Dads & Grads Sublimation Gift Guide

It is that time of the year again where loved ones are graduating high school or college and fathers are being celebrated. Sure, a necktie, tools, or other traditional gifts are nice options, but products that are personalized with full-color photos of family, friends, or favorite vacation memories will mean so much more and truly show thoughtfulness in the gift.

Let’s talk about 5 products for sublimation transfer that deliver that incredibly important 'personalized touch'.

Flasks

After graduating college or being father of the year, chances are that a drink is necessary for celebration. Flasks can be decorated with catchy phrases such as: “Drink in case of celebration.” or for Fathers: “Daddy’s Sippy Cup”. They can bring a laugh and serve as a memorable keepsake for years to come.

The unique shape of the flask requires that it be sublimated in a convection oven.

SubliSlate

Blank slate may be boring on its own, but when decorated with a memory and/or graphic, it transforms into a gift that will last for years to come. Coated slate comes in a variety of shapes and dimensions to accommodate any photograph, whether hung on a wall or placed on a desk. A family photograph with a graphic will look great displayed on a graduate's or father’s desk.

Bottle Openers

Undecorated, a bottle opener may not be the most thoughtful gift. However, with the right design or message, they will surely appreciate the gift and put it to good use! My favorite personalized bottle opener said: “Dad Bod, workin’ on my six pack”. You can also get them with a key-chain to attach to their keys for on-the-go convenience, perfect for barbecues, boat days, or camping.

Stainless Steel Tumblers

Dads and grads are always on the go, from going to work or carpooling the kids to practice, being able to take their favorite beverage with them no matter where they go is important. Whether they prefer coffee or iced tea, a personalized tumbler will not only keep their drink warm or cold, but make them feel remembered as well. Decorate with dad’s favorite sports team logo, family photo, or even his best corny dad joke. For the graduate, decorate with school colors, the letters of the fraternity/sorority they were in, or with the skyline of the new city they are moving to.

Socks

Socks are affordable, easy to sublimate and are a great opportunity to get creative with your design skills. One way I have seen socks decorated is by “sticker blasting” the face of the graduate or father all over the sock. Adding phrases to socks is also a great idea, some I found amusing: “It’s not a dad bod, it’s a father figure” and “The tassel was worth the hassle.” Let your creativity shine with customized socks that any graduate or father will surely love and laugh from.

Conclusion

With Father's Day and Graduate season about to be in full-swing, now is the time to decide what products you want to offer your customers. If sublimation is not your strong suit, then consider reaching out to your distributor for guidance and advice on how to press and decorate these items.

If you’re cautious about bringing new products on board during the busy season, my advice is to sample one or two products from your distributor. Add the products in small numbers to your social media, website, or storefront as a trial run. From here you can monitor customer reactions and how well they sell.

Do not let your personal preferences get in the way of what you sell. As my father always says: “I wouldn’t be caught dead in flip-flops, but I’ll sell them.”

As Always,
“Don’t hate, sublimate!”