| There may be a bit of romance to opening up a | | | | tourists. You need to think things out and determine |
| T-shirt printing business but the bottom line is that it | | | | what your local market is. It very well may be your |
| is a lot of work, and not the easiest field to break | | | | local University, local schools or even local clubs. The |
| into. Realize that there is a lot of competition. | | | | smaller markets can be camps, teams, leagues |
| Acknowledge as well that it is a very lucrative field, | | | | (especially in some areas bowling leagues), dart |
| especially so if you can tap into a custom market. | | | | leagues and many other of these niche markets. |
| Overall, the T-shirt business is a multi-billion dollar | | | | Pricing. You can't overprice your products. Even if you |
| industry. Everyone wears T-shirts at some point in | | | | have a very unique item, phrase or whatever, you |
| time and many more wear other type of printed | | | | need to have a competitive price. Some items can |
| clothing as well. You can succeed and will, if you keep | | | | get a buck or two more than others, especially when |
| your nose to the grindstone and build your business | | | | customized, but overall you can't charge more than |
| on solid ground. | | | | people can shop elsewhere for the same type of |
| Some of the items you will need: A Computer; | | | | item. Especially in this economy. You may do well to |
| Screen printing equipment or newer digital imaging | | | | sell for a buck or two less and sell more to make |
| equipment; Start up capital; A good business plan; An | | | | more money. You should develop an hourly rate that |
| idea of marketing your products; Some blank shirts; a | | | | you will charge for doing the work. You can also |
| place to work. There could be a lot more depending | | | | have a rate on a per shirt basis with a set-up charge |
| on how you will break into this field. Don't overlook | | | | for those smaller runs. |
| the possibility of screen printing for other promotional | | | | Shop around for suppliers and get prices from |
| items such as coffee mugs, bags, pens... basically | | | | several. You will want to have more than just white |
| anything you can think of. Realize each will have it's | | | | shirts so get prices on all colors that are offered. |
| own production needs. | | | | Check for suppliers offering different quality levels |
| We mentioned digital printing. In recent years digital | | | | and lots of colors. Pastels go over well with woman |
| imaging has gained in popularity as a method to get | | | | while men don't really care. Bright and "safety" colors |
| print onto a T-shirt. Since it is a new technology it | | | | are something you will mostly want to stay away |
| can be quite pricey and don't expect to be able to | | | | from, although there certainly is a market for them. |
| pick up any used equipment. Traditionally screen | | | | You just need to be able to sell to it. |
| printing is the way to print a T-shirt. Digital imaging is | | | | You will need equipment, and then a space to put it. |
| excellent for full color printing, although it may not be | | | | First decide what you will need for equipment so that |
| the best way to go if you have large scale needs, | | | | you can get the right shop to fit your needs, and |
| where you would be printing a large quantity of | | | | your people. Do not forget you will eventually want |
| T-shirts. Traditional screen printing is excellent for the | | | | to hire help and everyone needs a place to be. Will |
| single color or two colors and also for short runs, | | | | you have an office as well or a store front? If you |
| such as custom T-shirts for a small business or | | | | plan on selling right from your own operation you |
| bowling team perhaps. Quantity printing on a screen | | | | may need a sizable showroom, or at least a small |
| printing press is has a proven track record and will | | | | office that is open to the public. |
| get the job done for you. | | | | You will also need space for inventory. No matter |
| There are some more inexpensive ways to get | | | | how much space you get you can expect to fill it. It |
| started, although expect to sacrifice quality. Ink-jet | | | | is recommended to not stock a lot of shirts. It is |
| printers and transfer paper comes to mind. This may | | | | wiser to purchase what you need for a job and then |
| be good for one or two T-shirts, but a quantity will | | | | print them. You can charge an up-front fee or |
| be fairly pricey. A down to basics screen printing kit | | | | deposit and use that to purchase the shirts. This way |
| can be bought to get you started. This kits can work | | | | you won't have a lot of shirts on hand in a color or |
| for the long term and produce excellent quality | | | | size that doesn't sell. |
| results. You can also build your own equipment, at | | | | It may well take a year or more for any new |
| least the frames and attach the screen. I worked in | | | | business to show a profit. You will need to be able to |
| a shop in New York City who did things this way. | | | | float your boat during this time without expecting |
| They used basic dimension lumber, 2x3s or 2x4s to | | | | any income from your business. This may all sound |
| build their frames and then stapled the screen over | | | | scary but owning your own business is a great |
| that frame. Expect to shell out $10,000 as a minimum | | | | feeling and although you may wind up working long |
| to set up a traditional screen printing shop for printing | | | | hard hours, you'll also have some freedom that |
| T-shirts. | | | | others do not have when they go to their nine to |
| It may not be the fun part of opening up a business, | | | | five daily grinds. |
| but you do need a plan. I remember seeing a figure | | | | There are a lot of places to buy screen printing |
| on how many business failed in the first year, it is | | | | equipment and supplies. Online and off should provide |
| most of them, but those without a solid plan were | | | | you with many choices. Online may prove to have |
| destined to fail, particularly because there was no set | | | | the best selection and if you are looking for |
| direction to move forward in. You plan should reflect | | | | something in particular, or refurbished equipment with |
| the area you are in. If you live on the beach, and | | | | some sort of guarantee, shopping online may be the |
| there is tourism, you should approach the local shops | | | | way to go. |
| and plan to sell shirts with a beach theme to the | | | | |