Something That Has Been Bothering Me

[fastfish66]

So for a very long time (over 20 years) God has given me a lot of ideas for Christian tshirts and I have always jotted them down and even in 2017 I got my first batch made. There were several other designs that I had done up and printed but it was always just a “hobby” and sold some and gave some away. I can’t help but feel gentle nudges to keep going with it even tho I haven’t done any shirts in probly 4-5 years. But even still, I get several ideas a year for another awesome design but just put it on the back burner. I guess it’s just a fear of actually starting a “business” with it since I am in no way a business person and know nothing about it. I have learned some things by helping my brother with the uncle b’s heat lab adventure, like farmers markets and such, but I still just shy away from doing something for myself. I really think it’s important to get some shirts made as ALL of my shirts have scripture printed out on them, mostly on the back because the design and scripture reference are on the front, and you never know how that one person sitting behind you in line may be impacted by that. I guess I am just getting onto myself about it for being afraid to take any kind of leap. Of course there is the whole money thing I’d have to figure out if I were to really get it going but I know God can figure that out better than me if I committed to it. I’m just venting out my frustrations to you guys and maybe some of y’all have had similar fears or projects that you kept holding off and might can give some input on how you pushed through it. Obviously, I know the devil will fight me every step of the way on this, but every step I take towards it is a step he is under my feet. Sorry for the long post guys.

@

So for a very long time (over 20 years) God has given me a lot of ideas for Christian tshirts and I have always jotted them down and even in 2017 I got my first batch made. There were several other designs that I had done up and printed but it was always just a “hobby” and sold some and gave some away. I can’t help but feel gentle nudges to keep going with it even tho I haven’t done any shirts in probly 4-5 years. But even still, I get several ideas a year for another awesome design but just put it on the back burner. I guess it’s just a fear of actually starting a “business” with it since I am in no way a business person and know nothing about it. I have learned some things by helping my brother with the uncle b’s heat lab adventure, like farmers markets and such, but I still just shy away from doing something for myself. I really think it’s important to get some shirts made as ALL of my shirts have scripture printed out on them, mostly on the back because the design and scripture reference are on the front, and you never know how that one person sitting behind you in line may be impacted by that. I guess I am just getting onto myself about it for being afraid to take any kind of leap. Of course there is the whole money thing I’d have to figure out if I were to really get it going but I know God can figure that out better than me if I committed to it. I’m just venting out my frustrations to you guys and maybe some of y’all have had similar fears or projects that you kept holding off and might can give some input on how you pushed through it. Obviously, I know the devil will fight me every step of the way on this, but every step I take towards it is a step he is under my feet. Sorry for the long post guys.

letusbuyyourcar

 

[Beulah Land]

Just know that the custom shirt market is being overrun with AI designs and china sweat shop crap. Just like 3D printing everyone and their mom does it now for craft fairs and such. If you post your designs online they will get stolen and good luck tracking down who is doing it. Not trying to be negative, just experience.

Well, if a design did get stolen, they would still be helping get out Gods word even if they don’t care about that. I understand what you mean tho, oversaturation is a real thing.

 

[MrJim]

Go for it. Sounds like your being called.

 

[letusbuyyourcar]

I work for The T Shirt Factory of Houston Co. We print shirts for at least half a dozen churches around here. If you have had shirts printed before then you most likely already know that sticking to basic designs with less colors involved helps keep the price down a good bit. Every color is another piece of clear film we have to print out and "Shoot" onto a screen. Basically we put it on a big light table with a lid on it kinda like a copier and expose the image. Then I shoot it out with an electric pressure washer leaving the outline of the image. So if you go with a lot of colors and intricate designs the screens add up quickly. That adds to the expense and to ME it makes for a busy cluttered looking shirt. One to two colors is where it's at. Plus all those screens have to go onto the press/machine and be lined up individually so that each image perfectly overlays the last one. It actually takes a lot more time to prepare to print than the actual printing.
All that being said I will be glad to put you in direct contact with my boss who can discuss details and prices with you. It seems like you want to sort create a brand of Christian oriented designs/shirts. It's a good idea especially if you can get local churches and bidnesses to carry the shirts . We used to print shirts for a lady who managed to get her line into a local gun and outdoor shop here in Perry called Broken Arrow. Last time I saw them they were over $40.00 EACH ON SALE! And it was just Basic White Bitch slogans as I used to refer to it.
We can also get you a better deal on shirts from a wholesale source called S&S Active Wear and another one called SanMar. If you then decide to go forward with it I can most likely bring the shirts to you or meet you somewhere halfway. I didn't look at your location but I usually assume most of y'all are north of Atlanta. Just PM me if you want to discuss the finer points with David. I'll be glad to swap numbers and let him know you need more information.

 

[Beulah Land]

I work for The T Shirt Factory of Houston Co. We print shirts for at least half a dozen churches around here. If you have had shirts printed before then you most likely already know that sticking to basic designs with less colors involved helps keep the price down a good bit. Every color is another piece of clear film we have to print out and "Shoot" onto a screen. Basically we put it on a big light table with a lid on it kinda like a copier and expose the image. Then I shoot it out with an electric pressure washer leaving the outline of the image. So if you go with a lot of colors and intricate designs the screens add up quickly. That adds to the expense and to ME it makes for a busy cluttered looking shirt. One to two colors is where it's at. Plus all those screens have to go onto the press/machine and be lined up individually so that each image perfectly overlays the last one. It actually takes a lot more time to prepare to print than the actual printing.
All that being said I will be glad to put you in direct contact with my boss who can discuss details and prices with you. It seems like you want to sort create a brand of Christian oriented designs/shirts. It's a good idea especially if you can get local churches and bidnesses to carry the shirts . We used to print shirts for a lady who managed to get her line into a local gun and outdoor shop here in Perry called Broken Arrow. Last time I saw them they were over $40.00 EACH ON SALE! And it was just Basic White Bitch slogans as I used to refer to it.
We can also get you a better deal on shirts from a wholesale source called S&S Active Wear and another one called SanMar. If you then decide to go forward with it I can most likely bring the shirts to you or meet you somewhere halfway. I didn't look at your location but I usually assume most of y'all are north of Atlanta. Just PM me if you want to discuss the finer points with David. I'll be glad to swap numbers and let him know you need more information.

Yup. I had to pay $25 per screen they had to cut, but that was only for the first print of that design. Most or all of my designs are 1-3 colors. The shop actually gets the shirts for me and adds it into the bill and I would sell the shirts for $20. If I get the shirts going again I may have to do $25 or 5 for $100 was my thought as im sure they have gone up by now. They have a minimum order of 24 per order but if were to get it going it would take a lot more than that of each design so it would require some thinking lol. I appreciate the offer to help and if I take the leap I will be sure let you know.

 

[Retired Army]

letusbuyyourcar speaks the truth. My dad started a screen printing business after retiring from Delta in the 90’s. Very profitable for 10 years then he sold it.
You can do this man!

 

[Beulah Land]

letusbuyyourcar speaks the truth. My dad started a screen printing business after retiring from Delta in the 90’s. Very profitable for 10 years then he sold it.
You can do this man!

I’m not looking to start a screen printing business, just to have my designs printed and to sell.

 

[Bypass]

About 20 years ago in January I was in Tours, France. It's a university/college town. In France, retailers only do "sales" in January and July so it's a big "to do." "The Month of Sales!" they call them. So I was there with a girl that I was traveling with and she was shopping and I was guiding her through the sea of humanity that was there with us.

I should preface this with the fact that I usually ignore panhandlers. 99% of them are asking for money and the ones that aren't, really are and if you try to give them food; they get pissed. I have worked with many, many homeless ministries and they all, unanimously, say not to give money to them. So now that that is out of the way....

There's a little cubby built into the wall of these shops going around a bend and in the cover of it there's a homeless man. Salt and Pepper beard. Dark blue tobogan on his head and an olive drab coat. He has a three legged, big, German Shepard with him on a an impossibly large blanket. Backpack, shopping bags...the whole thing. They both appear to be asleep and there's a tatty cardboard sign in front of them that says "Hungry. Bread , please."

I saw it, processed it, and kept moving. After a few steps there was this little wiggle in my soul, like, maybe I should get the guy some bread. I brushed it off and kept moving. I should stop here and mention that the girl I am traveling with does not speak French well at all. She's also short and has her hand in my belt at the small of my back so she doesn't get separated. Remember the sea of humanity? I wasn't exaggerating.

So a minute or two later, after we pass the guy, she tugs on my belt and asks if there's a bakery somewhere around here. I said "It's France. There's one on every corner, why?" Remember....her French sucks. She says "I don't know. Did you see that homeless guy? I just can't shake the feeling that I need to buy him some bread."

Completely convicted and humiliated, I carve out a path to the nearest boulangerie and we buy a baguette, some ham and cheese and then make our way back to where the guy was....and he's vanished. No trace of him. It can't have been more than 10 minutes. To this day, I don't know if dude just packed up and dipped, or if the whole thing was supernatural on some front, but I do know this; I think it about it almost every day and regret not doing what the Holy Spirit was nudging me to do.

Get the man some bread.

Everything is a test in this life. Some test your patience and some test your nerve. Some test your very soul.

I try to never miss an opportunity to do the right thing nowadays. Though there have been times in my life where I was a selfish self-centered prick. I don't know how or why GOD and Jesus loved me through all of that.

I am glad I finally came out on the other side of it all. I also feel GOD still loves me though I don't understand why.

 

[MR3663]

So for a very long time (over 20 years) God has given me a lot of ideas for Christian tshirts and I have always jotted them down and even in 2017 I got my first batch made. There were several other designs that I had done up and printed but it was always just a “hobby” and sold some and gave some away. I can’t help but feel gentle nudges to keep going with it even tho I haven’t done any shirts in probly 4-5 years. But even still, I get several ideas a year for another awesome design but just put it on the back burner. I guess it’s just a fear of actually starting a “business” with it since I am in no way a business person and know nothing about it. I have learned some things by helping my brother with the uncle b’s heat lab adventure, like farmers markets and such, but I still just shy away from doing something for myself. I really think it’s important to get some shirts made as ALL of my shirts have scripture printed out on them, mostly on the back because the design and scripture reference are on the front, and you never know how that one person sitting behind you in line may be impacted by that. I guess I am just getting onto myself about it for being afraid to take any kind of leap. Of course there is the whole money thing I’d have to figure out if I were to really get it going but I know God can figure that out better than me if I committed to it. I’m just venting out my frustrations to you guys and maybe some of y’all have had similar fears or projects that you kept holding off and might can give some input on how you pushed through it. Obviously, I know the devil will fight me every step of the way on this, but every step I take towards it is a step he is under my feet. Sorry for the long post guys.

If you feel convicted there’s only one answer….

 

[BIKER13]

Get a few done and see how it shakes out. Baby steps