[shant]

Hi guys,

First post here! Yay! Exciting times.

So, I've started a shopify website, hooked it up to printify I've made 10 or so simple designs (mostly slogan type things). I went on google, put an adwords ad, got 40 people visit the website, and 0 sales. OK, not that surprising, but I was hoping to get one buyer at least. I'm thinking the problem was probably the few designs (though it could also be the quality or lack thereof... of the designs).

Ultimately, I want to get a couple of sales, just to know that I can sell. So, I'd like to find someone (e.g. who designs/sells tees) and say to them "I will try to sell your tees on my site - can you sell to me at 20% discount?"

That way I could load my site up with 100 designs (or something) without having to do the design myself.

My questions are:

1. Am I thinking straight? Is my logic sound?
2. If yes, anyone know where I can find someone who'll let me put their tees on my site? The site is like tees for families (parents, kids etc) - so you know, no skulls etc.

All comments welcome!

 

[EPRCVINYLS]

Sounds like your in the same boat i am,, getting yourself out there. im finding thise to be harder then i thought, I was thinking well facebook, ebay got to be able to sell stuff. well so far Ive been Wrong.. I don't have 500+ facebook friends and only had a hand full share my stuff ive posted but so far i'm just not out there enough.. I have a ewid site and so far after about 2 months now 0 Sales.

keep on at it. i try to post everywhere i can w/o spending money cause i don't really have any spare cash for advertisement right now.
Far as people wanting to sell their stuff on your site. I'm not sure that would help.. Now are you making these shirts or you just doing examples? if your only posting examples i would say keep adding to it and try to post the link to your site everywhere you can to get known.. I'm thinking about a ad in my local paper to maybe get out there a little better.

 

[NoXid]

It is not the designs, but rather being a single molecule of water in the ocean.

To be found online via search, you must have something people are actually searching for. Witness all the people selling IP infringing designs on movie characters and sports teams. Masses of people know and care about that crap, and thus search for it. Your original and unique and hugely funny design that is only vaguely related to anything that anyone has ever heard of or thought about will NEVER be found

I am NOT suggesting you sell IP infringing stuff. But at least some of your designs should clearly relate to things that people do search for. And you'll have better luck building a following if your designs target a specific niche rather than having all sorts of random crap that may well offend half the people. Better to target a niche with stuff that would offend 100% of people outside of the niche.

You can go were the shoppers are, or pay to bring them to you. Lots of luck with the latter
I get very few sales via my own URL, and have ceased doing much with it. I have found the various online marketplaces to be much more fruitful.

In terms of advertising, the return is much better on advertising within a marketplace (to the people already there to buy stuff) than to random people online (as with FB ads, and the like).

YMMV

 

[webtrekker]

Your interest seems to be more for this wonderful website you've designed rather than the products you'll be selling on it (or hoping to).

First of all, learn how to make, or source, the products that will appeal to your market, THEN build the website. To be honest though, I can't see you making a go of this, you may be better off researching dropshipping or similar avenues.

 

[TABOB]

Google search conversion rate for t-Shirts is around very low, and there is huge competition out there.


For people without any experience, online marketplaces and their own advertising is the only way to go.


If you cannot make a sale on eBay, then you have no chance with your own website.

 

[shant]

Hi guys!

Firstly, thanks for all the replies! You guys are great!

Secondly, I definitely get the feeling like a drop in the ocean! So, agreed there. To clarify my site, it's a drop shipping site (so drop shipping = drop in the ocean sounds about right).

1. Now, just to be clear that I know what you're saying... you're saying, I should try redbubble or something like that, rather than my own website, because redbubble already has tons of visitors, who are much more likely to see my stuff. OK, is there any reason why I couldn't do redbubble AND my website?

2. For now, I'm not concerned about making a profit. For example, I'm happy to pay $10 to get someone to buy something from my website (where my profit is $10). However, I paid google money, got some visitors, but they bought 0. So, my question is kinda like "you didn't buy because":

a. Are my designs crap?
b. I don't have enough designs?
c. Some other reason that I don't know (e.g. too pricey, slow delivery etc).

Ideally, I'd like some t-shirt expert (i.e. you guys) to visit my site and say "designs are ok... the problem is X". On the other hand, in theory at least, redbubble would prove that my designs are ok (or not).

Can I post my URL here for you guys to take a look or is that a no-no?

Thanks again!
Shant

 

[shant]

Hey Webtrekker,

Are you a geordie? I'm from Greece but been an NUFC fan since Dabizas! (So tired of seeing that rubbish Bergkamp goal...).

So the site is already a dropshipping site (see my response to NoXid). I forgot to mention the niche (it's a site for parents). Does anyone know how many designs a site should have to get some orders? Or at least, how many designs does a site which gets some business have? Is there an average figure, or an indicative figure?

I should write a message to the shopify people. Maybe they'll know something...

 

[kostasfmx]

Hello there!I am from Greece also but I am located in Germany the last 6 years!
I will suggest have your designs on Etsy because there is a lot of people there looking for slogan/funny t--shirt or unique designs!
The more items you have the more people visit your Etsy shop!50 items is a good start!
From my experience I have 60 - 80 visits every day and 1 sale every two days!
To get to this point I have made a research (statistics provide the Etsy for every item),I have seen which design have more views (cycling designs for example) and then I make T-Shirts for cyclist fans (quotes, funny v, stencil images) After three months I got my first sale!

 

[NoXid]

Hi guys!

Firstly, thanks for all the replies! You guys are great!

Secondly, I definitely get the feeling like a drop in the ocean! So, agreed there. To clarify my site, it's a drop shipping site (so drop shipping = drop in the ocean sounds about right).

1. Now, just to be clear that I know what you're saying... you're saying, I should try redbubble or something like that, rather than my own website, because redbubble already has tons of visitors, who are much more likely to see my stuff. OK, is there any reason why I couldn't do redbubble AND my website?

2. For now, I'm not concerned about making a profit. For example, I'm happy to pay $10 to get someone to buy something from my website (where my profit is $10). However, I paid google money, got some visitors, but they bought 0. So, my question is kinda like "you didn't buy because":

a. Are my designs crap?
b. I don't have enough designs?
c. Some other reason that I don't know (e.g. too pricey, slow delivery etc).

Ideally, I'd like some t-shirt expert (i.e. you guys) to visit my site and say "designs are ok... the problem is X". On the other hand, in theory at least, redbubble would prove that my designs are ok (or not).

Can I post my URL here for you guys to take a look or is that a no-no?

Thanks again!
Shant

#1 I was thinking more like Etsy, eBay, and the like. Those are selling marketplaces. You can promote your listings within those platforms, and in the case of eBay you only pay for that promotion if the item sells as a direct result of it. Etsy is pay per click, as is most online promotion. Amazon is another option, but their fees (and BS) are so high that I refuse to play with them.
Redbubble, and the like, are PODs that include a marketplace for their stuff, but ONLY for their stuff, so attract a narrower and more limited audience (and as with all PODs, keep almost all of the money as they are actually doing all of the work).

#2 Expect it to take at least 100 visitors to get one sale. Keep that in mind when deciding how much you can afford to pay to buy a visit. I have not found this route to be profitable myself (but then I can't advertise my best selling designs via most ad platforms, so ...).

Do consider that most advertising dollars spent every day by all companies are wasted. But they persist, so they can be in your face that day when you are thinking about what to buy Bob for his birthday (or whatever). It is good to be on marketplaces and advertise within their platform because that is where people go when they are actually ready to spend money on Bob's birthday.

Companies with lots of products/designs get more mileage out of their ad dollars since even if a person does not buy the thing related to the ad that brought them there, they may well see other stuff to buy. Versus me starting out with my own URL and 12 shirts. The big t-shirt sites (not talking about PODs) have 1000s of designs and dozens of niches. You and I won't be doing that (at least I won't).

You have a niche, that's good. Much better than barfing up a random assortment, in terms of developing a following. There ARE a lot of parents to sell to, but at the same time it is such a normal generic everyday thing ... you might need a niche within that niche or your own crazy/different spin on it to stand out at all.

Price, designs, shipping time ... probably just more so that not enough eyes have seen your stuff. Not that you should expect to get rich, or even make a living, from selling shirts, as pretty much everyone on the planet is currently trying to do that and if it was as easy as A + B = C then they would have broken/overwhelmed that by now anyway.

It's late, I'm blathering

I'm not the oracle of marketing or fully supporting myself selling shirts myself. If you want to make money for sure in this business, then be the one printing shirts for the suckers who think they can sell them

 

[Waiting]

You blather quite profoundly.

 

[kostasfmx]

Hi guys!

Firstly, thanks for all the replies! You guys are great!

Secondly, I definitely get the feeling like a drop in the ocean! So, agreed there. To clarify my site, it's a drop shipping site (so drop shipping = drop in the ocean sounds about right).

1. Now, just to be clear that I know what you're saying... you're saying, I should try redbubble or something like that, rather than my own website, because redbubble already has tons of visitors, who are much more likely to see my stuff. OK, is there any reason why I couldn't do redbubble AND my website?

2. For now, I'm not concerned about making a profit. For example, I'm happy to pay $10 to get someone to buy something from my website (where my profit is $10). However, I paid google money, got some visitors, but they bought 0. So, my question is kinda like "you didn't buy because":

a. Are my designs crap?
b. I don't have enough designs?
c. Some other reason that I don't know (e.g. too pricey, slow delivery etc).

Ideally, I'd like some t-shirt expert (i.e. you guys) to visit my site and say "designs are ok... the problem is X". On the other hand, in theory at least, redbubble would prove that my designs are ok (or not).

Can I post my URL here for you guys to take a look or is that a no-no?

Thanks again!
Shant

#1 I was thinking more like Etsy, eBay, and the like. Those are selling marketplaces. You can promote your listings within those platforms, and in the case of eBay you only pay for that promotion if the item sells as a direct result of it. Etsy is pay per click, as is most online promotion. Amazon is another option, but their fees (and BS) are so high that I refuse to play with them.
Redbubble, and the like, are PODs that include a marketplace for their stuff, but ONLY for their stuff, so attract a narrower and more limited audience (and as with all PODs, keep almost all of the money as they are actually doing all of the work).

#2 Expect it to take at least 100 visitors to get one sale. Keep that in mind when deciding how much you can afford to pay to buy a visit. I have not found this route to be profitable myself (but then I can't advertise my best selling designs via most ad platforms, so ...).

Do consider that most advertising dollars spent every day by all companies are wasted. But they persist, so they can be in your face that day when you are thinking about what to buy Bob for his birthday (or whatever). It is good to be on marketplaces and advertise within their platform because that is where people go when they are actually ready to spend money on Bob's birthday.

Companies with lots of products/designs get more mileage out of their ad dollars since even if a person does not buy the thing related to the ad that brought them there, they may well see other stuff to buy. Versus me starting out with my own URL and 12 shirts. The big t-shirt sites (not talking about PODs) have 1000s of designs and dozens of niches. You and I won't be doing that (at least I won't).

You have a niche, that's good. Much better than barfing up a random assortment, in terms of developing a following. There ARE a lot of parents to sell to, but at the same time it is such a normal generic everyday thing ... you might need a niche within that niche or your own crazy/different spin on it to stand out at all. <img src="http://www.t-shirtforums.com/images/smilies/confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Confused" class="inlineimg" />

Price, designs, shipping time ... probably just more so that not enough eyes have seen your stuff. Not that you should expect to get rich, or even make a living, from selling shirts, as pretty much everyone on the planet is currently trying to do that and if it was as easy as A + B = C then they would have broken/overwhelmed that by now anyway.

It's late, I'm blathering <img src="http://www.t-shirtforums.com/images/smilies/redface.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" class="inlineimg" />

I'm not the oracle of marketing or fully supporting myself selling shirts myself. If you want to make money for sure in this business, then be the one printing shirts for the suckers who think they can sell them <img src="http://www.t-shirtforums.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Stick Out Tongue" class="inlineimg" />

Well said!!!

 

[TABOB]

Thinks are simple...


1. if you are new with no experience, start by selling on Etsy, Ebay, and Amazon. All of them together!

2. If you can have your own website as well, do so, but no free or crappy $200 sites. Something like that will do more harm than good.

3. The more designs you have the better your chances. Obviously!
4. Sell things people search for, or pay for niche targeted display advertising.



If you cannot do the above, then I'm sorry, but maybe you should consider doing something else.

 

[webtrekker]

Hey Webtrekker,

Are you a geordie? I'm from Greece but been an NUFC fan since Dabizas! (So tired of seeing that rubbish Bergkamp goal...).

So the site is already a dropshipping site (see my response to NoXid). I forgot to mention the niche (it's a site for parents). Does anyone know how many designs a site should have to get some orders? Or at least, how many designs does a site which gets some business have? Is there an average figure, or an indicative figure?

I should write a message to the shopify people. Maybe they'll know something...

Yes! I'm a Geordie through and through (for my sins!). 😉

You obviously have a dropshipper already arranged, if that's your sales method.

With other platforms, like ebay for instance, don't just assume a seller will dropship for you. Many sellers, including myself, will only ship to the PayPal address to be covered by PayPal protection.

 

[EPRCVINYLS]

Can one really make money on Etsy? I had never been to the site and someone said i should sell on it so i signed up WOW i was shocked at how cheap some people are selling t shirts and decals. I posted a couple decals and of course got nothing cause i wanted more for mine then others did I not tried any shirts yet i need to see if i can at least get $12 a shirt i normally sell for between $15-20 depending on what they want but i just cant sell a shirt for $6 and be making any money after shipping cost and my time and all. I guess if your into it for years and make a killing else wear sure or you have plenty of money and just do it for fun but i'm trying to make a profit at this stuff.

 

[NoXid]

Can one really make money on Etsy? I had never been to the site and someone said i should sell on it so i signed up WOW i was shocked at how cheap some people are selling t shirts and decals. I posted a couple decals and of course got nothing cause i wanted more for mine then others did I not tried any shirts yet i need to see if i can at least get $12 a shirt i normally sell for between $15-20 depending on what they want but i just cant sell a shirt for $6 and be making any money after shipping cost and my time and all. I guess if your into it for years and make a killing else wear sure or you have plenty of money and just do it for fun but i'm trying to make a profit at this stuff.

Etsy, in general, is the marketplace where you can use the highest pricing. It started as a place for truly unique and handcrafted things ... has since allowed POD people, so the vibe is evolving. You'll do best on there if selling something truly unique, leave the dabbing unicorns and fart loading nonsense for elsewhere. Also best if it appeals to women. It is not eBay or Amazon, though some treat it as such and sell uninspired crap at low prices, which you could do anywhere. On Etsy CHARGE for shipping. Free shipping bull**** is an Amazon Prime scam.

FYI They just announced some changes. Seller fees are going up 1.5% and will now include the shipping price (previously only the credit card fee applied to shipping). They will also be rolling out monthly subscriptions that come with some new and shiney features (optional, as you can keep everything as it is right now).

 

[TABOB]

You can definitely sell a T-Shirt for $30 on etsy, as well as on ebay and Amazon. Many people do.



If people like it they will buy it. It's as simple as that.

 

[shant]

Ela Kosta,

Thanks for the info.

1. Can I ask what your average selling price is?
2. Can you post your t-shirts on Etsy but also on your own site?

Many thanks again!
Shant

 

[shant]

Hi NoXid,

First of all, many many thanks for your valuable input. Seriously, can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

1. I guess my last question is, do you know anyone who would be willing to let me put their designs on my site?
2. If no, do you have any ideas on how to go about this?

Thanks once again for everything!
Shant

 

[shant]

Thank you all for all your input! You're great people!!!


Shant