How a Sportswear Factory in Ho Chi Minh City Reached $8,000/Month with Sublimation Printing
19-08-2026
Nguyen runs a sportswear factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Before 2025, Nguyen used screen printing for team jerseys. Screen printing on polyester produced cracked logos after washing. Customers complained about color fading on activewear.
In March 2025, Nguyen invested in a dye sublimation printer. The sublimation printing machine produced vibrant, permanent prints on polyester. Within six months, monthly revenue grew from $2,000 to $8,000 with 55% profit margins.
The following breakdown covers equipment, costs, and timeline based on industry averages for Vietnamese sportswear factories.
Why Nguyen Chose a Dye Sublimation Printer
Nguyen compared two technologies. Screen printing required mesh screens costing $50 per design. A dye sublimation printer printed full-color designs onto transfer paper with no setup cost.
For sportswear, sublimation ink bonded with polyester fibers at the molecular level. Prints never cracked, faded, or peeled. The heat transfer printer produced all-over prints on jerseys, shorts, and socks beyond screen printing capability.
The sublimation printer used roll-to-roll feeding. A 100-meter roll printed 200 jerseys without reloading.
Break-even: screen printing required 10 months. The dye sublimation printer required only 4 months due to higher-margin all-over prints.
Equipment and Startup Cost
Nguyen purchased: 1.6m wide dye sublimation printer with 2 Epson I3200 heads ($$3,500), 1.6m roll heat press $$600), initial sublimation ink CMYK ($$300), sublimation transfer paper rolls $$250), exhaust ventilation ($$100), shipping and customs $$250). Total: $5,000.
The sublimation printing machine arrived in early March. Setup took two days with remote training.
Six-Month Revenue Growth
Months 1-2: Learning phase. Nguyen focused on local football jerseys. Revenue grew from $2,000 to $2,800. New customers came from sports clubs and gym referrals.
Month 3: Full production. The sublimation printer ran 8 hours daily. Nguyen added running singlets and promotional flags. Revenue: $4,200. Break-even achieved.
Months 4-6: Corporate clients placed bulk orders including 500 marathon shirts and 200 cycling jerseys. By month 6, monthly output included 600 jerseys, 200 flags, 150 activewear sets. Revenue: $8,000.
Profit Margins by Product
Football jerseys generated highest volume. Sublimation ink $0.80, paper $0.60, blank jersey $3.50, labor $0.50. Total: $5.40. Selling price: $12.00. Profit: $6.60. Margin: 55%.
Flags had 60% margins, singlets 58%. The heat transfer printer handled polyester, nylon, and spandex.
Monthly fixed costs totaled $1,550. At $8,000 revenue with 55% gross margin, net monthly profit was approximately $2,850.
Key Advantages of the Sublimation Printing Machine
First: permanent color. Sublimation ink bonded with polyester fibers. Prints never cracked or faded after 50+ washes, unlike screen printing which cracked after 10-15 washes.
Second: all-over printing. The dye sublimation printer printed edge-to-edge designs on entire garments with no color limits.
Third: low per-unit cost. The sublimation printer used affordable sublimation ink and paper. A full-color jersey cost $1.40 in consumables versus $3.00 for screen printing.
Recommendations for a Sublimation Printer Business
One: choose 1.6m wide format for sportswear. The wide sublimation printing machine handles jersey panels and flags in one pass. Desktop models limit production.
Two: invest in quality sublimation ink. Cheap ink causes color shifting and fading. Premium ink produces vibrant, wash-resistant prints.
Anyone researching a heat transfer printer should calculate revenue across jerseys, flags, and activewear.
Next Steps
If you operate a sportswear factory, apparel shop, or promotional business in Southeast Asia, a dye sublimation printer opens high-volume categories with permanent color and all-over printing commanding premium pricing.
Contact our team for customized pricing and color profiles. Factory-direct pricing, remote training, and 1-year warranty.
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Disclaimer: The above case study uses industry-average data for illustrative purposes. Actual revenue and profit depend on local market conditions, business management, and operational efficiency. Individual results may vary.