About Internet T-shirt Businesses

The growth of Internet T-shirt businesses reflects the desire by designers and entrepreneurs to work around the fashion industry. Instead of pitching T-shirt ideas to distributors and clothing companies, T-shirt makers can establish online stores to reach consumers directly. The challenges facing an Internet T-shirt business include determining realistic prices and getting the attention of busy shoppers on the Internet. An Internet T-shirt business needs to offer something unique to stay competitive with thousands of similar companies.

Function

Internet T-shirt businesses allow individuals and groups to recreate their favorite moments every time they get dressed. High school basketball teams and intramural volleyball players can get their names, numbers and logos on T-shirts without setting foot in a store. Families can celebrate the births of new babies by getting newborn images on custom T-shirts. Schools, non-profit organizations and churches can use T-shirts made online as door prizes for community events. An Internet T-shirt business uses relatively low prices for customization along with the convenience of the web to serve an important function for customers throughout the world.

Types

The two groups of Internet T-shirt businesses are sponsored shops through other websites and independent T-shirt websites. CafePress is a website that allows designers to develop online shops, display their wears and draw in customers without having to worry about web design elements. The popularity of CafePress can translate into higher clicks and greater sales for sponsored shops offering quality products. Independent T-shirt websites are designed from the ground up by entrepreneurs who find CafePress and similar websites limiting. The burden of monthly hosting fees and design expenses on independent T-shirt businesses is weighed against the ability to control the site's overall aesthetic.

Features

Internet T-shirt businesses allow customers to start their purchases by selecting T-shirt sizes and colors. Once a customer chooses the right T-shirt, he may be able to add numbers and letters to simulate an athletic jersey. Some Internet T-shirt businesses allow customers to upload logos and pictures that can be reproduced using color printers. Every T-shirt website has a list of standard graphics that can be applied within minutes to an ordered T-shirt, ensuring quicker order completion. Once a customer selects the custom features of a T-shirt, the website's ecommerce page may allow for bulk ordering and different shipping options.

Considerations

An Internet T-shirt business owner has to think about shipping options, online sample displays and subsidiary sites as he gets ready for his first customers. Internet T-shirt businesses need to have flexible shipping options ranging from first-class USPS shipping on single orders to express services for larger orders. An owner should keep an eye out for interesting T-shirts created by customers to create a menu of custom features. This research should extend to purchasing trends that can inspire Internet offshoots. For example, an Internet T-shirt business selling high volumes of custom political shirts may want to create a separate website ahead of a major election.

Benefits

Budding entrepreneurs benefit from running Internet T-shirt businesses by keeping costs low, building an online following and expanding into other clothing styles. An owner can take home a greater portion of the profit from an Internet business by eliminating the employees, rent payments and other expenses associated with the retail industry. The best T-shirt businesses can get the attention of bloggers and fashionable online shoppers may putting out stylish T-shirts that are competitively priced. The few Internet T-shirt shops that are wildly successful can expand into custom wristbands, hats and shoes in order to outfit customers from head to toe.

Resources

• Threadless Tees
• Beacon Graphics T-shirt supplies
• Customink.com