Finding Opportunities for growth in On-Demand Digital Direct-to-Garment Based in Laidley, Queensland – about 85km west of Brisbane, in the Lockyer Valley – Classic Print ‘n’ Sign offers a complete range of commercial print services, including posters, business cards, stationery, and other paper goods; pens and other promotional products; vehicle wraps; banners and signage; and apparel, accessories, and other textile goods. They support businesses of all sizes across Australia and occasionally beyond. Their sales model is primarily web-driven, with social media playing an increasingly significant role in their marketing efforts. With over 40 years of industry experience, the business is family-owned and operated by directors Linda and Paul Cable. While Classic Print ‘n’ Sign had long used traditional screen printing for t-shirts and other textile products, they found digital direct-to-garment (DTG) became a necessary capability for answering the evolving needs of their customers. “We first invested in Kornit Digital technology in 2013, and it proved beneficial to the growth of our business and being able to meet our clients’ needs,” says Linda Cable. “Digital printing has a high-end result from beginning to end, no matter if it’s a photograph or hand-drawn artwork. With conventional screen printing, the initial setup is time-consuming and printing smaller orders is cost-prohibitive—unlike with digital, whereby you simply open a file and print.” Classic Print ‘n’ Sign initially purchased the Kornit Storm II system for eco- friendly, single-step digital DTG printing on demand, eventually upgrading the system to a Kornit Storm Hexa, which supplemented the classic CMYK plus white colour palette with red and green inks for a broader, more brilliant colour gamut. Kornit’s digital on-demand production technology empowers the business to deliver multiple textile applications in any quantity, from a single piece to thousands of items per order. “Being able to offer this service to our clients has helped both our business and our clients to prosper, and the feedback has consistently told us these digital prints are of a high standard and look amazing,” Linda says. Impressed by the system’s capabilities for consistent quality and vibrant, durable impressions, Linda says she and Paul had “no hesitation” Linda and Paul Cable, Class Print ‘n’ Sign in acquiring a second machine to accommodate new opportunities and growing demand for their products. Their Storm Hexa system is operated continuously daily and is used for specialised printing tea towels, tote carry bags, and cushion covers. An additional Kornit Storm HD6, installed in 2021, handles day-to-day t-shirt print orders. Powering Storm HD6 and other state-of-the-art DTG systems, Kornit’s HD technology introduced greater efficiency to the production process, using less of Kornit’s OEKO-TEX certified safe, eco-friendly, proprietary NeoPigment™ ink set to achieve a more brilliant image, smoother hand feel, and a lower cost per print, ideal for apparel. “As the market for digital prints increased, it was necessary to purchase a second machine, which has enabled us to keep up with demand,” she says. “Having the two machines has helped our business grow, being able to print two different textiles at the same time without downtime.” The company website touts Kornit’s ability to “produce long-lasting, flexible prints resistant to cracking and fading” and “produce photographic results with a broad colour range on both light and dark coloured garments.” Finished pieces are generally delivered within 5-10 days of order receipt. Thanks to the versatile, on-demand capabilities of Kornit’s innovative DTG production systems, the business has the right tool for any print job and the proven track record of generating considerable product opportunities, profitability, and growth for Classic Print ‘n’ Sign and its clients alike. 26 AUG/SEP 2022
