Picture caption: David Hitchman
A Lichfield business which designs and prints custom-made
t-shirts for customers around the globe is gearing up for its
biggest month of the year as the football season returns.
David Hitchman founded Soccerprint.co.uk from his bedroom in
2007, designing, printing and shipping personalised t-shirts to
football fans worldwide. Selling hundreds of shirts each week, he
has since extended to premises on Britannia Way where he also
offers a t-shirt printing service for local customers.
With three staff and recent investment in new equipment,
Soccerprint.co.uk is now gearing up for the start of the football
season with a host of new designs.
David, an Aston Villa, says: "I started creating t-shirt designs
as a hobby for family and friends but they proved a hit with
football fans and I soon went full time to keep up with demand.
"August is always a busy time because fans want to show their
colours for the new season, whoever they support, and it's looking
like this year will be the same. We've supplied shirts to fans in
Norway, USA, Croatia, Australia and we're constantly getting
requests for new designs but it's just as nice to be able to supply
shirts to fans of local clubs like Sutton Coldfield Town and
Shenstone Pathfinder.
"We've seen a huge increase over the last couple of years in
particular. Perhaps it's because we offer a cheaper alternative to
expensive football shirts or maybe it's because fans can
personalise their shirts with their favourite team, favourite
player or favourite match. Every shirt comes in a branded
presentation gift box too, so they also make great presents -
surprisingly we've found the majority of sales are to women who buy
shirts as a gift for the men in their life.
"Over the last few years we've extended the range beyond
football and we also offer a local printing service which gives
people a chance to choose any design for stag and hen parties,
sports tours and school leavers for example. The possibilities for
personalised designs are literally endless."