Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
First of all, I'm a full time employee for over 10 years now. I have never done a business before, but, I'd been wanting too for quite sometime now. Hence, I'm trying to explore the possibility of a clothing business.
Unfortunately, as a newbie, I have a few questions in mind to hassle you all here. I hope you could help me with some of them. Here they are:
1. Is there a still an opportunity in the clothing business here in UK for a newcomer?
2. Can you still make decent money from it? Or is this overly saturated and dominated by the big retailer shops?
3. I'm not a designer/artist, but, I'm keen to be in business and eager to learn the ins and out, Is there a room for me in the clothing market?
4. If there is still an opportunity, which aspect/type of clothing market has more chance of succeeding?
5. I'm assuming that for a start, it is best to purchase clothing goods from wholesaler based in the UK. Is this correct?
6. Is importing clothes from the Far East, the best way forward as sales improve? Is it more profitable or just the same?
A few more questions in my mind, but, this is it for now. I hope you could help me on this ladies and gents.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Quote:
Originally Posted by heroes123
2. Can you still make decent money from it? Or is this overly saturated and dominated by the big retailer shops?
3. I'm not a designer/artist, but, I'm keen to be in business and eager to learn the ins and out, Is there a room for me in the clothing market?
4. If there is still an opportunity, which aspect/type of clothing market has more chance of succeeding?
6. Is importing clothes from the Far East, the best way forward as sales improve? Is it more profitable or just the same?
2 = For many tee sellers, the reality is a full time job could bring in more money. If you want to earn decent money, there are lots more lucative avenues than garments.
3 = Without being able to create original designs, you will be at a major disadvantage.
4 = You'll only discover that by experimenting, evaluating and refining your ideas.
6 = Not an option. There are strict import restrictions on clothing from the Far East. That's why you don't see made in China, or similar on European clothing labels.
If you are looking for a potential business opportunity, by all means explore the potential of the clothing industry, but do some real market reseach first. Get some hard facts and exact costings before parting with any cash.
Buying garments, or modifying them is the easy bit, it's selling them that is the hard part.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Quote:
Originally Posted by heroes123
1. Is there a still an opportunity in the clothing business here in UK for a newcomer?
No.
I tried.........hard! But today decided to take my website down and concentrate on much more lucrative avenues.
Sorry if it is not what you wanted to hear!
Phil
__________________
I don't suffer with insanity...I love every minute of it!
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Sorry to hear that Phil.
I still produce tees, which I sell all over the world, but I too am starting to diversify into other areas more and more now.
I had the guy come to service the central heating boiler today. Was here about 30 minutes and charged me £46. I was happy with the price, but afterwards I thought you could easily fit 30 calls a week in. That's nearly £1400 income.!! Makes you think doesn't it.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Please don't be sorry! I'm glad I have found a way of making some good money at last, be happy!
I found my website was becoming a great 'showcase' for others in the industry, with less creative flair, who were then using my designs. Now that's sad!
I'm still printing though, it's in the blood now and I love it! It's just that I now think the U.K 'Funny t-shirt' Industry is over saturated and i'm no artist! Creative but not an artist!
My efforts are now concentrated on the 'bespoke' market, still lots doing it, but some not so well ;-)
Phil
__________________
I don't suffer with insanity...I love every minute of it!
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Well OP, with a name like that you should have a good start if you're planning to sell to the ladies - we all love heroes
Seriously though, I've been designing - and making my own garments now for 13-14 years. It's a very niche and specialised market, but I'm now well known in my field here in the UK, some parts of Europe, and in a small way in the U.A.E.
Sounds great doesn't it- but there's always a downside you know. In my case, the fabric lasts too long! I kid you not. I have customers coming and telling me how well they're wearing - and they've had them 6 years!!
So, all this has to be taken into consideration when costing, plus finding the right materials.
To buy fabric at a good price you'll have to buy by the roll (usually 40 mts) per colour.
So, it's not for the feint hearted. Me? I love it. I love being my own boss, working when i feel like it, which is usually in the evenings, as I'm a bit of a night owl.
If you've got an idea that's different, or you think you can improve on an existing garment then go for it.
BUT please, please, don't give up the day job. There is NOTHING so good as knowing you will have xxx number of pounds in your pocket each week/month.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
I agree with what others have said, keep the day job. I work the t shirts in the evenings and i am currently making more than my salary, but the great thing is that its pretty stress free.
Its a fact of life that people will copy your success, it happens with everything and i would be lying if i said we havn't used other peoples slogans before, but in the funny t shirts industry every design is about 20 years old and sold by a million different people.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titchimp
I work the t shirts in the evenings and i am currently making more than my salary, but the great thing is that its pretty stress free.
Nick,
My life is the complete opposite!
By day, i'm a Full-Time t-shirt printer making fair money
At night i'm a DRAG-QUEEN, a more stressful job you couldn't find & I have no ambitions of giving up my 'Day-Job'
Phil
__________________
I don't suffer with insanity...I love every minute of it!
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Forget the imports from the far east.You,ll only be buying a cat in a sack that will scratch you.
Believe me its not as easy as it seems,best you buy from a wholesaler where you can see and feel the material that you hope to sell.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Quote:
Originally Posted by funkymunky
At night i'm a DRAG-QUEEN, Phil
No honestly officer, this is my evening job.
Seriously though, going back to the original topic, there are a myriad of folks out there that long to get away from the drudgery of the day job. For those that venture down the route of self employment though, most will find themselves working harder than they ever did in employment for others.
You will suddenly find yourself being responsible for anything and everything. That includes sourcing stock, maintaining an inventory of all your stock items and ancillaries, including all the packaging materials etc. Identifying markets for your products, production of your goods including resolving any technical issues that arise. Then you have all the marketing that includes constant analysis of your performance and subsequent refining of your product range to achieve optimal performance from your venture. You have to deal with all types of customer and be willing to respond professionally with those customers, even when they are being a real pain. You have to package up all of your items and make sure all the right orders are being sent to the right customers and if you have a presence on the web, you have to ensure that your products are regularly updated and that everything is still functioning ok on there. Finally if you have a spare minute, you have all the paperwork that those processes create to contend with.
There is no 'passing the buck', no 'that's not my job', no 'it's hometime now' and no such thing as 'a day off'. If you have an online presence, you are open for business 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
As with all ventures, they can lose you money as well as make it for you. Just because a couple of guys in the pub, or your favourite Aunty thinks it's a good idea, that isn't a sound basis for a commercially viable business. Do as much research as you can before you even contemplate buying stock, or equipment. Get as many hard facts and figures as you can and if you are planning on selling to retail outlets, just remember that their mark up can be anything from 30 to 100 percent, so you'll need to develop good negotiating skills to sell to retail outlets. Google is a wonderful tool for doing research, use it wisely.
All businesses are a gamble, some will thrive while others will inevitably flounder. The absolute golden rule though is, never invest more than you can afford to lose.
Re: Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinbow
Now I'll always think of a young Danny La Rue whenever I see your posts Phil
Babs
Now that time I was kidding Babs!
As 'CUSTOM UK' points out above, so well, at night I do the same as I do all day. I worry about where my next order is going to come from, what new designs i'm going to introduce & how I am goingto pay the bills next week!
Self-employment sure 'aint for everybody but it is for me! I'm unemployable!
Phil
__________________
I don't suffer with insanity...I love every minute of it!
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Is there a decent opportunity in the t shirt/ apparel business here in UK? 
