How to Start a T-shirt Manufacturing Business
Many people love a T-shirt with a cool slogan or an interesting design. There is also a large demand for T-shirts, which can be worn out and about or lounging around the house. T-shirts also have a long shelf-life. Filmmaker Shantha Bloemen has documented the journey T-shirts take from manufacturing companies to consumers to second-hand shops to families in need in Africa. A T-shirt you design yourself can earn money for you, a retailer and a second-hand shop. Consider starting a T-shirt manufacturing business to cash in on this steady income stream.
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Instructions
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T-Shirt Manufacturing Starter's Guide
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Write a plan of action for operating and marketing your business. In a 2009 article on starting your own business in "The New York Times," reporter Tom Taulli writes: "Sections (of the plan) should include an overview of the business, industry background, the product or service, the business model (how will you make money?), the strategy and the team."
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Choose your manufacturing strategy. Two ideas: Buy T-shirts from wholesalers and print unique slogans or pictures on them. Design T-shirts with a special stitching pattern for comfort or durability. Then send them to a manufacturing plant for production.
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Legalize your business. Apply for a business license. County, state and city websites often accept online applications. Apply for a sales tax identification number and a reseller's license through your state's department of revenue. A reseller's license exempts you from paying sales tax to the distributors you buy the material from to make your shirts.
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Lease a workspace. If you design and print your own shirts, find a warehouse or artist's loft that will give you plenty of room in which to work. Lease retail space if you plan to sell directly to consumers. Rent a kiosk in a mall first to test the strength of your product. If sales are better than expected, move into a larger retail space.
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Buy supplies if you will be producing your own T-shirts. In the book "Fashion T-shirts," author Lorine Mason writes: "Necessary supplies for each design are a fabric maker, a ruler and all-purpose thread to match the fabrics. A rotary cutter and a mat are the easiest cutting tools to use, but you may choose to use scissors." Buy an industrial-size sewing machine if you plan on mass-producing your own T-shirts.
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Find a production facility to mass produce your T-shirts. Locate overseas production plants through industrial-focused search engines, such as Alibaba. Interview the managerial team at several production plants before making your choice. Compare rates and shipping fees. Apply for a credit union business loan once the numbers have been verified.
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Build a website. Implement design software that will allow consumers to customize their own T-shirts. Flash T-Shirt Designer and Wilcom offer software customers can use to customize shirts and add logos.
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Work out your distribution options. Distribute direct to consumers from your website. Sign up for a frequent user account with an overnight shipping company or a local courier. These companies often offer discounts to members of loyalty programs. Sign up only accounts that allow you to pay by order.
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Give away T-shirts to newscasters in your area. Get them talking about your T-shirts. Send T-shirts to their entire families. Don't request that they thank you on air. Let them do it on their own. Give away T-shirts to your Facebook and Twitter friends to get people talking;
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit t-shirts on a rack image by Tasha from Fotolia.com
