[djetmec]

Hello all,

I'm new to the t-shirt industry and I have been reading post from this forum and I now have a question.

What is a few of the normal and inexpensive ways to market my shirts other than word of mouth and wearing my own product?

Where are some of the best places to advertise?

I do have a budget, though small, I can put money towards getting my product out so that I can give it a shot at being successful.

Thanks

Anthony

 

[LaTonya]

Re: Marketing and Advertising

Your local New paper , Flyer, Poster, Orangzation News Letter.
LaTonya

 

[djetmec]

Re: Marketing and Advertising

Thank you so much LaTonya, that is pretty helpful.

 

[OperationSackTap]

Re: Marketing and Advertising

You could make bumperstickers with your company logo on it, promote in small time state magazines, give your product to people in high social situations like bands to wear in front of a large crowd, theres a lot of ways.

 

[EnMartian]

Re: Marketing and Advertising

What is your target market? That's the first thing you have to determine. Everything else comes from that. It doesn't do you any good to advertise where your target market doesn't go.

Once you've figured out who your target market is, then you can start doing research to find out what they read, what they listen to, what influences them and where they go.

Doing things randomly won't help you sell shirts. You need to figure out who you're trying to sell to before you start trying to sell.

 

[djetmec]

Again thank you all for your help. This starting to shape my direction as to where I need to focus. The target market is mainly college age students.

Does anyone have any thoughts where I could start to focus advertisement to this large group?

 

[Rodney]

Again thank you all for your help. This starting to shape my direction as to where I need to focus. The target market is mainly college age students.

Does anyone have any thoughts where I could start to focus advertisement to this large group?

You could advertise at the colleges themselves (most have newspapers). You could advertise on facebook pages for college students. You could advertise on blogs targeted to college students.

Think of all the things that college students read, watch, and all the places they hang out and then come up with creative ways to get your product in front of them in those places.

Also, make sure your product stands out and is noteworthy, that will help people spread the word for you when they do see your product.

 

[djetmec]

Thanks for your input Rodney. Do you have a store or anything? I noticed you are located in Sacramento. I live in Elk Grove.

 

[frankiko]

college newsletter, give away t-shirt to y our college buddies so they'll wear it for you..... contribute to college fundraising.... introduce yourself to as many as you can to all college oganization / fratenities, etc..... approach college rock/jazz/blues band and design t-shirts for them....

 

[djetmec]

Thanks Frank,

I may sound a little off here, but I'm a little older than your normal college crowd. What would be your suggestion as to how I would get a hold of newsletters

 

[sandykr09]

Hello Anthony,
I am new to the forum, but I just want to say that I am in the apparel business (not t-shirts yet, just starting out) and I do vendor shows in a tri-state radius of my home. (Detroit Area). There are many shows (inside/outside) in your area too I'm sure (craft shows/festivals, etc..) I don't know if that interests you, but I have made alot of money this way with my products.
Sandy

 

[djetmec]

Thanks you Sandy. I live in Northern California and I just heard of the MAGIC show today. It's some big trade show in Vegas. what is the best way to go about finding these shows or festivals?

Anthony

 

[frankiko]

college newsletters normally are funded by the school.... or portion of it is funded by advertisers. subscribe for an ad space (from $5 to $15 per issue, depending on the size).

if you have local community newsletter, subscribe for an ad space.

church newsletters

these kind of newsletters you have a high percentage of readers..... aside from it's cheaper than newspaper..... in my personal experience, newsletter got me known in my city. i share a good chunk of the market now after doing advertisements for few months... and i still place my advertisement with them even up to now.

 

[sandykr09]

Hi Anthony,
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. The best way to look at the trade shows is to call the hotel. Actually you can search on line and find information about the shows. I do trade shows for my business as well but shows like the Winn, and others in Vegas are very expensive. There are festival, vendor show listings that you can go to for shows that aren't super expensive, like craftlister.com. That is one Festival Network is another.
Let me know how you do. Hopefully you could answer a couple questions for me. Have you ever heard of a Gemsy heat transfer machine? I am just starting out and don't know what to do exactly. I want to be able to transfer ready made rhinestone transfers, rhinestud transfers. What do I need to get started outside of the heat transfer machine??? T-square.. shirts..transfers.. ?? what else?
Thanks
Sandy

 

[djetmec]

Sandy,

Thank you again for your input. I hate to say it but I don't know anything about those machine. I have two companies who manufacture the shirts for me.

Anthony

 

[SBEMedia]

There are a bunch of free sites out there to get your name out. Go to www.merchantcircle.com they have both paid and free services. Some of the free services include: sending out newsletters, coupon creation, blog (which you can create a link from your Merchant Circle blog to your website) and you can develop your own listing in their server.

I'd heavily use FaceBook, Craigslist, MySpace and other social networking sites which will increase your overall visibility on the net.

Lastly, do some press releases, there are a bunch of free, with paid printing as well, Press Release servers out there such as: PRLog.org, PR.com, and 24-7pressrelease.com.

You can also go to BackPage.com and post ads in there as well, much like Craigslist. They have both free and inexpensive marketing campaigns where you can select the area and how your ad will appear.

 

[DFras]

I'd heavily use FaceBook, Craigslist, MySpace and other social networking sites which will increase your overall visibility on the net.

I agree with Tom. I believe, these sites will be the quickest way to get your name out there and get some exposure.
I would add, Twitter, also. You will have to do some work and focus to your market, but, a good place to start.

Best.

 

[baller43]

Most college campuses have billboard in the hallways, I posted my artwork with coming soon just to get students familiar with my designs.

 

[djetmec]

Corie,

Oh my! this is a excellent idea. I will get statred on this as soon as possible. I really do thank you for this.

Anthony

 

[rockwellindustry]

college schools