Get help starting your T-shirt business

What else do I need to think about in order to start my T-shirt business?

• How will you stand out? This is sometimes referred to as your “unique selling proposition” or “value proposition.” After you’ve decided that you are starting a t-shirt business, fashion line, or apparel company, you can start brainstorming about possible ideas for your products. Write down as many ideas as you can. Some things to think about are: What is hot right now and what is everyone wearing and buying? Do you want to create something mainstream or more unique? Or, maybe you want to try dropshipping or print-on-demand. The more questions you ask yourself, the more ideas you will come up with during your brainstorming session.

• Who will be your target market? After you’ve brainstormed your ideas for starting your clothing business, it’s time to start thinking about your target market. Who are your products for? Women, men, babies? Who will buy your products and how do you know? Be as specific as possible. “Women between the ages of 18-45” is not a specific target market. Some examples of target markets are teenage girls who skateboard, or 40+ men who play golf, etc. The more specific you can get with your niche market, the easier it will be to sell your shirts.

• How will you structure your business? Most people start out as a sole proprietor, but as their company and sales grow, they change their company structure to an LLC, LLP or corporation. Think about how big you want your business to be and then consult with an expert on what the ideal business structure would be for you. Another thing you might want to consider is what type of sales you want to focus on: retail (selling directly to consumers), wholesale (selling to other stores) or both. This might help you decide what business structure is best for you.

• How will you find the best quality supplier? One of the most important factors for the success of your business is quality. You can disappoint someone once, but they won't let you disappoint them twice. A pattern that fades and cracks or a t-shirt that shrinks and rips won’t create repeat customers. Higher quality apparel might cost more to produce but will also allow you to charge higher prices. We recommend starting with a print-on-demand service to test ideas, and once you know a design will sell, you can invest in inventory to lower the product costs and increase your potential profit.

• How will you manufacture your clothing? If your plan is to start a t-shirt business, you might start out by purchasing the t-shirt ‘blanks’ from other manufacturers. This will allow you to offer a variety of sizes, colors, and styles, but keep costs to a minimum. Many t-shirt blank manufacturers have really low minimums, so you can test a few different styles to see what will sell best for your target market.

What can help you be 5X more successful?

Working with a mentor can make you five times more likely to succeed! Entrepreneurs, working with a mentor can help you get started and help you grow. They have experience in business and can help connect you with information and contacts and avoid obstacles. Best of all, a mentor believes in you and your dream and will listen to any ideas or concerns you have. 

Entrepreneurs with mentors are 5X more likely to launch, grow, and stay in business.