Phatmass Phinancial Decision

[stargirl3:16]

Get one.

I've been longing for a t-shirt...

[Theoketos]

You should consider the time it would take to do the shirts and then figure that into the costs. For the most part I think that it might be more feesiable to use a middle man.

Also, I think the biggest priority is to get some more hip hoppen sounds out.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I think you'll make the right decision, dUSt

[jezic]

How much does the screen thing cost?

If it is terribly expensive i would say wait on it a little bit and be sure everything else is stable financially.

Someone needs to operate it unless it is automatic. Do you or someone you know (you=dust) have the time to do it if you get large orders of t-shirts?

See the thing is not so much now but phatmass is growing rapidly (nearly 200 people now in a little more than a month.) If this pace keeps up and increases as the word gets out soon there could be orders by 10s or 100s.

just some thoughts.....

[RemnantRules]

Hey Dust!

I said go for it but I would wait until you are settled down in your crib, and have the new aftermass project completed before you start looking into it. I know for a fact Remnant would LOVE if you got the stuff!!! and it would def. help you out in the long run.

[dUSt]

Orders do seem to be more consistent now. Right now, we average about 3-4 orders per week, and we don't have anything except the CDs in stock!

[b]There are certain benefits to having one's own machine:[/b]
- no need to order in bulk. shirts can be made as needed. no danger of having too much shirts that don't sell.
- we could have multiple designs. the ability to make smaller quantities allows us to make any design/color combination we want.
- ability to make t-shirts, hoodies, hats, sweatshirts, etc. again, without having to order big quantities at a time.
- quality control. If I do them myself, I know they'll be done exactly like I want them.

[b]The disadvantages:[/b]
- initial cost of machine
- storage space (basically, my 2 car garage will become a one car garage)
- time and labor to make the shirts

To me, the advantages outweigh the negatives. I think if we have the money, it makes sense in the long run because it will increase our revenue and flexibility. And more money in the future means better production in the music, new innovations with the website, ability to support more smaller ministries, and better and more impacting give-away items to the youth.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

It seems there is only one thing left to do in the decision-making process.

Time to visit those churches you triangulated...

[HomeTeamFamily]

i voted for the wait option only because i have two PM shirts and am eagerly awaiting Aftermass (i figure if that one wins, the album will drop faster lol)

i do think, however, that if you are financially able to do it, then it would be a good idea to do so......the advantages do seem to outweight the disadvantages and you could certainly start a "Catholic Tshirt company" or something of the sort, if you wanted......i like the idea and am excited about the prospect of some dope new tees hitting the market

God bless you dUSt

ps....did you get my check?

[Specter]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Feb 15 2005, 02:53 PM'] - storage space (basically, my 2 car garage will become a one car garage) [/quote]
It's THAT BIG?!?!?

[Catholictothecore]

k, i didn't vote because I haven't been around long enough to know a ton things about phatmass phin...financialy. But this site is a good thing, something I think the Spirit moved you to start. Don't do anything that might harm this site, or had the risk of harm, without His counsel. That's my opinion.

[franciscanheart]

i said go for it. its best to get that, i know it saved some of the our orginzations a lot a lot a LOT of money. but yeah totally get settled and stuff before you do anything.... i just wouldnt wait too long.

[the_rev]

I think it'd be a good investment.

And if you do go ahead with that, could you print Ave Maris Stella Shirts?

[ryanmeyersmusic]

I'd do it if I could sell enough shirts to cover the cost within a year. figure out how long it would take you to get into the black...

[jasJis]

My vote is NO. You'll be putting too much on your plate. Work to find a local screen printer to do what you want. The guy who made the 1st batch now goes to my Church. Find a local guy who does a good business and some sort of relationship can be developed. You know what you want. Find someone who will be willing to accomodate you. If you check a number of people and can't get what you want, chances are it's just not good business and you may have to make adjustments.

[BLAZEr]

You could always raise and sell Llamas ! ! !

[url="http://www.nose-n-toes.com/ownrinfo.htm"]http://www.nose-n-toes.com/ownrinfo.htm[/url]

Then you could make the shirts yourself out of Llama wool!

I'd buy one!

[crusader1234]

It sounds to me like you know you want to get it. I say do it. A lot of PM members would order shirts they designed for themselves if thats posttible.

[dUSt]

Well, I've been talking to a lot of screenprinters online and they have almost talked me out of it. They said it doesn't make financial sense to use your own equipment and buy your own supplies unless you run at least about 10,000+ shirts a year--saying that it would be better to continue paying someone else to do it for you.

What HAS been suggested though is to buy a heat press machine, which is not the same quality as screenprinting but will give me a lot of flexibility to do many different designs "as needed" on the fly. I may do that, because it's only about a $600 investment instead of a few grand...

[Specter]

That doesn't make sense that it would take 10,000+ shirts EACH year to cover your investment. What they're talking about is probably running a small business that prints shirts for people, and consistently needs more shirts and other supplies, while your investment wouldn't be for more than a case by case basis. hmmm

[Philippe]

dust, either 1) the screenprinters are just trying to get your money or 2) they are being honest

i know the one screenprinter i talked to said the same thing.

[jasJis]

Questions & observations:
It doesn't make sense to invest $$ in a machine then also invest $$ in the blank shirts, paint, supplies and stuff. For your small volume, it would be better to invest $$ in shirts and have them on hand. At lease inventory is more liquid. If something should change, you have to sell the machine.

A lot of the $$ is in creating the screen, and the effort to do the artwork. Even the 1st logo you sent me had to be worked on. Talk to local screen printers and find out if you can take on that part. You could create the art and screen and just take it to them. Don't forget, their time is $$ too. Don't pay for something you can do.

What are the 4 main reasons why you would buy the machine, and list them in priority. Beside them list alternative ways to accomplish the same end result. Review to see if another course may give you most of what you want.