Hello, I'm in the exciting yet confusing start-up stages right now. I'm not quite sure about the best way to start up.
My priority is in offering high-end designer t-shirts. So skimping on garment quality and the quality of my design production isn't really an option. I plan to use a combination of screen printing, flock, and hot-foil for my designs.
Should I buy these machines used and produce my designs in my home?
Should I buy my shirts from one manufacturer, have them sent to another place to have the designs put on the shirts, another place to insert my label etc? I figure this could get pricey with all of the shipping going on. Also, with all of these different places working on my shirts, I figured there would be an increased chance of someone messing up along the way... or shipping's being delayed.
The other option is a one stop shop. I've found some that do everything from making the shirts out of the fabric I want, with the specs that I want, they do the colouring and put the designs on (using pretty much every method I've heard of), they press it, fold it, bag it and tag it. I'm referring to Vanity Arts specifically. I'm sure there are others... any recommendations?
Should I buy one machine and contract the rest out?
As for my beginning design... I think I am going to start by offering black T's and white T's. On them, I will probably foil print my logo on the front... I have a couple of other ideas as well. But I think I'd like to keep it basic, generic, and use it as an opportunity to my name and brand displayed. This will also help in keeping my prices down.
Thank you for any input. Perhaps share experiences, pros and cons of the various options etc.
You definitely wouldn't want to manufacture one place then ship around to finish your products. Way too expensive and there's no reason for it. You can use a manufacturer that cuts, prints, and finishes.
My priority is in offering high-end designer t-shirts. [...] I think I am going to start by offering black T's and white T's. [...] But I think I'd like to keep it basic, generic, and use it as an opportunity to my name and brand displayed.
How does "high-end designer" and "black and white generic" fit together? The market is saturated with people claiming to be "high end fashion labels" with nothing but generic logos on offer. Your marketing needs to match what you're actually producing.
How does "high-end designer" and "black and white generic" fit together? The market is saturated with people claiming to be "high end fashion labels" with nothing but generic logos on offer. Your marketing needs to match what you're actually producing.
I should have been a little bit more specific. For one, I will be using top quality fabrics for my T's. And the desings will be made with foil, flock, screen printing, and embroidery... often using 2-3 methods per shirt. For example, the first shirt will have my logo either foil or flock printed on the front. It will feature a nice multi-colour design (not overly elaborate though, since emphasis is on the message), that will appeal to most women.... rather than just one type of woman. There will also be a word, in large text in the front, likely a fancy handwriting/script font near the bottom in a foreign language. This will likely be foil printed in one or two colours. The english translation will be foil or flock printed on the sleeve in the same font, but much smaller. The back will feature my business name in gold or silver foil, my logo in flock, and perhaps an original line design under my logo/company name to tie it all together.
I dont want to get too specific yet as I don't have my designs printed, and my business isn't even registered yet.
I will start with black and white t's because again these colours are worn by most people. Where blue shirts for example, will only appeal to some, and not others.
I should have written this the first time lol. So by generic black and white t's I meant a T-shirt that is still beautiful... but it will appeal to most women in general (in both t-shirt colour and design/message).
I also have a packaging strategy that is both original and value adding to the whole experience. Something that you would not get at a typical retail store (online or off).
Your post was completely valid though, and I will try to remember that. I was thinking of doing what you mentioned above and realized that would be silly. Maybe after one has an established brand, it's possible to get away with just printing your logo/business name on a nice fabric and passing it as designer.
I dont want to get too specific yet as I don't have my designs printed, and my business isn't even registered yet.
That's fair enough - you can be as specific or not as you want to be. It does sound like you actually have specifics in mind though, which is good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clockwise
So by generic black and white t's I meant a T-shirt that is still beautiful... but it will appeal to most women in general (in both t-shirt colour and design/message).
I'd call that wide appeal, rather than generic. Generic is a word with some pretty negative connotations (like boring, common, forgettable, etc.), which is not really what you're describing here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clockwise
Thank you for the feedback.
No worries. It doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with what you're doing/planning, I'd just be a little careful about talking it down too much If you're going to go for high-end etc. etc. you don't want to let down the effort you're putting in (the product, the packaging, etc.) by making people think you're doing less than what you are.
I definitely realize that a big part of getting the big dollars per shirt has to do with the way that shirt is purchased... the whole experience. You have definitely made me aware that I am going to have to work on how I talk about things. I am, and have always been middle class... so I'm not use to that whole approach. I get a 15% discount on a future purchase coupon along with my purchase, and I consider that excellent service.
Just curious, when you say "flock print", are you talking about the heat cut and heat apply flock, or the flock that's printed like screen printing with the glue and fuzz stuff? Or something else?
Start-up strategy? 
Re: Start-up strategy? 
If you're going to go for high-end etc. etc. you don't want to let down the effort you're putting in (the product, the packaging, etc.) by making people think you're doing less than what you are.
