Are you looking for ways to maximize profits in your screen printing business? Upselling is an effective strategy to generate more revenue and increase your profits.

Upselling is a marketing strategy that involves encouraging customers to buy additional products that are related to their original purchase. In this article, I will review a simple upsell you can use with your screen printing business.

The key to successful upselling is to offer an additional product that excites your customer and meets their needs. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this with your screen printing business is to offer some type of complementary product such as custom mugs, tumblers, or water bottles. These items are easy to personalize / brand with sublimation and are a great addition to your current product line.

If you’re already making shirts for a local team or company, offering a custom item makes a lot of sense because you already have the graphics or designs you need. You won’t have a bunch of extra work for the increased revenue. (If you’re not sure how to get started, check out this article: How I Would Make Money with A Side Hustle if I Was Just Starting Out)

Another cool thing about offering a sublimation product is the amazing detail you can get. Your customers will be wowed by what you can make for them. (Just don’t tell them how easy it was. They don’t need to know.) When you’re ready to give this strategy a try, Pro World has all the sublimation equipment and blanks you could ever need.

Sublimating Mugs and Tumblers

Sublimating mugs and tumblers requires a sublimation printer (here's more about the one I use), sublimation paper, and a mug press.  This TransPro Plus Mug Press from Pro World is great because it has interchangeable heating elements.  With this one press, I'm able to use for coffee cups, tumblers, water bottles and even shot glasses!

Pro World makes it easy to design the perfect wraps for your sublimation drinkware.  With each blank bottle, cup or tumbler they sell, they include a design template.  This file gives you the size and outlines to create your wrap.  You can even use Sawgrass Creative Studio to make designing your project simple.

Once your sublimation design has been printed on sublimation paper, trim the design down to the size of your tumbler.  Wrap the paper around your blank and tape it securely with heat resistant tape.  

Now it's ready to go in the mug press.  Most of the Pro World blank drinkware items sublimate at 350 degrees for 80 seconds. Be sure to check the instructions on the blank you are using for the correct time/temperature. 

Once your blank has been heated, allow it to cool completely before removing the paper.  And that's it!  No waiting for ink to dry or doing any final steps.  Your drinkware is ready to go!

Check out these simple projects I just did with my Sawgrass sublimation printer.

Upselling creates a win-win for both you and your customers. They get the product that best meets their needs, and you make more money. You might be a little uncomfortable offering the additional product, but most customers really appreciate your attention to detail and your willingness to go the extra mile to meet their needs. It is this type of service that makes them repeat customers and that is where the real money is made.

If you have any questions or want to share your successful upsell products, drop me a line in the comments.

Happy Crafting!