Lucrative Event T-Shirt Making: Worth The Effort?

is event t shirt making lucrative

Event T-shirts are a common feature of corporate, non-profit, and school events. They are used for promotion, to raise money, and to unify participants. While they can be a lucrative business opportunity, there are several factors to consider when determining profitability. These include the design, art preparation, shirt colour, amount of colours in the design, placement of the design, quantity ordered, and type of shirt. Planning ahead can help reduce costs, and there are also strategies to market event T-shirts effectively.

Characteristics Values
Profitability Can be lucrative
Requires little money to start
Requires hustle
Requires good planning to reduce costs
Requires clear, concise design to reduce costs
Requires vector format for graphics
Requires bulk orders to reduce costs
Requires orders similar to the quantity per day example to make $100,000 a year

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Event t-shirts can be a lucrative business venture

The t-shirt business is particularly profitable because it requires very little money to start. You can work with affordable blank t-shirts and decorate them with screening and printing. A standard blank t-shirt costs $1 to $4, depending on the colour, garment quality, stitching, and material used. For example, a plain white shirt costs $1, whereas the same shirt in navy blue will cost $2.

There are also many ways to reduce costs, such as good planning to avoid rush fees and enhanced shipping charges. Having a clear and concise design in mind will also streamline the process and bring the price down. If you are able to do your own artwork, that will help you save money, too.

You can sell t-shirts in bulk at low prices or sell them at high rates in small quantities. If you sell 300 t-shirts at $20 each, you make $6000. This is a lot of money for less than 7 hours of work, even for a beginner.

However, it is important to note that the t-shirt business is not completely free of challenges. For example, you must be prepared to hustle and dedicate your entire life to making your business a success. This includes handling customer support, receiving calls outside of normal business hours, and dealing with accounting. Additionally, the t-shirt business is very competitive, so it is important to stand out with unique designs and effective marketing.

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Design and art preparation are major factors in determining costs

The design and art preparation of your shirt are indeed major factors in determining the overall cost of your custom T-shirts. If you are unsure about the design and ask the T-shirt company to "put something together", this will increase the costs of your shirt. Art fees are usually charged by the hour, so the more time spent designing, editing and refining the design, the more you will pay.

To keep costs down, it is a good idea to have a clear and concise design in mind. Even a rough sketch of your shirt design, including text and any desired fonts, will help the designer understand your vision. If you are familiar with graphics programs, you could try to create the artwork yourself. This will save you money, but it is important to remember that not all graphic designers have experience designing artwork for T-shirts, which can cause issues. It is also beneficial to provide your design in a vector format, as this is scalable without losing detail.

Another factor that influences the cost of your T-shirts is the number of colours in the design. Each colour is treated separately in the printing process, requiring more materials and labour. Therefore, it is worth working with your T-shirt printing company to reduce the number of colours in your design subtly, without compromising on quality.

Finally, the quantity of T-shirts you order will also impact the price per piece, with bulk orders usually resulting in a cheaper price.

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The more t-shirts you order, the cheaper they will be

When it comes to event t-shirt making, the more t-shirts you order, the cheaper they will be per item. This is because it takes the same amount of time to set up the press for one shirt as it does for a bulk order of 1,000 shirts. So, if you're thinking of adding t-shirts to your event, it's worth considering ordering in bulk to get a discount.

Many t-shirt printing companies offer quantity price breaks, so it's worth asking about this when placing your order. For example, if you need 140-150 shirts, the company may tell you that their price break level is 144 shirts. In this case, it would be worth ordering 144 pieces to get that extra price break, even if it's more than you think you need.

Ordering in bulk can also be helpful if you want to have a stockpile of shirts before your event. This can be useful for promoting your merchandise, taking promo pics, giving shirts to staff and volunteers to wear at the event, and selling your merch at the event.

When it comes to custom t-shirt printing, there are a few other factors that can affect the price per item, besides the quantity ordered. These include the colour of the shirt, the number of colours in the design, and the placement of the design on the shirt. White shirts are usually the cheapest option, while black shirts are the most expensive. Each additional colour in your design will also require more materials and labour, increasing the cost. Additionally, printing in "standard" locations, such as the front and back of the shirt, is typically easier and more affordable than printing in "special placement" areas.

It's worth noting that not all t-shirt printing companies will advertise their discounts publicly, so it's a good idea to inquire about any available discounts when placing your order. For example, some companies offer discounts for registered non-profit organizations, schools, youth organizations, or military-based events. You may also be able to negotiate a discount by offering the printing company a sponsorship opportunity at your event.

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T-shirt businesses can be started with little money

Planning and Registration:

  • Start by picking a catchy and memorable name for your business. This will be essential for creating a logo, business cards, and a website, helping to establish your brand identity.
  • Register your business as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC). An LLC will offer tax benefits and allow you to buy blank T-shirts at cost using your EIN. The registration cost is typically between $50 and $100, and it's important to familiarize yourself with your state's legal requirements for small businesses.

Production and Design:

  • Decide on a production method. You can opt for screen printing equipment, which offers control over quality but comes with high upfront costs. Alternatively, local screen printing services or print-on-demand services like Printful and Printify are convenient and reliable options, although they result in smaller profit margins.
  • Create unique and appealing designs that reflect your brand. If you're artistically inclined, you can use tools like Adobe Photoshop and Canva to create designs. Alternatively, you can commission artists through websites like Creative Market, Fiverr, and Upcheck.
  • Prepare your designs in the correct digital file formats, usually vector files such as .eps, to ensure compatibility with your chosen printing service.

Sales and Marketing:

  • Choose your sales channels. You can sell through your own website or opt for popular online marketplaces like Etsy, Zazzle, Redbubble, Amazon, or social media platforms.
  • Build a simple website using e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Weebly, which offer customization and sales reporting capabilities.
  • Develop a marketing strategy to promote your T-shirt business. Utilize social media, engage with online communities, and consider collaborating with micro-influencers to reach a wider audience.

While starting a T-shirt business requires dedication and consistent effort, it can be achieved with minimal financial investment by following these steps and staying motivated.

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Marketing a t-shirt business is easy

Find a good printer and focus on marketing

If you're just starting out, it's a good idea to find a reliable printer to deliver your t-shirt orders while you focus on marketing your brand and building a customer base. This will save you time and money, as printing equipment can be expensive, and you can avoid the learning curve of operating it yourself.

Target bulk orders

While creating unique t-shirts for your niche is great, targeting bulk orders from corporations, schools, organisations, gyms, and other businesses can be a quick way to make money. These orders can be very lucrative, but competition is fierce, so you'll need to network and offer competitive pricing to secure these clients.

Create shirts for stores and companies

Propose to stores and companies that you will print t-shirts for them to sell or use for events, uniforms, etc. They get a commission for every sale, so it's a low-risk, win-win scenario. Before designing the t-shirts, ensure they are willing to sell your designs, as sometimes selling your designs might conflict with their brand.

Let customers design their t-shirts

Allowing customers to design their t-shirts opens up a world of new customers, including those looking for fun custom clothing and those who need t-shirts for events, bachelor parties, etc. Many t-shirt companies provide an interface on their website where customers can upload their designs, making it easy to receive and print these custom orders.

Offer more than just t-shirts

The technology used to print on t-shirts is often similar to that used for other garments and promotional items. By offering to print on items like canvas bags, tote bags, and other promotional products, you increase the visibility of your products, relieve pressure from the t-shirt side of the business, and create more opportunities for expansion and growth.

Use email marketing

Email marketing is a tried and tested method to promote your business. Build an email list and send out newsletters to keep customers engaged and informed about new releases, sales, and promotions. Include coupon codes to encourage conversions.

Ask for referrals

Encourage existing customers or website owners you have a good relationship with to refer your business to others. You can offer them a discount on future purchases for each successful referral. This is a cost-effective way to gain new customers, as it only costs you the price of the discount.

With these tips and your unique designs, you'll be well on your way to success in the t-shirt business!

Frequently asked questions

The amount of money you can make selling event t-shirts depends on several factors, including the number of shirts sold, the price point, and the production cost per shirt. For example, if you sell 300 t-shirts at $20 each, you would make $6000. However, keep in mind that there are initial costs associated with starting a t-shirt business, such as design fees, equipment, and supplies.

Event t-shirts provide ample promotion opportunities, bolster brand identity, help participants feel unified, and serve as a successful way to raise money for your organisation. They can also be sold before and during the event as official merchandise that attendees will cherish for years to come.

When designing event t-shirts, it is important to keep your organisation's identity, the purpose of the event, and the identity of your audience in mind. Sketches of your shirt design can help streamline the process and reduce costs. Additionally, providing files in vector format ensures that your design can be scaled up or down without losing detail.

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