How to Start Your Own Successful Custom T-Shirt Business on the Cheap

By M. Anderson

Whether the economy is up or down, custom t-shirts can be one of the easiest methods to making some extra money. While anything started during economic good times will be easier to get of the ground even a downtown in the economy will not stop you from having success.

The easiest way to get started is to first have an idea or theme for your custom work. The reason here is that you want to focus your efforts. You do not want to be chasing after every idea which comes along. First be focused, see some success and then you can branch out into other themes. And one of the best themes to start with is politics, particularly in an election year.

And the wonderful thing about custom t-shirts is you can make each t-shirt to order. There is never a need to carry any pre-printed stock at all since you can manufacture each shirt as needed. This is critical to your cash flow since you won't have a lot of money tied up in stock that may or may not sell. Always keep in mind that your cash in hand in business is truly valuable.

Next in line for success making custom t-shirts are the actual tools of the trade. The least expensive means to get started would be using t-shirt blanks, iron on or heat transfers, an Inkjet printer and a heat press. You may need some graphics software too but don't go overboard buying higher end software to start. Not only can this type of software be expensive, it is often difficult to learn how to use the higher end software. In fact, most PC's today come with simple graphics software which can get you started. Searching for some free software online, like Professor Franklin, is another great way to go.

Heat presses can be expensive too, and the great thing about heat transfers is you can use a regular household iron to apply the transfer. This works well enough for small orders, say batches of 5 - 10, which can easily be completed in an evening. Imagine being able to charge $25 per shirt on custom work(not unlike T-Shirts sold retail) with your cost per shirt being around $5. Ten such shirts would make for a nice little extra income, even with one order per week the extra adds up quickly!

Literally you can purchase T-shirt kits online for under $5. Which include one t-shirt, one piece of transfer paper and the instructions on how to create your very own custom shirt. Sell these for any price you can imagine and the sky is the limit on your business.

Plus, getting setup to expand by using a heat press and quantities of transfer paper with blank t-shirts can be accomplished for about $500. This would include a small 9" x 12" heat press which is ample in size for regular t-shirts.

While the information here is limited and written to provide you some idea of the possibilities in making custom t-shirts, I recommend doing your home work. Check out a few websites, call the people behind the site and find out for yourself what is real or not. You will be amazed what you discover. And many site owners are more than willing to help you get started since everyone benefits.

My final recommendation to you is simply that you have fun in your business!

M. Anderson is the T-shirt and Inkjet expert with over 15 years of experience in the Custom T-Shirt business. When you are ready to start selling T-shirts yourself he is the person to know. http://www.PrintOnIt.com

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Run A T-Shirt Business On A Shoestring Budget

By Aj Camara

Low on cash? Learn how to do everything from producing to promoting your clothing line with little or no money.

Start online. It's easier to reach a world wide audience and there are plenty of free advertising methods. Online is becoming a standard for businesses.

Start with a fulfillment service. They'll handle all the small things like packaging, shipping and keeping track of orders. You can start a shop with no money and still make a profit.

Do your own designs. You can't afford to pay designers yet so just learn how to use design programs like Illustrator and Photoshop. Or you can stick to slogan tees.

Do something newsworthy. You main advertising methods are gonna consist of doing things that'll get others to write about your business.

Be in the school newspaper. You might become a local celebrity and everyone from your school will be asking about your line.

Get friends to model your shirts. Models are too expensive, but you still need them for your website to get that professional look. Just get some friends to model for you for free.

Wear your shirts and get your friends to wear them. You and your friends can be your best promotion tool. Always wear one of your shirts, especially to a big event. Wear the most catchy one to get people asking about it.

Start a blog. Talk about things your target audience would be interested in and feature your latest t-shirts every week. Get a fan base and it'll be easy to convert those visitors into customers.

Tell fellow bloggers to blog about your line. If you know anyone who owns a blog get them to write a post about your clothing line. If they have a fan base a lot of those people will be sure to check out your line.

Participate in forums and have a link to your website in your signature. Your signature is an ad space so you should make sure theres an ad for your line in it. Post hundreds of times and you have hundreds of ads on the web for free.

Promote on myspace and facebook. Create a myspace or Facebook page for your line and add friends and send comments. Get a free friend adder program for myspace and add 50 new friends a day.

Make videos for youtube. Create mini commercials for your line that'll spread virally. Make them funny or controversial to get a lot of views. Post them on your blog, myspace and Facebook too.

WHAT LOW COST METHODS ARE YOU USING?

[http://www.T-ShirtMagazine.com]

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How to Start a T-Shirt Business in 7 Easy Steps

By Josh Klinger

1. Researching trends: Know what styles are in today. It's important to know what your target market is wearing and what they want. It's true you don't want to copy all the other brands out there, but at the same time you need to understand the styles people are wearing today.

2. Come up with a catchy name: something that will stick in your customers' heads. For example, "Caked" or "Neff" both of these are extremely catchy names that will stick in customers' heads. You want them to see a design or name they like and remember it, so they can Google the name and your website will come up.

3. Create eye-popping designs: Create designs that will stick in customers' heads. Brighter colors and catchy designs will do the trick. Try printing some designs on the back of T-shirts because people look at the backs of shirts longer then at the fronts.

4. Trademark your company name: It's important to register your trademark with the USPTO, so no one else can use your name to design clothing. This is not simple and I would advise at hiring a lawyer to do it properly. Usually this could cost around $400.00-$500.00

5. Get Feedback: You will most likely have to give some shirts away for free, but that's fine, as long as you can get something out of it as well. You need to make sure, whoever you're giving the shirts out to, give you feedback on the shirt comfort, design, style. You want to hear the good and bad, because ultimately the customer is the one who is going to decide whether your T-shirt styles are something consumers are going to want.

6. Create a website: How are customers going to purchase your shirt? It's not likely that your shirts will get into stores right away, so it's important to create a website that has your products for sale on it. You want the website to be created/themed towards your target market. Put yourself in your customers' shoes and see what they would want to see.

7. Networking: Get in contact with people who can help you get your products into stores. Surround yourself with smarter people than you. Go to trade shows and meet other store owners, manufacturers, sales brokers, consultants and buyers. All these people can help you further develop your products and get them into stores.

I am the founder of "Caked"- a bakery themed clothing line. To see my "sweet" finished styles using the steps above, check out http://www.cakedshop.com.

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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

If you want to learn how to make more money online, don't miss the free monthly ezine from How to Sell Information Online.com. Each issue features strategies, resources and advice for making money online.

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

Do you know the top 9 reasons to become an infopreneur?
Find out here: http://www.how-to-sell-information-online.com/infopreneur-benefits.html

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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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