Shirt Monkey is a family-run Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing company based in Winsford, Cheshire, UK, specializing in high-quality digital garment printing and print-on-demand fulfillment services. Established in 2013, the company has grown significantly to become one of the UK’s major DTG printing operations.
Core Business: Shirt Monkey specializes in DTG printing services for both bulk orders and print-on-demand fulfillment. The company works with new startups, established brands, large retail companies that sell online, and individuals looking to sell custom-printed apparel. They handle the entire production and shipping process, allowing clients to focus on marketing and design without managing inventory or stock.
Production Capabilities: The company has experienced remarkable growth in production capacity, expanding from 50-100 units per day at inception to over 25,000 units per week currently. This growth has been supported by significant investment in equipment, with the company receiving approximately £1.7 million in financing from Propel Finance to expand their operations.
Technology and Equipment: Shirt Monkey operates state-of-the-art Kornit DTG printing machines, including:
- Multiple Kornit Avalanche HD6 printers (6-color system: CMYK + Red and Green + White)
- Kornit Atlas MAX printers (including a MAX POLY printer optimized for polyester)
- Total of 10 high-performance DTG printers in their facility
These machines enable them to produce vibrant, full-color prints on all fabric colors with water-based inks that won’t crack or peel like traditional screen printing.
Services Offered:
- Print-on-Demand: Integration with e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy) with automatic order processing
- Bulk Printing: Contract and overflow printing for businesses
- White Label Services: Option for branded or unbranded shipping
- API Integration: Custom integration capabilities for stores and apps
- Product Range: Over 200 customizable products including various garment types
Operations and Growth: The company has undergone six warehouse relocations to accommodate expansion, currently operating from a 10,000 square foot facility in Winsford with plans to move to a 24,000 square foot premises. Their growth trajectory shows consistent double-digit annual growth since inception.
Turnaround Times:
- Standard bulk orders: 5-15 working days
- Rush turnarounds available based on current workload
- Print-on-demand orders: Typically ship within 5-10 working days
- Worldwide shipping available
Quality and Features: Shirt Monkey’s DTG printing offers superior quality with prints that feel soft, won’t crack over time, and stretch with the fabric. Their 6-color printing system achieves a larger color gamut than most competitors, producing bright and vibrant prints. The company emphasizes quality control and customer service, with an in-house design team available to assist clients.
Company Culture: As a family-run business, Shirt Monkey maintains a positive workplace atmosphere with regular team-building events and emphasizes being part of a “big family” environment. They pride themselves on exceptional customer service and the ability to handle urgent requests with flexibility.