Discuss the process of getting your t-shirt line into brick and mortar stores and selling offline. Topics include industry tradeshows, events, line sheets, sales reps and other retailing tips and advice.
I was walking in Georgetown in Washington D.C. wearing one of my shirts. I entered a shoe store that sells more urban inspired sneakers (nike dunks and so on). I asked about one of the shoes and the employee told me it cost 85$. Than the manager came up to me and asked where I got my shirt from. I told him I made it and he asked me if I have done wholesale or had stores sell my shirts. Considering I just got my shirts 3 days before I am completely new to this. Anyway long story short she gave me 15$ off the shoes I liked and gave me his number and name so I could contact him about selling my clothes there. I have a few ideas what I should do next, but I figured I would ask all of you veterans and newbies alike what has worked for you in sealing a deal on getting your shirts into a store. Thanks! -Brandon
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
Lets see pictures of the shirt!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NonFiction
I was walking in Georgetown in Washington D.C. wearing one of my shirts. I entered a shoe store that sells more urban inspired sneakers (nike dunks and so on). I asked about one of the shoes and the employee told me it cost 85$. Than the manager came up to me and asked where I got my shirt from. I told him I made it and he asked me if I have done wholesale or had stores sell my shirts. Considering I just got my shirts 3 days before I am completely new to this. Anyway long story short she gave me 15$ off the shoes I liked and gave me his number and name so I could contact him about selling my clothes there. I have a few ideas what I should do next, but I figured I would ask all of you veterans and newbies alike what has worked for you in sealing a deal on getting your shirts into a store. Thanks! -Brandon
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
Way to go Brandon!
Yes, you can post a picture of your shirt. (just don't try to sell us one )
Be a little more specific on your question(s). I can imagine you have a lot of them, but focus on one or two and this thread will get you some answers.
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
Well I am trying to figure out how to approach the manager. He seemed real cool about it. He already knows how much the shirts cost me to get. Right now they are about 7-8 a shirt including shipping and all other costs included. (they were kinda expensive because I didn’t order that many to begin with). I got them done by circlerprinting and the quality was great. He asked me if I sell the shirts for 35-40$ which is way more than I actually am selling them right now. (im just trying to get my name out at the moment so I am selling the shirts for 15$ to friends and people interested) In this case I am wondering how much I should either sell the shirts to the store or should I think of consignment or other methods to get them in the store. Also Im waiting on my business cards to come in (which I designed as drop tags) before I bring them to him to show him both of my designs. http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...6/100_0342.jpg http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...6/100_0337.jpg http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...6/IMG_0750.jpg
Also just so people know my designs are based off of five characters I made up and Im using them to depict or deal with more serious social issues. But yeah any advice about what my position/price point or just stance should be while I talk to this guy?
Last edited by Solmu; March 26th, 2007 at 12:50 AM.
Reason: changed images to links to speed loading for dialup users
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
Should work. He's thinking $35-40, he knows they cost you $8ish, so the usual (rough, rule of thumb, not set in stone) doubling formulas work: your cost $8ish, you sell $18ish, he sells $40ish. It sounds like this might be a pretty good opportunity in terms of the retailer not expecting you to have all your **** together yet, so you can run things by them and get their input on how they would like you to go about things.
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
I still have the tags of the brand of clothing in my shirts... I was thinking about cutting the label tag out, leaving the washing instructions and just sewing in a small label (with the name of my company) on the neck line. Since It probably wont be that many shirts I can definitely do it right now for a small amount. Its been an interesting journey because im actually a 2nd year college student trying to fit this in with my studies ha. What do yall think about the label?
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
Congratulations Brandon!
1) If the store owner is going to sell them for $35, then a general rule of thumb is that you sell wholesale to him for half that amount. You still get a profit of about $10 or so per shirt.
2) Depending on how many the store owner wants to buy, it might be worth it to you to get more shirts printed specifically for their store order and then have the screen printing company relabel the shirts for you.
3) If you are going to relabel the shirts yourself, then I would make sure it looks as professional as possible. A manufacturer brand label is better than a poorly done company brand label.
4) I agree with Lewis' point above. The store owner sounded pretty cool, so this could be a chance for you to learn from them about how the process usually works and what they expect.
Definitely read the threads that Jasonda linked to above. They have a lot of good tips that should help you go into it with more confidence and knowledge
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!?
Make sure that you trademark you t-shirt idea if you plan on selling your shirt in store fronts. I have a friend that came up with a great idea for a saying on a shirt and stated to sell them at motorcycle festivals. The next thing he noticed is that someone else was selling his idea at a same festival but they had trademarked the saying and called the police and made him leave. Make sure that any idea that you have remains yours and yours alone.
I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!? 
Re: I got my first retail Opportunity.. any help!? 
)
