Need to Register?

Solmu · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 237am


	well i guess i'm way over my head then..... i think i'll just put this on the backburner for a while......

Wow, you're easily discouraged. If I were a competitor of yours I'd be eating this up. Since I'm not, buck up! I said it before and I'll say it again, $1200 is too big a minimum order. Start smaller, but do start.

237am · August 9th, 2008

i'm gonna make some calls today to see if i can get a press and maybe get my screens from my printer.....

i appreciate the comments/etc....... healthy discussions are always good.....

i do have shirts...just need to print....so i guess i'm half way there...heheh.... and i have my tags ......

as for the vette.... it was a dream car...i bought it...rebuilt it... drove it.... lost interest in it...... hahaha

now the question is...... what type of mini catalog would work..... i guess my catalog is tooo big so i'll have to scale down a bit..... like 2 sided 8.5x11 sheet or what.......

b

Jasonda · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 237am


	now the question is...... what type of mini catalog would work..... i guess my catalog is tooo big so i'll have to scale down a bit..... like 2 sided 8.5x11 sheet or what.......

Once again I'd say veto the catalog entirely. A color line sheet and order form are all you need. If you really want to, you can simply include an additional sheet of photos (or do double sided with the line sheet).

Even if you print your photo sheet on nice shiny paper, with that plus an additional color sheet for your line sheet, and one black and white for your order form, you will be looking at less than $1.50 per mailout, including envelope, business card and postage stamp. You can always follow up with something a little more unique later on, once you have some sales coming in.

wormil · August 9th, 2008

237, you're being stubborn for no good reason. If you go into business you're going to get burned, more than once I promise. And you can take precautions but you won't stop it from happening. If you're not willing to take risks then you might as well start punching a clock and convince yourself its for the best, tell yourself the business world is full of crooks and thieves and you won by not letting them take advantage of you. OR, you could take some advice from these good folks that have successfully done what you want to do and go sell some shirts. Once you have the orders, walk into a bank with your order forms and explain to the loan manager that you have orders to fill and you need a line of credit. The first bank will say no, so will the second but one of the banks will give you the money. Then you hire the printer, sell the shirts, use the money to finance the next round of orders, buy your vette back and pay off the bank. If it were easy or safe, everyone would be doing it.

237am · August 9th, 2008

not really being stubborn..... just raising issues....

i understand that being burned is out there....but it's really a matter of trying to avoid it and cut your loses....

i figure that the more these issues are discussed, the more we can learn ...........

from presentations to everything else....its a battle..... and making sure your product is presentable and you cover all aspects of your line....

i can speak on being burned......on a professional level..... so i took the precautions to make sure it didnt happen again...... and it hasnt.......so whats wrong with setting up a payment schedual that works for both ends...........and reduces any form of backing out/cancelled orders/etc.......

moral · August 9th, 2008

At trade shows, do buyers give checks or credit cards or just place orders? What proof do we have that they're going to pay? Should we make them sign something? Our printer doesn't require payment until after production, so if they gave us information first we could probably charge the buyers once printing is done and ship the next day. Basically our situation is similar to 237am's. We don't really have the cash to print orders, and we had planned on charging up front. If the above wouldn't work, could we get a loan to produce and pay it back once we ship?

Comin'OutSwingin · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solmu


	I said it before and I'll say it again, $1200 is too big a minimum order. Start smaller, but do start.

I completely agree with this.

Lower the minimum, and maybe even cut a few designs.

Even if you could afford to offer all of the retailers terms, many won't pay $1200 for a brand new line.

It's much easier for you to produce a small order since your funds are limited, and you also increase your chances of getting an order because your minimum is smaller.

Even if your profit margin is smaller doing smaller minimums, you still get out there and get something going.

Lots of small orders add up!

Broaden your search for potential retailers.

Jasonda · August 9th, 2008

On the FI forum there was a recent thread about the size of average wholesale orders and quite a few said their average was 10 or less. Something to think about.

Solmu · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 237am


	i'm gonna make some calls today to see if i can get a press and maybe get my screens from my printer.....

Doing the printing yourself is a very different step to what you've been looking at doing previously, but it might work for you. Most of your designs are pretty simple to print, so the learning curve wouldn't be killer. You've got previous experience working with your hands, which will help. Still, it's a big step.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 237am


	i guess my catalog is tooo big so i'll have to scale down a bit.....

I think the big catalogue is still good if you're there in person. Like if you have a meeting with a buyer and are taking them through your line.

Robin · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimere_Ink


	If it's not too late, you can easily remedy this by going to a local craft store and buying a rotary cutter and a ruler. They're made for cutting fabric. Cuts thick paper well too.

I bought one of these and took it back

I suggest just getting a very sharp pair of scissors and practising.

Robin · August 9th, 2008

I still like the catalogue idea, it will be a very good tool to have in your marketing kit you should keep in your car at all times.

Maybe make up a few of them, show them during your visits, and if they ask to keep the catalogue tell them they can borrow it and you will pick it up in a couple days. Hopefully you will be picking up the catalogue with an order.

Trimere_Ink · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin


	I bought one of these and took it back I suggest just getting a very sharp pair of scissors and practising.

Why did you take it back? Are you sure you were using it correctly? Although...I can't even think of how someone couldn't use it correctly.

COEDS · August 9th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solmu


	Wow, you're easily discouraged. If I were a competitor of yours I'd be eating this up. Since I'm not, buck up! I said it before and I'll say it again, $1200 is too big a minimum order. Start smaller, but do start.

I agree you need to lower your sights a little and you will attract more customers.I would rather sell to 3 or 4 at a lower quantity and spread my name out a little more.this will help you get the sales needed to survive. ..... JB

Robin · August 10th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimere_Ink


	Why did you take it back? Are you sure you were using it correctly? Although...I can't even think of how someone couldn't use it correctly.

I bought it to cut my scrap/tester t's into strips. Helping with hand fatigue from the scissors.

I did like the instructions told me, and it didnt cut even....telling me I needed super strength to get it to cut thru.

I do wonder tho, if I had one of those cutting mats if they would have worked better. But I wasnt will to fork over the $$ for the matt too.

tshirt0mania · August 10th, 2008

237, that's some seriously good work you've done on the catalogue.
I agree it should be used when you meet potential clients face to face. You don't need to scale it down, it's good the way it is.
Find a more cost-effective option for the mail-outs.

Need to Register?

Preferred Vendors
View Offers

Resources

T-Shirt Sites

pics of my catalog..... think i'm done

Need to Register?

Preferred VendorsView Offers

Resources

T-Shirt Sites

pics of my catalog..... think i'm done

Preferred Vendors
View Offers