Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Hi Guys,
Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my clothing for Spring 2008. Feel free to comment or provide suggestions. Thanks.
- Business Plan
- Register for business name
- Trademark Brand name
- Come up with ideas for shirts
- Shopping around for tshirt print companies
- Shopping around for freelance graphic designers
- Shopping around for turnkey Web companies
- Order shirts and hats
- Market shirts and hats to potential buyers
- Launch official online store Spring 2008.
This a quick summary. Feel free to add or comment. Thanks!
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
I agree with imageit, that plan will required a few bucks. If that isn't a problem then, you may proceed. If your're lkike most of us, test the market with a few products and once u r convinced register and hire all the designers you want. Of course if you can work photoshop or illustrator then you don't need one.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Thanks for your comments. As far as capital...I have another partner and we both have real 9-5 jobs. We're starting this clothing line as a hobby (side investment). We are planning to invest initially around 10-15K for this startup.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
I agree with Fred. Creating a "proof of concept" is a great way to test the waters, as well as a low-risk way to see if this is even a business you want to pursue (it's not for everyone).
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
I'm going to have to disagree with the "deep pockets" assessment.
It may not be a fool-proof plan, but I don't see anything in it that says it requires deep pockets.
Of course, test marketing is important. It would be a shame to go through all of those steps only to find that you don't have a product that will sell. Although, I prescribe to the theory that anything is marketable, you just have to market it correctly.
If you don't have any of the things you've listed completed here in the middle of October, I don't suggest you try to launch in the Spring of 2008. You need to spend time researching, RESEARCHING, and RESEARCHING!!!
The things you have listed are necessary in order to have a brand, and on the surface may seem quite simple. But, there is a vast amount of knowledge that needs to be obtained if you want to have a successful brand. Starting from zero and launching in less than 6 months would even be a daunting task for someone WITH deep pockets.
There is just to much to learn. Spend your time learning, and hold off on launching. You say you have a regular 9-5, so it seems there's no need to rush. That's my suggestion.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Quote:
One aspect of the plant which concerns me is hiring the art out. Art is perhaps the most key ingredient. You maybe better off with bringing in the "right" artist on a partnership/profit sharing basis. For example, maybe $1.00 per shirt sold could go to the artist, rather than paying up front.
Very true. The right art is very important. It has to fit what your target market wants.
Also, good art costs good money. I'm not sure exactly how many artists you can get to do work without getting paid up front or without guaranteeing that you can/intend to market their shirt well enough to compensate them properly for their time. I do some freelance graphic design work, and personally have not ever accepted a job like that, its a little risky in my opinion to spend all that time on something and not have a guarantee that I'll get paid enough. The best option imay be offering artist(s) a flat amount of money per project.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImageIt
In order to launch a line, i'm not sure 100 copies of a design is enough, but 100 shirts at $10 is $1,000 and 200 shirts would be $2,000. Five desgins @ may cost $5,000-$10,000 to manufacture.
It's true that the term "deep pockets" is relative, but I also don't think it takes 10-15K to accomplish.
The amount for startup will be determined by how many designs they want to carry.
Up front inventory can be minimal. Really all you need is enough for samples. If you only print samples for look books and/or web pics, then you don't need many shirts.
There's no need to try to stock for stores that may not come.
Once you take those to retailers, I would only take payment up-front. No terms whatsoever!
With up-front payments, you take the money, and get the products that have been ordered made.
I don't see anything costing 10-15K up-front.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImageIt
One aspect of the plant which concerns me is hiring the art out. Art is perhaps the most key ingredient. You maybe better off with bringing in the "right" artist on a partnership/profit sharing basis. For example, maybe $1.00 per shirt sold could go to the artist, rather than paying up front.
The art would be quite expensive, but this also depends upon how many designs they want to start with. If done well, you won't need that many.
I do agree with your partnership idea. This is exactly what I have, myself.
But again, it comes back to time. It can be done with MUCH less than 10-15k. I've done it with MUCH less than 10k, with almost the exact way he plans to do it. The only thing is that it's taken me YEARS to learn HOW to do it. Not 6 months.
But even with 15k, I don't think the time is there to do it right. It sounds more like a 15k lesson, than a success story.
Which is why my suggestion is learn the business. Then they will know how to accomplish exactly what they want without wasting money. They will learn what they don't know, and read about the mistakes that can be made instead of making them themselves.
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Last edited by Comin'OutSwingin; October 14th, 2007 at 03:36 PM.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Again, thanks for all your comments. In the short term, we're not looking for a profit or even a breakeven point in the near future. This is more of an investment and to get our BRAND name out.
I've heard not to trademark our brand name at first, but i've also heard stories that people that did not trademark later learned their brand name was trademarked already. So they ended having to change their name slightly.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
We've been researching about this industry and deciding whether we should pursue this business since July 07, so it's not like we're starting everything right now. I figure for the clothing line business, especially tshirts..spring will be the best time to launch because of the transition from winter clothes to lighter clothing...ex tshirts. So we believe this is the best time to launch a clothing line.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImageIt
For screen printed shirts, 500-1,000 shirts would be considered minimal.
Only at an order quantity of 100 or more shirts can the price be brought to a minimum.
If the base production costs are too high, not enough room will be left for the profit that retail stores would expect. Stores also require a minimum shelf inventory.
fred
That's why you only produce what you have orders for.
When you use THEIR money for production, this isn't a problem.
Raygunz187, so you've been researching for 3-4 months? Well, you still don't have ANY of the things listed done, yet. That's the problem.
I noticed you are launching an online store. I didn't see this before. Now I KNOW you can do it with much less than 10K. People do that everyday with VERY little money.
It all depends on how many designs you want to carry. You can be very successful online, with only a few designs.
If you're looking to get into retail stores in the spring, my advice is the same...wait!
If however, you are only wanting an online store I suggest you stick around here, learn all you can from other places, and it can definitely be done without having deep pockets.
Re: Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line**
Actually, another little problem is that most stores started purchasing their Spring '08 merchandise last month.
Most retail works a season ahead to allow for production and delivery. You may want to take the time spring '08 to design, source materials, find manufacturers, etc, and find out what their lead time would be. If you walk into a meeting with a retailer and can't tell them exactly how long it will take to get the merchandise from when they make their order to delivery they won't be very excited to work with someone who doesn't know the basics.
This is a discussion about Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line** that was posted in the General T-Shirt Selling Discussion section of the forums.
Here are the steps i'm taking to launch my Clothing Line** 
Now I KNOW you can do it with much less than 10K. People do that everyday with VERY little money.
