Discuss the fun task of marketing a t-shirt shop. Where to advertise, link building, word of mouth, press releases, search engine marketing, keyword advertising, magazines, etc.
I think, when it comes down to it, different markets prefer different color shirts just as they refer different fits and types of fabric. My approach to all of this is to design shirts that I would want to wear, on colors I like, on fabrics I like. After that, it's all a matter of finding the people out there who are like me!
In my case Ryan, that would mean everyone wearing black cotton items with colour graphics.
I do have to hold my hand up and state that I don't currently sell anything in women's sizes. Think that down to a vanity issue though. At least guys order the next size up with pride. Someone I know has an awful lot of returns from their female customers, stating wrong size supplied. Not being sexist - just cautious (honest).
I have to say size is a concern for me - I'm thinking about sticking to men's sizes as well, although one of the reasons I started this was because I could never get the great designs I wanted in women's clothing.. Women always underestimate their weight. Guy's tend to exaggerate their height.. go figure!!
Apart from potential colour choices, we all have to stock garments in more than one size. I only print up a garment when someone actually buys one. ALL my stock is unprinted until purchase.
If a customer decides they want to return a garment for being a wrong size, I am then left with a printed garment, on a particular colour and a particular size. It may be a considerable time before that garment then re-sells.
Multiply that dilemma by a large colour inventory and you could really be creating a lot of problems for yourself.
For the orders i do face to face or over the internet I always have one line at the bottom of the order form i send, next to the customers signature stating the process is permanent and therefore i can't refund on personalised decorated garments.
It's different with an e-shop, i suppose someone will by a t-shirt and have no contact with the retailer until they get the shirt delivered and find it's too small/big and want an exchange.
In my opinion, white is a solid contender for shirts selling best. White tees can really go with anything and can be mixed and matched with other things depending on the graphics.
Since my store is tied to Printmojo, I don't really have to worry too much about returns since they handle all of that. To be safe, I let people know what brand of shirts I use and then have a pretty detailed size chart. American Apparel is a pretty standard brand, so many people already know what size works for them. Continental Bamboo runs larger, and are also really stretchy, so people aren't likely to get anything too small. I have both men's and women's styles for each of those brands, but men's are selling at a much higher rate. I only recently started getting sales, so I don't know yet if people will need to send them back for a different size. I think for the most part, the market for the style of designs will be people who want more fitted shirts, but I could be wrong. I am just basing that on my friends who wear my shirts. One problem with going through Printmojo is that I get no information about the people buying my shirts, aside from what they bought. I don't even know where the sales are coming from unless it is California because then they are charged sales tax.
Re: What colour tee shirts sell best ? 
Someone I know has an awful lot of returns from their female customers, stating wrong size supplied. Not being sexist - just cautious (honest). 
