What are the best methods and suppliers for branding unbranded merchandise like parasols, and should you DIY or outsource?

Members generally recommend outsourcing parasol branding rather than attempting DIY heat-pressing, as the process is more complex than it initially appears.

**DIY challenges:** - Regular domestic irons don't reach the temperature needed for effective heat transfer; a commercial heat press is required as a minimum - Alignment is difficult and members reported significant wastage when trying to get designs straight on curved or unwieldy items - Parasols in particular present a challenging shape for heat-transfer work

**Recommended approach — outsource to specialist suppliers:** - **Brollies and Parasols** (https://www.brolliesandparasols.co.uk/) — Welsh company praised by members as a good option for custom-printed parasols; noted as competitive on both time and pricing - **Casa Julia** — mentioned as an option; at least one member confirmed working with them

**Related merchandise:** - Members also asked about coasters; one member has a coaster printer contact (shared via DM)

**Bottom line:** Unless you have access to commercial heat-pressing equipment and significant time for trial-and-error, outsourcing to a specialist supplier is the practical route. Time and cost constraints favour using established parasol/merchandise printers rather than DIY.