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 finished my catalog last night after printing up 3 extra pages and getting some swatches figured out
the catalog is 8.5"x5.5" and open horizontally
i printed them at kinkos and the guy running my orders, he helped me and tweeked the settings and all that so i could get some good prints.... plus he is an artist too so he knows the pain...hahaha
frosted cover with cover sheet
intro with brief bio and pic
main shirt layout sheets....24 designs worth
intro to model pics and featured artist
featured artist and then more company info/ties to detroit
model pics...4 sheets worth
product info
artists credits and swatch color samples
fabric sample at the end....... it's not easy cutting that material straight and keeping it from flexing
i just went with cardstock....the typical 80pound i think it was.... what ever kinkos uses for the typical cardstock prints.....
the photos might have been better on photopaper...but i wanted to keep the stiffness of the cardstock..... the images didnt turn out bad either...just had to tweek a few settings prior to printing
why do you think it's an over kill........ it's not like i have an established brand yet so i have to make it seem like i have a clue here.......
Because most stores simply need a line sheet, and an order form. The amount of $$ you spend printing a fancy catalog can go to other, more effective forms of marketing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 237am
i tried the typical print out a few pics and tried to give them to stores last year...... but that didnt get me anywhere.......
Also there are a lot of other things to consider. How many stores did you send info to? I would expect to receive orders from no more than 1 in 10 as a general rule.
You have to be able to plan for that, as in:
I need X minimum number of orders per style to be able to print them cost effectively, SO..
That means I need to receive $amt of orders from X number of stores.
That means I need to send marketing materials to XX number of stores.
Once you add up how many stores you actually need to send materials to, you will see quickly that it makes a lot more sense to send something that costs $1-2 to make rather than $8-10 (I'm assuming your catalog cost about that much).
Another thing - not to be harsh, but the fact that you are not using proper style numbers (which I believe I mentioned in your other thread) is a clue to retailers that you're a newbie, and that may or may not affect your sales. Also I don't see a fax order form as part of your catalog, I hope you sending one.
i'm sending the rest of the info on the order forms.....
i'm only targeting a few stores so i wont be printing alot of these anyways......
as for order numbers..... on my order forms, everything is layed out to where all they have to do is fill out the sizes/quantities...the graphic number/order number will already be listed along side of the graphic name so there isnt any confusion...
i only added the graphic number on the catalog because i'm offering t's/long sleeve and hoodie...and these have a different number....along side to a color number/etc..... it's all readable with the order form
i am a newbie at this...... cant lie.......so i guess i'll learn more as i go........
It is a very nice marketing tool. Don't mail them to every store. Use them when you go to meet buyers.
Bet it would work well in area bars too. Nothing spends money better than a drunk.
i'll do a smaller teaser version for local stores or so....... i just need orders to get stock going.... i have no funds to print up the shirts i have ...grrr
New to this myself. So you do not have to have the $ to actually make the shirts before you start taking orders? Or you are planning that you will get enough orders to cover your minimums at the printer? Idk, maybe I misunderstood something.
The catalog looks good though. Very clean and matches your style. I would see how it would not be as cost effective unless your printing a TON of them to get the cost per catalog down, so I would target the stores you think you have the absolute best chance to sell to and some dumbed down versions to the ones that might be a harder sell but worth a shot. But yeah, as far as the catalog goes, its really nice. It will at least get them to look through it and probably wont trash it right off the bat like a flyer.
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pics of my catalog..... think i'm done 
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