Sublimation Business Success Stories

Offering sublimated products was the method they chose to get new customers and to profitably sell more to their existing customers.

"Motivational Motto’s"

Award and sign company customers nearly always go into a shop with a specific quantity of items that they want. A shop may be able to suggest what they get, but not how many. If they need six, then they won’t buy seven. An award company decided to increase sales per person by displaying an "impulse buy" item on their front counter. The item is a 5x7 plaque with a sublimated motto on a gold plate. The motto is: "Success is a journey, not a destination, so always keep moving!" A small sublimated sign beside the plaque says - "A dozen successful motto’s to live by." A list beside the sign has all twelve mottoes, and they change the display plaque each month. Every sale is obviously an add-on (to the regular order) gravy sale. They tell customers they sell the "motto" plaques at about half the price of their regular plaques (gee, only a 500% profit) because it’s not custom and is already made up (they do keep three of each plate sublimated so they can quickly assemble it, without the customer waiting). They said that in addition to nice monthly single sales, they also occasionally sell all 12 at one time to sales mangers and others, who display a different one each month in their office. Clever idea.

"Signs Of Success"

After laughing at our one of our favorite quotes (sometimes opportunity doesn’t knock on your door, but if you look out the window you can catch it before it slips by) a sign company ordered a sublimation cartridge. They had decided to offer some sublimated signs as a way to make small quick signs, without tying up their vinyl cutter. We were surprised when they reordered about four months later and we remarked that "there must be an awful lot of customers wanting small quick signs." The owner replied that was only a small part of what they were doing. Most of the work was regularly supplying desk name sets and badges to scores of companies in eight large office buildings, as well as interior signage. To test the market, the owner sublimated a gold plate and inserted it into a plastic, black JRS architectural frame. Deciding he had a winner, he went around to area office buildings, to test reactions and the reactions were excellent. That is why he needed another cartridge. Like most companies, sublimation didn’t replace their regular business. It just gives them profitable sales in other areas. They are happy.

"Among The World’s Greatest"

A specialty T-shirt shop, realizing that any one customer was only going to buy so many shirts during a visit, added an "impulse buy," gift line - "Among The World’s Greatest." The entire line consists of an 8x10 walnut finish plaque, with a gold plate. At the top of the plate is a title like "Among The World’s Greatest Golfers." Under the title is always a list of 10 names associated with the title. The third position is always where the recipient’s name goes. They have developed "Greatest" lists for every sport, coaches of the sport, hobby, activity and interest you can think of. They even have one for "Among The World’s Greatest Cooks." One of their most popular is "Among The World’s Greatest Couples." The list starts with Romeo & Juliet.

They display three samples at the cash register, along with a loose-leaf notebook, containing page after page of lists. With all layouts already in the computer, they can fill orders while the customer waits. Retail price: $14.95. Materials cost: under $2.00. They keep about a $100 in inventory, at any one time. They report one sale for about each 14 T-shirt customers. That’s not bad add-on sales.

"Sublimation Addition"

A very successful awards company offering only laser engraved products decided they were missing sales and profit. They contacted us and we spent about 45 minutes thoroughly discussing the pros and cons of inkjet vs. laser printing as well as production and marketing ideas. They decided to "take the plunge" and bought a cartridge and heat press from us (they already had a computer, Corel Draw and a laser printer). They reported they made enough profit to pay for the cartridge the first week and the heat press - the next month. These were all new sales. Customers with fixed budgets who couldn’t afford lasered products had something nice to fill their needs - and didn’t go to a competitor. Many brand new customers actually preferred the graphic look of a nicely sublimated plaque. He was very busy, the last time he ordered a cartridge, so we didn’t talk much, but he did comment, "Boy, I’m glad we started doing sublimation!"

"Kiosk Inspiration"

The owner of a kiosk, specializing in small, religious orientated gifts, called and asked how she might use sublimation to increase sales. After offering some suggestions, she thanked us and said she would get back in touch. A few days later she called and said she was going to try our "Bible Verse" idea and ordered a cartridge and press. She displays six 5x7 plaques with a "standard" Bible verse on them at $5.95 each. A sign beside them states, "Customized plaques, with your favorite Bible verse only $7.95." She hasn’t said how well she is doing, but we do know one thing for sure. She has bought three sublimation cartridges in ten months, and that’s a lot of little 5x7’s.

"SOHO Success"

Working in her spare time, a small office/home office entrepreneur, has made many thousands of dollars selling just one item - magnetic note holders! Her biggest seller is a 1.25" x 3.25" gold-tone aluminum plate attractively bagged in a clear 2x4 poly-bag. It’s magnetic because she sticks a .75 x 1 magnetic strip on the back of the plate. Her minimum order is 25 and she brings her price down to $1.25 each, if you buy a 100. The customer can get up to 5 lines of lettering and 1 logo, with one line change allowed.

She sells them to companies for trade shows, schools for special events, non-profits as memento’s and even to individuals for family reunions. She also sells to dozens of churches that use them as "Homecoming" mementos and for special ministries in their church.

She has so many people calling her now that she has been able to stop making sales calls herself. Every one of those thousands of note holders has her little sticker on the back. Marketing under the name "MagnaNotes," her slogan is, "A message always seen, is never forgotten."

Just for the fun of it, when we heard her story, we calculated her material costs. We calculated the cost of the magnetic strip, the plastic bag, the metal, the toner to print the metal, and even threw in a penny for the cost of the paper. Her material costs per note holder - less than a dime. Wow!

"Who Would Have Thunk Of It?"

One of the most unusual success stories comes from a customer who designs patterns that embroidery hobbyists use for their needlework.

When she called to order a sublimation cartridge, we asked her what she was doing with sublimation. She explained that she wanted her customers to be able to iron the pattern onto the cotton and muslin material used in their hobby.

We very quickly pointed out that sublimation wouldn't work with cotton, because it won't penetrate the fabric and would just lay on the top. Laughing, she said that was perfect. Her customers can get a faint image on the cotton by putting the transfer on the fabric and then "ironing" it for about five seconds.

Any residue that is not covered by the embroidery can easily be washed out. As an added bonus, her customer could use each transfer 4 or 5 times. Like we said, "Who would have thunk of it?"

These success stories illustrate our two main points. First, the return on investment is quite high in the sublimation business. Second, the extraordinary diversification of opportunity made possible by the process is very broad and profitable.

The sublimation business costs very little to start up. The equipment is simple to use and requires very little training.

The next page contains a list of the necessary equipment to do the job right.