Promotional t-shirts have a bad reputation. They're viewed as a one-off, something to be handed out and worn on a single occasion before being buried at the bottom of a dresser drawer. Or, maybe worse, promotional tees get worn during dirty jobs. All of the effort that you put in is for naught. The apparel you invested in is covered in lawn clippings, paint, or whatever was stuck in the gutters. That can lead to hurt feelings. It can also lead to a warped sense of the value of designing and printing a promotional tee. We've taken a different approach over the years - pairing amazing design with high quality apparel. It's sweet redemption for the promo tee. 

Small business marketing tends to be formulaic. If you run a small business, you know how it goes. Salespeople detect new blood in the neighborhood and burst through your front door, pushing radio schedules, TV spots, coupons in the local newspaper, and maybe a billboard or two. All traditional marketing platforms, designed for maximum reach. But, what if there were marketing techniques that kept the impressive reach and added captivating design? Good news: such things exist! 

At a glance, screen printing might seem simple to pull off. In fact, there are plenty of articles that will tell you how to do it at home. It's true: anybody can follow step-by-step instructions. But, unless you have the requisite experience, the likelihood of error is high. Remember, IKEA furniture comes with instructions and the process of following them causes well-documented tension. In screen printing, an error might not cause a fight, but it can require that you start the process over again. All in all, it's a more complicated process than you may think. That's why we think it's best left to professionals (*cough*). But, we want everyone to know what the process is like and all that goes into it.

Here are a few other aspects of screen printing you might not have considered: 

Even though print is all around us, it's often overlooked as a go-to marketing piece. That's a shame: businesses of all kinds are missing out on a marketing goldmine. Printing can be used in creative ways to establish your brand, promote your products and services, and make your name known far and wide. How can you use printing to market your business? Below are just 6 things to keep in mind:

Many businesses use vehicle wraps to create awareness and build their brand. But, as with most marketing methods, the question always comes up: is it effective? The answer is a resounding ... it depends. Again, as with most marketing pieces, it comes down to execution. Vehicle graphics can provide incredible value to your business when done right. Just buying and applying doesn't guarantee anything. Effective vehicle wraps require superior design and an attention to detail from start to finish. 

Are you missing out on thousands of square feet of ad space? 

What do you need to consider when promoting your fundraiser? 

Raising money isn't easy to do. It requires a multi-front effort that gets the word out and communicates your cause in a way that energizes others to support it. Promotion and communication are accomplished through print, advertising channels, and boots on the ground. Below are a few things you should keep in mind when spreading the word about your fundraiser: 

Not all t-shirts are created equal. Even if the fabric is the same, what goes on the t-shirt matters. 

Why do people need screen printed apparel? They want to send a message. Whether that is a message promoting an event, supporting a cause, or identifying someone as part of a group, the message should be entirely unique. Uniqueness and individuality are a few things that separate the experience of buying a t-shirt from an online company and buying a t-shirt form a company online. 

Here's why the former will get you a t-shirt you'll wear and the latter will get get you a t-shirt you'll love:

PEORIA, IL January 20, 2017 — Platt’s Printing Co. has opened a new office in the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, dedicated to printing innovation. While Platt’s Printing is headquartered in Farmington, its new space gives it another base of operations to continue serving the entire Central Illinois region.