I'm doing some reasearch and trying to better understand what drivers customer decisions when buying t shirts (ie: price, designs, shipping costs, etc.)
The best answer I could give you is,,,,,what drives you to buy?
Is it a mark down?
Free shipping?
Just the design?
The website?
Put yourself in a consumers viewpoint....then go to some related sites until you see something you like....what makes you like this, what makes you want it, what makes you click and hit add to cart then hit checkout,,,,then pull out your credit card or whatever you use and continue on to purchasing the item,,,,,
Thats what I would do....then make your site as user friendly in that manner as possible.
Glad you are doing research into T-shirt buyers - that's something we all need to know about.
In looking over the Tees I have bought in the past, I see that most of mine are souvenir purchases - for places and events I've been to. I like Tees as souvenirs because they are useful, provide pleasant memories, are affordable (less than $50), and can be easily packed or carried home easily.
However, I don't like being a walking billboard, so IF I buy something with any reference to a business, organization or product, etc - it has to be subtle.
The other Tees I have bought either have designs with a nature theme or some kind of clever word-play. I think all my shirts were either silk-screened or heat transferred - no vinyl.
Oh yeah, for a book and exhibit project I tried to make a worldwide collection of Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts (both the dot and city-shirts, and both official and bandit). At one time I had personally been in every H-R Cafe in the US, Canada and Mexico. I finally quit that project as they ended up consolidating the 3 major companies, went ultra-commercial, and were opening cafes faster than I could keep up! I'm sure they make more $$ from their merchandising than from the restaurants. Those Tees are still unworn and in a box somewhere.
But I admit I am unlikely to be the typical T-shirt customer. Demographic: over-40, female, single, no kids, income $50K+, 3 graduate degrees, and home-owner.
I also have an I-can-do-it-myself attitude, and for many years have been heavily involved in textiles, dyeing fabrics, etc.
HahA, I would say that you are definitely not in most peoples demographic!
I am targeting aware, educated, can do people to my line so hopefully you would fall into that demo.
If you want to see what is selling go to places like hot topic, hollister, somewhere that carries a wide range like affliction, obey, hurley, billabong, jedidiah, NOTW, Famous, etc......you could always see what you like, or watch and see what is getting purchased by people that fall into your demo.
I think fun, unique, jumps out at you designs will up sales no matter what, also the nature of consumerism is that when we buysomething it identifies who we are, what we are about, so in that case a lot of the time people are completely different, that makes it tough.
However, people also like to be envied, so unique comes in again, the fact that they have something cool no one else does. So making things exclusive is always a solid idea.
I love shirts that make you think, that look good, and represent something that actually matters. ( I am 23 year old male, college senior,) so right in your demo.
I love standing out and in this day and time where fame and fortune are on the rise and a must, anything that will make someone standout in a crowd will be sought after.
I only purchase 2-3 shirts per year; I get most of my other t shirts as gifts. When I do purchase t-shirts it’s usually an impulse buy such as when I'm walking around department stores and I see a nice shirt that’s on sale.
For me it starts with the design, and it is usually an impulse buy. I see it, and love it, and want to buy it.
Then, I look at the price. If it an "expensive" shirt, is it worth it to me? Do I love it enough to part with my money in order to have it? "Expensive" is kind of relative for each person.
If I'm buying online, I can't try it on, but if I'm at a physical store, how it fits and how the fabric feels is also is a third consideration.
Hi. From my own perspective, it has to be the design everytime. Not every design you create is going to appeal to everyone.
Feedback I have from customers is they like the shirt but they love the design. Price shouldn't be a major issue, unless you're attempting to charge mega bucks.
What Affects Your Tshirt Buying Decision 
