| Selling T-Shirts has become big business and it's a | | | | You have to always be marketing/promoting |
| growing industry on the Internet where there are | | | | your site one way or another because it won't |
| already thousands of shops and websites where | | | | take long before someone else over takes you, |
| you can purchase almost any design or T-Shirt | | | | simply because links can die and you need |
| style imaginable. Thanks to the many T-Shirt | | | | incoming links from other websites to get |
| companies that now print and create the T-Shirts | | | | traffic.T-Shirt Ranking Websites |
| for you, with no risk involved, many people have | | | | Do ranking sites work? Yes, ranking websites are |
| been able to start their own T-Shirt business | | | | a great way to market/promote your T-Shirt |
| without having to invest any money. This | | | | designs and shops/websites. Many people don't |
| however, has turned the T-Shirt business online | | | | want to waste their time searching all over the |
| into a fierce, competitive battle against all T-Shirt | | | | web trying to locate websites that sell specific |
| shop/website owners.There are now millions of | | | | designs that they are looking for. This is where |
| T-Shirt websites online for customers to choose | | | | T-Shirt ranking websites come in handy and allow |
| from and this is why starting your own online | | | | customers to view thousands of different T-Shirt |
| T-Shirt business can be stressful, disappointing, | | | | designs and styles from many different websites. |
| and very difficult to attract customers and make | | | | Ranking sites are a great way of bringing many |
| the sales that you are expecting. Now, I'm not | | | | unique and different T-Shirt websites/designs |
| saying it's impossible, I'm just saying it's going to | | | | together and help to bring the buyers to the |
| take a lot of time, effort, and maybe even some | | | | sellers. is a great example and offers many |
| money for you to get started and get customers | | | | different categories to choose from including: |
| visiting your shop/website.There are many things | | | | Animal, Artistic, Attitude, Automobile, Biker, |
| you need to consider when starting your own | | | | Computer, Floral, Funny, Holiday, Kids, Logo, Misc., |
| online T-Shirt business. Simply creating a design, | | | | Movie, Music, Novelty, Occupation, Offensive, |
| putting it on a blank T-Shirt, and expecting it to | | | | Patriotic, Pets, Political, Religious, Sports, Unusual, |
| be a big seller isn't going to do the trick and bring | | | | Vintage, and Western.Many T-Shirt business |
| you many sales, unless of course, you are a very | | | | owners think that they can just upload their |
| lucky person, whom I can assure you, there | | | | T-Shirt designs to a ranking website and expect |
| aren't very many of them around. If you want to | | | | to receive sales. This is a myth and it's not true. |
| start a T-Shirt business just to make easy | | | | Ranking sites, like bring high quality targeted traffic |
| money fast like many other schemes on the | | | | to your website, but it's your T-Shirt designs in |
| Internet claim, then you're looking at the wrong | | | | the end that have to convince the customer to |
| business. There is no such thing as easily making | | | | buy/purchase the product. T-Shirt ranking |
| money fast and you're always going to have to | | | | websites only make it easier for you to market |
| put in the effort to get the results you are | | | | promote your site/designs and to get the high |
| looking for, especially for a T-Shirt business.Now, | | | | quality targeted traffic that every business |
| I'm not trying to scare you from owning your | | | | wants.Below I've included some advice, problems, |
| own T-Shirt business, as there are many | | | | and solutions from other T-Shirt businesses that |
| successful individuals who have started their | | | | they encountered when they were starting their |
| business in the T-Shirt industry and are doing | | | | own T-Shirt business.For MindTrix the hardest |
| very well. I just want to give you the facts of | | | | part for starting out, besides money, was finding |
| reality so that you're not disappointed when your | | | | a "nitch". Our first line of T-Shirts was all over the |
| business isn't doing as well as you thought it | | | | map, so starting your own clothing company can |
| would. You may succeed at one aspect of the | | | | be hard. I had to do and learn everything on my |
| business, but fail in another, or you just might be | | | | own. I over came this obstacle by going to |
| that person who is successful at all the aspects of | | | | tradeshows, surfing the Internet, and reading |
| the business, which will obviously make your | | | | magazines like Sport and Street, etc.MindTrix has |
| business a success. Either way, you're still going to | | | | grown beyond just T-Shirts due to the fact that |
| have to spend the time and work very hard to | | | | everyone including their moms have a T-Shirt |
| achieve success.Below I've listed some of the | | | | company. When I would go into stores trying to |
| things you need to consider before you setup or | | | | sell my T-Shirts, I would always get feedback, like |
| start your own T-Shirt business:Business Goals | | | | what makes these any better than the other |
| Before you start your own T-Shirt business, you | | | | 90,000 brands we have in here, which most of |
| need to think of your business goals. These goals | | | | these other brands people have heard of, and |
| should be realistic and they should point you in the | | | | that is why we graduated to cut and sew as well |
| direction you would like your business to go and | | | | as any higher end T-Shirts.You have to stay |
| what you hope to accomplish. An example of a | | | | ahead of the pack to survive. for Promotion: Don't |
| goal would be to have 100 visitors visiting your | | | | be afraid to advertise. Create buttons, stickers, |
| shop/website a day or to create two new | | | | give them out and be sure people remember you. |
| designs a week and put them up on your website. | | | | Tell people about it, you'd be surprised how many |
| Whatever the goals may be that you have set | | | | people would be willing to help you out.Advice for |
| for yourself, you then need to strive for them | | | | Designing: When designing A T-Shirt, there are |
| and once you have accomplished your goals, then | | | | many points to keep in mind, but the following |
| you know you're on the right track.Passion | | | | factors are some technical stuff overlooked by |
| You have to have an interest in what you are | | | | companies starting off: The Number of colors |
| doing or you're not going to enjoy spending the | | | | used & what material will be used. Most screen |
| time and effort your business requires. Everybody | | | | printers charge in the $10-$40 range for every |
| has a passion in one thing or another whether it is | | | | different color you use. It can get really |
| creating the designs, promoting, or any other | | | | expensive for someone (Example: music bands) |
| aspect of the business, but you should have an | | | | to get several T-Shirts printed. They then have |
| interest in it. If you're not passionate about a | | | | to sell the fans $36 dollar T-Shirts just to cover |
| certain subject, then you need to think of another | | | | the costs and make some profit.The Material |
| theme that you would be more interested in | | | | used: Usually each material/brand/size comes with |
| doing. Remember, you are going to spend a lot of | | | | a set of colors that they're printed on. There isn't |
| time on the subject/theme that you choose, so if | | | | one that provides you with every single color in |
| you aren't passionate about it, then you're going | | | | existence. It would be a great idea to ask the |
| to get bored very fast and it's not going to be | | | | client what material they can afford and then |
| enjoyable.Subject/Theme | | | | research it, or familiarize yourself with the more |
| This is very important in the T-Shirt industry as | | | | popular brands that are being printed on |
| some subjects/themes do much better than | | | | (Examples: American Apparel, Fruit Of the Loom |
| others and receive more customers, but like all | | | | and Hanes). I've had several problems with this |
| styles, they come and go. It's possible to have a | | | | when I began, so don't just go creating something |
| general subject/theme, but it makes it harder for | | | | that only looks good on a red background that |
| you to market/promote your shop/website. I | | | | you can't easily fix, or something that looks good |
| suggest choosing just one subject/theme to begin | | | | on a T-Shirt color that's almost impossible to find. |
| with as you can start adding other subjects | | | | This will save you so much time and |
| themes later when you are established. You | | | | trouble.Lastly, but most importantly, just be |
| should by all means choose a subject/theme that | | | | original. Keep the designs more personalized, |
| you are knowledgeable about and have a passion | | | | deeper and more meaningful. Vision. You need to |
| for, like I mentioned under the passion | | | | know who you are, what you're doing, why, etc. |
| paragraph.Target Audience | | | | This will define how you market your product, |
| Who are you targeting? Will you be targeting a | | | | how it looks over all, and all the little details within |
| certain age group, occupation, style, general public, | | | | that you need to do. Yep, so figure that out and |
| etc. Finding out who your primary target audience | | | | then go nuts because you can't go wrong with a |
| will be or is, will help you with marketing | | | | big idea, as long as you know what the big idea |
| promotion. This will also help you with creating and | | | | is.2. Marketing. It's essential in today's design world. |
| designing your T-Shirts and shop/website to suit | | | | You might have a good product but if its weak |
| your target audience. Once again you can choose | | | | on branding, labeling, packaging, shelf appeal, |
| to go for a general audience, but this will only | | | | matching coat hangers, etc., it'll look bad. |
| make it harder for you to market/promote your | | | | Consistency also needs to be achieved across the |
| shop/website.Research | | | | spectrum including same font, same style, etc. |
| You need to always do your research and find | | | | Designing is totally open to new creations and |
| out what's new, what's not, what's in style, what | | | | ideas, so anything goes, but there are some |
| kind of designs people are looking for, etc. You | | | | boundaries that you don't want to cross, while |
| also need to keep up-to-date with your subject | | | | others you need to break through.3. E-commerce. |
| theme as some change on a regular basis | | | | Yes, it's fully possible! It will take some setting up |
| (Example: Politics). Keeping informed and | | | | though, but I've recently realized how I can just |
| up-to-date will give you the leading edge over | | | | pick up the phone and order a set of hoodies, |
| your competitors, bring back customers time | | | | wait four days until they're on the doorstep, pay |
| after time, and most importantly it will make | | | | for them a month later online, etc. Also, I can call |
| sales.Third Party shops Vs. Your Own Website | | | | up the fabric company down the road, or one in |
| Should I invest in my own website or use a third | | | | wellington, get them to send me samples of |
| party website to host my T-Shirt designs? If you | | | | denim, call them back and order a set amount of |
| are thinking about doing every aspect of the | | | | denim to be sent to my garment manufacturer, |
| T-Shirt business yourself (including making the | | | | and then call him and tell him how many of what I |
| T-Shirts), then I suggest you invest in a website | | | | want right from my rocking chair at home.4. |
| (not a free website hosting service), but first try | | | | Online selling. Totally possible if you use ebay or |
| out a third party website that makes the T-Shirts | | | | know how to set up an E-commerce website |
| for you (no risk involved or investment needed) | | | | yourself, but getting the credit card system |
| to see if you can make your business a success. | | | | sorted out is a major cost. Lots of girls shop |
| Once you're confident in your business, then you | | | | online now, you just need to know how to |
| can upgrade to making and owning your own | | | | market it right and get your products noticed.5. |
| website.There are many online third party | | | | Promo. Get it out there! Make sure your friends |
| websites available on the Internet that you can | | | | buy your products or you could give out freebies. |
| choose from that will create and ship the T-Shirts | | | | Put stickers, advertising your shop, wherever you |
| to your customers (risk free with no money | | | | can. Be shameless because designers are really |
| invested) and therefore, save you the hassle of | | | | admired (as opposed to being a 'salesperson'), |
| actually having to deal with the customer aspect | | | | especially if your product is favorable.6. Don't |
| of your T-Shirt business. There are as many cons | | | | waste your time on silly details. I'll let you figure |
| as there are pros when using a third party | | | | out what those are.7. Get your accounts sorted |
| service. Some of the cons are: You don't get | | | | out now. Segregate your personal and business |
| your own website and you are in some way | | | | spending, so you can claim back GST with no |
| connected to them, you don't make as much | | | | problems. Make sure every transaction (sales, |
| profit (you have to pay them to do all the work, | | | | purchasing, spending, etc.) goes through your |
| like printing the T-Shirts and shipping), and they | | | | account, so you can see how well you're doing by |
| make all the rules (Example: not providing you | | | | looking at your bank statement. Use the ATM |
| with the E-mail address of your customers or | | | | machine for petty cash; your accountant will love |
| refusing any designs that you create). When you | | | | you one day for this.8. Have fun! It's not the end |
| sign up with one of these third party services, | | | | of the world if it doesn't work out. I was just |
| you are actually working for them and that | | | | thinking how involved my life is at the moment |
| includes promoting their site. The customers that | | | | with my T-Shirt business. My life revolves around |
| purchase your T-Shirts are actually their | | | | it, which is crazy, but if it all fell apart and closed |
| customers meaning they have full control and | | | | down tomorrow I'd be the same person and I'd |
| every time you make a sale, they make a profit. | | | | find something else to do! I make sure I take one |
| In other words, these third parties depend on | | | | day off during the week to do what I love that |
| your success and if your business goes under, | | | | doesn't involve my work. I love doing my work, |
| theirs doesn't because there'll always be someone | | | | so I'm very lucky in that aspect, but sometimes it |
| else to take your place.Marketing/Promoting | | | | gets boring or tedious so I make sure I stay |
| This will be your biggest enemy in the T-Shirt | | | | fresh and focused.9. Work hard. I still do after |
| business and many businesses fail because of this. | | | | three years. I work my butt off and hardly make |
| I suggest you do your research on the web for | | | | any money off it, but I know it's worth it in the |
| SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and about how | | | | long run and the things you learn along the way |
| the basic search engines works, as there is a lot | | | | are invaluable.10. Give away free stuff! People love |
| of information about them. Do not just resort to | | | | free T-Shirts and sponsorship goes a long way. |
| search engines as being your source for traffic as | | | | It's also your duty, being in business and |
| there are many other websites that can help | | | | generating wealth, to share that with society in |
| bring in quality targeted traffic to your website | | | | some way (Example: Old stock goes in recycle |
| like T-Shirt ranking sites (Example: major search | | | | clothing bins, etc.).Check the story out at involved... |
| engines (Example: Google) are complicated in how | | | | choice! |
| they work and many people have been trying to | | | | you'd like to copy this article and place it on your |
| figure out how they work for years. The search | | | | website or pass it around, then you are FREE to |
| engines change their algorithms on how pages are | | | | do so as long as you copy the article in it's |
| ranked every once in a while so you're better off | | | | entirety, keep the links intact, and don't make any |
| not focusing your attention on just getting to the | | | | modifications whatsoever. - The Ultimate T-Shirt |
| top in the search engines.If you do manage to | | | | Website On The Internet. You can Rank, Vote, |
| make it to the top and are very successful, then | | | | Comment, E-mail, Visit T-Shirt Websites, Auction, |
| your marketing/promotion shouldn't stop there. | | | | Bid, Sell, Buy, Promote/Market T-Shirts and more. |