How do you start a T-shirt business online?
- Brainstorm a concept
- Create T-shirt designs
- Find a long-term supplier
- Compute the right price
- Set up your online store
Many people dream of being a business owner for a few good reasons. You can work on your own schedule, go small or as big as you want, convert your passion into profit, and be your own boss. While there are many types of businesses, an online T-shirt business is a good idea because it allows you to start small, show your creativity, and find many others who are willing to buy your products. That’s why you might be wondering how to start a T-shirt business online.
T-shirt businesses are profitable, as long as you have the right concept, target market, design, price, and supplier. Interested? Learn more about the basics of an online T-shirt business by checking out the tips below!
Brainstorm A Concept
Clothes reflect the way a person feels about themselves and what they think, so many people want to wear brands that they feel a connection with. To start a T-shirt business, you first need to think of an idea or a concept that will guide your business. Your image, branding, and identity will revolve around this main idea, so it’s helpful to establish this at the start. Otherwise, your business will just go in circles.
To help you establish a concept, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What is the key message that I want to project in my T-shirts?
- Who is my target market?
- What makes my brand unique from its competitors?
- Does my pricing match my target market?
Create T-Shirt Designs
Once you’ve established your brand identity, you can now proceed to create unique and relatable T-shirt designs. By knowing the core of your business, you have something to base your design ideas on. Always have your target market in mind when creating T-shirt designs.
If you’re having difficulty coming up with unique designs, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of inspiration. Do a little research to guide you. Look at bestsellers and trending products on e-commerce websites to get an idea of what type of T-shirts are in style and in demand right now. Check customer feedback from other sellers and find how you can incorporate it into your business.
When it comes to creating T-shirt designs, you don’t have to make them too complicated, as long as you get the message across. But if you need help, you can always contact local designers to help you craft styles that will definitely sell.
Find A Long-Term Supplier
The next step is finding a long-term T-shirt supplier to support your business’s core products. Find a supplier that can meet your demands, while still providing quality shirts any customer would buy. Shirts that can feel comfortable and look great with or without the design- much like the quality offered by Lifeline’s plain shirts.
When looking for a T-shirt supplier, you should take into account the following:
- Price and quality of the T-shirt – Find a supplier that can provide high-quality T-shirts for the best value. It’s best if there is a bulk order discount too.
- Delivery and shipping – Choose a supplier that can provide your orders in the fastest time possible so you always have materials on hand. A reliable supplier will stick to their promised timeline.
- Customer service – Look for a supplier that can patiently assist you and answer your questions.
- Experience in being a supplier – Pick a supplier that has a good reputation in the industry. Search reviews and find out about their services from other customers.
Compute The Right Price
Once you have made your T-shirt designs and have found a reliable supplier, you can now set a suitable price for your products. When doing this, you should factor in the cost of the T-shirt, printing, marketing, supplies, and other expenses. Then add a profit margin on top of those costs.
Always keep in mind what’s considered an “acceptable” price to your target market. Avoid pricing your T-shirts too high because then, your T-shirts would sell at a slow pace or you could end up with a host of unsold inventory.
Set Up Your Online Store
Once everything is settled, the only thing that’s left is to set up an online store. The benefit of selling T-shirts online is that you don’t have to worry about renting and maintaining a physical store. You can sell your products from the comforts of your home and manage your business according to your schedule.
There are plenty of e-commerce websites where you can start selling your products, so make sure to take advantage of them. Set up social media pages or a website to market your products effectively. Know the platforms where your target market will look for products.
Key Takeaway
If you’re interested in how to start a T-shirt business online, you can read some of our blog posts here at the Lifeline website. As a company that provides high-quality T-shirts for affordable prices for over three decades, we can be a long-term supplier for your business. Our shirts sell for budget-friendly prices, but if you order in bulk you can get a discount, allowing you to reap more savings in the long run.
