Running a garment decoration business means making smart pricing decisions. Set prices too high and you'll lose customers to competitors. Set them too low and you'll struggle to stay profitable.
This guide walks you through exactly how to calculate competitive, profitable pricing for the heat transfers you sell to your customers.
What This Guide Covers
This pricing guide is for garment decorators and wholesalers who need to determine their selling prices. You'll learn:
- How to choose your markup percentage
- How to calculate your press charge
- How to use the Supacolour pricing spreadsheet
Note: This guide is about pricing YOUR products for YOUR customers. For Supacolour's wholesale transfer pricing, log into your portal and visit the Pricelist page.
What This Guide Covers
This pricing guide is for garment decorators and wholesalers who need to determine their selling prices. You'll learn:
- How to choose your markup percentage
- How to calculate your press charge
- How to use the Supacolour pricing spreadsheet
Note: This guide is about pricing YOUR products for YOUR customers. For Supacolour's wholesale transfer pricing, log into your portal and visit the Pricelist page.
Part 1: Choosing Your Markup
Your markup determines your margin on the transfer cost itself. The spreadsheet uses markup (not margin) for calculations.
Understanding Markup vs. Margin
Recommended Markup by Business Model
Starting Point: 33 - 40% Margin (1.5-1.67 markup)
- Most competitive for standard customers
Premium Positioning: 50%+ Margin (2.0+ markup)
- Fast turnaround, design services, or specialised expertise
Volume Pricing: 25 - 33% Margin (1.3-1.5 markup)
- Large repeat customers or high-volume orders
Part 2: Calculating Your Press Charge
Your press charge covers more than just labor - it must also cover equipment, utilities, overhead, and profit.
The Calculation
Key Points:
Calculate YOUR Labor Cost:
- Use your actual hourly rate (wages + ACC + KiwiSaver + holiday pay)
- Divide by 30 presses per hour = your cost per press
Set Your Press Charge:
- Should be 2.5-3× your labor cost
- Covers: labor, equipment depreciation, utilities, overhead, and profit
- Your labor = approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of your final selling price
- Standard range: $2.00-$3.00 per press
Adjust Based on Job Complexity:
Increase for:
- Complex positioning (15-25% premium)
- Specialty garments (bags, performance wear)
- Small volume orders
Decrease for:
- Volume efficiency (large runs)
- Repeat customers (loyalty pricing)
- Simple single-location applications
Part 3: Using the Supacolour Pricing Spreadsheet
Supacolour provides an Excel spreadsheet that automatically calculates your customer pricing.
How to Get It
- Log into your Supacolour portal at secure.supacolour.co.nz
- Navigate to Pricelist in the left menu
- Click "Download price book"
- Save and open the Excel file
How to Set It Up
Step 1: Open the Introduction Tab
This is your control panel. Enter:
- DECORATOR_MARKUP_GENERAL: Your markup (e.g., 1.5 for 33% margin)
- DECORATOR_PRESS_CHARGE: Your press charge (e.g., $2.50)
Step 2: Review the Product Tabs
Each product tab now automatically shows:
- Base Price: What the transfer costs you at each quantity tier
- Marked Up Price: Your selling price to customers (includes markup + press charge)
How it works: The spreadsheet multiplies the base transfer price by your markup, then adds your press charge on top.
Using Your Pricelist
For Quoting: Use the "Marked Up Price" for the appropriate quantity tier as your customer price.
Multiple Pricing Tiers: Consider creating separate spreadsheet versions for:
- Standard pricing (1.5 markup, $2.50 press)
- Premium pricing (2.0 markup, $3.00 press)
- Volume pricing (1.3 markup, $2.00 press)
Using Your Pricelist
For Quoting: Use the "Marked Up Price" for the appropriate quantity tier as your customer price.
Multiple Pricing Tiers: Consider creating separate spreadsheet versions for:
- Standard pricing (1.5 markup, $2.50 press)
- Premium pricing (2.0 markup, $3.00 press)
- Volume pricing (1.3 markup, $2.00 press)
Final Tips
Professional pricing is about more than just numbers. Successful decorators differentiate on speed, quality, service, and expertise rather than competing on price alone.
Factor in all your costs (equipment, utilities, overhead, spoilage), and track key metrics like average order value and margin per order to refine your pricing over time.
Need help? Contact your Supacolour customer service team through your portal or at hello@supacolour.co.nz