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.
I have a client that owns a gym and I workout out there and I talked to him about doing shirts. He was all over it, and I showed him a couple of samples for him and now there looking at placing an order. One of the things that was mentioned, not greatly discussed was the thing of doing the shirts, but have my membership be free as a form of payment.
Now I can afford the $30 a month membership for this gym, but I can't afford to eat say $500 worth of apparel, not including time to print and ink etc... Let just say that I charge him $1000 for everything and my membership is $360 a year, would I deduct the $360 from the $1000 and have him pay the difference ($640).
Can you throw some ideas out on how to barter each others services and any recommendations on how you would handle this situation.
Thanks
Brian
I myself would not barter my services. I would charge for the shirts and pay my gym membership on my own. I think when you get into that, they wont take you seriously in the future as a client to pay in cash. That is just my opinion though.
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The trade off is not very equal in value, You are putting money out in material and labor, while the Gym is just taking in money to pay a lease on equipment that they may even own; X that by as many members as they have, The gym is making out better if you trade work for membership fees. Now I am a very avid weightlifter, and one small injury at the gym can put you out for weeks. Now lets say you injure yourself and cannot attend the gym or work gets a little busy and you can't make it to the gym; you are now going to loose out on the money deducted from your work by having payed a year in advance for something you may not be able to use. I would make them a fair offer on the shirts and have it payed in full, then it is your decision to pay in full for a year. Also one last point is this; what gain are you getting by doing trade, are you getting a discount on the monthly membership.
Hope this makes a little sense!
Chris.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunnydayz
I myself would not barter my services. I would
Charge for the shirts and pay my gym membership on my own. I think when you get into that, they wont take you seriously in the future as a client to pay in cash. That is just my opinion though.
This is a tough example, since it isn't sponsering an event, a charity or some advertising that can spread the word around. Is it a large, popular gym?
For me, I love to donate and barter ... love to give stuff away. But, within reason. What is your return on your investment? What can you afford to "eat?"
This is how I would do it (and have):
1. Include each tee produced with a tag with your contact info, and washing instructions. If you can get away with it, put your company logo and contact in the artwork requested (I, personally, don't like that ... it's seems tacky to me). You never know who might get that t-shirt, who may want t-shirts done for themselves or company.
2. Stagger your deliveries. Make sure they understand that your cash paying clients need to come first. Agree to produce so many tees per week or month (your basic contract printing agreement).
3. If you can't afford to cover some or all of the expenses, have them pay for cost of goods and trade for the rest. When it comes to exposure, time and labor are the easiest to rationalize ... especially, when you have nothing better to do for yourself or company.
I don't think barters will work unless they are a like for like, product for product, service for service, it sounds like you would be doing a product (tees) for service (use of gym). Maybe you could design the tee in exchange for membership
I like Michael's suggestions. I do bartering the other way around - for instance I've had photographers take pictures for me, and paid them with t-shirts. But I don't think I'll exchange that much merchandise for something not too valuable, and that doesn't help my exposure.
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Thanks for all the input, I'll wait and see what they and if they offer something and we'll go from there. I won't make any desicions until I'm able to sit down and figure out what the overall cost and everything else comes to, but I do like your idea Michael about putting our logo in the inside of the shirt. I'll keep you updated.
I'd have to say not to barter for this particular transaction. While there probably many other situations where bartering would benefit you greatly even if you take a (small) loss, this doesnt seem like it will work.
If you are still undecided, consider how he will make out on the deal...Will he be re-selling the t-shirts? giving them away with paid memberships? or will he just have them for his staff?
IMO, Cash transactions are always the best. Business is business.
I personally have sort of the same situation with my childrens' dance/tumbling class. They asked to swap shirts for dance lessons. We declined...they still buy shirts from us and we still pay for lessons.
I agree that barter does work product for product or service for service. I would not barter product for membership fees or prepaid services. You have no idea if the business will still be their for another year. If you barter shirts for membership and they close or move to an inconvient location you are out.
I bartered custom shirts with my landlord for this month's rent. He wanted 70 white shirts with front and back print. It took me part of a day to print, and was cheap on my end, and I got a month of rent plus a check for the difference. I would trade for rent any month!
Bartering has rarely worked for me. I recommend you pay for your membership and he pay for the shirts. Unless the trade is equitable (even) for both in the short term it's not a good idea.
I have a client that owns a gym and I workout out there and I talked to him about doing shirts. He was all over it, and I showed him a couple of samples for him and now there looking at placing an order. One of the things that was mentioned, not greatly discussed was the thing of doing the shirts, but have my membership be free as a form of payment.
Now I can afford the $30 a month membership for this gym, but I can't afford to eat say $500 worth of apparel, not including time to print and ink etc... Let just say that I charge him $1000 for everything and my membership is $360 a year, would I deduct the $360 from the $1000 and have him pay the difference ($640).
Can you throw some ideas out on how to barter each others services and any recommendations on how you would handle this situation.
Thanks
Brian
Yes, you would add up all of your charges like it was a normal order and subtract the membership, then he pays the difference.
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Hard labor kills, make t-shirts instead.
I bartered custom shirts with my landlord for this month's rent. He wanted 70 white shirts with front and back print. It took me part of a day to print, and was cheap on my end, and I got a month of rent plus a check for the difference. I would trade for rent any month!
Now that is definitely tipping the scale in your favor.
Bartering for services 
... "you can't take the sky from me"
