Pretty much everyone in the world has worn a t-shirt at some point. It’s a staple of millions of wardrobes, and there are endless styles and colors that people wear. Not only that, but with modern technology, it’s never been easier to produce s-shirts. These facts combined mean that owning and running a t-shirt company has become a profitable venture for many people.
If you’re thinking of starting a business out of your home, then you could do a lot worse than a t-shirt company. However, you do need to keep in mind that with an industry that’s expected to reach $100 billion in the next few years, there will be competition. To not just keep up but to thrive, you need to do it right. Here are the top tips for running a t-shirt business.
Identify Your Style
Here’s the thing. When it comes to a startup t-shirt business, you can’t just come out with the same colors and styles that have been done before. You need something that makes your brand stand out and makes people want to buy and wear it. Within the t-shirt industry there are several niches you can try to work in.
For example, you might have a knack for funny or ironic slogans, or funny images. You might be able to sell t-shirts with certain types of images, like dogs or sports. Whatever your chosen niche is, check out what’s already out there, and see how you might fit in. You might find a way that you can improve upon the existing products, or have something wholly original that will stand out.
Invest in a Quality Garment Printer
Your product is only going to be as good as what is printed on the shirts themselves. You need to invest in a quality garment printer to make your images and graphics look as great as they possibly can. If they look poorly produced and cheap, then you will not engender trust in the consumer. No trust means no sales.
Despite its superior performance, you might balk at the Epson F2100 printer price. However, not only will it be worth it when you start to print your t-shirts, but there are ways to pay for it that won’t break your bank. You work out financing options so that you can absorb the price as you bring in profits. All the while you will have the best garment on the market to produce the best and most attractive t-shirts you possibly can.
Be Creative
We’ve already said that you need to identify your niche. However, within that niche you have to be bold and stand out. That means thinking outside the box and producing designs that have never been seen before. There are many online t-shirt design tools that you can use to play around with ideas and see how they look. If you know what you want, or have ideas for slogans, and don’t know how to design them, then contact a professional for help. You may have to invest more, but having a great design along with your great ideas will be more than worth it.
Be Selective When Sourcing Your Material
Not all t-shirts have the same materials. In fact, it can vary wildly from brand to brand. Many potentially great t-shirt companies that have been sunk by having shirts that don’t fit or feel right. There are many things you need to consider when choosing your materials. If you want your brand to feel comfy and warm, then your material needs to reflect that. If your shirts cause discomfort or itchiness, for example, you will get bad reviews, and no repeat purchases, no matter how great your designs are. Some materials are also better for printing, so make sure you buy with that in mind.
Create Mockups
Once you have our great designs, your perfect materials, and your high-quality printer, you can start to make mockups of your shirts. Mockups are examples that you can then show to consumers and even friends and family. They can see how the shirts look, and give feedback on them as well. This will also help you to see if there are any issues with your designs when they are affected by seams and creases. There are also many services you can use to create digital mockups that look very realistic. Just be careful as they do not take wrinkles and creases into account as well as the real thing.
Marketing
Depending on what kind of business you plan to run, you will need an appropriate marketing strategy. In most cases, it’s cost-effective to focus on digital marketing for a startup t-shirt business. The best thing about digital marketing is that there are many opportunities to show off your t-shirt designs, styles, and colors.
Make sure that you have a strong website that’s easy to use, easy to shop, and provides you with search engine benefits. You should have a lot of useful and relevant content, and simple instructions for moving through the purchasing process. The easier your website is to use, the less likely it will be that potential customers click away. A solid website also makes your brand look more professional and trustworthy.
Many startups are finding great success by using influencers to sell their products. Influencers are otherwise regular people who have cultivated massive followings on social media. If you can get influencers to wear your products and promote your website, you can find yourself finding amazing success. As the title would suggest, influencers are fashion leaders, and their audiences tend to follow.
Conclusion
A t-shirt business could be a very profitable and enjoyable enterprise. However, it’s a massive marketplace and if you don’t play your cards right, you can get lost in the shuffle. Luckily for you, it’s never been easier to create amazing t-shirts and designs for just about any market. Make sure that you take all the necessary steps and you can find success.