With over 300 million businesses out there, it can become really overwhelming to decide what to sell. There's one very easy choice, though: T-shirts. They're everywhere—from those so-called gift shops around the corner to high-end stores, brand merchandise, or campaign giveaways. Rich streams of trends are followed by T-shirts; hence, it's a great business venture. It is in the 1920s, when central heating had been invented, that people started to wear light clothes like T-shirts. Fast forward to the 1940s, right after World War II, and T-shirts had already become so prevalent that veterans wore them on a day-to-day basis. Still wondering why you should sell T-shirts? Well, here's why: high demand, low start-up costs, potential to sell online, and creative expression.
Here's how to start up a T-shirt business in five easy steps:
1. Identify Your Target Market and Create Designs
Identify your target market in the first instance. The step provides the base for deciding whom to sell T-shirts to: students, kids, working adults, or any other target group. Knowing the interests of customers can lead to designing T-shirts that will most definitely be thrilling. One option can be using the computer-aided programs that are done by Adobe or if you are not good with it you can check Canva that offers easy navigation and tools or you can hire a freelancer.
2. Sourcing and selection of quality materials
The quality of your T-shirts is the one thing that will either make or break your brand. Because people want comfort, preshrunk, and well-fitting shirts, source and choose only very high-quality materials from a trusted garment manufacturer.
3. High-quality printing and production
The quality of the print is important as the T-shirt itself. Your design lies in the print, and thus it eventually influences customer satisfaction and in turn, repeat purchases. Consider DTF Transfers Custom Gang Sheets by DTF Printhouse. These sheets are versatile, user-friendly, and can let one transfer designs to multiple fabrics with no sweat. They also offer permanent, professional-grade transfers that won't fade, and one can easily upload designs on the website.
Some of the following features make this gang sheet so popular:
- Long-lasting
- Fade-resistant
- Professional-grade
- Versatile on any merchandise
- User-friendly website
- Unlimited gang sheet builder
- Quick turnaround time.
The right printing material will make all the difference between a visually appealing, durable product and just another one that fails to impress or meet customer expectations.
4. Price Your T-Shirts Competitively
One of the key things you have to do when selling T-shirts is to price them correctly. You may never break even on ROI if you set your prices too high or too low. First, calculate the production cost by adding materials, printing, labor cost, packaging, and indirect overhead costs into your pricing. Next, compare prices charged for similar T-shirts by other competitors. Apply differential pricing to different customer segments, considering the target profit margin. Review your price strategy once again with your trusted advisors.
5. Market, Sell, and Build Your Brand
Finally, market and sell your T-shirts and build brand identity. First, create an online presence. As over 80% of people have started using smartphones, your potential customers are most likely to look for T-shirts on the Internet rather than visiting local shops. Build a website. Create a social media presence. Hire a social media manager. Blog about the brand, then pair up with influencers. Consider email marketing. Be open to strategies offline: Join local fairs, pop-up shops, and collaborate with local businesses that will extend your reach and let you connect with the customer on a personal level.
Final Thoughts
The following five steps will help you to convert this idea into a thriving business. From design to marketing and finally to selling, we have gone through each step involved in the process. We want you to finally take some action, let your creative juices flow, and launch your T-shirt business. We are looking forward to seeing your unique designs and wish all of you guys out there tremendous success in your entrepreneurial journey. Dream big, and turn those T-shirt dreams into reality