think. SCREEN PRINTING PRODUCTION make. Like this article? Read more direct-to-garment printing articles at impressionsmag.com/screenprinting. do. Athletic-Numbering Options Decorators can service the traditionally lucrative team-sports niche by applying numbers to uniforms in a variety of ways. What makes the most sense for your shop? BY JAMES ORTOLANI, CONTRIBUTING WRITER This manual athletic-numbering machine features a long rectangular frame with the digits 0-9 and a sliding pallet that aligns under the digits to be printed. Garment decorators are preparing for a big surge in local team sports in 2021 as the nation rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic.Therefore, now is the time to gear up for athletic-numbering season in your local market. The anticipated increase in demand for everything related to team sports has convinced many shop owners to develop a permanent presence in this niche. If that's the case for your business, it's important to determine how many garments you need to produce to meet your customers' team-order demands. Do 50 pieces a week need numbering or will you be numbering more than 500 uniforms a week? When you can clearly determine your order quantities, it's easier to select one of the following numbering options: screen printing, heat-transfer numbering packs, heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) and appliqué numbers. Let's look at these options in greater detail and discuss the merits of each. APRIL 2021 41-43_IMP_0421_TMD_SpProd.indd 41 P.41 3/18/21 10:35 AMhttp://www.impressionsmag.com/screenprinting