The rise of the micro printer – solutions for small businesses
The printing industry is evolving at a rapid pace, and nowhere is this more evident than in the rise of DTF technology.
DTF printing has been a game-changer with its unmatched versatility, stunning results, and ease of use. Whether you’re an established printer or a new Esty seller, DTF technology enables you to deliver premium quality on-demand prints across a wide range of materials.
Of course, these machines did not come cheap. Set-up costs approaching £20,000 were common. In an age of side gigs, Etsy shops and Instagram sellers, that much money is simply not available. The most common solution? DTF trade prints.
DTF trade printing – size matters
Almost everyone with a DTF printer is offering trade print services these days, and that’s amazing,” comments Jamie Turner of 1ClickPrint.
“Competition keeps the price down and service levels up. Mostly.
“When our customers need their DTF prints next day, they really do need them next day. Service levels at single or even dual machine trade printers are at the mercy of that day’s order volumes and a single large order can mean late deliveries for all their other customers. If there’s machine trouble, well, good luck.
“The only way to guarantee service is with capacity. Whilst many trade printers max out with tens of metres, at 1ClickPrint our bank of DTF machines have a massive print capacity of around 1km per day. An urgent order for 200 metres? No problem and no drop in service for anyone else.”
The engineer who does the final assembly of the machine also trains the 1ClickPrint customers
Jamie with a prototype of an ultra-wide DTF printer that is launching later in 2025
GDTF print @ home
With the right supplier, trade printing is amazing. Order early afternoon and your prints arrive early next morning looking amazing. Zero investment in equipment, zero running machines and zero space taken up. For many, many people a reliable trade printer is the perfect solution.
“The new wave of professional-grade DTF printers bring smaller footprints and significantly lower price tags,” explains Jamie.
“For regular consumers of DTF print, these lower cost production machines are opening up the chance for higher margins and even faster turnarounds without breaking the bank.”
The upcoming Printwear & Promotion show will see the launch of the company’s new ultra-compact DTF and UV DTF machines. 1ClickPrint’s sales volume has enabled it to develop machines priced as low as £4,995, even with the pro level print heads.
“With sub £5,000 machine prices, micro businesses can finally afford to bring their printing home.”
Services that go beyond the machine
“If it can go wrong, it will go wrong,” Jamie declares.
“Having the sturdiest machines, finest inks, and toughest print heads will reduce how often things go wrong, but they will still go wrong. When you have urgent orders that need to go out, having local tech support is crucial for businesses of any size.”
Inspired by car manufacturers whose engineers sign the engines they build, 1ClickPrint decided that the same engineer who does final assembly of its printer should also install that machine, train the customer, and be the first point of tech support.
“That trust and familiarity means our machine customers have less frustration, less downtime, and greater confidence to take on the biggest jobs with the tightest deadlines.”
Ready to elevate your business?
The world of print is changing and top-end machines are no longer restricted to the largest companies.
“Our 1ClickPrint high-capacity 60cm machines (from £9,995), our UV DTF machines (from £4,995), and our ultra-compact home DTF machines (from £5,995) have every DTF need covered.”
Find out more about 1ClickPrint’s full range of DTF services on 1ClickPrint’s dedicated DTF website.
