Ok I have a delema.
I do t-shirts as a side business, I make them for people at work and for friends. I have not gone anywhere to sell my shirts, but I'm still just starting out.
But the people at work know me for making t-shirts and tote bags. I have a little binder with my artwork in the breakrooms.
Anyways this girl at work, has bought shirts for me. she says they are for her church, so I give them to her a little cheaper, and she makes money for her church.
The other day she tells me that she would like to get in the t-shirt making business for herself, that way she can make more money for her church.
she says she would not sell her shirts here at work , (where I sell my shirts) but just to her church.
So she wanted me to tell her how to go about doing this. I told her some things but not all, like that you need a press a printer a computer and you need durabright ink, and that you can buy things online.
I think I said too much.
After I said this to her I kind of fealt betraied and that she was trying to take advantage of me.... like if I tell her all this, then she will sell t-shirts at my work and I would be left out.
I dont think she has enough money to get started anyways...
but it took me a lot of work and reasearch to get where I am. I dont really want to just give it all to her.
sorry to hear you have a copy-cat that wants to be like you.
that has happend to me a lot....on a regular basis.
but, that's life.
There will always be people following you and emmulating what you do when you are the first to do it type thing....
It use to bother me, but now Im use to it and feel some what flattered and good about the fact that peeps take my ideas and used them, stangely enough.
I have also learn to keed some stuff in a vault.
You will be fine. ...dont let it get you down and continue to focus on what you do.
First, competition is good and it should never make you afraid, but make you learn some things from it. I think you should be honored actually that she came to you first for advice, because that shows that she likes the products you offer and she proves that by giving you business.
She could've easily blindsided you by selling shirts, wherever she wanted, and never said anything to you. She could actually still do this, as it's her right, (and as long as she's not overstepping company policies soliciting at work).
T-shirt selling is easy to get into and is a saturated market, let's face the facts. But the beauty I see in it is, there seems to be room for all involved or wanting to be involved.
I'm not certain why you feel betrayed, because from what you've said, it didn't indicate to me that she went out, printed shirts and started soliciting to YOUR customers at work, although remember, she may have the right to. This may not be the last time someone asks you how to get into the business.
Look at yourself as an educator to someone who may be truly interested in this business. It may come back to you in a great way!
You are probably right.
The other reason I could of felt betrayed is,... because last night I watched the movie “blow” and if any of you have seen that movie... the guy gives the name of his “connection” and then he is cut out of the business, betrayed and left out.
You are probably right.
The other reason I could of felt betrayed is,... because last night I watched the movie “blow” and if any of you have seen that movie... the guy gives the name of his “connection” and then he is cut out of the business, betrayed and left out.
Call me crazy.
Lorena.
you need a lot more than connections.
In reality, they are not connectons, these so called connections basically work for you and you sign the checks. So the YOU is what makes the wheels turn. ....make sense ?
but it took me a lot of work and reasearch to get where I am. I dont really want to just give it all to her.
The information is here for the taking. Are we betraying anyone by providing it? I realize that this hits close to home for you but as you said yourself, this is a side thing you do. Your livelihood does not depend on it.
Help her out. Even with somebody coaching you there is a financial and knowledge hurdle that everybody has to overcome. If anything, she will force you to get better/more efficient. If she's not up to the task, it will all be yours again in a short time.
I think you wll be fine. If she does start to sell items,so what. I agree with others that have posted competition is good. I know how you feel though, I was selling custom work to a local business and now they bought their own equipment. The owner called me when they had a problem (embroidery isn't as easy as it looks) and asked for my help to finish a order. I done the work and billed them . He later called and thanked me for being professional.I still get orders from them occasionally. You will find that your sales will go down at first, but will bounce back. Good luck ........... JB
One thing to remember is whether you are selling just t-shirts or selling something more. What sets you apart? What makes you unique? I am starting up my businesss and there are several businesses in my town that do it already, how am I going to position myself in this saturated market? If you are afraid, take that fear and channel it into making yourself better. There will always be competition. Also you may be short changing the people who already have bought from you. They may be loyal.
Be safe in the knowledge that most will probably never get around to it.
That's a very good point.
The one thing you have to remember is that not everybody has the drive or motiviation to actually "do it".
I have friends that I know could make good money building websites or selling t-shirts, and sometimes they even ask me how to start doing it, but it's just not their passion. Just like not everyone can be a firefighter, not everyone can be in business for themselves.
I could tell them everything I know and they wouldn't take action. That's no knock against them...it's just not what they are truly interested in, or they just don't want to put in the work.
The ones that do actually get into the business, I'm stoked about, because I have someone else to "talk shop" with
Its funny you mentioned this situation b/c my close friend is making starting a kids line and ive been working on a womans line for a yr now. ive been busting my butt doing research and netwrking and shes out partying and not being on the ball. she just recently said she wanted to jump back on it and i feel like i wouldnt want to hand her over every website, vendor, etc after i wkd so hard and been so serious and dedicated unlike her. maybe im selfiish???
i feel like i wouldnt want to hand her over every website, vendor, etc after i wkd so hard and been so serious and dedicated unlike her. maybe im selfiish???
It's understandable. Creative people have a tendency to be guarded about what they do, afraid that someone is going to take what they do, and do it better. I have a lot of people who stand over my shoulder as I'm creating something on the computer watching how I do it. For one I see a way of creating a community where someone can learn from me and also teach me (isn't that what we do here? Nobody here has really held back from sharing their knowledge). Another thing, as mentioned previously, that person (PartyGirl) sounds like even if she get's back, she'll probably be right back out parting again and screwing it up. Some people have the desire, but few have the drive. I would point her in the right direction, but let the horse get its own drink.
stealing my connections 
...dont let it get you down and continue to focus on what you do.
