it was time to screen print custom shirts in house, it didn't take long before I was really getting some really serious orders. We purchased an embroidery machine for the occasional order, but the majority of the work was for printed t-shirts. I no sooner had figured out how to silkscreen t shirts, when we were asked by a local bowling alley manager if we did heat transfer work. The idea of buying heat transfer equipment to iron-on images to tees didn't seem like a money maker to me.

When I imagine a shirt that was designed with a heat press machine, I picture those shops along the boardwalk that print "Jersey Girl", "Island Girl", or "Female Body Inspector" on them. You have seen those heat press machines that were operated by kids who slap a tee and iron-on in the press, squeeze, and produce a cool looking shirt. This was not something I was looking to get involved in until the bowling shop manager told me that he had a ton of orders for bowlers who wanted their league names pressed on their tees. These guys don't want to spend for embroidery, but they want their cool names where the rest of the bowling world can see.

So, fast-forward a few days and we own our a brand new Gecko t-shirt heat transfer press machine that can slap "Buddy", Gutter Rat", or "Doc", right on the pocket of the league bowling tees. I didn't realize all the uses for our new heat transfer equipment, and it wasn't long before we had to buy another. We use it to place numbers on the back of baseball and softball jerseys that we bought in bulk for a fraction of the cost they sell retail.