I'm new to the t-shirt business but I am in graphic design and I know that I can't design & print college and pro sports shirts because of copyrights, licensing, etc. But what about local high schools? Each high school sells their own merchandise, including shirts, but would I be able to design my own shirts and sell them, say, at local festivals or in local retail shops? Or would I have to get the school's permission and a portion of the profit, etc.?
I'm new to the t-shirt business but I am in graphic design and I know that I can't design & print college and pro sports shirts because of copyrights, licensing, etc. But what about local high schools? Each high school sells their own merchandise, including shirts, but would I be able to design my own shirts and sell them, say, at local festivals or in local retail shops? Or would I have to get the school's permission and a portion of the profit, etc.?
Thanks!
Neil
I don't believe so. They would feel you are competing with them and the sales they have through the booster clubs and so forth are typically fund raisers, raising money for other events. The best thing to do is to work with the local high school boosters club and PTA, or PTO to do the products for them. The high schools and other schools such as middle and elementary schools all use outside companies for their products so you can get the business and not make so many enemies.
You can solicit business from them. I have done a middle school and a few pre schools. You can also try some of the groups at the schools . Like the clubs. Yo can duplicate the schools logo though unless you have permission.
On a related note, do you know how you would go about becoming licensed to design/print college and pro sports shirts? Has anyone had any experience in doing so?
Im not quite sure about who you would contact, but the company I work for have found a few companies who own licenses for sports teams, etc so we do designs for them, and then they distribute.
Apparently the licenses are tremendously expensive. One of the company's customers has a Elvis license, and the rumor was that the license was 6 figures, just to have permission to do Elvis related products.
On a related note, do you know how you would go about becoming licensed to design/print college and pro sports shirts? Has anyone had any experience in doing so?
Neil,
You can re-create the mascot with your own style, and make it edgy with a unique approach relevant to todays trends, you can market to the students and they will buy them up! The trick is to NOT put the schools name on them, just the mascot (They can't touch you for that, mascots created in your own style will be untouchable), but also check out this link(s):
In Pinellas county. FL. where I live I had to apply to become an authorized vendor for the Pinellas co. school system. That way I'm covered for all schools. I try to work with the schools so I do'nt step on any toes.
Mike
You should contact the schools first and also ask for the coaches of the teams. They usually have a Parent organization and you can work with them. I have done several jobs for the high school football and cheerleading teams. You can also go to the PTO meetings and find out how you can submit a proposal.
This is HUGE market and anyone not trying to get this business is not trying to make money. I did 700 tee in one weekedn and made $2000. profit. I am meeting with another school on Monday.
Whoa, whoa whoa. Why does my local grocery store have local high school shirts in there for dirt cheap? I pay taxes for local "public" schools and I am pretty sure their names are not copyrighted. Check that though, because I am sure most schools would get pretty bent about their merchandise being sold at a profit.
Whoa, whoa whoa. Why does my local grocery store have local high school shirts in there for dirt cheap? I pay taxes for local "public" schools and I am pretty sure their names are not copyrighted. Check that though, because I am sure most schools would get pretty bent about their merchandise being sold at a profit.
U hit that on the nail b/c the local Wal Mart here sells High School shirts, go figure, lol
Whoa, whoa whoa. Why does my local grocery store have local high school shirts in there for dirt cheap? I pay taxes for local "public" schools and I am pretty sure their names are not copyrighted. Check that though, because I am sure most schools would get pretty bent about their merchandise being sold at a profit.
Most high schools do not license their names or trademarks. My school district requires a fee to use their logo but this is an exception to the rule, I suspect.
Local High School T-Shirts? 
