baudday

So, I've never made or had any shirts made. I've been looking online, and found that t-shirt sales can be very lucrative. So I drew up ten or so designs and picked my favorite two. They are not real complex, but I think they look good on a shirt.

Anyway, as far as the production and what not goes, I don't really know where to start. Does anyone have suggestions for a printing company they like? I see some people buy the blanks from a different company than the one they print from, why? Which method of transfer would you suggest? (silk screen etc.) What do you do to get your product out there as far as marketing is concerned?

I actually have many more questions I just can't think of right now, haha.

Thanks a lot. Any responses are greatly appreciated, even if you don't answer every question.

 

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kriscad

I would do a small run of 24 pieces.... get them screen printed.

Then take the 24 and give them to people you dont know... then get their feedback once they wash and wear them.

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baudday

so when you say a small run of 24, you mean just hand out 24 of them and see how they like them? or sell them?

 

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kriscad

I know lines that have the money to make samples... they will pass out shirts (not to their friends) but to people that represent their market. Even give some to stores that you think would carry your line...

You want honest feedback...

Nothing better than having a real shirt you can give to someone, and then email or call them 2 weeks later to get their honest opinion.

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Rodney

Quote: Anyway, as far as the production and what not goes, I don't really know where to start.

A good place to start is here:
start related topics at T-Shirt Forums

starting related topics at T-Shirt Forums

Quote: Does anyone have suggestions for a printing company they like?

If you need a printing referral, you would need to post in the Referrals section of the forum. Since many of our members *are* printers, we tend to stay away from recommendation requests that might encourage self promotion. The referrals section is the exception to that rule

Quote: I see some people buy the blanks from a different company than the one they print from, why?

Some people feel they get a better deal by sourcing their own blanks. This is because many printers mark up the blank t-shirts they buy from the wholesalers when they quote the printing jobs.

Sometimes there is a specific t-shirt brand that the printer doesn't carry or doesn't want to setup a wholesale account for, so they decide to order it and send it to the printer.

However, with the costs of shipping the blanks to the printer, the extra fees many printers tack on when you bring your own garments, dealing with misprints and shortages from the wholesaler, I usually recommend that people let their screen printer (or whoever is doing their printer) to order blanks for them.

Quote: Which method of transfer would you suggest? (silk screen etc.)

There are LOTS of posts in the forums that cover the different printing methods for t-shirts. Pros and cons, recommendations, pictures, etc.

My suggestion would be to take some time to learn about the different method by reading through the posts that have already been made. Here's a few that should help:

What is the Quality of Different T-Shirt Printing Methods? A list in general order.

Pros and Cons of Each T-Shirt Printing Method

versus related topics at T-Shirt Forums

pics related topics at T-Shirt Forums

Quote: What do you do to get your product out there as far as marketing is concerned?

We have a whole section of the forum about marketing. First step would be to take some time out and read up on the many great marketing tips and suggestions that have already been posted.

T-Shirt Marketing - T-Shirt Forums

You can also search the forum for marketing tips, advertising, etc (just about any topic) and you'll find lots of answers to other questions you may have

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baudday

wow thanks a LOT for that post. that was excellent!

 

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