[JAM Marketing]

So I'm starting to find the itch to go after big events like 5k runs and also corporations that would probably order thousands of shirts year in and year out. I'm sure there are different ways to approach each.

What say you tshirtforum warriors? What is your advice and experience to have the best chance at obtaining these groups as clients?

 

[charles95405]

1-have a proven track record
2-ability to produce large volume on demand
3-ability to fund up front the cost of blanks
4-offer 30 to up 60 day net
5-have good original designs

Above are just random thoughts to consider. Very few single operators break into the large corporations. It is great to aspire, harder to acquire.
Good luck

 

[ChristFollower]

Charles has some great advice, to which I'd add aggressively use LinkedIn to find someone to get you in the door at your first corporation or run.

I got a rather lucrative account by printing shirts for a rec league that one of the corporation's employees played on. It was probably 2 years from printing the rec league to actually landing work with the corporation, but he asked the league where they got shirts, they referred me, I met with him, I wound up doing shirts for a pet project of his, when he said they looked great I said thanks, can I talk to your buyer at work? and so forth and so on. Gentle persistence is key in my opinion.

Also remember that large corporations track metrics. Being able to demonstrate how your company can improve the buyer's goals-meeting record, and then actually coming through, makes it a lock.

 

[Rjcreative]

Going after small 5K events might be the best choice. Once you get a few contracts under you, you'll have a few names to drop to the larger event planners.

The larger events like an LA or NY Marathon usually use a Full Service Manufacturer for their events. Full Service Manufacturers are hard to beat unless you offer the same capabilities they do.

If you have t-shirt manufacturing, screen printing, and design all under the same roof, then you'll be able to compete. The biggest name in the game is Leslie Jordan. (Lesliejordan.com)

She supplies most of the big races and has the biggest share of the race event pie. Her resume is no joke.

 

[binki]

This must be the topic of the week.

 

[EricDeem]

I've organized hundreds of 5K 10K Marathon's whatever with upwards of 20K+ people!!! The main issue is you have to be able to deliver potentially thousands of shirts in a very short time frame. Most smaller events with under 2500 people usually allow participants to sign up till just 3 or 4 days before the event for a guaranteed shirt. That only gives you a short period of time to source the blanks, burn the screens and prep your press(s). It can be extremely daunting and there is no room for error or a missed deadline. I've been at the screen print shop helping load and pack till 3am and the event started at 6am! I've sold around 3 million t-shirts in my career via 5K's and other fitness events. Drop me a PM if you have any specific questions.

Here is a link to a design I did for the Indianapolis Women's Half Marathon training program shirts. I printed this in house with a NeoFlex DTG printer.

Stitches June 2013

 

[JAM Marketing]

Thank you so far with the tips and advice everyone! Just to give an idea, here's what I can do. I have a 10 color auto press and can source garments for next day delivery no problem. We do all screen printing. Not sure if that helps with some more pointed advice for what its worth.

 

[binki]

It can get crazier than that. We were doing shirts for a 5k at 2am the day the order was due because of late adds. Given that, it was better than previous years when they were sending add on orders at 3am the day of the event.

 

[royster13]

...and can source garments for next day delivery no problem

Do not always count on that....A few years ago I looked on Sanmar's website and they had next to no inventory.....I phoned and asked what was up....Turns out because of a port strike a customer's container from overseas was late and would not make it in time for an event.....So they had to buy up most of the inventory Sanmar had on hand in order to "salvage" a large order for a festival of some sort...Sanmar was able to replenish in a few days but for folks who needed shirts in a day or two, they were out of luck....Might be easier in the US where you have more choices but you never know....

 

[selanac]

That's good and advice. You might get the oncie, and twozie projects using it. What you need is to be on the companies Vendor list. Contact each companies Accounting Department and ask for the Purchasing Agent. Submit your paper work to them. Financials etc. You need their Financials too.

In large compaines, managers submit request to the Purchase Agent or department. The Purchasing agent has to have 3 quotes. The managers may have a favorite but in the end it's the Purchasing agent/department's decision.