ImagesMagUK-Sep18

www.images-magazine.com SEPTEMBER 2018 images 75 MARKET INTELLIGENCE easy with no complications at all.” All the orders are emailed through to Snuggle with a mock-up showing the positions of the decorations on the garment and the print file ready to go. By using a mock-up, no proof is needed, explains Brandon, making it a very easy process to manage. “We try to outsource as much as we can as this can be a lot more cost- effective for the client and ourselves; it can be quicker to outsource an order to the factory as they could be holding that stock, so they can start to print straightaway instead of waiting a couple of days for the garments to arrive,“ he says. Since successfully completing the tests, Snuggle is now the company‘s DTG partner, sending packages out for Face Media Group under white label. The orders can vary from one-off T-shirts to orders of 50 units. “I don‘t specify a turnaround time unless there is a deadline as when the order has been placed, Snuggle will get it out for delivery as soon as they can,“ he adds. When asked if he‘d recommend Snuggle, Brandon is emphatic in his response: “Hell no, I’m keeping that little secret to myself! They are quick at responding, [offer] amazing quick service and [are] very reliable. “We wanted a reliable trade- only supplier; one who, when the XYZ hits the fan, they react, and they are perfectly happy to put things right. We‘re loving Snuggle, for the time being anyway!“ www.facemediagroup.co.uk O utsourcing is relatively common in this industry: you don‘t want to let a client down, but you‘re already running at capacity; your printer is temporarily out of action; you want to test the market before buying new machinery; or it‘s a service you don‘t get asked for often enough to justify the capital costs of the machinery, but you don‘t want to risk losing the customer (and perhaps all their business) to a competitor that is already offering the service. There are numerous decoration companies that list outsourcing as a service, and with the rise (and evolution) of DTG printers, the pool is widening. One such company is Snuggle. Based in Peterborough, Snuggle offers DTG, UV and sublimation printing services, from drop-shipping to large trade orders. The company has just invested in two Kornit Avalanche HD6 printers, replacing its two Kornit Storm Hexas: as it says on its website, “You get all the access to top of range, state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology, a huge array of products and an exceptional team of fully trained printers without having the hassle and expense to do it yourself“. Face Media Group has recently become a customer of Snuggle. The Sussex- based business has been in the print industry for nearly 20 years, explains the firm‘s branding specialist, Brandon Flood. “We started out in the flyers game and, over the years, added thousands of print products to our portfolio. Although we‘ve been offering branded clothing and uniforms for years, only in the last two years have we been really starting to raise our game in that area of business.“ Passing the test Brandon met Shabbir Maimoon, managing director of Snuggle, in January this year. He comments: “Our in-house capabilities are limited – a bit of vinyl, some full-colour transfer – ideal for small orders and a pre- sale for the proper orders which follow. We had been looking for a reliable trade DTG for years, and up until that moment, we hadn’t been able to find a suitable partner. “After meeting Shabbir, we put our first test job through to him and were very impressed with how quickly it arrived – just two days after the order was completed. We then started to put more jobs through and it was quick and Garment choices “The client always wants an economical product; we have certain favourites we push. The KK403 [Kustom Kit Klassic Polo with Superwash 60°C] is our favourite polo and we recently found the Cottonridge hoodies, which are very nice,“ says Brandon. Face Group Media prefers to outsource its printing Don‘t print it yourself Brandon Flood explains why Face Group Media chose Snuggle as its DTG print partner Snuggle is the DTG print partner for Face Group Media