Why Small-Batch Printing is Better for Vancouver Indie Bands (And Your Failing Bank Account)
- unimpressedscreenp
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
In the 2026 Vancouver music scene, "making it" usually means you’ve successfully transitioned from living in your parents’ basement in Burnaby to renting a dilapidated "East Van Special" for a small fortune, shared with six other "artists."
Streaming royalties currently pay about 0.0004 cents per play—which means you need roughly six million streams just to afford a mediocre burrito to share before your show. Your merch table shouldn't just be an after thought; it’s the only thing standing between you and a "career transition" into insurance sales.
AI trying its hardest to come up with some real looking words.
At Unimpressed Screen Printing, we do small-batch runs because we know your band might break up by Tuesday, and you shouldn't be left with a lifetime supply of "that band I used to be in" shirts.
1. Avoid the "Box of Shame"
We’ve all seen it: the heavy, water-damaged cardboard box sitting in the back of your van, filled with 45 "Extra Small" shirts from that 2022 Alberta tour.
Ordering 200 shirts to save $0.50 per unit is a trap. That "savings" disappears the moment you realize the trends have changed and nobody wants the sizes or designs you ordered last year. Small-batch printing (runs of 12 to 50) means you print what you can actually sell before the drummer quits to join a cult and/or start a family in the Interior.
2. Prints That Actually Last (Unlike The Tour Van’s Transmission)
Some shops prioritize speed over everything, giving you a print that flakes off the first time it hits a spin cycle. At Unimpressed, I’m obsessed with the cure. Because I’m a one-person shop and a highly anxious person, I actually take the time to ensure your ink is bonded to the fabric properly.
Whether you want that classic, bulletproof heavy-ink feel or a vintage distressed look, it’s going to survive the pit at that Rickshaw show or the inevitable "I passed out in this at some party" test. If your fans are going to pay $45 for a T-shirt, it should at least outlast the Uber ride home.
3. The "Limited Edition" Grift (A.K.A. Scarcity)
Vancouverites love exclusivity almost as much as they love complaining about the rain. Small runs allow you to lean into "The Drop" culture.
The "Final Show" Tee: Perfect for your third "final" show this year.
Niche Designs: Print 20 shirts with that weird inside joke only your three most dedicated fans understand.
Urgency: "Only 15 made" sounds a lot more prestigious than "You won't believe how many of these we still have left!"
4. Keeping it Local (Because Amazon Doesn't Need Any More Money)
When you print with Unimpressed, you’re supporting a one-person local Vancouver shop that is just as cynical about the industry as you are. You aren't a line item on a corporate spreadsheet; you're a human being trying to make art in a city that’s trying to price you out of existence.
Plus, if there’s an issue, you can come down to the shop and yell at me in person.
Don’t bury your profits in a pile of unsold inventory. Let’s keep your runs small, your quality high, and your expectations appropriately managed.
Get a Quote from Unimpressed Screen Printing.
Comments