How to Run a Successful, Sassy T-Shirt Shop

A Terrific Job for the Talented

Running your own t-shirt shop is a terrific job choice; it involves creativity, fun, flexibility, and the ability to be your own boss. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars and several years in school to learn how to run a successful t-shirt shop. All it takes is a few tips and tricks to get steer you in the right direction.

Six Pointers for Prospective Professional T-Shirt Shop Owners

Determine Your Target Market

Choosing a target market will help your business tremendously. Many t-shirt shops are emerging; therefore, you need to stand out from the rest. Targeting your t-shirt shop towards a broad target market (e.g. all ages, people who like funny sayings, and teenagers) is detrimental to your business. Choosing a specific target market (e.g. inspiring quotes for domestic violence survivors, funny sayings towards dogs’ owners, or slogans for teenagers who want social justice) will help your brand stand out from the rest and make it easier to market.

Decide on Designs

Design is the backbone of your business because it is what will attract people. The best part of the t-shirt business is that the designs do not have to be too elaborate. Simple graphic tees have a track record for selling successfully. You should brainstorm and draw up some ideas that will initially start your business.

Develop a Brand

When you think of brands (e.g. Nike, Converse, Betsy Johnson, etc.), they are a line of products that follows the same themes of quality and design. Brands make a line of products stand out in customers’ mind, which will make them keep coming back to that line of products. When building your brand, you will need to create a unique selling proposition (e.g. ultra-soft t-shirts, vivid colors, flexible to fit all sizes, etc.) that makes your brand stand up from the rest, a logo that that will put an image in the customers’ minds when thinking about and talking about the brand, and a slogan that will make the customers envision the brand when they hear it.

Decide How You Will Print Your Designs

While you will initially create the initial design, you will need to make copies of it. You will need to reach out to a factory or company that prints t-shirt designs. You can also invest in the products yourself to help you print copies of the designs. Some of the methods are screen printing, heat transfer, and direct-to-garment printing.

Choose Your Means of Selling

You have to decide if you want to sell your t-shirts via the internet, a brick-and-mortar store, or both. Selling solely on the internet is the cheapest option, but your will have to market more vigorously. Brick-and-mortar stores are easier to market because people in the community will see them as they ride or walk by, but the cost of rent and utilities can be costly. Your best option is to sell in both brick-and-mortar and online store.

Promote

Social media is the best marketing tool in the modern world because it is affordable and allows you to reach a large audience in a short amount of time. Billboards, flyers, and ads are also helpful promotional tools.

Visit Depresident shirts for an example of a successful online t-shirt store.