Building a million dollar tumbler business with lasers - can I do it

With the recent sale I did on tumblers, I had an idea. Could I turn just laser engraved tumblers into a million dollar business. I think I can and I'm going to try. It will have it's ups and downs, but I think it will be worth it. Let's crack this laser engraving and make some money.
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[@danielwharrison]

I definitely feel you are undervalueing your work. Stanley sells those same cups for $40. I would sell individual blanks for $25, small engraving or single side for $30, wraps for $35. But I think if someone is buying bulk cups your bottom dollar would be $25. Or selling cases of 25 blanks for around $16-$18 each + shipping.

[@ttms]

Could I sell them for more, yes. But the idea is to takeaway the obstacle of price.

[@vjsoeifi]

Stanley sells theirs for $40 for the same reason some companies sell a t shirt for $150. The value is in the brand. It's not just about quality, it's about whats trendy.

[@DesignRobot_co]

How is this mission going? Is there na update video?

[@miketheprintman]

I definitely think it’s possible. Only two problems I see. 1) that’s a boat load of inventory to buy ahead of time to keep ready on the shelf. 2) some people don’t want engraved, they want 4-color printed, which means a UV printer investment. However, if you have a good website and drive visitors to it, I think you would have an easy time getting to a million.

[@ttms]

Definitely a crap ton of inventory. I definitely think it would be easier to hit a million with both options.

[@miketheprintman]

@@ttms for sure. You should look at those InkCups presses and see if anything is worth it. Some of them can print a cup or mug in like 30 seconds.

[@johnnycalderon8261]

I’m looking to upgrade to a machine that will specifically knock out my tumble orders . It takes me 6-8 hr for just 1 full wrap ! Please recommend a laser

[@trev2396]

Do it! You're the man.

[@Zoli_ExhibitPrinting]

If you go for that volume then its worth A/B testing. Have a second site with a higher price and drive traffic with ads or however you currently get sales. Then you can tune in the best route to profit. Profit is the only bit that matters after all… a million in sales sounds cool but is meaningless if you are just busy and broke :-)

[@PROJECT1ZERO3]

Dude, I know the video is a year old but I wish I had your motivation. I'm retired and want a side gig but to be honest I am seriously apprehensive about getting started. I have a diode laser and would have to upgrade but I just don't know.Either way, I think you should go for it! I should take my own advice. Good luck.

[@marklotspeich8561]

Great job with your business! When you start looking at volumes and mind-numbing processes like this it might be time to dig into cobots. Maybe do some digging into Universal Robotics (or Omron or any other company) and give thought to machine tending solutions. That could let you transfer the bulk of the non value adding work to a machine to load/start/unload and repeat piles of tumblers between your 3 galvo machines (or any other combination).

[@ttms]

I plan on looking into it once I have the galvos running the tumblers. That or a bunch of high school students. Ha ha.

[@CLTGeek]

@@ttms Don't you have enough conscriptable labor at home? :D

[@jasonshepard3562]

Glad to see your wheels turning. I just got a CO2 laser to compliment Router CNC. I'm trying my best to get first product to market.

[@ttms]

They make a great combination.

[@repairforfun6288]

Great video, and great job with your tumbler business. Just curious How/where do you market/sell them? Thank you

[@ttms]

To my existing customers and on social media.

[@bengerber6414]

I'm not sure how much you'd have to expand your current sales to hit your target, but I'd look into marketing options. - where / how can you make the most sales and is it feasible? I'm sure you've also thought about the increased demand and potential towards the holidays. To me it seems like a great time to get organized and prepared and make another push at the end of the year.

[@ttms]

There will definitely be certain times of the year that will have higher demand. I have a few ideas floating around my head on how to make it happen. Lots of work to do for sure.

[@ttms]

There will definitely be certain times of the year that will have higher demand. I have a few ideas floating around my head on how to make it happen. Lots of work to do for sure.

[@evieb93]

How did it go? Is there an update?

[@ttms]

Slow, but moving in the right direction.

[@foodhead4677]

Since you have the equipment go for it. I buy a lot of name brand decorated tumblers for a little over a dollar more than I would pay for blank wholesale so I don't see the point of getting the equipment. If you can sell wholesale quantities at retail prices then rock and roll as long as you can.

[@barkerism6461]

You probably could benefit from some sort of dedicated wash station for the flasks that is near the laser(s) to keep cleaning more efficient but if you’re working with cups so often why not have a cart with larger lips on the sides to reduce the chance you’ll misgrab and knock one off costing inventory

[@ttms]

Definitely need a different cart. That cart was originally for a heat press. I'm hoping to get to the point that we don't need to wash the tumblers.

[@13hubi13]

Can you please make a video how you geg customers or orders? Producing us easy but actually getting orders is the difficult part for me.

[@viktorperalta3090]

What kind of laser do you use to engrave the tumblers ? I have fiber laser 20 watts butt lools like is hard to penetrate

[@ttms]

Galvo co2

[@DexOnTheGo]

great video… may i ask, what brand of laser engraver you are using?

[@coulterjb22]

I don't know anything about your new order sustained rate but buying more machines would speed up production and lower labor with front-loading your risk. I would work that one machine till it generated the $ to buy another and then do that again. That helps prep for volume while minimizing upfront liability if the market gets saturated. You could also check with the machine's manufacturer and see if they offer a rent-to-own type payment plan keeping cash in reserve while matching demand.

[@ttms]

My first goal will be to get my galvo co2 running them. That alone would drastically reduce the run time.

[@coulterjb22]

@@ttms Good luck. Video soon I hope?

[@netneo837]

go for it bro

[@German.Formula]

If your interested I have some numbers from the last tumbler order I did on my fiber. Keep in mind these were 20oz and all black. In your case I’d recommend your galvo co2. Time to: Grab a case Remove case label Open case Open boxes x 15 Remove bubble sleeve x 15 Laser mark our company on bottom x 15 Re box x 15 Re-case -------- Total - 11min 30sec Time to do a 57sec logo: Grab a case Unbox case Open boxes x 15 Laser mark customer logo x 15 Clean x 15 Re-box x 15 Seal case -------- Total - 19min 45sec Total per case of 15pcs for 57sec logo = 31min 15sec (2min 5sec per pc) This could obviously be improved by running the bottom on your fiber and then take it right to the galvo co2 for the customer logo. I believe your towers are probably not tall enough for running a 300mm lens but you could always un bolt the tower and rotate off the side of the machine and then raise the machine higher to get the height required. Or buy taller towers.

[@ttms]

I definitely want to move production to my galvo co2. I have sent the request for pricing on a 300mm lense and 800mm tower. What size of graphics have you been able to do with yours? I'm hoping to get a 3" wide logo (with cylinder correction).

[@German.Formula]

@@ttmsthe widest of the logos done was 89.581mm (3.526in) you might be able to push it further but probably not too much at least for a 20oz tumbler. Probably could go bigger on a 30-40oz

[@ttms]

That will be perfect. Now to upgrade and dial in the settings.

[@polinamayevskaya]

I think you can increase the price (I would say 35-40$ if your customers are not end customers) and get away with that easily this year. It’s a trendy product, not everyone has a supply just yet. With that being said- this year “yes” you can do 1m, next year- another trend on TikTok will pop up;)

[@ttms]

I could for sure, but the goal is volume. People will buy more that they normally would because of the price.

[@johnnyspropshop]

I would like to see it. Starting on tumblers myself. Double Dog Dare you.

[@ttms]

Challenge accepted.

[@gdurksen]

Is your eye ok man?

[@ghostman770]

Who is the most common to order? Like offices, mom and pops, online shops, or individuals? Thanks in advance.

[@bhutch216]

Moms on the Stanley’s. I just ordered them from Daron and they all sold in a day. Every one to a 25-40 yr female.

[@curtismiedzinski9040]

I would push to sell as many as possible. Maybe do a monthly update to the channel on amounts sold. A running tally might help with views or more subscribers ??

[@ttms]

Most of my business is other businesses.

[@ghostman770]

​@@ttms Thank you!

[@tpdinternational6911]

How many bottles in average you sell per month And at what price do you get them ?

[@ttms]

I haven't pushed it a lot or kept detailed numbers.

[@VinnysProjects]

I'm doing tumblers on a 30 watt mopa, so you have the lasers now to do it. It takes less than a half a minute. Out of curiousity, what are you engraving on the tumblers you're selling now?

[@BeardedBuildsCo]

Are you getting consistent results on all colors using your 30w Mopa?

[@VinnysProjects]

@@BeardedBuildsCo I haven't tried colors beyond white and black.

[@CLTGeek]

I know you can make a $1M with tumblers. The real question is... Do you WANT to make a million dollars on tumblers? I'll hold you to it!

[@ttms]

I think it will be fun. Let's do $2M by adding the pens.

[@gjsxnobody7534]

manufacturing is easy, sales is hard. can you SELL that many? making more is just another employee.. If you run 24hrs, or 2 shifts.. totally easy.

[@ttms]

I've already sold about 350 since I made up my mind Friday night.

[@gjsxnobody7534]

@@ttms I do some drop shipping and Amazon stuff and digital, and I'd love to 0.5x or 2x or more my products. But, I find that with my skillset/personality/knowledg.. etc.. I'm at a certain level of sales fluctuating only be weekends or holidays or 10% I'm surprised to hear someone say they can just decide to do 2x sales on a whim. May I ask where you sell those things?