[Solego]

I actually never had any intent to get into the t-shirt printing business. I was actually looking to buy a gas station. Unfortunately, my timing could not have been worse.

I could get the money to buy another house over the phone from having done real estate investing (successfully).

But trying to get a commercial loan for a business with with no property attached for collateral is like trying to find a gas station with cheap gas.

So, with a baby due in March and already having a full time profession ( I fly in and sometimes actually fly, helicopters.), I need a business with low startup capital needs, and the potential to dominate the world. I did some thinking (it hurt) and looked around the gas station I was in and saw many people with custom shirts on. Business shirts, funny shirts, sports team shirts, etc.

So, this is me sticking my proverbial toe in the proverbial waters. I am far from buying anything yet, and may even consider taking a second job for awhile working in a shirt printing shop to better understand the business.

If you live near Gainesville, FL and you wouldn't be a competitor, drop me a line. If you would be a competitor, it is my duty to look at you as my number one villain! But drop me a line anyways.

Mike

 

[Girlzndollz]

Hi Mike,

Congrats on the baby. If you want to learn how to print a shirt, you could go work in a print shop, if you want to design and sell shirts and not print them yourself, you can skip that, because printers print, and designers design. When you are printing, you are not designing, and when you are doing those things, you are not marketing, which you have to do to get your shirts out there, wanted, and on the people in your market.

There are folks who design, market and print their stuff, and one person show, but for alot of folks, they stick to one part of it, and outsource the other stuff. Just some thoughts for you.. nothing is set in stone in any business, and the best business model is the one that works best for you... even if that means you design, market and print your own.

How much production are you looking at? There are alternatives to screen printing, like plastisols, that you can apply yourself without having to know how to screen or invest in the equipment.

Here are a few threads for you to get your started:
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/general-t-shirt-selling-discussion/t37985.html
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/general-t-shirt-selling-discussion/t50769.html
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/general-t-shirt-selling-discussion/t36801.html#post215096
https://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing/t27815.html#post165718
https://www.t-shirtforums.com/heat-press-heat-transfers/t50131.html#post295706

 

[Solego]

Thanks for listing those links. That is going to save me a lot of time in research.

My idea of the business would to be doing the printing. I live in a college town and could probably hire a graphic design student on the cheap.

I have been looking and would prefer the heat press method.

I would like to be able to have the design made, and then send it off to a company that would make me the required number of sheets for production.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

 

[Girlzndollz]

You're welcome, Solego... and that is a good plan. Here are some other threads for you (do you mean ordering plastisols, that's what you mean, right?):

Plastisols:
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/t-shirt-crossover-diary-heat-press-newbie/t13454.html#post86511
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/heat-press-heat-transfers/t4095.html

Hiring a graphic artist:

T-Shirt Forums Search Results

Good luck to you... hope it goes great.

 

[HelpRunMyShop]

LoL funny post. there are alot of villains "competitor's" in your state. welcome to the forums

 

[sunnydayz]

Hi Mike, wecome to the forums and congrats on the new little one

I agree that starting with plastitols is an easier way of getting into it, as there is less equipment to buy that way. I myself am one of those ones Kelly is talking about that is the a designer, printer and marketing department haha which works well for me, but I did wait a year until I built a good customer base before I actually bought a more expensive printing method, other then transfers. So that is definately a good plan

And just so you know I am not a villain I am way over on the other side of the us in sunny california haha.

 

[Girlzndollz]

And she posts great pics from there in the Lounge... it's like going on vacation, but you are also in the sunshine state, so you are in a place that is like a vacation, too! I am landlocked.