[ktbbrand]

In early June (last month), I finally launched my own clothing line. I was excited, scared, and ambitious. The website was set, my shirts were all stacked up nicely next to the packaging supplies, and I was ready to go.

First week passed by, and after posting on facebook and twitter, no sales.

Second week...still 0 sales. It didn't look any better.

I started meeting up with friends and finally, a couple sales here and there, but I knew this wouldn't last, I was going to run out of friends to sell to eventually so I decided to trunked it.

Yup, that's right. I said "screw this, I'm bringing my shop to the customers." I set up shop in swap meet parking lots, high school parking lots, any parking lot I could find with 2 cardboard signs that said "Custom Tees $20 - KTB Brand." I had a car full of clothes and I was sick of waiting. I know I said I "trunked" it, but if you take your back seats out to make room for your shirts, then its still a trunk, no?

Little by little, I started making sales. I started attracting attention, both good and bad. I've dealt with countless security guards, police asking me if I had a permit or if I was selling stolen merchandise, days where I had no customers, days where I lost customers because I was busy with other customers, and just mean customers saying "Your stuff is sh*t!"

Here's some word of advice:
1) Never give up.
2) Don't let whatever negative comments they say, get to you. It's just not their thing.
3) Have something free-bees (I have vynal decals and sometimes hold a contest for free shirts)
4) Don't be afraid to ask about opinions...Find out why they do or don't like it.
5) Don't get caught, and don't be afraid to get caught. (Security guards, policemen, trademark infringement (check out my shop and you'll know what I mean.))

It was working and just last week I was 45% of my way to breaking even. This week, I made some sales online and I know I'm halfway there now. I think its due to word of mouth since I didn't set up shop at all this week.

I hope this helps you struggling young entrepreneurs out there. Keep your head up.

 

[ktbbrand]

Also, find some local talent to wear your shirts. If you check on my blog, I have local MC's featured on my site and they wear my shirts when they perform in concerts and that always brings in more sales.

 

[ktbbrand]

Oh and I know someone is going to bash me on this so I'll just put it out there: IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO INFRINGE ON A TRADEMARK! I only did it because I'm stubborn. Since I made it, printed it and packaged it, I'm going to sell it and never reprint it. NEVER.

 

[Nancy G]

Thanks! I am ordering my domain name, web host and business cards today, and all of yesterday I was doubting myself and should I do this ? Will anyone really buy my shirts etc! So thanks for the words of encouragement !
I would love the face to face but we travel/live in an RV so I can't sell in each state without big $$ . (my LLC is Fl and we're in Maine) So I am going to depend on the friends/word of mouth/ internet..
Good luck in your business! Nancy

 

[stitchartj]

I checked your site out.... LOVE IT!

 

[ktbbrand]

Thanks! I am ordering my domain name, web host and business cards today, and all of yesterday I was doubting myself and should I do this ? Will anyone really buy my shirts etc! So thanks for the words of encouragement !
I would love the face to face but we travel/live in an RV so I can't sell in each state without big $$ . (my LLC is Fl and we're in Maine) So I am going to depend on the friends/word of mouth/ internet..
Good luck in your business! Nancy

Thanks Nancy and good luck to you too. I think you could work out living and traveling out of an RV to your advantage. Just create some buzz about your site once its up and start adding tweets about it. Add some random people from all over and tweet that you're going to sell your shirts at a certain location. I hope that helps.

 

[ktbbrand]

I checked your site out.... LOVE IT!

Thanks stitchartj, I'm glad you liked it even though I personally believe that it needs more work. It's good to know that I'm on the right track.

 

[aldan]

Tim, this thread is 100% inspiration!

 

[fireflies]

Love the ambition!

 

[ktbbrand]

Thanks Aldan and Fireflies!

 

[ItsNnicholas]

This is so true! Keep your chin up!

Yesterda I was set. I had money for other necessities to add the professional touch like hang tags and stuff. Website almost finished. And HALF the money I needed to print my shirts . So I asked some of my friends and my acquaintances to invest in my clothing line. All of them said no. This one guy even said my name is stupid. I was so sad that I thought I should quit this. But my Mom called me on the phone and made me laugh. She also said that my name was stupid (I changed it). Today I ordered all the necessities for my clothing line. Then my Dad called. He's gonna give me money for my first design! I was so happy!

Lesson learned. You will hit a couple rocks here and there but sometimes you just gotta face the music. Eventually the good stuff will come. Sooner or later

 

[ItsNnicholas]

P.S. KTB Brand. Your designs are great! I see where your going. But add a little bit of color! (there were only 3) Love your shirts thou! Nice website. How'd you build it?

 

[ktbbrand]

P.S. KTB Brand. Your designs are great! I see where your going. But add a little bit of color! (there were only 3) Love your shirts thou! Nice website. How'd you build it?

Thanks ItsNnicholas. The next designs (hopefully coming out this week) have color in them

After buying the domain name, my friend installed this wordpress thing and then donated his old template which consisted of the front page slider thingy and that's about it. He set it up on the site and from there, I got to work. I Googled all my questions about scripting and there you have it. It's simple really. Just takes some time and a little know-how.

Good luck on your site!

 

[BroJames]

A truly inspiring story Tim. Reminds me of a PMA story I read eons ago of an American Indian boy who list his way in the jungle. He said to himself, Me not lost. Teepee lost. Me go find teepee.

When you say "Custom Tees $20 - KTB Brand" you are printing mobile? If so, I am curious at such setup and some pics, either posted or by PM, will be appreciated.

 

[ktbbrand]

When you say "Custom Tees $20 - KTB Brand" you are printing mobile? If so, I am curious at such setup and some pics, either posted or by PM, will be appreciated.

I never noticed that my sign could seem so misleading...I should probably fix that.

To answer your question, no I am not printing mobile. It would be cool if I was now that I think about it. "Custom Tees $20 - KTB Brand" just meant that I'm selling Custom made KTB Brand shirts. Lol.

*reminder to self, fix sign.

 

[BroJames]

I never noticed that my sign could seem so misleading...I should probably fix that.

To answer your question, no I am not printing mobile. It would be cool if I was now that I think about it. "Custom Tees $20 - KTB Brand" just meant that I'm selling Custom made KTB Brand shirts. Lol.

*reminder to self, fix sign.

Come to think of it, maybe its just me. Custom does not mean on-site. I don't know. But that's what entered my mind.

 

[Solmu]

To answer your question, no I am not printing mobile. It would be cool if I was now that I think about it. "Custom Tees $20 - KTB Brand" just meant that I'm selling Custom made KTB Brand shirts. Lol.

So what was custom made about them? I'm not trying to be a jackass, but I see that word thrown around a lot and I'm genuinely curious to understand where people are coming from when they use it.

 

[ktbbrand]

So what was custom made about them? I'm not trying to be a jackass, but I see that word thrown around a lot and I'm genuinely curious to understand where people are coming from when they use it.

It's custom because it was designed by me but now I'm questioning the very definition of the word "custom" now.

 

[Solmu]

It's custom because it was designed by me but now I'm questioning the very definition of the word "custom" now.

People sometimes use the word that way.

To me that's just what any brand does, and personally I'd define "custom" as somehow individually customised for the end customer. Not necessarily their design - it could be an individual fit, or monogram, or colourway or whatever - just something they choose at point of sale that needs to be made to order rather than pulled off the rack as-is.

People do use the word in different ways though - you're far from the only one using it to mean custom to you, rather than custom to the end customer.

That can be ambiguous though, as BroJames covered.

I think the danger is there's a temptation to use the word because it sounds good, rather than because it's accurate.

Anyway... congratulations on chasing down those sales, sounds like you'll be profitable before you know it.

 

[dripwear]

Those are all some great ideas....I just launched my clothing line here in SoCal, and it's tough, especially in this area...plus me and about a million other guys had this idea of starting a clothing line in this area!!

Great insight and advice by all.