Sublimation Tips: 3 Popular Markets to Dive Into

Trying to expand your sublimation business? Wondering what markets are perfect for selling sublimated products? Consider venturing into promoting and selling to these markets to grow your business.

Circle of life occasions

Life is full of memorable events, and your customers want to celebrate them with one-of-a-kind gifts for those newly engaged or the newlyweds, babies, anniversaries, birthdays, and more. Expectant parents and baby gifts with names, initials, photos are all keepsake items worthy of a new parent cherishing. Think picture frames, photo panels, exterior signage (warning those not to ring the doorbell while the baby sleeps), or keep it simple with a door hanger. Shirts and bag tags are perfect for a family reunion, especially as many have been apart for so long with the pandemic. There are plenty of opportunities to personalize products for these special occasions. An ornament to celebrate the newlyweds’ first Christmas together or the purchase of a new home is a classic gift that can involve a name, monogram, date, or even place but also can be taken up a notch with a photo of the bride and groom. Many weddings have become smaller and more personalized due to the pandemic, so don’t be afraid to also offer items that the bride and groom can give as gifts to the wedding party or even all the guests. The customization opportunities of sublimation are ideal for this type of application. Don’t forget to speak to other life occasions, like new jobs, retirement, and more that your customers can celebrate with sublimated products.

The most wonderful time of the year

Personalized holiday gifts are at the top of the list, especially around Christmas. Even in pandemic times, gift sales in November and December 2020 were up over 8.3% from the same period in 2019. Of course, photo ornaments are always the seasonally appropriate product. Don’t forget holiday-themed serving trays or offering to turn customer images from Christmas card photo shoots into a custom gift on a slate plaque or ChromaLuxe metal print. These products can run the gamut depending on your equipment, from small to larger pieces for wall display or even a larger serving tray. From a nickname or funny saying on a mug to flip flops with their name and favorite team colors — personalized gifts will have your customers winning this holiday season and coming back for more throughout the year.

Life is better with pets

People love to spoil and care for their pets. The $103.6 billion pet market proves that point. Items can run the gamut from the obvious photo panel with a picture from their adoption or gotcha day. You can also offer products that are helpful if Fido gets lost. Full-color pet tags are available one-sided or as a two-sided item, and they can be attached to a sublimated pet collar. A leash hanger can prove useful for a pet owner and the pet to hang that sublimated leash on after getting home from walks to the park. Key chains and magnets with Fluffy’s photo are sure to please the humans that the pet rules over. This is certainly a market to consider given the sheer number of homes with at least one furry friend who could use a sublimated pet bowl.

Learn more about sublimation markets in the November 2021 issue of GRAPHICS PRO.