Impressions - September 2020 - 20
SUBLIMATION
The sublimation industry
is becoming more diverse in
terms of the products being
offered for sale. All photos
provided by Sawgrass.
t first glance, it may seem like the
sublimation niche is in dire straits
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But that doesn't seem to be the case, as many
entrepreneurs have figured out how to position
their businesses for success despite all the
challenges.
In terms of how individual shops are coping,
many have found new product niches, such as
face masks. They offer their own unique images or personalization, then print and press
the fabric. The final mask is done via a cutand-sew process, which happens in house or
with another entrepreneur who specializes in
sewing. The demand has been huge and many
shops are swamped with orders and barely
able to keep up. It has been a great example
of quickly adapting a business to changes in
the marketplace.
It also should be noted that sublimation is
being done on both polyester and cotton fabrics
for mask production. Obviously, sublimation
and polyester go hand-in-hand, but with the
advent of new technologies that allow sublimation to be applied to cotton, those fabrics
can be printed by virtually any sublimator using
the right papers and profiles.
The Online Push
Even in the face of a global pandemic,
sublimation has enabled decorators
to thrive due to newcomers with
different ideas, markets and
directions.
By Jimmy Lamb,
Contributing Writer
P.20
Masks are just a small part of the changes
happening in the sublimation industry. While
there has been a movement to online sales for
the past several years, COVID-19 has really
ignited the shift's momentum. With many
brick-and-mortar stores closed down by
local government orders and directives for the
population to stay home, e-commerce sales
have soared. Thus, many sublimation shops
have made the transition to online stores and
have seen a resulting sales boost.
Sublimators have several viable options
for getting their businesses online. They can
build a traditional e-store from the ground up,
which allows a lot of flexibility and control, but
comes with a significant investment. Amazon
and Shopify offer simplified shopping platforms that can get a business online quickly,
but they also come with a bevy of fees - many
of which recur monthly. But it's certainly a lessexpensive alternative to building a custom
website.
Sawgrass recently debuted an alternative,
GO Expression, that's designed specifically
for sublimators - regardless of equipment
I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M SEPTEMBER 2020
20-22_IMP_0920_DigitalDecorating_Sublimation.indd 20
8/19/20 9:32 AM
http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM
Impressions - September 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - September 2020
Impressions - September 2020
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Expo Scene
Digital Decorating Report: Why DTG is in Your Future
Digital Decorating Report: Inside the Sublimation Boom
Digital Decorating Report: The MOD Advantage
Meeting New Fashion Demands
Shop Talk
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Screen Printing Technique
Direct-To-Garment
Ad Index/Classifieds
On Design
Impressions - September 2020 - CT1
Impressions - September 2020 - CT2
Impressions - September 2020 - Impressions - September 2020
Impressions - September 2020 - Cover2
Impressions - September 2020 - 1
Impressions - September 2020 - 2
Impressions - September 2020 - 3
Impressions - September 2020 - 4
Impressions - September 2020 - First Impressions
Impressions - September 2020 - From the Show Director
Impressions - September 2020 - 7
Impressions - September 2020 - Overheard
Impressions - September 2020 - 9
Impressions - September 2020 - 10
Impressions - September 2020 - 11
Impressions - September 2020 - 11A
Impressions - September 2020 - 11B
Impressions - September 2020 - First Look
Impressions - September 2020 - 13
Impressions - September 2020 - Expo Scene
Impressions - September 2020 - 15
Impressions - September 2020 - Digital Decorating Report: Why DTG is in Your Future
Impressions - September 2020 - 17
Impressions - September 2020 - 18
Impressions - September 2020 - 19
Impressions - September 2020 - Digital Decorating Report: Inside the Sublimation Boom
Impressions - September 2020 - 21
Impressions - September 2020 - Digital Decorating Report: The MOD Advantage
Impressions - September 2020 - 23
Impressions - September 2020 - 24
Impressions - September 2020 - 25
Impressions - September 2020 - 26
Impressions - September 2020 - 27
Impressions - September 2020 - Meeting New Fashion Demands
Impressions - September 2020 - 29
Impressions - September 2020 - 30
Impressions - September 2020 - 31
Impressions - September 2020 - Shop Talk
Impressions - September 2020 - 33
Impressions - September 2020 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - September 2020 - 35
Impressions - September 2020 - 36
Impressions - September 2020 - 37
Impressions - September 2020 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - September 2020 - 39
Impressions - September 2020 - 40
Impressions - September 2020 - 41
Impressions - September 2020 - Screen Printing Technique
Impressions - September 2020 - 43
Impressions - September 2020 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - September 2020 - 45
Impressions - September 2020 - 46
Impressions - September 2020 - Ad Index/Classifieds
Impressions - September 2020 - On Design
Impressions - September 2020 - Cover3
Impressions - September 2020 - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
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