| Selling T-Shirts has become big business and | | | | very successful, then your marketing |
| it's a growing industry on the Internet where | | | | promotion shouldn't stop there. You have to |
| there are already thousands of shops and | | | | always be marketing/promoting your site one |
| websites where you can purchase almost any | | | | way or another because it won't take long |
| design or T-Shirt style imaginable. Thanks | | | | before someone else over takes you, simply |
| to the many T-Shirt companies that now print | | | | because links can die and you need incoming |
| and create the T-Shirts for you, with no risk | | | | links from other websites to get |
| involved, many people have been able to start | | | | traffic.T-Shirt Ranking Websites |
| their own T-Shirt business without having to | | | | |
| invest any money. This however, has turned | | | | Do ranking sites work? Yes, ranking |
| the T-Shirt business online into a fierce, | | | | websites are a great way to market/promote |
| competitive battle against all T-Shirt shop | | | | your T-Shirt designs and shops/websites. |
| website owners.There are now millions of | | | | Many people don't want to waste their time |
| T-Shirt websites online for customers to | | | | searching all over the web trying to locate |
| choose from and this is why starting your own | | | | websites that sell specific designs that they |
| online T-Shirt business can be stressful, | | | | are looking for. This is where T-Shirt |
| disappointing, and very difficult to attract | | | | ranking websites come in handy and allow |
| customers and make the sales that you are | | | | customers to view thousands of different |
| expecting. Now, I'm not saying it's | | | | T-Shirt designs and styles from many |
| impossible, I'm just saying it's going to | | | | different websites. Ranking sites are a |
| take a lot of time, effort, and maybe even | | | | great way of bringing many unique and |
| some money for you to get started and get | | | | different T-Shirt websites/designs together |
| customers visiting your shop/website.There | | | | and help to bring the buyers to the sellers. |
| are many things you need to consider when | | | | is a great example and offers many different |
| starting your own online T-Shirt business. | | | | categories to choose from including: Animal, |
| Simply creating a design, putting it on a | | | | Artistic, Attitude, Automobile, Biker, |
| blank T-Shirt, and expecting it to be a big | | | | Computer, Floral, Funny, Holiday, Kids, Logo, |
| seller isn't going to do the trick and bring | | | | Misc., Movie, Music, Novelty, Occupation, |
| you many sales, unless of course, you are a | | | | Offensive, Patriotic, Pets, Political, |
| very lucky person, whom I can assure you, | | | | Religious, Sports, Unusual, Vintage, and |
| there aren't very many of them around. If | | | | Western.Many T-Shirt business owners think |
| you want to start a T-Shirt business just to | | | | that they can just upload their T-Shirt |
| make easy money fast like many other schemes | | | | designs to a ranking website and expect to |
| on the Internet claim, then you're looking at | | | | receive sales. This is a myth and it's not |
| the wrong business. There is no such thing | | | | true. Ranking sites, like bring high |
| as easily making money fast and you're always | | | | quality targeted traffic to your website, but |
| going to have to put in the effort to get the | | | | it's your T-Shirt designs in the end that |
| results you are looking for, especially for a | | | | have to convince the customer to buy/purchase |
| T-Shirt business.Now, I'm not trying to scare | | | | the product. T-Shirt ranking websites only |
| you from owning your own T-Shirt business, as | | | | make it easier for you to market/promote your |
| there are many successful individuals who | | | | site/designs and to get the high quality |
| have started their business in the T-Shirt | | | | targeted traffic that every business |
| industry and are doing very well. I just | | | | wants.Below I've included some advice, |
| want to give you the facts of reality so that | | | | problems, and solutions from other T-Shirt |
| you're not disappointed when your business | | | | businesses that they encountered when they |
| isn't doing as well as you thought it would. | | | | were starting their own T-Shirt business.For |
| You may succeed at one aspect of the | | | | MindTrix the hardest part for starting out, |
| business, but fail in another, or you just | | | | besides money, was finding a "nitch". Our |
| might be that person who is successful at all | | | | first line of T-Shirts was all over the map, |
| the aspects of the business, which will | | | | so starting your own clothing company can be |
| obviously make your business a success. | | | | hard. I had to do and learn everything on my |
| Either way, you're still going to have to | | | | own. I over came this obstacle by going to |
| spend the time and work very hard to achieve | | | | tradeshows, surfing the Internet, and reading |
| success.Below I've listed some of the things | | | | magazines like Sport and Street, etc.MindTrix |
| you need to consider before you setup or | | | | has grown beyond just T-Shirts due to the |
| start your own T-Shirt business:Business | | | | fact that everyone including their moms have |
| Goals | | | | a T-Shirt company. When I would go into |
| | | | stores trying to sell my T-Shirts, I would |
| Before you start your own T-Shirt business, | | | | always get feedback, like what makes these |
| you need to think of your business goals. | | | | any better than the other 90,000 brands we |
| These goals should be realistic and they | | | | have in here, which most of these other |
| should point you in the direction you would | | | | brands people have heard of, and that is why |
| like your business to go and what you hope to | | | | we graduated to cut and sew as well as any |
| accomplish. An example of a goal would be to | | | | higher end T-Shirts.You have to stay ahead of |
| have 100 visitors visiting your shop/website | | | | the pack to survive. for Promotion: Don't be |
| a day or to create two new designs a week and | | | | afraid to advertise. Create buttons, |
| put them up on your website. Whatever the | | | | stickers, give them out and be sure people |
| goals may be that you have set for yourself, | | | | remember you. Tell people about it, you'd be |
| you then need to strive for them and once you | | | | surprised how many people would be willing to |
| have accomplished your goals, then you know | | | | help you out.Advice for Designing: When |
| you're on the right track.Passion | | | | designing A T-Shirt, there are many points to |
| | | | keep in mind, but the following factors are |
| You have to have an interest in what you are | | | | some technical stuff overlooked by companies |
| doing or you're not going to enjoy spending | | | | starting off: The Number of colors used & |
| the time and effort your business requires. | | | | what material will be used. Most screen |
| Everybody has a passion in one thing or | | | | printers charge in the $10-$40 range for |
| another whether it is creating the designs, | | | | every different color you use. It can get |
| promoting, or any other aspect of the | | | | really expensive for someone (Example: music |
| business, but you should have an interest in | | | | bands) to get several T-Shirts printed. They |
| it. If you're not passionate about a certain | | | | then have to sell the fans $36 dollar |
| subject, then you need to think of another | | | | T-Shirts just to cover the costs and make |
| theme that you would be more interested in | | | | some profit.The Material used: Usually each |
| doing. Remember, you are going to spend a | | | | material/brand/size comes with a set of |
| lot of time on the subject/theme that you | | | | colors that they're printed on. There isn't |
| choose, so if you aren't passionate about it, | | | | one that provides you with every single color |
| then you're going to get bored very fast and | | | | in existence. It would be a great idea to |
| it's not going to be enjoyable.Subject/Theme | | | | ask the client what material they can afford |
| | | | and then research it, or familiarize yourself |
| This is very important in the T-Shirt | | | | with the more popular brands that are being |
| industry as some subjects/themes do much | | | | printed on (Examples: American Apparel, Fruit |
| better than others and receive more | | | | Of the Loom and Hanes). I've had several |
| customers, but like all styles, they come and | | | | problems with this when I began, so don't |
| go. It's possible to have a general subject | | | | just go creating something that only looks |
| theme, but it makes it harder for you to | | | | good on a red background that you can't |
| market/promote your shop/website. I suggest | | | | easily fix, or something that looks good on a |
| choosing just one subject/theme to begin with | | | | T-Shirt color that's almost impossible to |
| as you can start adding other subjects/themes | | | | find. This will save you so much time and |
| later when you are established. You should | | | | trouble.Lastly, but most importantly, just be |
| by all means choose a subject/theme that you | | | | original. Keep the designs more |
| are knowledgeable about and have a passion | | | | personalized, deeper and more meaningful. |
| for, like I mentioned under the passion | | | | Vision. You need to know who you are, what |
| paragraph.Target Audience | | | | you're doing, why, etc. This will define how |
| | | | you market your product, how it looks over |
| Who are you targeting? Will you be | | | | all, and all the little details within that |
| targeting a certain age group, occupation, | | | | you need to do. Yep, so figure that out and |
| style, general public, etc. Finding out who | | | | then go nuts because you can't go wrong with |
| your primary target audience will be or is, | | | | a big idea, as long as you know what the big |
| will help you with marketing/promotion. This | | | | idea is.2. Marketing. It's essential in |
| will also help you with creating and | | | | today's design world. You might have a good |
| designing your T-Shirts and shop/website to | | | | product but if its weak on branding, |
| suit your target audience. Once again you | | | | labeling, packaging, shelf appeal, matching |
| can choose to go for a general audience, but | | | | coat hangers, etc., it'll look bad. |
| this will only make it harder for you to | | | | Consistency also needs to be achieved across |
| market/promote your shop/website.Research | | | | the spectrum including same font, same style, |
| | | | etc. Designing is totally open to new |
| You need to always do your research and find | | | | creations and ideas, so anything goes, but |
| out what's new, what's not, what's in style, | | | | there are some boundaries that you don't want |
| what kind of designs people are looking for, | | | | to cross, while others you need to break |
| etc. You also need to keep up-to-date with | | | | through.3. E-commerce. Yes, it's fully |
| your subject/theme as some change on a | | | | possible! It will take some setting up |
| regular basis (Example: Politics). Keeping | | | | though, but I've recently realized how I can |
| informed and up-to-date will give you the | | | | just pick up the phone and order a set of |
| leading edge over your competitors, bring | | | | hoodies, wait four days until they're on the |
| back customers time after time, and most | | | | doorstep, pay for them a month later online, |
| importantly it will make sales.Third Party | | | | etc. Also, I can call up the fabric company |
| shops Vs. Your Own Website | | | | down the road, or one in wellington, get them |
| | | | to send me samples of denim, call them back |
| Should I invest in my own website or use a | | | | and order a set amount of denim to be sent to |
| third party website to host my T-Shirt | | | | my garment manufacturer, and then call him |
| designs? If you are thinking about doing | | | | and tell him how many of what I want right |
| every aspect of the T-Shirt business yourself | | | | from my rocking chair at home.4. Online |
| (including making the T-Shirts), then I | | | | selling. Totally possible if you use ebay or |
| suggest you invest in a website (not a free | | | | know how to set up an E-commerce website |
| website hosting service), but first try out a | | | | yourself, but getting the credit card system |
| third party website that makes the T-Shirts | | | | sorted out is a major cost. Lots of girls |
| for you (no risk involved or investment | | | | shop online now, you just need to know how to |
| needed) to see if you can make your business | | | | market it right and get your products |
| a success. Once you're confident in your | | | | noticed.5. Promo. Get it out there! Make |
| business, then you can upgrade to making and | | | | sure your friends buy your products or you |
| owning your own website.There are many online | | | | could give out freebies. Put stickers, |
| third party websites available on the | | | | advertising your shop, wherever you can. Be |
| Internet that you can choose from that will | | | | shameless because designers are really |
| create and ship the T-Shirts to your | | | | admired (as opposed to being a |
| customers (risk free with no money invested) | | | | 'salesperson'), especially if your product is |
| and therefore, save you the hassle of | | | | favorable.6. Don't waste your time on silly |
| actually having to deal with the customer | | | | details. I'll let you figure out what those |
| aspect of your T-Shirt business. There are | | | | are.7. Get your accounts sorted out now. |
| as many cons as there are pros when using a | | | | Segregate your personal and business |
| third party service. Some of the cons are: | | | | spending, so you can claim back GST with no |
| You don't get your own website and you are in | | | | problems. Make sure every transaction |
| some way connected to them, you don't make as | | | | (sales, purchasing, spending, etc.) goes |
| much profit (you have to pay them to do all | | | | through your account, so you can see how well |
| the work, like printing the T-Shirts and | | | | you're doing by looking at your bank |
| shipping), and they make all the rules | | | | statement. Use the ATM machine for petty |
| (Example: not providing you with the E-mail | | | | cash; your accountant will love you one day |
| address of your customers or refusing any | | | | for this.8. Have fun! It's not the end of |
| designs that you create). When you sign up | | | | the world if it doesn't work out. I was just |
| with one of these third party services, you | | | | thinking how involved my life is at the |
| are actually working for them and that | | | | moment with my T-Shirt business. My life |
| includes promoting their site. The customers | | | | revolves around it, which is crazy, but if it |
| that purchase your T-Shirts are actually | | | | all fell apart and closed down tomorrow I'd |
| their customers meaning they have full | | | | be the same person and I'd find something |
| control and every time you make a sale, they | | | | else to do! I make sure I take one day off |
| make a profit. In other words, these third | | | | during the week to do what I love that |
| parties depend on your success and if your | | | | doesn't involve my work. I love doing my |
| business goes under, theirs doesn't because | | | | work, so I'm very lucky in that aspect, but |
| there'll always be someone else to take your | | | | sometimes it gets boring or tedious so I make |
| place.Marketing/Promoting | | | | sure I stay fresh and focused.9. Work hard. |
| | | | I still do after three years. I work my butt |
| This will be your biggest enemy in the | | | | off and hardly make any money off it, but I |
| T-Shirt business and many businesses fail | | | | know it's worth it in the long run and the |
| because of this. I suggest you do your | | | | things you learn along the way are |
| research on the web for SEO (Search Engine | | | | invaluable.10. Give away free stuff! People |
| Optimization) and about how the basic search | | | | love free T-Shirts and sponsorship goes a |
| engines works, as there is a lot of | | | | long way. It's also your duty, being in |
| information about them. Do not just resort | | | | business and generating wealth, to share that |
| to search engines as being your source for | | | | with society in some way (Example: Old stock |
| traffic as there are many other websites that | | | | goes in recycle clothing bins, etc.).Check |
| can help bring in quality targeted traffic to | | | | the story out at involved... choice! |
| your website like T-Shirt ranking sites | | | | |
| (Example: major search engines (Example: | | | | you'd like to copy this article and place |
| Google) are complicated in how they work and | | | | it on your website or pass it around, then |
| many people have been trying to figure out | | | | you are FREE to do so as long as you copy the |
| how they work for years. The search engines | | | | article in it's entirety, keep the links |
| change their algorithms on how pages are | | | | intact, and don't make any modifications |
| ranked every once in a while so you're better | | | | whatsoever. - The Ultimate T-Shirt Website On |
| off not focusing your attention on just | | | | The Internet. You can Rank, Vote, Comment, |
| getting to the top in the search engines.If | | | | E-mail, Visit T-Shirt Websites, Auction, Bid, |
| you do manage to make it to the top and are | | | | Sell, Buy, Promote/Market T-Shirts and more. |