The Decorators Guide

The Editors at the Decorators Guide

have selected a small grouping of the top—but not all—of the best Decorators in the industry. What was our criteria? Our knowledge of the Decorator plus interviews with promotional products Distributors that had used them. And while we had a pretty simple survey, we strongly took into consideration Distributor recommendations about the Decorator’s reputation. That included taking jobs that the Decorators could do, processing them to specifications and delivering those jobs on time.

Remember, we all know it takes months to win an End User and only moments to lose one.

For the Decorators we discuss on these pages we’d like you to know there’s no number 1 or number 5. We liked them all and what they had to offer in their specific area of manufacturing. Each one had their own specialty in the marketplace, and all were certainly notable. We will highlight more Decorators in the future, keep an eye out.

Poli-Tape Poli-Tape

Hidden away in Germany, with offices in the USA and Italy is a significant company producing materials that your local USA-based screen printer probably uses.

Here’s some of their products and what they do.

POLI-FLEX ® PREMIUM is an ecologically harmless polyurethane film with a matt, reflec-

Margaret C. Ortiz, POLI-TAPE USA Inc., 200 Industrial Loop S. Ste A, Orange Park, FL 32073 904 215 1411 mortiz@politapeusa.net www.poli-tape.de

surface. POLI-FLEX ® PREMIUM is suitable for transfer to textiles such as cotton, blended fabrics made of polyester/cotton and polyester/ acrylic. POLI-FLEX ® is used to label T-shirts, jerseys, sports and leisure clothing, sports bags and fan articles such as flags and pennants.

POLI-FLEX ® TURBO is a novel polyurethane transfer film with a hot-melt adhesive that

low temperatures.

POLI-FLEX ® TURBO is suitable for transfer to textiles such as, nylon, cotton, polyester, blended fabrics made of polyester / cotton and polyester / acrylic. POLI-FLEX ® TURBO is used to label T-shirts, jerseys, sports and leisure wear, sports bags and fan merchandise.

Poli-Tape POLI-FLEX ® PEARL GLITTER is a thermally transferable flex film coated with glitter particles. Thanks to a unique production process with solvent-free adhesive, the glitter foils have a particularly glossy surface and at the same time have a good wash resistance.

As an application tape, a PET film with a highly transparent acrylic adhesive is used, which also allows repeated reposi-

tioning of the plotted motifs POLI-FLEX ® PEARL GLITTER is suitable for transfer to textiles such as cotton, blended fabrics of polyester / cotton and polyester / acrylic. POLI-FLEX ® PEARL GLITTER is used to label T-shirts, jerseys, sports and leisure wear, sports bags and fan merchandise. POLIFLEX SPORT is a matt, non-reflecting PU/PVC textile

transfer film with a pleasantly soft hand.

POLI-FLEX SPORT has amazing excellent color, is wash resistance and is phthalate-free.

POLI-FLEX SPORT is suitable for transfer to textiles such as cotton, blended fabrics made of polyester/cotton/acrylic and is used to inscribe T-shirts, jerseys, sports and leisure wear.

Northeast Stitches & Ink 95 Main St., South Glen Falls, NY 12803 https://nestitchesink.com jim@nesnink.com 518-798-5549

One of the things we really liked about Northeast Stitches & Ink was their ability to print four color process t-shirt pockets. As most Distributor’s know pocket t-shirt printing requires a special Decorator to do the job. What else does Northeast do?

Like almost every other Decorator we will name here, they

Custom T-Shirt Pockets

do embroidery, silk screening, digital printing and appliques. Here’s something really cool about their appliques—they are cut with a laser and then sewn on the shirts…with a luxurious feel.

We give them a “10” because this part of their product line is so special. Last but not least, they do laser etching on fabric...how cool is that!?

Laser Etching on Fabric

Northeast Stitches & Ink 95 Main St., South Glen Falls, NY 12803 https://nestitchesink.com jim@nesnink.com 518-798-5549

We have known about Neon Tees for years…and they consistently deliver a high quality NEON blank or printed tee shirt. Yes, this is a special market, neon tees. Available in many colors, NeonTees is our favorite for this type of garment.

What else does NeoTees do?

Under their Zero Gravitee line they make really great Boyfriend Jerseys. Complete with or without printing or embroidery…this shirt is tops in our minds.

Neon Tees Neon Tees & Panda Apparel 10 Fadem Road, Unit 2 Springfield, NJ 07081 800-832-9591 908-497-9900 sales@neontees.com www.neontees.com

We have known about Neon Tees for years…and they consistently deliver a high quality NEON blank or printed tee shirt. Yes, this is a special market, neon tees. Available in many colors, NeonTees is our favorite for this type of garment.

What else does NeoTees do?

Under their Zero Gravitee line they make really great Boyfriend Jerseys. Complete with or without printing or embroidery…this shirt is tops in our minds.

Want tie dye neon with a corporate imprint? Neon Tees has that any hundreds of other products as well.

Tee for 2

5460 Vine Street, Chino, CA 91710 909-613-0055 877-283-3367 sales@teefor2.net www.http://teefor2.net

Tee for 2 has been servicing promotional products Distributors for eons. But what makes them special enough to deserve mention in the Decorators Guide? Lots.

If you need one shirt or 20,000, Tee for 2 can handle that volume. They are a fast turn-around printer that provides very very high quality

work. Whether its Screen Printing, Direct to Garment (DTG) or Dye Sublimation (minimum 12 pieces) Tee for 2 is a great place that will deliver what they say, and when its due.

Teefor2, Inc. is a custom apparel print shop that has been servicing wholesale customers for over 18 years.

They are best known for delivering superior print quality while ensuring a five-day guaranteed completion with on time delivery… every time.

Tee for 2 is the home of the $2 Tee!

Atlas Screen Printing & Embroidery

2300 SW 34th St. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 954-922-2242 888-96ATLAS mlombard@atlasembroidery.com http://www.atlasembroidery.com/

We’ve known about Atlas for at least a decade…and they have some very special equipment that can do some very special things. For example, Atlas has a paint mixing machine—much like the one you see at Benjamin Moore Paint stores.

OK, so why does that matter?

Next time your client wants to

The newest automatic screen coater has high & fine detail.

have a custom color that no one else can match, contact Atlas. They will make that EXACT color for you.

Atlas is also a very large operation with about 100,000 sq ft of plant operation. They can handle the big and small orders and they have a great customer service experience.

From Screen Printing, Embroi-

Atlas does not use film & light tables to make screens, they use a direct screen system that provides better resolution, more detail and accuracy.

dery, DTG, or Cheer Wear, Atlas is also another one of our Best Bets because their goal is: To create the highest quality service at the most competitive prices.

The Atlas Advantage is in their high quality equipment.

Atlas’s auto ink mixing system.

Decorating Techniques...Explained!

PROMO PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS Maximize Your Profits by Offering Unique Decorating Solutions to Your End Users Virtual Web Trade Show

UV Direct to Garment

Featured Manufacturer

In the years past most garments could only be decorated with either embroidery or silk screening. In today’s environment there are literally dozens of new decorating techniques.

So, what’s so new about Direct to Garment (DTG)? DTG has been around for years but Direct Color Systems has developed a UV printer that prints on many different products.

Distributors and Decorators can purchase one of their “desktop sized” units which can be operated out of an office! The benefits are many and you can do things with this printer that no other can.

Print directly onto fabric, wood, acrylic, PVC, aluminum, ABS, polycarbonate, glass, crystal, stainless steel, ceramic tile, electrical components and much more.

10-chamber or 8-chamber print head Brilliant white ink option–prints onto even the darkest substrates Clear overcoat ink option to seal your images for added durability Precision image placement and pass-to-pass registration Resolution up to 5760 dpi

What’s YOUR Benefit?

Distributors/Decorators can come up with amazing designs not previously capable with screen printing on a number of products. The fact that the print is UV cured eliminates the need for a heat dryer. With resolution up to 5760 dpi, you’ll get the best process print--even on black shirts--possible. When you offer a true four color process print you offer a supremely high quality finished product NOT POSSIBLE WITH ANY OTHER PRINTER! CONTACT: Mike Pirelli 860-829-2244 or info@directcolorsystems.com