How to Start a T-Shirt Business Using CafePress

By Bryan Pickell

CafePress Overview

CafePress has 6.5 million members who each have their own online storefront - a webpage - where people can buy their stuff.

CafePress is popular because there are no upfront fees or manufacturing costs and basic membership is free.

Each member uploads their own customized design and then selects some, or all, of the stock merchandise for it to be made available on.

There is a very wide range of items that you put your design on, from hats, t-shirts and hoodies, tank tops, kids' clothes, clothing for pets, cards, mugs and more. Browse the site's catalogue for ideas and to preview a design on any product.

While their wholesale prices may be higher than other t-shirt printing companies, they do use American Apparel brand clothing. The key benefit is that there is no minimum product order - you can order fifty t-shirts on behalf of a group, or just one for yourself.

Because there is no minimum product order or membership fee, you can upload and offer for sale as many designs as you like without any financial risk. For a small monthly fee you can go beyond a basic shop and build a large virtual store fully stocked with your creations and branded with your colors and design.

The wholesale prices for each item are set and you determine the retail price, keeping the difference from every sale. All sales are transacted securely on CafePress' servers, and customers pay reasonable shipping costs.

Making Money

As with launching any other business, you need to determine how you will generate sales. Bulk orders offer higher profit margins and can be lucrative, especially if the shirts have been pre-sold to a group or company. Many people have developed profitable businesses selling corporate promotional items made by print-on-demand companies.

While CafePress does have a searchable online catalogue of all products in its database, there is no guarantee that many people will discover your designs this way.

How will you drive traffic to your site? Publicity and word of mouth are the fastest options, provided people know where to find your designs. Viral marketing (which is basically word of mouth online) is great for online sales because if people like what they see, they can immediately place their order with just a few clicks.

If you anticipate the majority of your sales occurring online, you might want to buy a domain name (for about $10) and then redirect it to your store's CafePress webpage. We recommend the redirect because then you can use a short, catchy www address that will be easier to publicize and remember.

If it's appropriate, we recommend letting people know where the shirt came from by incorporating a website address into the graphic. This can help your business gain momentum as more and more people comment on the shirts, some of whom will then visit your online store. Choosing good descriptive keywords for your descriptions will help the major search engines find your webpage.

CafePress also offers help, tips, and even an online community to help you learn how to more effectively design and sell your products.

Free Tips & Resources for Internet Entrepreneurs

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Bryan Pickell
How to Sell Information Online.com
Learn how to make money doing what you love.

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Starting a T-shirt Business - Cheap Ways to Get Your T-shirt Designs Out To the Public

By Cartess A. Ross

I was on the phone with a guy from Alabama the other day, his name is Tony and we had a long conversation about different ways to get his t-shirt designs out to the general public. At the end of the call, I told him that I wish I recorded the call because it was a great freaking call!

Anyhow, Tony created some great designs, and I won't say what they are because I didn't get his permission, but he wanted to know some inexpensive ways to get it out. Because of the target group he was going after, we discussed one possible venue would be t-shirt shops in the mall... I don't know about your mall, but mine has like 2-3 t-shirt and hat type shops. He felt strongly about his designs and felt most people would buy it if they only saw it.

If you feel you have a great design, approach the shop owners directly. Why? Well, because these shops are in business to make money, and if your design does well... they make money. Now, how do you approach these guys (or ladies)... well, you do what I call "Risk Reversal". In other words, you assume all the risk, while the store owner assumes NONE! In other words, approach the store owner like this...

Sir (or Ma'am), I feel my design is what your store is missing and I'm 100% confident that if the people see these t-shirts, you'll make huge profits. I'm so confident that I'm willing to assume all the risks by letting you keep 12 of my t-shirts with no upfront monies. If they don't sell, you owe me nothing... If they sell, then you and I both win. Let me leave this here and when they sell out, call the number on my business card and I'll bring you some more.. Fair enough??? (don't say anything until they respond).

Why do I teach risk reversal? It's because it works. If you're not willing to assume any risk whatsoever, then why should the business pay you upfront money for your t-shirts and take the risk of possibly not selling a single tee?

If your design is that great, then assume the risk... they'll look at you quite differently. Keep in mind, these people are approached everyday about some type of opportunity, and it's not often that someone will come around with an "risk reversal" proposition. If the store owner makes money... then you do too!

Depending on the type of t-shirs you're selling, try a gas station. They make very little profit on gas sales, and that's why you see them selling everything from watches, to fake teeth, dvds, and more... They're trying to generate revenue. Pass the same offer to them too... they're business owners, they're out to make money just like you are.

You might get lucky because many own several gas stations.

For free tips and resources on how to start your own t-shirt business, checkout T-shirt Riches by visiting us online at http://www.tshirtriches.com

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Custom Printed Polo Shirts - Business Uniforms Made Easy

By Amin Ramjee

When you think of uniforms you probably think of private or higher-level schooling. However, business uniforms can be used as a great way to build morale throughout your company as well as a way to bring everyone together. Using custom printed polo shirts, your company can provide business uniforms for every employee, both men and women. Polo shirts can be custom printed and the options that come along with them are endless. Custom printed dress shirts can be bought in bulk in a variety of colors, sizes, and designs. Since the custom printed polo shirts will be used for business purposes, you'll want to keep them professional, classy, and representative of your company.

As business uniforms, the polo shirts your company orders should be bought in a professional color. Stray away from flashy colors and instead choose neutrals such as blacks, blues, or grays. If your company wants to make the custom printed polo shirts eye-catching, a brighter color can be used on the design that is added to the shirt. The custom printed dress shirts should not only be of a professional color, they should also somehow reflect your company. To do this, the company's logo or initials can be monogrammed onto the shirt. The monogram should be small and subtle but it should be noticeable.

In order to design and order custom printed dress shirts, your company will first want to find a company that offers high quality shirts at an affordable price. Be sure that the vendor you choose offers monogram services so that your company's logo and/or name can be stitched on each shirt. Once you have a company selected, you then want to ensure that you have a sound budget to pay for a shirt for each employee. Somehow your company will need to survey your workforce in order to determine the number of different size polo shirts that have to be ordered.

With all of the technical details in hand, your business can then place an order for the custom printed polo shirts. Once the dress shirts are ordered, designed, and delivered, they can then be handed out to your workforce. Instead of handing them out one by one, take the time to set-up a morale building activity where a majority if not all of your workforce is present. The printed polo shirts can then be given to each employee as business uniforms. You can ask employees to wear them to certain meetings or venues. Not only will this bring your workers together, it will also show to other businesses and customers that your company is tight-knit and values working together.

A company will find that by providing custom printed shirts to their workforce, employees will become much closer and willing to work with each other. With a common bind between all of the employees, they will find it a lot easier to bond and work together successfully.

If your company needs a morale boost or if you want to show your employees that you are appreciative and thankful for their work, don't hesitate to design and purchase custom printed polo shirts.

DiscountMugs, a leader in the promotional products industry, has a wide variety of Custom Printed Polo Shirts to choose from in several styles and designs. With tons of great corporate gifts to choose from like Promotional Coffee Mugs, mouse pads, portfolios, custom pens, and more, you are certain to find something to fit any corporate style. Shop DiscountMugs.com today to get yours!

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Drop Shipping T-Shirts - 4 Benefits of Drop Shipping to Your Online T-Shirt Business

By Lila J. Fowloer

Selling T-shirts online, whether customized or plain designs, requires an effective way to do inventory, test waters, save costs and list conveniently. These requirements may appear difficult to achieve at first but in the online market today, one strategy answers all the requirements. This is called drop shipping. With this process, you are bereft of time consuming processes like inventory, packing and delivery.

Here is a list of the four benefits that drop shipping provides to your Online T-Shirt business.

1. Volume Orders are Not Required

Drop shippers do not require large orders for you to start transactions. You can order from as small as one piece to as large as 3 dozens. This allows you to control your business and try out the market for trends. Moreover, It also cushions from large volume purchases that may be counterproductive to you.

2. It Eliminates Inventory Problems

Drop shipping eliminates your participation in inventory because the drop shipper does the inventory. This is beneficial mostly to beginners who are not even used to inventory processes or have not even experienced doing inventory. Moreover, you will have extra time to focus on other aspects of your business like marketing.

3. It Saves a Lot of Time

Drop shippers are called such because they accept orders and the same time pack and ship. This saves a lot of time for you. To start with, packing and shipping adds to the cost because of the logistics and manpower needed. Drop Shippers have both the manpower and logistics which does not add to the price but instead lessens it. This enables you to sell products at low rates but still earn a lot.

4. Automated Listing

Some suppliers have their own mechanized directory listings which is very convenient to your part. You only need to choose the products you want to sell and with a click of a button you are done. This is a very useful and convenient way of dong business that it almost eliminates personal interaction.

These are just a few benefits that drop shipping has. The most important thing is that you know that you are better off with drop shipping than doing it all by yourself.

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The 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Launching an Online T-Shirt Business

By Anastasia Kotis

Here are my Top 10 Tips on mistakes to avoid when launching your Online T-shirt Business.

1.Understanding your target market. Often people think they can be everything to everyone however knowing every detail about YOUR specific target market is one of the keys to success. From their age, gender, interests, friendship circles, what they read, what websites and forums they look at, what clubs they attend etc. This will come in handy when you're starting to sell your t-shirts and for target marketing.

2. Set realistic goals about what you want to achieve and the money you would like to make. T-shirt success does not usually happen overnight but rather over a few years. Be realistic with what you can achieve. For example; one goal may be print 50 t-shirts by a certain date. Another goal maybe to sell at least 25 t-shirts to stores by a certain date. Set goals by month so you keep on track and stay motivated.

3.Know when to hold and know when to fold. You have to own your mistakes. It's important that you recognize if a t-shirt is not selling, then try to sell in a different avenue such as eBay or Etsy and move on. It's not worth pushing something that's not working. Every retailer has best sellers and worst sellers and when they don't perform, they are marked down and new product is ranged.

4. Knowing how much money you should invest. In my experience, the best advice is work out an estimate of how much you think it will cost initially to start your business and then double it, as this is probably more realistic. People forget about the smaller things such as postage, shipping costs, petrol, website hosting etc. These little things add up.

5.Test your product before you start to heavily invest. This is an important one and given the current Internet opportunities that are out there, it's easily achievable. If you can make some customized t-shirts from an online website then you can see if people are liking what you are doing. Get your product in photos, organize competitions, give samples to friends to wear and use social websites to show off your t-shirt designs. There are many things you can try, to see if your style works and people like it.

6.Take your time when making important decisions. We are human and we can be impulsive and make quick decisions that may not be the right ones for us. Business is quite tough these days, people will want to rush you and will say anything to try to get you to commit so they have an order. Take your time and weigh up the pros and cons and be informed. Do your research and then make the decision - it will end up saving you time and money!

7.Some opportunities are sometimes not worth it. When you are starting out, you will come across people who will try to challenge your pricing, product and brand. For example, an online retailer may want your product but will only order it, if it's $10 less than your current wholesale cost. If you are making little or no margin on a job, it is OK to say no. In my experience, be willing in some cases to achieve a lower margin, if it means you will get more business from it. Sometimes it's a marketing exercise that is well worth the cost cutting.

8.It's OK to start small. I know myself that as soon as I get a great idea in my head you think 'that's it!' I then start going crazy and spending loads of money. You may buy a machine or other equipment that is quite expensive. Take your time, test different processes and then decide which way you want to go.

It's really important that you do some samples and see the results first before investing a lot of money into equipment and other things that may not be want you wanted after all.

9.Do your homework. If you're thinking of investing in a printing machine, then look at all the costs associated with this process. It's usually not that clear cut and you will find that there will be inks or paper for example, which cost a lot of money and you had not accounted for it.

10.You will be your own Boss! As much as this is super fantastic and you can't wait to be the boss, there are also average tasks as well. You are the only person that can answer to customer complaints and any issues that come up when running the business. It would be great to become part of a network or forum for weekly support. As a single person boss, you also have to start to know everything about anything; from taxes to sales, marketing to design, from dealing with stores and selling online. You have to be able to master and wear many hats that in my opinion can be quite challenging but also exciting.

Good Luck! http://www.tshirtdesignprofits.com

Anastasia Kotis - http://www.tshirtdesignprofits.com

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Do You Want to Start Your Very Own Custom T-Shirts Business? Read This!

By Seomul Evans

The economy works in a cyclical pattern and while there are times when its sky rocketing and people are lulled into a false euphoria where they believe that things are always going to be great; every few years, their hopes and dreams are dashed when the economy starts moving downwards. However, one way to combat the movement of the economic cycle is to get yourself a second source of income; this way even if you lose your job or if your business does not make the kind of profit that it once used to, you have something to fall back on and that can be a very consoling thought. If you are looking for a business opportunity that requires minimal investment and yet it can prove to be lucrative regardless of the economic movements; then you don't have to look beyond a custom t-shirts venture.

People buy custom t-shirts regardless of the economic health of the country; after all they do need to wear clothes and what better way than to dress themselves in affordable yet creative and dandy looking garments.

To begin with, you need to start by working on an idea for your custom t-shirts; you need to have a very clear plan ready. For instance, you will need to decide whether you are going to use your own designs or if you will also take orders where the customer makes the design for you or will you offer preset designs that can be chosen from. The best part about a custom t-shirts business is that you don't have to invest in any equipment; there are a lot of sites online who will do all the work fort you and deliver the product to your doorstep; all you will need to do is upload your requirements in terms of the t-shirt color, pattern and the design that will go on it.

Start with something simple, it would not make a lot of sense to block investment at the initial stages; a good time to start would be in summer when people usually order beach wear t-shirts or better yet in an election year when a lot of people are buying t-shirts to proclaim their political inclinations and affiliations. The wonderful thing about this business is that most of these custom t-shirts are made to order eliminating the need to maintain pre printed stock which may or many get sold. This factor will be critical to the success of your business because it directly impacts the cash flow, the more liquidity you have, the better will be your chances of earning a profit in time.

If you would rather set up your own assembly, go for the cheaper technology such as iron or heat transfers, an inkjet printer and a heat transfer iron along with some t-shirt blanks. You may need some graphical design software programs but do not buy the high end stuff just yet. Now only is the high end software are expensive but also it will take you days to master its operations. As a matter of fact, why spend at all? You can easily design custom t-shirts with the graphical software that comes with most computers these days. Alternatively, you could start with some freeware like the Professor Franklin software.

A heat ores will be another expensive acquisition which you may not need in the initial stages because a regular household iron could also work equally well; particularly with small orders of five to ten pieces. If you incorporate all these tips, the cost per piece of a custom t-shirts should not exceed $5 but you can easily sell the piece of $25 making a whooping profit of 400%. Selling ten such t-shirts would mean that you have made a neat little monthly income and as you go along there is nothing stopping you from growing once you have a few regular customers, you can get the high end equipment and software. It is imperative to maintain a presence online for a custom t-shirts business because a lot of these products are ordered online use social networking sites to your advantage by letting people know about your products. Expansion with the purchase of a heat press and high quality transfer paper should not take you more than $500 to accomplish

Seomul Evans is SEO Consultant. Learn more about Custom T Shirts.

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Factors People Need To Succeed In Their Own Online Custom T-Shirt Business

By John K Vincent

Creating and selling t-shirts is becoming and expanding business. It continues to grow by leaps and bounds. In addition to the brick and mortar businesses, online shops have already made their move. There are many entrepreneurs that are making their mark and running away with it. There are different designs to match different styles.

Since this business doesn't require a lot of money upfront, it's been easy for many people to start their own online custom t-shirt business. Initially, money will need to be spent, but not as much as people might think. Within a matter of six months to about a year, profits should roll in if the business is done right.

Since more people now have heard about how money can be made with this online business, they've jumped on the bandwagon. This, however, creates more competition for the rest of them who have already started. Of course, competition can be a good thing. Then again, it can not be so good, depending on how it's presented.

In order to be better than the competition, just having t-shirts and a design won't do. There must be more to it than that. Thinking that lots of money will automatically be made because of nice looking designs won't fly either. There must be more to it than that. There must be a lot of effort put into this business or else time and money will be wasted.

Think about what kind of goals to set for the business. Some of them can be small detailed step-by-step kind of deals. In fact, they can be some of the best goals because it doesn't require a lot at one time. The goals should provide a directive that can take you from one level of your business to the next.

What is selling for custom apparel is another thing. Doing an online search can help determine what items are selling. See what other things are selling online besides custom t-shirts. There may be a future possibility to sell custom sweatshirts, custom two tone shirts, custom tank tops, and the list goes on and on.

Once it's been decided what to sell, then it's time to get things in order with a few bulk apparel orders and the designs. The designs should be something that the public will enjoy. Once again, an online search can show what kind of designs are selling in the marketplace for custom t-shirts and related apparel.

Now, it's time to put the pedal to the metal and get to work. As this online business moves forward, the interest and the passion have to be there. These qualities will show in the work that's being done. If the custom t-shirt business is successful, profits will continue to come in. Doing this will have to be an ongoing cycle if the desire to make money is there.

During the course of this online business, adjustments will have to be made. Keeping up with the industry is very important for survival because things to change from time to time. Sometimes they change faster than people would like them to. With the internet, it doesn't take long for someone to set up a business and making a nice profit within a matter of months.

About John K. Vincent
John K. Vincent is an award-winning writer, including by not limited to, the topic of Custom T Shirts, and has provided useful information to hundreds of content driven websites. * For more information on custom shirts, please visit: http://www.sonicshack.com

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