Small Shop Resources
Hi friends! I wanted a place where I can easily share all the small shop items that we use on a daily basis for other small biz owners or those starting out looking to explore new tools & equipment for their own shop. I'll periodically add new things on here whenever I have some extra time as our little shop continues to learn and grow.
Everyday Supplies
- Label Printer, We print all our address labels on the Rollo. We've tried 3 different brands, and the Rollo consistently outperforms every brand!
- Labels, this is the type we use and have found it to be the most economical per sheet.
- 4"x6" and 5"x7" Envelopes, we found these two sizes to work best for our packing needs.
- Poly mailers, these are for the rest of the "big item" orders. As in a larger package, I want the bags to be sturdier and thicker so it doesn't tear during transit.
Apps
- Adobe Illustrator & Adobe Photoshop, depending on what I need to do, I switch between both apps.
- Procreate, this is an app I use on my iPad when I draw & sketch designs.
- PicsArt, PSExpress, and Lightroom are the apps I use on my phone to edit photos
Where/ How do I make *insert item here*?
- Google is your best friend! I have googled all sorts of the same questions and learned from lots of how-to tutorials. For example, if you are looking to make your own keychains, try searching "custom keychains" or "how to make my own keychains" into Google.
- Youtube is another place where I started. It's a fast way to learn quickly without reading long tutorials; for example, search for "how to make stickers" and you'll get so many great videos who can do a better job at explaining than I can. There are even more guides on Youtube than Google- and if you're more of a visual learner (like me) you'll find Youtube to be very learner-friendly! I always joke that I'm a proud graduate of YouTube University.
Where do you print your *insert item here* ?
- We print with a number of different printers that we sourced over the years and found to work with what we are looking for.
- You can find these companies from just searching in google. For example, if you want to find a printer who can print customized envelopes, you can search "Custom Envelope Printing near me", for notepads you may try searching for "Custom Planner Notepads", or for stickers you might find "Custom Stickers" show the results you're looking for.
- The best tip that I learned and believe all small businesses should take advantage of is to request Print Samples or Sticker Samples. This is to check the capabilities of each company to help you decide which company is right for you. The printers that might work for us, may not be a good fit for your needs and your business, which is why I do not advise one company over another. Even though the end product might be very similar, you might discover that you prefer one company's printing detail or paper quality over another. Print Samples are typically free or available at a very low cost with shipping. Any reputable printing company will have this option available. I store all of my print samples in one place and frequently refer to them each time I need to print something new so I can make the best decision based on the design I want to create.
- Some other tips from my experience are
- Note each printer's turnaround times and location of where they are based. There are some that can ship in just 2-3 business days (which is great if you need something super fast!) while others may take 2-4 weeks to arrive. If you are based in Europe, for example, it might be more beneficial to find a printer who has capacity to print and deliver within your country faster and is better for the environment! There are a couple of fantastic printers that are based in the UK and have super fast shipping to the US that is even faster than some US based printers. Depending on the timeline you might need a design (such as a seasonal item that you need to release right away) it might be more beneficial to have a handful of pre-approved printers you like with quick turn around times.
- Know the capabilities of each printer. For example, if you are printing stickers you need to figure out whether the design you have looks best with a standard white background, transparent material, holographic, glitter, glow in the dark, or so many other options. One printer may have some of the options you are looking for while another will have others. Even between different printers, the thickness and durability of the materials they use will be different. This is why getting samples is critical! We use more than 5+ different sticker printers each dependent on the design and effect I want to bring out.
- Find out the quantities they are able to print! Some printers might be able to support super low printing Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ) like quantities of 10-50pcs, which might be the perfect quantities to start a new business, test a new design concept, or restock just a little bit extra of one design. Lower printing minimums usually mean the cost per sticker is a bit higher. You have to find the right balance between quantities and cost for your business.
There are pros and cons with every company, and doing the homework to find out what each company offers (or doesn't offer) helps prepare you to make the best choice for your business!
