Specialty inks come into play when color alone isn’t enough
for your customers. There are several types to choose from – dimensional inks,
glitters, metallic, discharge. These inks will give unique effects to your
garments increasing your shop’s versatility and profit.
Before purchasing any specialty inks, you should consider
what type of printing would benefit your shop and customers. The last thing you
want to do is offer an overwhelming selection of printing options. Not only
does that overwhelm your customer, but it can overwhelm your employees. Best
practice is to start small and build yourself up where you see fit. If you want
to try them before committing, most distributors and manufacturers offer sample
kits. Or, you can take a class!
When you’re ready to purchase, take a moment to think about
the demographic of your customers. Are most of your customers coaches for a
high school cheer leading team? Or do you print for music festivals? You can
then infer that your cheer leading team will want shimmers and glitters, and
your music festival-goers will want a soft and vintage feel that discharge
offers. That will offer you a last minute insight into what you’re bringing
into your shop, how it will improve your prints, expand your customer base and
increase your profits.