ive just started selling tshirts online, and ive already made a few mistakes. ill try to keep this thread updated with mistakes and wins as i make 'em. cause you know they are gonna happen!
please share yours! so i wont have to make the same mistakes.
1. didnt purchase packaging/mailers in bulk. ive been only getting a order here and there, so i was buying them piecemail/5 packs.
solution: i just went ahead and bought bulk poly bag mailers.
$3.99 for 5 pieces of mailers = $0.80 per piece
$30 for 100 pieces of mailers = $0.30 per piece
ill probably buy in bigger amounts later on. 50 cents savings per mailer is money in the pocket. every penny counts.
2. Alaska/Hawaii - i didnt even think about the higher shipping. i got burned on one order, but i consider the money i lost stupid/learning tax.
solution: still working it out. currently only shipping to 48 states.
3. 6 oz. heavyweight tees. (OPINION) they are stiff like cardboard.
solution: im jumpin on the American Apparel bandwagon, and going for 5.4 ounce tees also.
4. ordering too many different color combinations with ink and tee color. customers were starting to ask if i had this color, that color, can i print with this or that... and when you tell a customer no... they arent as excited to buy your tee.
solution: im just ordering one or two combinations, and thats it.
** I AM considering (since its limited runs) of giving the option of custom ink colors for an additional fee. people like to customize right?
5. too many colors in tee. makes em expensive. i see why threadless keeps the colors down to 1-4. less # of inks = less cost = higher profit
solution: im doing one color designs, which actually helps me as an artist to become better at line art! woot!
There are many things Im going to be exploring.
Myspace - add XX friends a day that would be interested in tees for future 'spam'
Door knob hanger ads\Car window flyers - relatively cheap advertising. Probably at colleges/near college apartments.
Ebay
Etsy
Do more non T-shirt art to post on art websites to continue promoting work - I can easily get several thousand views by posting my artwork on different sites so... I get an inquiry once in a while from them.
Expand business to include art services.
please share yours! so i wont have to make the same mistakes.
1. didnt purchase packaging/mailers in bulk. ive been only getting a order here and there, so i was buying them piecemail/5 packs.
solution: i just went ahead and bought bulk poly bag mailers.
$3.99 for 5 pieces of mailers = $0.80 per piece
$30 for 100 pieces of mailers = $0.30 per piece
ill probably buy in bigger amounts later on. 50 cents savings per mailer is money in the pocket. every penny counts.
2. Alaska/Hawaii - i didnt even think about the higher shipping. i got burned on one order, but i consider the money i lost stupid/learning tax.
solution: still working it out. currently only shipping to 48 states.
3. 6 oz. heavyweight tees. (OPINION) they are stiff like cardboard.
solution: im jumpin on the American Apparel bandwagon, and going for 5.4 ounce tees also.
4. ordering too many different color combinations with ink and tee color. customers were starting to ask if i had this color, that color, can i print with this or that... and when you tell a customer no... they arent as excited to buy your tee.
solution: im just ordering one or two combinations, and thats it.
** I AM considering (since its limited runs) of giving the option of custom ink colors for an additional fee. people like to customize right?
5. too many colors in tee. makes em expensive. i see why threadless keeps the colors down to 1-4. less # of inks = less cost = higher profit
solution: im doing one color designs, which actually helps me as an artist to become better at line art! woot!
There are many things Im going to be exploring.
Myspace - add XX friends a day that would be interested in tees for future 'spam'
Door knob hanger ads\Car window flyers - relatively cheap advertising. Probably at colleges/near college apartments.
Ebay
Etsy
Do more non T-shirt art to post on art websites to continue promoting work - I can easily get several thousand views by posting my artwork on different sites so... I get an inquiry once in a while from them.
Expand business to include art services.