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 started a home-based t-shirt printing business last year. I bought vinyl cutter, heat press, rolls of thermo films, and inventory of sportswear merchandise. In the first 8 months, I get sales from friends and family, but after a while my sales went down because my loyal patrons lost their jobs or their business was slow too.
I tried swapmeet and I am just breaking even with the amount I spent in transporting my products, the rent for the booth, and to pay my assistant. I'm not really making it.
I have a part-time day job, I lost my high paying job last year because our company downsized and I got mortgages, car, utilities, and still paying off the loan for the equipments that I bought for the business. My marketing skills is not that good either. I am a good graphic artist, but I don't know how can I show the world the great things that I do and GET NOTICED and for people TO BUY my products & services.
I think I need a business partner. Can you help me make a blurb and I will post it on the newspaper & facebook.
I love what I do but I do not have what it takes to be a SALES PERSON.
I have a home based business with a web site. I live in the country, so not real handy for everyone. Too much work moving to go to all of the fairs and such around.
I keep hoping people would use my website. But not!
My situation is different, retired and something I have always wanted to do so I am sticking it out. I would hate to depend on what I sale!!
Each one of us have a different situation, so it just depends on if you can afford to stick it out, till things turn around.
I'm sure you will work out something. Good luck in what ever you decide to do.
P.S. How much advertising on Face Book can a person get by with and not get in trouble for it????
Linda with lindaschallenge!
It will cost you nothing, just go to facebook and create your account and join different groups. Thanks for your reply, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
Heres a couple of thoughts though, based off of viewing your website:
1-Google local sports teams in your area.. contact them, simply tell them you're offering xyz and offer to send out a sample. (I know, it can cost money, but, once a customer has something new in their hands with THEIR name on it, its hard to resist purchasing more)
2-Try ebay with your rhinestone designs, I know nothing about rhinestones or pricing, but maybe you could do little girls bags for birthday parties and sell a package on ebay, and customize it like you did in your picture.
3- In everything you send out, include your business card. Maybe a referall service.. bring one friend to buy a shirt and get 10% off your next order.. or just a plain sale offer on their next order.
Marketing really isnt terribly hard, subtle things help to keep you afloat until things turn around.
And remember, the most unsuspecting customer is the best one.. heck, go try and sell a tshirt to your mail person.. maybe something like "my other car delivers" type of a deal.. I think even if people are aware of what you CAN do, few can come up with what they want you to do.
I just checked your site out. Sounds like you are involved in quite a bit of things to offer. I have the cad cutter, heat press, hat press and work with corel draw. Atleast you can do your own graphic it sounds like.
I didn't see a shopping cart, mine doesn't have one either, I always kind of wonder if that doesn't make them want to stop at out sites very long if it doesn't have an easy way of ordering. (But that is pretty expensive to get into if a person isn't getting enough business to want to jump in on more expenses.
I have to turn the bigger orders away because they want screen printing which I don't know how to do. Would like to some day,.
Thanks for getting back with me on the facebook advertising.
lindaschallenge ( lwtshirts.com) My site isn't way out there yet. It is more for local people more. Again Good Luck!
If you really love what you're doing, I urge you to stick it out. You're at the crucial point where many don't make it - just before your first year is up. It's up to you to push it beyond the first year - why don't you aim to go just beyond that point, another five months (and you have Christmas coming up to help you along). You CAN do it, energize yourself with successes you've already had! You made it this far - it's more than just dreaming about it, you're actually doing it already! Think back to when you first started out - you've learned so many things! But we must keep learning.
You have what a lot don't - good graphic design ability. I can't do that myself - I have to hire people or buy the art. I envy you because I don't have time to learn it - we're too busy in production.
The same works for your sales and marketing. You probably don't really like that aspect much and that's extremely common for artists. You have to either enlist a salesperson or sales tools. In a poor economy there must be some out-of-work salespeople?
If I wanted to do my own art, I'd have to learn how. Same with your marketing skills, you'd have to learn how, if you're going to do it yourself. Learn. Or find someone that can help you.
After many years in business, I've come to realize that you should do what you're strong at and have a team around you that does the stuff you don't like or don't have time to learn. We can't all be good at everything. I know it sounds hard to get this "team" for a one-person-show, but it can come in many forms - a shopping cart, enlisting salespeople, networking, out-sourcing to professionals, capable friends, whatever. Try to surround yourself with a positive network. Everyone helps each other.
My sincere good luck to you! I hope you can live the life you want by doing what you want. Let us know how it's going.
When I started my business I worked in a plant for 9+ hours a day and then printed at night. I am an artist, and the general public will not pay for art for what it is worth. I did several things to get my business going. I would partner with local companies and go to community events and airbrush t-shirts for $5 each. Simple designs only 3 or 4 choices. The company I partnered with would take the orders and heat press the shirts while I painted. We had people wait for 2 hours for a $5 t-shirt. I would air brush 600 to 700 in one weekend. I got all the proceeds from the sales. Back then a white 100% cotton tee would cost $1, I would make over $2,000 for that weekend. In return the company would set up a TV with a video advertising their business, They would mingle with the customers and hand out business cards. They paid for the booth (which they would do any way). We would hand out care instructions with the shirts that on one side explained how to care for the garment and on the other side had an advertisement for both the company and my business. It worked great, everybody was happy, customers and all. I don't know if you can do something like this with what you do or not, but maybe it will spark ideas.
I use to also do artwork in the local mall, portraits to be exact. I would have people stop and watch me for long periods at a time. It would give me opportunities to meat and talk to potential customers.
Point is, don't give up! Do something, anything!
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Mike
If you dig ditches be the best ditch digger you can be.
Listen, Struggle is part of the life. I have not made 1$ from last 6 months still i am thinking to start business and pretty much positive about it.
One more thing i must say. Don't just accept that you're bad in Marketing. Marketing is not magic tricks or play with ppl's heart. its just way to get/let people know your site or designed tees. Now, read each and every Interesting(only) thread of Marketing & see what you can easily do. T-Shirt Marketing - T-Shirt Forums
It won't make things really easy but atleast will give you a way. Friends and family are good(& Easy) to get biz but you need to get few Marketing skills to make things working for you.
I would suggest you to ask few of the blog owners for help(by posting about you). see if they can post it about you. usually, Blog owners are good in understanding b/c they have started working free at some point. I know you can do it, get back to work! btw, Just an thought If you're selling American Apparel. don't sell it under your profit b/c that way you're not really making money. (selling AA under 15$ is killing yourself with wall. Make money now, don't think they are going to come back & You are going to make money. People who buys at less then 15, once you increase price...they won't come back again.)
Well, if you are fairly good at graphic design, you should consider starting your own brand. It isn't for everyone, but it may be a good way to make a bit more money. Come up with a few designs and take them around to people and see what you can come up with. Good luck to you!
Shall I sell my t-shirt business? 
