Countless entrepreneurs are starting their businesses right now despite the global pandemic. While it may appear like an uncertain time to begin on a particular venture, there’s actually no better time to do so. After all, entrepreneurship entails taking calculated risks starting a business in the hopes of making huge profits.
For those having trouble thinking of their latest business venture, one of the best things to consider right now is selling custom T-shirts online. It’s also one of the most inexpensive ways for people who are just starting out on their entrepreneurship journey or simply looking to make extra cash on the side.
This particular market has been growing steadily over the past few years, and certain forecasts suggest that it could eventually become huge in the years ahead.
A Timeless Staple
T-shirts are articles of clothing that almost everybody has in their wardrobe. This fact alone should guarantee a huge problem that most starting businesses struggle with: a developed market. However, it also no surprise that competition is tough for those looking to enter the industry.
Regardless, this shouldn’t deter anybody from creating their own small T-shirt business. All it really takes is to establish a brand that’s able to target a specific audience, and the rest will soon follow. Here’s how anybody could start their own online T-shirt business despite the global pandemic.
Source the Materials
The first step that any entrepreneur should take is to make sure that there are sufficient materials and resources readily available. It’s also important to consider that not all blank T-shirt suppliers provide the same quality. Do not settle for low-quality fabrics in hopes of securing higher margins for profit.
Ask for samples from prospective suppliers and compare their qualities side-by-side to make a more informed decision. Moreover, it’s also essential to have a proper printing machine since the primary goal is customization. A sublimation heat press machine is currently one of the best devices to consider. It’s been proven to transfer high-quality graphics without sacrificing efficiency.
Build a Specific Brand
Of course, it’s also ideal to already have a particular niche in mind when starting any business. This is especially crucial for T-shirt businesses given how saturated the market for this garment is. Having a niche to build a brand around will surely help to attract more consumers.
The more specific the niche is, the better. Settling for extensive ideas can be detrimental when entering such a developed market. Always aim to target a particular audience or interest group. Custom T-shirts could always be based on current events, activities, shows, or even video games. There is no shortage of possible opportunities; just make sure to look in all the right places.
Create Distinct Products
After figuring out who the target of the brand will be, the following step will quite possibly be the most difficult: creating the designs. Aside from having a niche to help a business stand out, it’s also essential to establish a certain style that’s easily distinguishable from all the rest.
Making sure that the designs are relevant to the niche should be a no-brainer. However, the production quality should definitely be the best it can be. Fortunately, there are a lot of tools and professionals that could aid in this process. While designs can be done in-house, it would also be much easier to outsource an experienced designer with all the right software to produce much more striking graphics.
Finalization Phase
When the designs or a particular style have been settled, always validate the ideas before fully committing to them. This can be done through various online means. Crowdsourcing on social media platforms is one of the most common ways of doing so.
Once all the necessary elements have been put together, consider creating a few mock-ups of the products to see how they will look like. Better yet, print out a couple of the designs before officially launching the business. This stage allows for a final pass on the quality of the T-shirts to be produced, don’t be afraid to get critical.
The Future Is on Tops
After going through the necessary steps, all that remains is setting up a store online. A handful of e-commerce sites and platforms out there will readily welcome any entrepreneur and their business idea. It should be fairly easy to connect with them and begin selling right away.
Starting a business can be daunting, especially given the current situation. However, the pandemic is already on its way out as vaccination rollouts continue throughout the country. Moreover, plenty of businesses are just starting to recover, which essentially levels the playing field for entrepreneurs.
The global market for custom T-shirt printing is expected to reach at least $6.9 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.6%. This should be more than enough data for any entrepreneur to know that this particular business will be the next big thing.
