Your Cart is Empty
We will be closed for Memorial Day on May 25th, 2026.
We will be closed for Memorial Day on May 25th, 2026.
Taking the leap to engraving is actually easier than most screen printers would believe. .
As screen printers, it often ends up being the case that you know your client's brand better than they do. You get a feel for what they need to run their jobs efficiently and the appropriate volume. So it begs the question - are they capable of doing more? With the rise of laser engraving as a commodity service, screen printers have been able to expand their offerings to their existing client base, without adding a completely new function into their own workflow.
Your corporate clients aren't just buying shirts; they're buying an array of items for their teams. This includes gifts, awards, and drinkware among others. That budget exists and the demand growth is happening now whether you capture it or not - so why not keep the business in house? The leg work of building that connection is already done, all that is needed now is having the full capability to meet your client's needs.
The shift towards more personalized items is growing every day, especially within the corporate world. As technology improves the sophistication of requests goes up with it, as clients begin to look for more detailed & unique artwork, different applications, etc. Let's take a look at some stats that reinforce the growth of personalization:
34% of corporate gift orders in 2025 included laser engraving
Corporate gift market hit $919 billion in 2025 (9.6% CAGR, up $80 billion from 2024)
Nearly 64% of global corporations now choose personalized gifts for employees/clients
Personalized engraving has a plethora of uses, and a majority of brands have begun to find what aligns to their workflow. Knowing that there are a lot of possibilities is one thing, but implementing the ones that align to their specific offerings/space/workflow really helps print shops shine.
Branded drinkware -Tumblers, stemware, glassware. This is probably the most commonly personalized category because it's easy to mark, and also highly in demand.
Promotional hard goods -Keychains, coasters, business card holders, among other desk items. The low per unit cost on these makes for great markup, creating a mundane trinket into something memorable for the end user.
Event Merchandise - Weddings, galas, festivals, and other events. These events you are already likely doing printed apparel for, but what they provide/offer to attendees definitely expands beyond that. People often look for keepsakes glassware, and other unique items
Although making the transition to engraving isn't very complicated, it does come with some hurdles to get over in integrating. Once we take a further look, it will begin to look a lot like the same entry cliffs you saw getting into screen printing, and you'll realize you've climbed this mountain before.
Footprint & Setup -This one probably sounds eerily similar. Depending on your application and usage, the machine can be as small as tabletop or as big as a Sportsman EX, and the appropriate ventilation/cooling is also needed.
Investment -Once again it will depend on what you're looking to do and at what volume. Materials will dictate cost just as much as processing power. For example, fiber lasers made to process metals are naturally cheaper (starting around $10,000) but are limited to metals. CO2 lasers which allow you to mark on organics such as leather, powder coated tumblers, plastic, etc. can range from $40,000 to $70,000 - basically the cost of an auto press. UV lasers fall somewhere in the middle - meant to handle glass and crystal, and a major upgrade from sandblasting or traditional methods, costing around $30,000.
The Learning Curve -Fortunately, the process is more intuitive than running a press, as software, material settings all navigate pretty straight forward operations. The catch is finding the right harmony of settings to achieve the mark/engrave you are looking for.
Support -Similar to the difference between buying a press from an overseas brand you haven't heard of and getting a machine with reputable trust, navigating errors and troubleshooting downtime are not things many owners can afford. This is where having SPR & Radian at your fingertips helps you maximize your investment from operation to troubleshooting.
Since the overarching process isn't much different (applying a design to an item), you can have an optimized workflow for an entirely new system faster than you think.
The SPR/Radian Advantage - The advantage that comes with having a team that understands your efforts on both a screen printing side, as well as what you're trying to expand into gets you to profitability much faster. Already having a rep that understands your screen printing needs will make it easier to incorporate a workflow with a new machinery.
You're gaining expert industry knowledge and understanding from both screen printing and laser engraving, and finding the solution that makes the most sense for your shop.
Laser engraving is a new dimension but it's not reinventing or redefining your business model. You've done the work in building relationships, understanding your workflows, and understanding client needs.
Consider this like adding new tech to your practice. Similar functionality with a completely new set of outputs. This is another step in building further credibility and sustainability for your business. The demand is real, and the path to make that transition is easier than a lot of shops realize.
From glass to leather and most in between, there is a laser for the application.
