silk screen printer

How Using a Local Print Shop Benefits You

Not all screen printing shops are created equal, and we believe that there are many benefits to using a local business. Those benefits range from community economical growth to environmental impact, and we will take you through some key points and reasons why using a local screen printing shop is not only beneficial to you but your community.

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Why you should support local businesses

Community Economic Growth

Local businesses are better at creating higher-paying jobs for your community. When you shop locally, you help create jobs for teachers, firemen, police officers, and many other essential professions. Supporting your local businesses helps improve social benefits and other public programs to help the local community with housing and food insecurities. Besides contributing to the local economy by employment, studies have shown that local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of chain businesses. For Family Industries, this is especially true and part of their mission as a Los Angeles based print shop.

In the summer of 2020 when California was being affected by wildfires, Family Industries sprung to action and offered an original design to be printed on t-shirts to sell and donate the proceeds to Direct Relief. When you buy local, you can be sure that those companies will make a change to your surroundings and bring positive change to your family, friends, and neighbors.

The Environment

Buying from local businesses conserves energy and resources in the form of less fuel for transportation and less packaging. It’s reported that buying local reduces automobile miles by a total of 25%.

When purchasing from an on-demand print shop, the amount of energy used in terms of production is much higher than a local print shop. Additionally, because these businesses are located all over the US, the amount of packaging used is also much higher, as items need to be oftentimes secured with additional materials such as foam, cardboard, and/or plastic. Furthermore, because products are being shipped all over the country, the amount of fuel used also affects the carbon footprint of those companies.

Personal Connection

You are their friends and neighbors, and locally owned businesses have a vested interest in knowing how to serve you. They’re passionate about what they do. Why not take advantage of it? Additionally, there is pride to take in knowing that you are helping a business in your neighborhood thrive and they are more likely to go the extra mile for you to make sure you are happy with the service and/or product.

Quality

When it comes to finding the right screen printer to uphold your standards and ensure the quality is good, finding a local print shop is your best bet. Why? Well, there are many print-on-demand online businesses but being able to visit a facility and see the operations and quality of the product before making a purchase can make all the difference. This instills confidence that your product is of high quality and that you are being provided with the best possible service. Unlike online print shops, you are able to speak with a real person and make a connection with them, and explain what you would like. Furthermore, the print shop also makes a connection with you and your brand and that pushes them to guarantee good quality work.

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Local Screen Printers

With all the online print-on-demand printing services available to you, it may seem like an easy decision but you’re not assured good quality and service. It is reported that smaller businesses are more likely to care more about the quality of their service or product than bigger corporations as they tend to have more disposable income. For smaller local screen printers, their reputation is everything and they take greater pride in their craft. Additionally, local businesses can help boost brand awareness for your business by posting on their social media or their website.

For Family Industries, their primary goal is to bring quality to everything that they do as well as providing fair wages to their employees to guarantee productivity and quality.

Family Industries has also held a few community events to help local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic by promoting their merch, as well as helping local artists by printing their artwork on t-shirts and selling them.


Bottom line

Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money available to beautify the community. Also, spending locally instead of online ensures that your sales taxes are reinvested where they belong: in your community.


For questions, send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

Screen Printing Trends of 2022

As the end of 2021 approaches, we are all looking ahead at what is next and what will be the trends driving the apparel industry. Many things have changed or come back in style and in the age of TikTok trends come and go faster than we can keep up with. Here is a summary of what is to come and what is here to stay in apparel printing.


T-Shirt Styles

We’ve seen a change in the styles and fit of t-shirts. The styles that are most popular right now include t-shirt that are thicker cotton and a more relaxed fit. These are the brands that are hot right now:

1. Comfort Colors 1717 Heavyweight T-Shirt

Comfort Colors 1717 is 100% ring-spun cotton, making this fabric very durable and heavy. This material is comfortable and the style is a relaxed fit and a bit oversize. This style has been very popular in recent years for it’s fit.

2. Bella+Canvas 3001 Classic Unisex T-Shirt

This Bella+Canvas 3001 custom print t-shirt is a modern tee with a crew neck and side-seam construction for durability. Designed with superior airlume-combed and ring-spun cotton, it has a very soft feel and smooth surface which makes it great for direct to garment printing.

3. AS Colour 5001 Staple Tee

The AS Colour 5001 staple t-shirt has a soft and relaxed fit, made from a blend of cottons with a fit that can be worn for any occasion. You can dress it down or dress it up. A true staple for every closet.

GRAPHIC Tees

Vibrant and out-of-the-box graphics are all the rage right now. Streetwear has been front and center in fashion trends and will continue to be in 2022. Bold graphics will help you brand stand out and bring an element of art and design that bigger brands may be missing out on. Incorporating a abstract design to your logo to compliment your brand is a great way to push your brand in the new year.

BRAND Merch

Team shirts or branded company shirts are often used as brand merch or swag for employees. While this is a great way to encourage workplace community, the bar is being raised for 2022.

Swag kits or promo merch boxes are a step above the t-shirt or stationary items. These merch box kits can include a variety of items and the box itself can be branded with your logo and brand colors which makes a great promotional gift for potential clients.

Swag kits are perfect for brands that offer a service, these promo products can improve brand recognition and for your current client it can cement brand loyalty.

Learn more about how branding such as swag boxes can benefit your business.

Screen Printed Pants / Shorts

Where it’s a pattern or a logo, screen printing on pants and shorts are very popular in 2021 and 2022. We see brand such as Stella McCartney with these Beetles inspired printed trousers. We also see smaller streetwear brands playing with this concept in a more fluid way with abstract designs and with logo designs. All-over prints on pants have been quietly emerging from the sub-culture fashion trends in New York City as depicted in this article by Vogue.


Specialty Prints

Specialty prints such as puff prints have had an impact on the new generation. Puff print making a comeback in 2021 has pushed this trend to become a big component of streetwear in 2022. The popularity that this type of printing has reached is exciting for specialty screen printers everywhere.

We partnered with the iconic Amoeba Music in Los Angeles and printed sweatshirts with a vibrant puff ink.

Learn about What Is Puff Ink?

Fulfillment Services

With the rise of online shopping, there is a bigger demand in shorter shipping times. When running a small brand this can feel overwhelming and time consuming when the focus should be on the design for the next drop. This is where auto fulfillment services come into play, premium print shops such as Family Industries offer a fulfillment component to their printing services. Not only do we print and ship, but also offer finishing services which include your own branded tags, branded mailers, and any inserts you would like to include with your apparel.

Fulfillment services have become a necessity for a lot of smaller businesses looking to expand.

Learn more about The Benefits of Fulfillment Services

Have more questions? Check out our video explaining the process of fulfillment.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator


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