Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 46

DYE
TRYING
LIKE A DOGLESS BONE?

BY DAREK JOHNSON

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

"So, I tried to erase it, but the ink bled right through
Almost drove myself crazy when these words led to you
And all these useless dreams of living alone
...Like a dogless bone ..."
-Lyrics, "Colour Me In", Damien George Rice,
songwriter, © Warner/Chappell Music
dogless bone is something my dog
doesn't tolerate. Nor does she, Georgia,
believe in missing mealtime - or the
opportunity to terrify anyone approaching the front door. Still, if she knows
you, she loves you. (Is that another
song lyric?) Nonetheless, the dogless
bone metaphor is easily carried over to any business that
ignores obvious revenue opportunities, especially those
that easily fit into its business model. Like, dye sublimation
or promotional/personalized imaging for signshops.
That said, know that the field is complex and choosing a
dye sublimation or promotional market and the accompanying production components is akin to choosing lunch from
a Koreatown buffet - it's fascinating and richly flavored, but
not always easy pickings. Nonetheless, once implemented,
you may gain profits from printing any combination of
iPhone covers, T-shirts, swimmers' attire, surfboards or
wall murals. And signs, of course - rigid or fabric (banners,
flags) or, get this, dye-sublimation on coated ceramics,
tiles and metals.
Did you notice that I said "choosing a dye sublimation or

A

46

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

AUGUST 2017

promotional market?" Because, obviously, good business
savvy says you must either have, plan to develop, or at least
explore your marketplace (and its dollar sales potential)
before investing in any product-making machines and
equipment. Let's also acknowledge that different dyesublimation printing methods exist - skateboards aren't
close cousins to wall graphics - which confuses this most
critical question: Should your shop invest in production
equipment and processes in order to profitably fabricate
and sell dye sublimation or promotional/personalized
imaged products?
An addition to the above question adds the words "extra"
and "more." It applies to shops that already produce dyesublimation products and reads: Should your shop invest
in extra production equipment in order to fabricate and
profitably sell more dye-sublimation or promotional/
personal products?



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - August 2017

Signs of the Times - August 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Shop Ops
Vehicles + Vinyl
Design Matters
Nuts + Bolts
Next Generation
The 2017 National Electrical Code
Dye Trying
Strictly Electric: Under the Big Top
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Signs of the Times - August 2017
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 12
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 20
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Shop Ops
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 26
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Design Matters
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Nuts + Bolts
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 34
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 36
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Next Generation
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 40
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - The 2017 National Electrical Code
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 44
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Dye Trying
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 48
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Strictly Electric: Under the Big Top
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 52
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 56
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 58
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Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 80
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 81
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 82
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Cover4
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