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Hey y'all. It has been a long while since I have created a blog post. We opened a store front about a year ago and business grew so much and so fast we haven't had time to sit and think, we have been busy!! I get multiple people in my store monthly wishing to have a small order screen printed and get disappointed when I give them the price. There is so much work involved in screen printing, especial creating and cleaning screens, so it's really not cost effective to screen print a small order. Will we do it? yes! Is it expensive? Yes! You can check out the process here. A couple things these videos don't cover are artwork or reapplying pallet tape or in some cases spray adhesive. (I use tape.) Along with the amount of time it takes just to get a screen ready for production, there are quite a few other factors involved. Art has to be printed on a special film, for each screen or color in the design. I use a minimum of 3 chemicals to clean out the ink and emulsion and prep the screen prior to coating it with emulsion. These chemicals come in gallon containers, so shipping can also be expensive. Emulsion is what creates the stencil, and it only lasts about 6 months if kept in a cool place. I purchase in quart containers to guarantee I will have them used prior to spoiling, but they cost more and mean I have to keep more on hand. Once the screen is ready for exposure, we use tape to hold the art in place. We also clean the exposure unit often, which involves glass cleaner and paper towels. At the press, we use printing proofs or old t-shirts to align multi color screens, and split tape on the screens to keep ink from seeping out the sides and scotch tape or painters' tape over the registration marks. Ink has doubled and tripled (depending upon the brand) over the last few years. Squeegees have to be replaced or the blades at the very least as well as screens or screen mesh. We also have utility expenses of water and electricity. Not only do I have 2 dryers running a good part of my week, but this time of year they also make the air conditioner run all day. This is all in addition to labor (we all want to be paid for our jobs) and the products we are printing on. While I don't expect my customers to understand the amount of time or work involved, I do hope to educate them. This is why it is much more cost effective to print larger orders and use other means to print small ones.

Do you love a nice, comfy, graphic tee? They are my lifeline. My closet consists of few other tops and I'm going to explain why. T-shirts are a necessity for most people. You can buy them blank or printed. They come in just about every color under the sun and in some shades of those colors too. You can go with a crewneck or v neck, and sometimes a deep v neck. Maybe you prefer a regular cotton tee or a blend, or in the most recent years you can also get a super comfy soft style or triblend, and athletic materials as well. They can be stand alone or paired with a kimono, cardigan, or hoodie. There are just so many ways you can wear a t-shirt for most occasions. Here are my top 5 ways to accessorize a blank or graphic tee. Jewelry. Whether its just earrings, or the ears, neck, and wrist, jewelry is always a great accessory. Maybe it adds a pop of color, maybe it coordinates your outfit, there is something about jewelry, even the simplest pieces, that can make a girl feel good about herself. Jewelry also comes in so many styles itself, and it can set the mood for something very casual to a little more elegant. Layers. Grab a denim jacket, a kimono or cardigan, or even your favorite sweatshirt and pair it over your tee. Not only does this add a layer for comfort, but it is easily removed if it is too much. These items can also help dress up or dress down your tee. Think of your favorite t-shirt. Now think of it with your favorite denim jacket vs your favorite leather jacket. The appearance can change drastically by just switching out that one piece. Bags and billfolds. These might not be quite as fun or cute as the others, but there is nothing better than a basic bag that will work for any occasion and matches most of the clothes in your closet. Think simple, neutral, and versatility. Shoes. Like jewelry, what you wear on your feet can set the look you want. And casual sneakers can be just as dressed up as flats these days. Headwear. Wear whats in season and don't be afraid to step outside the box. Do you own a million baseball hats or are you more of a sun hat kind of gal? This can be a fun way to accessorize depending if you are going to your favorite game, concert, or wedding. If you aren't sure, stay neutral and simple, and that will not only be easier to match but will go with more as well. Shoes. From a magnitude of colors to patterns and styles, I like to stay with what's comfy, and that varies season to season. Again, staying with neutrals will allow more versatility, but have fun and play around with what's in your closet. Don't be afraid to play around with the items you already own. Try a neutral tee under your blazer next time you need to look sophisticated but add comfort. Pair it with that maxi skirt you aren't really sure what else to wear it with. The best thing about a t-shirt, is it can be paired with just about anything!

Most of us think as price and cost as the same thing and in technical terms, they can be. However, there is actually a difference. Price is the amount of money we pay for a product. Cost is the amount of money needed to produce that product. Price. The amount of money we pay for a product. It is one of the first things we look at when we are buying, comparing, or making a product. The sole focus is the dollar amount when we think of price. Cost. The amount of money needed to produce a product. This can include supplies, manufacturing, labor, overhead, shipping, packaging, and the list goes on and on. Then we add in the value of that item to get the selling price. Let me explain why value is important. If we only consider the price of an item, we don't take into consideration the value that item holds. Maybe it is something we need to survive such as food or clothing. Maybe it is something we want like a gift or a nice, relaxing, vacation. Maybe it is something useful like a tool, furniture, or a car. Someone who has access to public transportation or able to walk to work, the grocery store, or the bank may not place as much value on a car as someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and has to drive to get where they are going. Someone who places little value on looks may not feel makeup is worth purchasing or may feel that clothes can be plain and no name brands as long as they are clean and comfy, while someone who values appearance may want name brands, makeup, jewelry, handbags, etc. Some people may place value on a more expensive item dependent on the longevity of a product. When my son was much younger, I purchased his socks at Walmart because they were just socks. Walmart was close buy, they were inexpensive, and who cares what they looked like because they were just socks. As he started to get a little older though, he could wear holes in them faster than I could buy them. So my package of $10 socks now became a bimonthly purchase because they just didn't withstand the wear at that point in his life. So I started purchasing Nike socks. Even though one pair of Nike socks was the same price as the whole package from Walmart, the Nike socks would last years compared to weeks. So the cheap socks in the long run were actually more expensive. The reason custom or personalized items cost more than standard items, is because of the extra time it takes to make and the value that items holds. It is now a one of the kind item, made or customized to the needs of the customer or for the recipient that no one or few others will have. Some people are perfectly ok with purchasing an item from a big box store, knowing it was mass produced and has little uniqueness. Others love having something hand made or hand painted because of the uniqueness it contains or the fact that they know it was made or designed by the hands of people they know vs a machine doing all of the work. Where we place value is typically the factor in where we shop and how much we spend. We are more likely to spend more money on a jacket that we can wear the next 5 years than we are on a bar of soap that will last a month. We are more likely to spend more money on a pair of shoes that are comfortable and put less strain on our body than we are a pair of dress shoes we will need for a day. What is valuable to one person won't be to another. It should play an important role in making your decision on the price you are willing to pay for an item.

Unfortunately, just like everything else in the world these days, our prices are going up. I recently joined a conversation in one of the business groups I belong to. Members were talking about price, and most were talking about the fact they hate having to raise pricing for customers. A few said they were not bothered by it and actually liked it. And while yes, we would all love to make more money, the reality of raising prices these days is merely to survive, not to get a raise or take a fancy trip or stuff our savings. And while I would like to make more money and not raise pricing, realistically that's not an option, and I am so grateful for customers who understand the market and that not a thing has gone untouched by the price hikes lately. And for that, thank you!! It is important for any business, no matter how big or small, to understand their cost of doing business. I see the posts day after day of people selling items but have no idea what their costs are, overhead, or labor rates. They are solely basing their prices off of what someone else is telling them they are selling a similar product for. Or the conversations of individuals who claim they have no overhead. I can only think of a few businesses that would have very little overhead, such as a computer or cell phone, and internet service or cell phone provider. And maybe those are shared expenses between business and personal use, but there is still overhead. I try to keep my pricing models as simple as possible, and you can find the basics under services on my website. While custom work is harder to price, as it seems no two orders are ever exactly alike, there is a basic model I follow. Not only does it cover the supplies to make the order, but it also covers time to make the products, ordering products, artwork, invoicing, communicating with the customer, packaging, and sometimes delivery. It also includes a markup based on my monthly expenses to cover things like insurance, utilities, equipment, repairs, advertising, donations, and all the costs associated with running a business month after month. Sometimes the pricing model doesn't quite meet community standards, and I can raise or lower the price slightly to fit those needs. Why do one off's cost so much? The simple answer is it takes the same amount of time to communicate with the customer, the same amount of time to design, load equipment, purchase supplies, and so on. But instead of dividing those working hours by a larger amount of product, you're only dividing those costs by 1. Or a few. The best prices always come from meeting those price breaks. Sometimes it's less expensive to order a few more of an item and meet a price break than to pay more for less items. I also do this when ordering product. Sometimes a case is better priced, sometimes just one more item qualifies for free shipping. It's important to do the math for the best prices. The other thing to consider when it comes to pricing is the value. And by this, I mean, is it worth paying more money for an item that will last a longer amount of time vs. paying less for an item that you will have to replace frequently. And the only way to know the value is to know your needs. I used to buy my son Nike socks because they lasted a lot longer than the ones I was buying at Walmart. They cost more upfront, but because they lasted so much longer, it was actually less expensive to buy the Nike socks even though the upfront expense was more. I often think of this in my business with purchasing a banner vs a sign. If you only need signage for a day or two, a banner most likely will be the best option as they are not made to be outdoors for long lengths of time and cost less when comparing equivalent sizes and prints. Wind certainly does them no favors. But if you need something more permanent, especially when exposed to the elements, a metal sign with prints made to withstand the UV rays is the better option. While it will cost more, it will last years before fading and most likely the blank with last much longer and can be reused with new designs and lettering for quite some time. While the banner would cost less, the elements most likely would destroy it and would need replaced probably monthly at the very least. You can always extend their life by adding a wood blank behind them to protect them from the wind, or take them down when not needed, and so on, but they will still deteriorate at a much faster rate. A good printer will be able to help you decide which options are the best for your needs and budget. Sometimes as a printer, I have to cut costs to meet a customer's budget. But I will always give you alternative ways to get as close to what you want within your price range. Sometimes you want what you want and are willing to pay the price and sometimes the price is more important than the actual design. Again, that value is based on your wants and needs as a customer. Hopefully this has given all of you some insight into pricing on the business end of things. Remember as business owners, we are also consumers and don't enjoy price increases or having to pay more to get what we want and need either. We have to know our numbers and how to cut costs when possible, to get you the best pricing we can.

I used to have a personal blog, so many years ago, I can't even tell you anymore what the name of it was. But once a year, I would let everyone know what my favorite things were for that year, and I thought it would be fun to start here as well. So, this month, you are getting a bonus post, as February's post about pricing will publish later this month. Every morning, I start my day with ice coffee (after my first glass of water) and a breakfast wrap, and not only is it filling it is good and so much healthier than fast food alternatives. I am really focusing on my mental and physical health this year, and this has been a positive change for me. Things changed after I had my daughter almost 5 years ago. I didn't drink coffee the whole time I was pregnant and then decided one day that I missed that one cup in the morning. After a bad experience at a fast-food restaurant, and let's face it, they are high calorie, expensive, and never taste the same anyway, I was determined to make one myself and one that I loved. It took many attempts at different creamers, as most that I tried turned my coffee bitter. I tried creamer after creamer, milk, half and half, heavy cream and they all left that bitter taste. And then I stumbled across Silk almond milk creamer, and it is now my go to. The only disappointing part is the only place I have found it is Walmart. I also ditched my sugar free vanilla syrup and went with the regular syrup instead. Sugar free syrups are often filled with imitation sugars that aren't healthy either, so just go for the real deal and watch your portions, if that is important to you. My breakfast also consists of an egg, bacon, and cheese tortilla. I am super picky about my tortillas and the Azteca taco shell is my all-time favorite. It is soft and thin and also the lowest calorie of any regular tortilla I have found. The best part is it takes me about 5 minutes to make and leaves me full 'til lunch. One of my family favorites are Philly Cheese Steaks. Although anymore we don't even eat them with cheese. I was purchasing steak, which we all know is expensive, and after cutting off all the fat was left with maybe 2 servings. The other issue I had was slicing the steak thin enough and having it tender. I since found Steakeze steak strips and they taste good, are reasonably priced, and are perfect for making quick cheesesteak sandwiches. We eat these once a week! It is cold here today. I am throwing chili together in my crock pot, and if you are from the Midwest, you know cinnamon rolls are a must. My grandma made the best home made, but if time is an issue for you as it always seems to be for me, you can't go wrong with Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls. These are just a few of my favorite things. I would love to know what foods are your must have's. Behind the Ink posts are written with moms, entrepreneur's, busy lifestyles, and our customers in mind.

Hello, followers! It is mid-January, and we are moving right along. I had planned to write something completely different this month, and then the topic of copyright and trademark came up yesterday, and I am always intrigued what little is made known to our business industry about the topics we need to know to properly run our business. It's not like we can go to the local library and check out a book that covers everything we need to know, although that would sure make it easier. I started my business almost 20 years ago, and I knew really nothing about anything. I have always been creative, but self-taught my way with most aspects of my business. While the internet was around way back then, there was not near the information then as there is today. First, let me say, while I have learned a lot, I definitely don't know everything, not even close, but I will continue to educate myself to the best of my ability. I am in no way shape or form offering legal advice, as I am not a lawyer. I will however offer a few links to some of the pages where I have found important information. Again, I knew nothing when I started my business. One of the first things I did after purchasing some equipment and supplies, was set up my EIN and get a sales tax certificate through my state. You may apply for your EIN for free through the IRS. While not every business needs one, it can be helpful, especially if you don't want to use or give out your social security number. The site will help you decide if you need it or not. I am not going to link the sales tax page, as it will be through the state you live in, and each state has different rules for cost, filing frequency, and what you collect sales tax on. Contact the state you live in and consult their office for any questions you may have. I belong to several business groups on social media, and ya'll, I am SHOCKED at the amount of posts from people who not only have never filed for their sales tax certificate, but they don't even know the difference between sales tax and income tax. I can completely understand how taxes can get confusing, which is why I have an accountant (she is amazing and has taught me a lot of what I need to know over the years, but I still leave the important stuff up to her), but a little research on the internet would quickly define the difference between the two. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON HOW TO RUN YOUR EQUIPMENT AND MAKE YOUR PRODUCTS AS IT IS TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE NOT SO FUN PARTS OF YOUR BUSINESS AS WELL. If you have doubts or just don't have the time to understand the tax and bookkeeping portion of your business, find yourself a good CPA or accountant to take care of that for you. But please don't ignore it's importance. Intellectual property is a little more challenging to find definite answers from legit sources. There are several aspects to this as well, so let's break it down. First, you cannot go around stealing others artwork just because it's posted on the internet. And today, even the simplest software can remove watermarks. Just because you have access to so much information at your fingertips, doesn't mean it is out there for your taking. I always find it ironic when makers use other logos and brands but get offended when someone steals their own designs. If you look at a design and can recognize a brand, tv show, movie, sports team, etc., you shouldn't use it. This has issues of its own of course because there are makers out there, who do create their own work and will give you permission to use their work, but the issue is they are creating their art from a brand or design that they don't have permission to use to begin with, which will also get you in hot water. Some more generic designs can be found in magnitude and can be difficult to find the original maker. In that case, it is better to just create your own unique design, so you know without a doubt it belongs to you. Way back when I started, it was always said you could take someone's design and change it 25% and call it yours. This does not hold truth. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's still a duck no matter if one squeaks a little louder, one has blue feathers instead of yellow, one has no feet vs the other having large feet, and so on. If you look at it upside down and it still resembles a duck, it's off limits for you to use as your own. And in this case, the duck represents someones brand or logo. Second, there is a difference between copyright and trademark. Copyright pertains to design and is created as soon as you create your design. There is no database you can search to my knowledge, again, I don't know everything, but it is important to keep records of when your design was created so if there is ever an issue, you have adequate records to prove who made it first. The great news is there is a database for trademark, and it can be found here. Unfortunately, there are a lot of frivolous trademarks that have been approved, and not because it pertains to that business brand at all, but because that business wants to corner the market. I'm going to stray from the path for a minute and say that while there are many trademarks that should not have been approved, they are. What some people fail to understand is that certain phrases are only popular because so many people use them. Once you trademark them, no longer allowing others to use them, it is no longer popular because more than half the world doesn't even know your business exists. So, your dreams of making it big on that one phrase doesn't pan out because it is no longer is of importance. You can give 20 makers an idea and even if they are all using the same piece of equipment to make that idea, you will get 20 different designs unique to each maker. A few things to know about the database that we all have at our fingertips as long as you have internet access, are there are live trademarks and dead ones. Some trademarks refer to a phrase and a specific design, so as long as you aren't using their specific design, you can still use that same phrase. Some trademarks are the words no matter what the design. And all trademarks are categorized, so there can be multiple trademarks of the same thing, but in different categories. Lets say a phrase is trademarked for apparel, you can still use it for earrings, mugs, and so on and vice versa, but it would be important to make sure you understand what items belong in each category and to make sure the category you want to use isn't already trademarked. Another thing to keep in mind is just because you created the phrase or use the phrase doesn't mean someone can't come along after the fact and trademark that, making it now unusable to you, even though you did your research first. You will also want to understand brand confusion. Since a football team was the topic, I am going to use it here as well. You can use the word Kansas City on any item you want. But since NFL teams have their team colors trademarked as well as a list of other items, you may not use Kansas City on any item in red and gold, because it makes people think of the football team, which has absolutely nothing to do with you. NFL teams do not give small business or makers rights to use their property, and they do not give you permission for just one team, it's the whole NFL, if you are eligible. You can tell the difference between a legit sports product, state or profession level, and a knock off by the holographic emblem. This site was the best I have found in regard to NFL in terms without all the legal jargon. It is typically easier to get a commercial license for college teams, you will need to file through the college itself, and they will have their own regulations to abide by. You will also want to understand the first sale doctrine. You can buy a LV handbag and resale it as a used LV handbag. You may not cut up that handbag and make earrings and belts and resale those items as LV. You can buy a pair of Nike shoes and resell them as Nike shoes, but you can't make that pair of shoes into a crossbody and resell them. I have not done a lot of research in this area as it does not pertain to me, so you will want to do your own research if you want more information. If you want specific advice or want to know the advice you're given is correct, contact an attorney who specializes in intellectual property. A couple other things to be aware of as makers. Most licensed fabrics state their license along the raw edge of the fabric. Most of them state you can only use their fabric for personal use, which means you are not allowed to sell anything made with that fabric. If you sell baked goods and food, you will want to know your states cottage laws. They are different by state. Some states don't allow you to sell chocolate without a commercial license, some states require you to directly hand the goods made in your home to the purchaser (you cannot make items and have the customer pick them up at the hair salon down the street), but you can find some good information for Kansas here. If you have questions regarding Kansas Cottage Laws, contact KDHE. Also, don't forget about business insurance. If you are working out of your home, most homeowners' policies will not cover equipment loss because they are items not typically found in a home, and they will not cover accidents if someone is coming to pick up a business purchase and gets injured. A business policy will cover both of those issues as well as give you coverage at vendor events. I have a business policy with our regular insurance provider, but there are other insurance companies that can get you the coverage you need as well. At the end of the day, you and only you can be responsible for your business. While I do agree that business and crafters that don't understand aspects such as pricing and intellectual property can affect the industry as a whole, what the business down the street does with their business is not directly affecting how I operate mine. Only you know your business and the risk you can afford to take. I personally have worked way too hard and invested too much time and money to wonder if making a few extra dollars is worth losing it all. So, while most of you really don't care about anything I have written here, it is an insight into why I won't' make certain items, why I won't sell some products that would be an easy sell, and why I will continue to educate myself in all areas of my business, even though it's not the fun part.

It's hard to believe another year is closing in. It is true, the older you get, the faster time flies. Sometimes the days are long, but the months are short. Reflecting back on this past year, I am more than blessed with the support of my customers and family. Not only has my business grown, but I have also worked on my business as much as in my business, I added new and updated equipment and software, and added my booth at the Topeka Vendors Market as well as several vendor events throughout the year. I really focused this last quarter on narrowing down my niche, and it has been beneficial. The truth is, it has been years since I have drawn a consistent paycheck from my business, always reinvesting back into the business, whether it be products or equipment, and I finally feel like I am in a good place to start drawing a paycheck again. I mean, I wouldn't work for anyone else for free, but at the same time, I do what I love, and it rarely feels like work. I want to say Thank You, to anyone and everyone that has supported me and my business. Sharing posts, making purchases, sending customers my way, and just giving me the confidence to keep moving forward, Thank You!! From the bottom of my heart, you will never know how much it means to me. Moving into the new year, I am excited for all the changes in store. Sometimes change is scary, but having clear plans in place, has me daydreaming about all the good that will be beneficial to myself and my customers. My Tee-Therapy t-shirt subscription opens January 1st. My goal is to not only offer you cute and trendy tees for the holidays and seasons, but to make finding something seasonal to wear easy and convenient, and to also be unique, make you feel good, and remind you that you the simplest things can bring us joy. I am also working on retail space for 2022. I have no set plans in place at the moment, but i am investing a lot of time to figure out what will be best for my needs and make shopping in person easier for my customers as well. Live sales will continue. It has been a while since I have had one, but I am hoping to make them a monthly sale. We are all hoping stock issues will resolve. This will improve available options and turnaround times. I will be offering 3-5 day turn around on all screen print orders, dependent upon artwork and stock availability. I'm sure there will be many more changes and just as many obstacles for 2022, but I hope in the end, we all end up where we are supposed to be. I can't thank you all enough for riding along on this journey with me. I can't think of any place I would rather be. Here's to '22! May it be all that you need it to be!

Hey all!! It's Becky, with Midwest Ink Co. I know some of you have been here for a while, the locals already know me, but I just wanted to introduce myself to those who don't. Our page and customers have grown greatly this past year!! I have had this blog in place for a while now, but never had the time, or took the time, to actually post. With the new year coming, new changes are also in the works, and I thought now would be a good time to start creating posts here as well. I created "Behind the Ink" as a way to not only let you get to know me better through my home life, but to take you behind the scenes of my finished products and how they are created. I grew up in the small town of Centralia, where I later returned in my adult years. I am married and the mom of 2, with 2 fur babies as well. I have always been creative and had various outlets for putting it to good use, before finding my niche in 2004, becoming the owner and operator of Custom Graphics, which was located in Sabetha, KS and through life changes moved to Centralia; several years ago, rebranded as Midwest Ink Co. I started with a 24" vinyl cutter and no clue how to run it. Briefly I owned a DTG printer, but due to inconsistent prints and constant clogged lines, I traded it in for a screen-printing press. In 2006, I added a 15 needle single head embroidery machine, a few years later upgraded to a 54" full color printer and cutter for printing banners and making contour cut decals and signage. This past summer I completed my collection of equipment with a CO2 laser. I am sure equipment means less to most of you than it does me, but we are now a full-service custom apparel, promotional goods, and personalized gift shop. We are introducing a t-shirt subscription club in 2022 called Tee-Therapy, I am planning to blog monthly, weekly live videos, more products and product options, new hours, and maybe a few other big changes as well. You can currently find us online, multiple social media platforms, and on the main level at Topeka Vendors Market. We also do occasional vendor events throughout the year, as time allows. If you have any questions, behind the scenes you would love to see, or product ideas, feel free to reach out to me at midwestinkco@gmail.com.