Howard Custom Transfers
Howard Custom Transfers is a family-owned U.S. manufacturer of custom plastisol, DTF, and digital hybrid heat-applied transfers, serving apparel decorators, sports teams, schools, corporate buyers, restaurants, gyms, and retailers with 1-2 day turnaround and an online ordering dashboard.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersElgin, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Howard Custom Transfers does
Howard Custom Transfers, Inc. is a U.S.-based, family-owned manufacturer of custom heat-applied graphics founded in 2002 and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. The company produces screen-printed plastisol transfers (Howard Multi-Purpose, Hot Peel, Ultra Stretch, Vintage Wash, Puff, Glitter, Glow-in-the-Dark), digital transfers (colorVIBE DTF and colorVIBE Hybrid), and supplementary products including 3M Reflective and DTF pre-spaced names/numbers, Endure tagless labels, and a Cutting & Bagging fulfillment service. Its underlying technology combines proprietary plastisol ink formulations, Direct-to-Film digital printing, and a hybrid digital-plus-screen process with dye-blocking capability for sublimated polyester — spanning 100+ stock colors and a range of specialty finishes targeting performance and fashion apparel.
The company serves a diversified customer base spanning small custom-apparel decorators, sporting goods dealers, schools and athletic programs, corporate and enterprise buyers, gyms/fitness brands, restaurants/cafes, and high-end retailers/boutiques. Revenue mechanics are primarily unit-based, pay-as-you-go pricing through a proprietary Dashboard e-commerce portal (registered users place orders, upload artwork, request quotes, and manage invoices), supplemented by a toll-free inside-sales team, flat-rate UPS shipping, local pickup, free and paid sample packs, and market-specific Q1 Resolution Bundles priced at $30 each. Same-day and rush services ($25/color for plastisol, 25% upcharge for digital) monetize time-sensitive demand. Standard turnaround is 1–2 business days for most products, which the company positions as a primary competitive advantage.
Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer self-service (Dashboard, sample packs, bundles, YouTube tutorials, blog content) with a sales-led motion for mid-market and enterprise accounts. Distribution is U.S.-domestic via UPS with international orders handled case-by-case. The firm is privately held by founder Jeff Howard, with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity, operating as a single-entity manufacturer-distributor.
Howard Custom Transfers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Howard Custom Transfers
- Legal name
- Howard Custom Transfers, Inc.
- Website
- https://howardct.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Howard Custom Transfers is a family-owned U.S. manufacturer of custom plastisol, DTF, and digital hybrid heat-applied transfers, serving apparel decorators, sports teams, schools, corporate buyers, restaurants, gyms, and retailers with 1-2 day turnaround and an online ordering dashboard.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Howard Custom Transfers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Heat Transfers
- NAICS
- Printing (32311)
- SIC
- Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services (IMALAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM)
Keywords
Where Howard Custom Transfers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elgin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Howard Custom Transfers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Heat Transfer Products: The company generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of custom heat transfer products including plastisol transfers, DTF transfers, digital hybrid transfers, and specialty finish transfers. Orders are placed through their Dashboard e-commerce platform, with pricing based on quantity, colors, dimensions, and transfer type. The company offers gang sheets to maximize efficiency for customers.
- Cutting and Bagging Services: Add-on service where transfers arrive pre-cut, sorted, and bagged ready for application. Prices start at $0.18 per sheet, with minimum order requirements.
- Q1 Resolution Bundles: Pre-curated sales kits bundled for specific markets (Schools/Sports, Corporate/HR, Gyms/Teams, Restaurants/Cafes) containing transfer samples, blank garments, color guides, and sales tools.
- Sample Packs: Free and paid sample packs (starting at $20) featuring custom heat transfer samples from all product lines, allowing customers to test quality before placing orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Shipping - Flat Rate Options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample Packs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Q1 Resolution Bundles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cutting and Bagging Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rush Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Art and Design Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Howard Custom Transfers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Howard Custom Transfers manufactures and supplies custom heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration. The company produces screen-printed plastisol transfers (Howard Multi-Purpose, Howard Hot Peel, Ultra Stretch), specialty finish transfers (Puff, Vintage Wash, Glitter, Glow in the Dark), digital transfers (colorVIBE DTF and colorVIBE Hybrid), pre-spaced names and numbers (DTF and 3M Reflective), and tagless neck labels. Orders are fulfilled from a single Elgin, Illinois manufacturing facility, shipped primarily via UPS, with 1-2 business day standard turnaround.
Product overview
Howard Custom Transfers is a custom heat transfer manufacturer offering a diversified portfolio of transfer products organized into two main technology categories: screen-printed plastisol transfers (Howard Multi-Purpose, Howard Hot Peel, Ultra Stretch, Puff, Vintage Wash, Glitter, Glow in the Dark) and digital transfers (colorVIBE DTF, colorVIBE Hybrid). The core plastisol transfer line uses traditional screen-printing technology applied to carrier paper for heat-press application, offering superior opacity and durability with various specialty finishes. The digital transfer line provides full-color capability for smaller quantities and complex artwork. Supporting products include names & numbers transfers (DTF and 3M Reflective options), tagless labels (Endure), and a Cutting & Bagging service add-on. The company positions itself as a one-stop solution for custom apparel decorators requiring quality, variety, and fast turnaround.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Howard Multi-Purpose Plastisol Transfer Standard plastisol screen-printed heat transfer offering excellent opacity, vibrancy, and durability on a wide range of fabrics, with over 100 stock ink colors available for general apparel decoration.
- Howard Hot Peel Plastisol Transfer Plastisol transfer designed for hot peel application, enabling efficient batch production with reduced press time while maintaining quality and durability similar to standard plastisol transfers.
- Ultra Stretch Transfer Screen-printed transfer formulated for high-stretch performance fabrics including swimwear, compression wear, and athletic apparel; flexes and rebounds with fabric without cracking or peeling.
- Puff Transfer Dimensional screen-printed transfer that creates a raised, puffy texture when heat applied, adding tactile dimension and visual impact for premium perceived value designs.
- Vintage Wash Transfer Screen-printed transfer that creates a soft, worn-in vintage aesthetic when applied, designed to blend with garment color for a faded, lived-in look.
- Glitter Transfer Screen-printed transfer with glitter particles embedded in the ink for bold, sparkly designs with high visual impact.
- Glow in the Dark Transfer Screen-printed transfer using phosphorescent ink that absorbs light and glows in dark conditions, creating interactive experiential merchandise.
- colorVIBE DTF Transfer Direct-to-Film digital transfer offering full-color, high-detail printing capabilities ideal for photorealistic images, gradients, and complex designs, with lower minimum quantities than screen print options.
- colorVIBE Hybrid Transfer Hybrid digital transfer combining digital printing technology with screen-printing principles, offering full-color capability with dye-blocking properties for sublimated and performance polyester fabrics.
- DTF Names & Numbers Direct-to-Film transfers for pre-spaced names and numbers, arriving pre-cut and weeded for easy application to team uniforms and spiritwear.
- 3M Reflective Names & Numbers Reflective transfer option for names and numbers providing visibility in low-light conditions, ideal for athletic and safety apparel applications.
- Endure Tagless Neck Label Custom screen-printed heat transfer designed for interior neck labeling applications, performing with maximum durability for tagless label solutions.
- Cutting & Bagging Service Add-on service that pre-cuts and pre-sorts gang sheet transfers, packaging them ready for immediate application and saving significant production time for high-volume operations, starting at $0.18 per sheet with $25 minimum.
- Q1 Resolution Bundles Pre-curated market-specific sales kits containing transfer samples, blank garments, color guides, usage guides, markup calculator, 2026 merch calendar, email templates, and art downloads for specific verticals, priced at $30 each.
Quantifiable outcome
- Transfers maintain durability through 75+ wash cycles with no significant degradation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Howard Custom Transfers
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Howard Custom Transfers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Howard Custom Transfers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Lane Seven ApparelcoreHoward Custom Transfers partnered with Lane Seven Apparel to create a holiday lookbook called 'The Holiday Merch Edit' featuring 8 curated looks. The collaboration showcased premium garment pairings and the versatility of Howard transfers across different styles and market needs. Both companies share fundamentals of quality over shortcuts, design with intention, and attention to comfort and durability.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Howard Custom Transfers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stahls' / GroupeSTAHL: Largest North American heat-transfer manufacturer (Stahls' ID Direct, Hotronix, Transfer Express brands), directly competing with Howard Custom Transfers in custom plastisol, DTF, and digital transfers sold to apparel decorators and enterprise. Same product category, overlapping SMB and enterprise customer base.
- Transfer Express: Stahls'-owned custom heat transfer printer serving sports, team, and apparel-decorator customers. Competes head-to-head with Howard Custom Transfers on plastisol screen-printed transfers, names & numbers, and rush turnarounds.
- JDS Industries: Heat-transfer, vinyl, and apparel-decoration supplies manufacturer/distributor with a custom transfer offering and strong e-commerce platform. Comparable mid-market competitor selling to screen printers and decorators across the same verticals.
- Siser: Italian-headquartered manufacturer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and cuttable materials with a major North American sales footprint. Competes directly in the heat-applied graphics category, particularly with apparel decorators favoring vinyl-based customization.
- Chemica: French manufacturer of heat transfer films for apparel and accessories. Competes with Howard Custom Transfers' specialty-finish films and digital hybrid offerings, particularly for European-headquartered fashion and sportswear brands.
- Insta Graphic Systems: Heat press equipment and heat-transfer materials manufacturer serving apparel-decorator and screen-print shops. Overlaps Howard Custom Transfers in equipment-adjacent supplies, transfer films, and press consumables.
Others
- Coastal Business Supplies: Wholesale distributor of apparel-decoration and promotional-product supplies (blanks, films, transfer materials). Sells adjacent supplies to many of the same decorators that buy from Howard Custom Transfers, and distributes competing transfer SKUs.
- HeatPressNation: Retailer/distributor of heat presses, vinyl, transfer paper, and apparel-decoration consumables. Doesn't manufacture transfers itself but reaches the same customer base and resells competing heat-transfer SKUs to decorators.
- Imprintables Warehouse: Distributor specializing in heat transfer vinyl, equipment, and apparel-decoration supplies. Sells through many of the same SMB and mid-market decorators that source custom transfers from Howard Custom Transfers.
- Ryonet: Supplier of screen-printing equipment, inks, and consumables serving small and mid-market apparel decorators. Adjacent to Howard Custom Transfers because its customers often source custom transfer products from a print shop's third-party suppliers like Howard.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Howard Custom Transfers social profiles
Digital presenceHoward Custom Transfers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Howard Custom Transfers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Howard Custom Transfers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Howard Custom Transfers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Howard Custom Transfers
What does Howard Custom Transfers do?
Howard Custom Transfers manufactures and supplies custom heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration. The company produces screen-printed plastisol transfers (Howard Multi-Purpose, Howard Hot Peel, Ultra Stretch), specialty finish transfers (Puff, Vintage Wash, Glitter, Glow in the Dark), digital transfers (colorVIBE DTF and colorVIBE Hybrid), pre-spaced names and numbers (DTF and 3M Reflective), and tagless neck labels. Orders are fulfilled from a single Elgin, Illinois manufacturing facility, shipped primarily via UPS, with 1-2 business day standard turnaround.
Is Howard Custom Transfers a public or private company?
Howard Custom Transfers is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Howard Custom Transfers founded?
Howard Custom Transfers was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Howard Custom Transfers based?
Howard Custom Transfers is headquartered in Elgin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Howard Custom Transfers make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Heat Transfer Products are the primary driver. The others are cutting and Bagging Services, Q1 Resolution Bundles and sample Packs.
Who are Howard Custom Transfers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stahls' / GroupeSTAHL, Transfer Express, JDS Industries, Siser, Chemica and Insta Graphic Systems. Others are Coastal Business Supplies, HeatPressNation, Imprintables Warehouse and Ryonet.
Does Howard Custom Transfers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Howard Custom Transfers.
What industry is Howard Custom Transfers in?
Howard Custom Transfers's product category is Custom Heat Transfers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAKAN, Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services, with a secondary code of IMALAKAM, Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services. Its NAICS code is 32311 and its SIC code is 2670.