Your Brand Starts Here with the Riley Hopkins 150 Press

Have you been mulling over t-shirt designs? Ready to start your own clothing brand? Or maybe you aspire to be a printer like Lee Stuart, who has his own apparel line (Thirty Eight Ride Co.) and operates a screen printing business for his own clients. Starting your own business is risky and scary. But it doesn't have to be.

Perhaps you already own a business; let's say it's a landscaping business. You need apparel for your employees and you're considering to do the printing yourself? The Riley Hopkins 150 press will fulfill all your needs as you get started.

Maybe you already have a screen print shop. If you have the space for a smaller press and are thinking about investing in a solution to take on one-color jobs or repeat orders, so your main press can handle the multi-color jobs, then the Riley Hopkins 150 is the press for you. 

No matter what position you're in, the Riley Hopkins 150 Press will help you start your brand — and that's just the beginning. Let's learn how the press can expand your brand, your shop, or your business without costing you an arm and a leg. 

RELATED: A GUIDE TO SCREEN PRINTING T-SHIRTS

PRINTING CAPABILITIES

You may need to do more than a simple t-shirt print for your brand or business. You might need to print on sleeves, tags, chest/pockets, tote bags, youth apparel, face masks, flat stock, boxes, etc. One of the best features of the Riley Hopkins 150 is the ability to interchange platens. Invest in a sleeve platen and print sleeves, tags, chest/pockets, and the legs of sweatpants. Acquire a face mask platen and personalize face masks for your employees. Use your shirt platen for t-shirts, boxes, or tote bags. The opportunities are endless. 

If you already have a shop up and running, the 150 will work in your shop for several reasons. The press could be utilized for solely tag printing. Have some customers that come back with the same order all the time? Use the 150 for it. Keep their screens on press or nearby so when their order comes in, you just need to sling some ink and throw on the garments.

RELATED: HOW PRNT SCRN SCREEN PRINTING STAYS TRUE TO ITS DIY ROOTS

SPACE

You don't need a ton of space for the ideal, at-home setup for your shop. Sheds, basements, garages, spare rooms, attics – they all work perfectly. The main equipment you'll need is your press, a flash dryer, a table or cart, and a shelving unit to store your inks, emulsions, chemicals, screens, etc. Check out how other shops have used their available spaces for their shop.

Press or Dye runs their print shop out of their basement.

Printers get creative with their available space. A Tee Print operates out of a spare bedroom.

 

 

AG Graphicx cranks out orders in their garage.

You just need to start. Salt & Pine Co. jumpstarted their business out of a spare bedroom. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, they now have a commercial space.

Printers are creative, and they know how to make a space work for them. The footprint of the Riley Hopkins 150 press is 20 inches by 40 inches, including the platen, so it won't take up a lot of room. The 150 press is lightweight and mobile, meaning setup is extremely easy, mobile even. 

I know, we're forgetting about the darkroom. People get creative with making this space as well. Lots of printers start off in their bathroom, using the shower as a washout booth and a DIY LED Exposure Bulb for exposure. This works, you just need to be careful what you're putting down your drain. Otherwise, some set aside a space in their garage or basement for a light-safe environment and wash their screens in their backyard. It's all about figuring out what's best for you. 

RELATED: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAKING A DARKROOM IN A CLOSET, BATHROOM, AND GARAGE

Take the step. Take the risk. Your brand starts here. Your brand starts now. And that’s just the beginning!

RESOURCES

Ready to take the plunge? Here are a few resources to help you and your new business so you can hit the ground running.

• How to Print T-Shirts
• How to Build a Clientele for Your New Screen Printing Business
• The Lifestyle of Owning a Screen Printing Side Business
• How to Set Up an Online Store and Establish a Social Media Presence for Your At Home Business
• How Many Shirts Do I Need to Sell Until the Riley 150 Pays Itself?

Thinking you'll need a bigger press? Check out the Riley Hopkins 250 Press.