Standing out in the crowd
Because it’s become so easy to start up a t-shirt business in the ‘aughts, the competition (especially online) is extremely fierce. So much so that very few people are able to make a full-time living with either t-shirt design or sales.
There are several things a new t-shirt business can do to make success more likely. For instance, it’s always a good idea to make a real effort to get hip to what your target demographic really is wearing these days – don’t guess.
Furthermore, you’re far more likely to make a quick impact by focusing on a very particular market segment. It’s not enough to market your t-shirt to “young people.” You’d do better to focus on a very specific niche market such as “young people with motor scooters” or “Irish-American skateboarders.”
You can come up with designs yourself or partner with local artists to share the profits. Even if you don’t have any talent with design software or drawing, you can make designs that feature words only.
Marketing for success
Though competitive, many people are able to make a nice side-income from t-shirt business opportunities. Many who do so eventually branch out into other items of apparel. For instance, if you’ve invested in screen-printing equipment, you can pay the extra for large-format equipment that allows you to make banners and signs.
The only thing holding you back is a marketing effort. All t-shirt business models should include quite a few free-samples and plenty of innovative give-aways to get people to pay attention. Don’t be afraid to hit the pavements and get your t-shirts on as many backs as possible. Never be afraid to hand out your cards.
