Planning to Build an Online T-Shirt Business? These Simple Strategies Will Help You In The Process.

Name one clothing more popular than T-Shirts. There are practically none. This is probably why you want to start an online T-Shirt business. So here is everything you need to know about it.

If selling a T-Shirt online was your first choice of business, you are a clever one. A T-Shirt is more than casual wear. It’s the first thing one grab either for errands or for chilling out. The GenZs have embraced T-Shirts for both comfort and statements. The soaring popularity of T-Shirts speaks of little failure in the business. E-commerce has taken over the market, especially now more than ever. The target audience for your T-Shirt is mostly millennials and GenZs, a demographic that is most e-commerce friendly. 

Here are some suggestions about how to start an Online T-Shirt Business:

1. Find a niche:

It is important to stand out. Choosing a niche will build your brand image. The question ‘Why Us?’ needs to be addressed. Find out what people want, what can be more profitable. As trends go by, nothing beats the popularity and demand for graphic T-shirts. The catchy slogans or punch lines printed across the T-shirts are what the generation is after. If you wish to broaden your customer base, add more general graphic designs to your stock. Print-on-Demand T-shirts are always a big hit.

2. Create exclusive designs:

Again. You need to make the customers choose you over the other stores or brands. You have to give them your best. This means customers should feel that wearing your T-shirts makes them special. Be creative with your designs. Come up with innovative ideas, make your designs unique. Hire talents if you may upgrade your design station. The customers must find your catalog exclusive.

3. Stress on Quality:

Compromising with the quality is a big mistake many brands make. You may have good designs but will only end up with one-time buyers and negative reviews discouraging new buyers. Good quality helps you in both customer acquisition and retention. If you want to create a loyal customer base then you need to give them quality products. They will leave positive reviews, spread good words around which will fetch you, new customers. Choose the right fabric that is both comfortable and adaptable to your designs.

4. Upcycle and recycle: 

Consider the rising sensitivity towards environmental issues. A sustainable practice may impress and impact your business positively. You can add a separate product category cataloging all the T-Shirts which has been recycled or upcycled. This will not only rope in environmentally conscious customers but also diversify your collection.

5. Right sourcing and manufacturer:

Many business decisions line up once you decide to follow your dream. It is difficult to not make mistakes at the beginning. But you cannot afford to make mistakes when it comes to choosing the right source and right manufacturer. Sit through the details before you make a decision. Look for a stable source that can stand by your business through and through Printing and designing vary from fabric to fabric. Your supplier must be able to cater to the diversity of your requirements. In the case of the manufacturer, have several meetups before you decide. The manufacturer must understand your insights and requirements. Ensure sampling before sealing the deal.

6. Build an attractive website:

Your website is the only face of your business. You have to get that right. An attractive website with charming themes is the first step. Include maximum user-friendly features and smart navigation to keep the customers interested. They should be able to understand the product description and browse through some very clear images of your product. Ensure optimization of SEO to get the maximum benefit. Build an automated follow-up system to personalize your communication with the customers.

7. Choose the appropriate machinery: 

If you are planning to print the shirts by yourself then you have to find the right machinery. Various modern equipment is available nowadays. Research the pros and cons of each piece of machinery to see which one suits your needs. You can choose from Screen Printing or Heat Transfer or Direct-To-Garment (DTG). Screen Printing is an old technique that produces lasting and durable products but is cost-effective only on bulk production. Also, it is labour intensive. A basic heat transfer paper won’t be effective for your business. An advanced form called plastisol transfers may be a wise choice. A DTG is more convenient when it comes to Print-On-Demand service. This one has unlimited colour options and zero setup cost. Do some market research about these machinery before making your decision.

8. Validate your designs:

Verify the designs to know you are on the right track. You can use social media to post some of your designs and see the crowd’s reaction. There are sites and platforms that are designed for testing new designs where you can receive honest feedback from people. Sampling is another way. You can create a small bulk of your designer T-Shirts sell them. The elasticity of the demand will tell you whether to proceed or not.