Everyone wants a T-Shirt Biz...

2560 Views 23 Replies 17 Participants Last post by shawnanderson, Mar 10, 2014

mcpix

Discussion Starter · Mar 3, 2014

When I was looking for a used heat press, I used SearchTempest to check out all the Craigslist listings in a 500 mile radius from me. I was shocked at how many people had a "t-shirt business" for sale.

I don't bring this up to discourage anyone, as I also want to have my own t-shirt business. It's just a little sobering to see how many others have tried and failed.

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1 - 20 of 24 Posts

treefox2118

· #2 · Mar 3, 2014

Every industry requires this. Restaurants, computer repair shops, food markets, and even t-shirt production.

The #1 and 2 reasons for failure: not enough savings to weather the early years of growth, and not enough hard work to find and keep customers.

Reactions: 3

INKFREAK

· #3 · Mar 3, 2014

Yes, it is sobering. Keep looking at this site and read everything you can. Don't bite off more than you can chew and find your market before buying anything! Stay away from too good to be true offers and easy money offers.If someone says buy this press, see how much that piece of equipment resells for, that's sobering too.Can you get most of your money back if you fail? Is the market flooded with people selling the same model?
There's just to many things to list, but there are a lot of good eggs on the site and experienced ones at that. Ask questions.

Good luck

sandmanbjj

· #4 · Mar 3, 2014

The idea of a t shirt business is way better than having one.
It's a grind. Especially when you have a design you think will be awesome, your friends tell you it's awesome. Then you get some made and sell out in a week, to all your friends, so you decide you could make a killing. Then go buy some form of equipment. Invest in a bunch of shirts, spend hours printing, learning, ruining t shirts. Once you get a bunch ready to go... They sit there because you sold to all your friends already and nobody else really likes the logo

Reactions: 3

wilcomail

· #5 · Mar 3, 2014

sandmanbjj said:
The idea of a t shirt business is way better than having one.
It's a grind. Especially when you have a design you think will be awesome, your friends tell you it's awesome. Then you get some made and sell out in a week, to all your friends, so you decide you could make a killing. Then go buy some form of equipment. Invest in a bunch of shirts, spend hours printing, learning, ruining t shirts. Once you get a bunch ready to go... They sit there because you sold to all your friends already and nobody else really likes the logo

Bahahahahaha guilty as charged..now I have to regroup

Ripcord

· #6 · Mar 3, 2014

treefox2118 said:
Every industry requires this. Restaurants, computer repair shops, food markets, and even t-shirt production.

The #1 and 2 reasons for failure: not enough savings to weather the early years of growth, and not enough hard work to find and keep customers.

...And in conjunction with #1, many (I'd even say most) new businesses (all businesses, not just screen printers...) spend WAY too much of their capital upfront.

When the future looks rosy and bright, it's fun to spend borrowed money on expensive equipment, uniforms, office furniture, a fashionable storefront, etc. etc. etc... but that money is going to come in handy down the road when you find that your phone doesn't begin ringing off the hook the moment you plug it in.

Also, expectations for owning a small business often result in disappointment for many would be entrepreneurs. "You'll make more money than you would at a job! You can set your own hours! Come and go as you please! Be your own boss!" All of this may or may not be true in the long run, but reality sets in pretty quickly for a new business owner, and many become discouraged by it and quit.

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sandmanbjj

· #7 · Mar 3, 2014

wilcomail said:
Bahahahahaha guilty as charged..now I have to regroup

Me too.... But my plan B is keeping me going.

Reactions: 1

wilcomail

· #8 · Mar 3, 2014

sandmanbjj said:
Me too.... But my plan B is keeping me going.

I'm a white belt 1 stripe in this

sandmanbjj

· #9 · Mar 3, 2014

wilcomail said:
I'm a white belt 1 stripe in this

Same here. Maybe 2 stripes since I have a sort of plan B

4 the Team

· #10 · Mar 4, 2014

Ripcord said:
Also, expectations for owning a small business often result in disappointment for many would be entrepreneurs. "You'll make more money than you would at a job! You can set your own hours! Come and go as you please! Be your own boss!" All of this may or may not be true in the long run, but reality sets in pretty quickly for a new business owner, and many become discouraged by it and quit.

They forget to tell you about working 16 hour days, and the times that you don't get a paycheck, dealing with employee drama, and no vacations and working even when your sick or injured.

Wow, why the hell am i doing this

Don't mind me having a pitty party today. I did a number on my shoulder at hockey yesterday...can't even lift my arm...but I'm working!

Reactions: 1

royster13

· #11 · Mar 4, 2014

mcpix said:
When I was looking for a used heat press, I used SearchTempest to check out all the Craigslist listings in a 500 mile radius from me. I was shocked at how many people had a "t-shirt business" for sale.

I don't bring this up to discourage anyone, as I also want to have my own t-shirt business. It's just a little sobering to see how many others have tried and failed.

Actually I think most have never gotten around to really trying....It takes effort and most do not make that effort and quit before they get started...

elcielo

· #12 · Mar 4, 2014 (Edited)

royster13 said:
Actually I think most have never gotten around to really trying....It takes effort and most do not make that effort and quit before they get started...

Whenever I see someone ask such questions as, "Where can I buy t-shirts?", "Which heat press should I buy?", "Which kind of transfers should I buy?", "Where can I get plastisol transfers?" "What settings should I use for my JPSS transfers?" "I have created a couple t-shirt designs, what should I do next?" I wonder how in the world he/she can be successful if he/she is too lazy or obtuse to use the Search button or Google the question. If you can't even do simple research for yourself, what makes you think you can "be your own boss"?

Reactions: 4

Sport T

· #13 · Mar 4, 2014

elcielo said:
Wheenver I see someone ask such questions as, "Where can I buy t-shirts?", "Which heat press should I buy?", "Which kind of transfers should I buy?", "Where can I get plastisol transfers?" "What settings should I use for my JPSS transfers?" "I have created a couple t-shirt designs, what should I do next?" I wonder how in the world he/she can be successful if he/she is too lazy or obtuse to use the Search button or Google the question. If you can't even do simple research for yourself, what makes you think you can "be your own boss"?

You took the words right out of my mouth. I am amazed how many decide to go into business and purchase equipment and have no clue what to do with it or how to proceed.

Reactions: 2

Ripcord

· #14 · Mar 4, 2014

You always hear that 8 out of 10 new businesses fail in the first year, and this serves to discourage many would be entrepreneurs. But the statistics don't occur in a vacuum.

The businesses that fail tend to be those that were not properly planned and/ or adequately funded. Some businesses are established seemingly without any thought at all. A gourmet coffee shop in a low rent area. A sandwich shop half a block from a Subway etc. etc.

The first thing many new business owners do is hire way too many employees (who begin earning money the moment they show up on their first day...) buy a bunch of expensive stuff they want but don't need, and generally have a great time burning through their capital, "knowing" that they'll make it all back when they open for business.

When reality sets in (long hours, not enough money etc.) the shiny surface becomes tarnished and a lot of people decide that this was not what they had in mind. Rather than stick it out, they give up and become one of the 8 out of 10.

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studog79

· #15 · Mar 4, 2014

treefox2118 said:
Every industry requires this. Restaurants, computer repair shops, food markets, and even t-shirt production.

The #1 and 2 reasons for failure: not enough savings to weather the early years of growth, and not enough hard work to find and keep customers.

I believe the #1 reason is that people go into it with no knowledge of how to run a business. They run it as a hobby to make some money. Before you even have your first shirt you need to know certain things.

1. What are my costs per shirt? (This INCLUDES everything, not just shirt cost and to print the shirt cost) Phone, gas, heat, electricity, advertising, and the one most often forgot is PROFIT.

2. What is my market? Just because I think I have the latest and greatest design doesn't mean the rest of the world does. Also if I do how to I get the word out? Who are my customers?

3. Long range plan. What do I do after my first 5 designs I had when I first started? Where am I to be in one year, five years and how am I to get there.

4. This is one I see all the time. Short Sightedness or Penny Wise but Pound Foolish. Thinking you can do it all. Design, print, sell, web design. Figure out what you do well and pay others to do the other things. If you have a great design but can not print it well it is crap.

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RickyJ702

· #16 · Mar 4, 2014

this post is funny. I've seen a lot of brands close for the exact reasons. when I first started it was exactly like that selling to friends and making parties so people will rock the gear. didn't know in 5 years I learned how to auto/manual silkscreen, CorelDraw, illustrator, photography, sales, digitize and embroidery. the list goes on and on but it's passion for what I do. what's even funnier is that my brand doesn't have enough time to produce are own things because we are stacked with 35 accounts of other brands for sidejobs. So now we have to outsource our own clothing overseas just so we can produce for other brands

sandmanbjj

· #17 · Mar 5, 2014

elcielo said:
Whenever I see someone ask such questions as, "Where can I buy t-shirts?", "Which heat press should I buy?", "Which kind of transfers should I buy?", "Where can I get plastisol transfers?" "What settings should I use for my JPSS transfers?" "I have created a couple t-shirt designs, what should I do next?" I wonder how in the world he/she can be successful if he/she is too lazy or obtuse to use the Search button or Google the question. If you can't even do simple research for yourself, what makes you think you can "be your own boss"?

Giving the benefit of the doubt (yeah I am reaching here) but MAYBE some of them are asking as part of their research.... But yeah most already pulled the trigger on equipment or are hoping someone hands them the answers

NoXid

· #18 · Mar 6, 2014

sandmanbjj said:
Giving the benefit of the doubt (yeah I am reaching here) but MAYBE some of them are asking as part of their research.... But yeah most already pulled the trigger on equipment or are hoping someone hands them the answers

Also, failure IS an option, and--in the long run--a learning experience. Some of that 8 out of 10 will try again, and maybe eventually get it right. It's best to make that first failure when you are young and poor, so you know better when you are older and have more to lose.

dgaviota

· #19 · Mar 7, 2014

hi, I have been lurking and reading alot of the posts in this forum. I keep getting this nag message since I am new to post something... so here goes. As a outsider to this industry, I am certainly pleased to see the willingness of you people who post here to help, give advice, make good constructive comments and help one another. I've been researching alot and trying to find a direction to go in. I've been successfully self employed in technical sales 24 years- with no employees by choice and doing most all the jobs needed except things that outsourced. It's really rewarding to be able to do most all yourself-really it is. I worked many 16 hour days, 7 days a week to start up my business in my early 30's- out of need to survive and when you have a house payment, children, etc. You are motivated to do whatever it takes to make it happen. I never borrowed a penny from anyone including my parents- just used credit cards and guarded my credit like it was gold... It is very stressful to be underfunded or not knowing where the next sales is coming from, but now being retired and living outside the U.S. it was all worth it. Having employees is necessary for many companies, but I recommend co-partnering with other entrepreneurs or people who honor their word and you can trust- in lieu of employees. Now, if you have large ambitions and want to grow, make sure you have the skill set and wallet to handle the growth. I've seen many, many companies fold and usually due to mismanagement.

I am happily living outside the U.S. now in Latin America, and there is even more B.S. to go through to do business here than in the states. I plan to start a small line that I can outsource as much as I can and even here where employees are like $600 a month, the hassle of being a supervisor isn't for me. I am planning to do some different things to make it all come together. Fortunately, I have no firm deadlines, rent, schedules, etc. and can take all the time I need to make my move.

Appreciate all the great information being provided here!!! Anybody wants to expatriate, PM me and I can help abit on that to contribute.... Keep up the good work and participation....

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Mtnview

· #20 · Mar 7, 2014

I think many just find out there is more work than they thought. Newcomers seem to think the t-shirt business will be easy, lucrative money. Don't know where they get that idea.

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