Discuss the fun task of marketing a t-shirt shop. Where to advertise, local marketing tips, word of mouth, press releases, search engine marketing, keyword advertising, magazines, etc.
So...I have another possibly lame idea.
I have lots of ideas about how i could start a t-shirt company. and I have tried and failed several times through the years, mainly due to the fact that I never have the capitol to do so...and partners come and go before I can even start.
I've been designing t-shirts for twenty years.
i'm fed up with struggling and I want to make money.
I've been laid off several times from a nice salary base employment...and have worked freelance off and on through the years.
Currently as a freelancer, over the years I have built a solid base of just a few clients that I have continually worked with. the resort industry is a seasonal industry...and I can ride the waves..but lately it's running dry.
Here's my idea...
Instead of trying to create a t-shirt company (with lots of overhead) and instead of offering my designs to each client (t-shirt manufacturers) exclusively while waiting for approvals (which could be months), I'm thinking I could offer my designs to everyone on the internet under a limited licence agreement so I would retain ownership of my designs, but buyers could use them as they wish. But they would have non-exclusivity with my designs (i'll resell them to others).....so i'd probably lose the interest of my current client base (which has been nil lately anyway) but build the possibility of lots of income from a much larger client base. The issue is: reselling my designs..and competing manufacturers would have the same design. and also, how to market my site so everyone can see it.
Obviously, my target market is T-shirt Manufacturers and I have a plan to email all the sales reps in the industry (which know me and my art very well) and they will probably be up in arms about this and this idea will either blow the industry upside down or be a big giant fail again...but that's as far as I've gotten.
BTW: this idea is something I generally would hold a secret..but I just don't care anymore....I have nothing to lose...i'm broke and I'm tired of being under the hand of the industry...Ive been in it for so long, thats it's all I know...and I know it well.
I'm thinking I could offer my designs to everyone on the internet under a limited licence agreement so I would retain ownership of my designs, but buyers could use them as they wish.
Generally speaking, if you're going to offer a license, it should be a proven commodity. You're asking someone to essentially 'rent' your graphics when they can simply buy them from literally thousands of designers out there. If you are licensing NFL graphics, or Star Wars graphics, etc, then I could see the value. But are your graphics that much better than anyone else's that it is worth licensing them as opposed to buying them or buying from someone else?
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
But they would have non-exclusivity with my designs (i'll resell them to others)
This is gonna be a problem. If someone sees the value in your designs so much that they want to purchase a license, one of the greatest values they can get is exclusivity. So that they can truly capitalize on the value they see. But if anyone else can sell it as well, it dramatically decreases the value. Could you at lease offer exclusivity for a certain time frame... 6 months or a year?
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
The issue is: reselling my designs..and competing manufacturers would have the same design.
Yes, big big BIG issue.
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
and also, how to market my site so everyone can see it.
Another big issue. It takes money to market something. Whether it is t-shirts, cars or laundry detergent. So if not having enough money was an issue with your clothing brands, it's going to be an issue with your licensing business.
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
Obviously, my target market is T-shirt Manufacturers
Don't they already have sources for designs? Either they have their own designers, or outsource them to design firms or freelancers, chances are any existing t-shirt brand is already getting designs from somewhere. So it's the same question as before... are your designs that much better? And if they are, why license them? Just sell them?
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
and I have a plan to email all the sales reps in the industry (which know me and my art very well)
Couldn't you have done that with your own clothing brand? Why would this be any different? Oh and I thought sales reps sold product to retail buyers. There are reps that would sell your designs to t-shirt brands? Or are you just thinking that the reps have contacts to these brands?
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
and they will probably be up in arms about this and this idea will either blow the industry upside down or be a big giant fail again...
It's definitely an outside the box creative idea. Which usually, sales types just don't get. But in their defense, if they have a good thing going doing what they do, why turn it upside down and take risks? It would need to be highly lucrative for them to take the risk. And when I say highly lucrative, I mean you have to PROVE it to them, not just explain the idea. Have you seen the show Shark Tank? They don't invest in anything unless you can prove that there is money to be made in the business.
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Originally Posted by aggrovated
BTW: this idea is something I generally would hold a secret..but I just don't care anymore....I have nothing to lose...i'm broke and I'm tired of being under the hand of the industry...Ive been in it for so long, thats it's all I know...and I know it well.
You really seem to be a creative person. I understand things can be frustrating, but keep at it.
Have you ever thought of approaching a department store or clothing brand about a private label idea? This way you sell the idea - or licensing of the idea - but that company uses its resources to produce and market the brand, saving you needing the capital. You would just get paid royalties.
Thank you kimura-mma...to answer your questions...
yes, my designs are good...usually in the top ten every year. My designs are proven in the industry. Sales reps have known me and my designs for years. My intent to email the sales reps is only that of pushing the designs to the manufacturers. I am the source for their designs. I've contacted reps with my previous t-shirt company attempts...and they're behind me 100%, but I cannot produce or deliver product to them. The cost is too much for me initially, even when I try to outsource contract printing through personal friends in the industry. It's just too much...I cannot get started. This is why i'm thinking about this idea....I've already been selling designs exclusively to my clients for years...i'm tired of selling them outright for a single fee...when they are making millions off of my designs. I want royalties/residuals off of my designs (I deserve it...frickin!! 20 years!!! and I've got nothing.)...my clients are unwilling to negotiate. and yes, i am currently in talks about a private label with one of my clients....but I need money now...not net/90. so i'm thinking I could do both...offer designs exclusively to my existing clients...while offering different licensed designs as well...and maybe my private label will pan out someday.
here's the reasoning behind this idea..
My ex girlfriend is making a "killing" off of selling digital downloads of design templates to her target market in photography. Why can't I do that with my designs to my target market?
There are several places that do exactly what you are talking about such as great dane graphics, Go Media and T-shirt factory. If your designs are unique and people like them you can do good, several companies do. It just comes down to is what you design, what is current in the market? One thing to think about when making these designs on licensed use is to make them vector, with easily separated elements, as alot of times people will buy these designs and take them apart and use only certain elements. Just a few things to think about
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Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee
It seems like you have the connections and experience to give it a shot. It does seem like a good idea, and as BobbieLee mentioned, there are companies that do it. I guess it's finding the right client that sees the value and willing to pay you royalties rather than the flat fee. You said your current clients are unwilling to negotiate, maybe test it out with any new clients. They may be more willing if this payment structure is being used from the beginning.
Yeah, I tried the vector art packs idea...didn't work out so good..but thats probably because I didn't think it out thoroughly....thanks Sunnydayz and kimura-mma for the suggestions.
I guess I need to rethink this idea.
site is looking good.
for the raster images, i'd suggest putting in info regarding size and resolution. Allot of our artists use clip art sites and one of the biggest complaints is that more often then not raster clipart is of poor resolution and we can't use it for what we intended.
I have done the countless hours of free search submit
and i'm ready for google ads and facebook ads as soon as I can allot money towards the pay per click thingy.
and I plan on emailing everyone I know in the industry too.
went on a few forums as well.
Sadly, not one purchase yet.
any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!
I agree...and normally I subscribe to that ideal.
It's just that when I first posted this topic I had a different idea in mind...and trying over and over again for years to establish my own company...and getting beat down every time, I start to get contemptuous about my own endeavors.
I feel good about what im doing now....and my hopes are high.
Some of the designs have multiple images. Maybe break it down into single images. One turtle, shark, etc. You would probably end up with alot more designs than you think. Price it out per image. There is a growing market for these guys getting digital printers. They need high quality full color images. Also sign guys might be interested in some.
I went to your website,, and I like what you are trying to do,, I would have no problem buying a vector pack for $10.00 or more, if it had what I needed to do my designs,
How about putting a suggestion button on the site, so we can suggest what we need?
good work, go for it,,
MMM
I went to your website,, and I like what you are trying to do,, I would have no problem buying a vector pack for $10.00 or more, if it had what I needed to do my designs,
How about putting a suggestion button on the site, so we can suggest what we need?
good work, go for it,,
MMM
I'm new on this field, and I have a question about this vector pack and his designs, can I use them to do t-shirt with sublimation (heat press)
Thank you
yes you can!...assuming you can digitally print these out onto your heat transfer paper.
it's actually easier to do that than to have someone manually separate the design out with 4 color process or spot colors.
another lame loser idea... 
