Grimco Connect | Tips and Resources for the Sign Industry

Screenprinting Supplies: What to Look for in a Wholesale Partner

Written by Karly Ruzicka | Jan 29, 2025 4:41:16 PM

Finding a wholesale screen printing supplier that can keep up with your shop isn't just about price. Stock depth, delivery speed, technical support, and access to specialty services like custom ink mixing all come into play once you're running production at real volume. This article covers what garment decorators and screenprint shops should look for when evaluating a wholesale partner.

What Sets a Screenprinting Supplier Apart 

A supplier that only stocks part of the screenprinting process creates the need for more than one vendor. Finding the right wholesale supplier comes down to how well that supplier can build a more convenient workflow for garment decorators, starting with how much of the process they actually cover in-house. Look for one that carries inks, emulsions and stencil film, mesh and frames, chemicals, and equipment, the full range a shop cycles through in production, rather than piecing supplies together from multiple sources.

Delivery speed is the other half of that convenience. Local or regional stock, not just a single warehouse, is what makes next-day or same-day delivery realistic, so it's worth asking a supplier directly how many stocking locations are near your shop and what delivery times you can expect when you're in a pinch. Reliable stock matters just as much. A supplier that consistently has core products on hand is what lets a shop keep its own promises to customers.

What Grimco Stock: One Supplier for All Things Garment

Grimco covers this ground itself, stocking the full range of categories a screen print or garment decoration shop cycles through:

Grimco also carries Rise Screen Solutions, its own house brand covering emulsions, frames, chemicals, and the other consumables most shops go through on a regular basis. Because it's stocked the same way across locations, availability stays consistent no matter which branch a shop orders from.

Custom Ink Mixing for Your Unique Color Matches 

Off-the-shelf colors don't always hit the exact match a client needs. Grimco offers custom ink mixing for Wilflex Epic, Amazing, and Top Score LC custom matched colors, with mixing facilities in Minnesota and California for faster turnaround than sourcing a match through a third party. Contact your local Grimco branch at (800) 542-9941 to start a custom order.

Garment Experts That Want to Help Your Business Grow

Garment specialists are available through Grimco's branch network for equipment questions and troubleshooting, so there's usually someone near your shop who knows the products well enough to help work through a specific issue.

Resources to Help You Stay Ahead

Staying current in the apparel decoration industry means keeping up with new techniques and trends. Grimco offers a few resources for that:

  • YouTube Channel: Product demos, screen printing tips, and industry trends and best practices from our trade shows to enhance your skills.
  • Interactive Catalog: Browse Grimco's core products, explore equipment options, and connect with garment specialists, all in one easy-to-navigate resource.
  • Grimco Blog: In-depth guides on screenprinting supplies, garment decoration methods, and material selection for print shops at every stage. 

Final Thoughts

Choosing a wholesale screen printing supplier comes down to stock depth, custom capabilities, delivery speed, and support you can actually reach when something goes wrong. Grimco covers each of those for screenprinters and garment decorators from 65 locations nationwide.