Little Falls, NJ - December 01, 2010

Custom t-shirt prices will rise again shortly. We have bona-fide information that t-shirt prices will continue rise. This situation will further exacerbate the problems the decorated apparel industry is facing at this time. With the uncertainty in the housing markets, high unemployment and a lack of commitment from the Obama Administration regarding the tax code, we should not expect to see a boom in the custom tee shirt business in the next year. Generally speaking, we should expect that discretionary spending on t-shirts, hats and fleece should remain static at best. We should also expect that wholesale order will remain at current levels. No one is getting rich in the near future.

The increased upward price pressure on the wholesale side of the business will be passed to consumers at all levels in order to maintain an orderly profit structure for all printing operations to be viable. Ink, chemicals and related supplies in certain areas of the decorating industry are rising at an alarming rate. Retailers will respond appropriately to increases from printers, however unwillingly, if the option for negotiation is limited. We believe that the $10.00 custom tee shirt will become the norm in 2011 unless a complete reversal of the current trend occurs. This is unlikely.

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