What Do I Have to Say? Read My Shirt
If I had a dollar for every time I read what someone’s t-shirt said, I’d be rich by now. The truth of the matter is you can make some money off of t-shirts with unique messages. They have been and remain a top seller to kids, teens and adults who want to express themselves. So how do you get in on a piece of the pie?
Let’s start with an assessment of what you have to say. Answer these five questions to see where you stand on the phrase ladder.
- Is there an injustice or political issue your community is concerned about?
- Is there a new and/or hot slogan in your city?
- Is there a lot of hometown pride in your city?
- Is there a big community event or expo coming up?
- Do you have something you want the world to hear?
If you can answer “yes” to any one of these questions, then there is a money making opportunity just waiting for you. Follow these few steps and you’re on your way to cash money!
1. Find your slogan(s). Think of events or phrases that you know a lot of people are interested in. Examples such as “Stop Snitchin,” “Trap or Die,” “I’m Single,” “Boys are Stupid” and “Ride or Die Chick” have been seen on chests all around the country.
2. Decide on your retail outlets. Would you like to get them into stores, sell them at flea markets, special events, out of the trunk of your car or online? This will be the deciding factor of how much work you’ll need to do and how many shirts you’ll need to print.
3. Design it. Most screen printers have graphic designers that are willing to work with you and to bring your ideas to life. It’s normally an easy process when you’re using only words. Pick the font you’d like to use and you’re pretty much done.
4. Price the printing. Get online and compare rates for screen-printing services that include the shirt. Prices can be found as low as $1.45 per shirt. Prices are generally based on shirt size, shirt color and number of ink colors your design will need.
5. Show off your designs and make your money. Let your friends and family know you have some great items they’d love to buy. If you’re trying to get them into stores, be sure to stop by all of the local shops and speak with the owner about stocking your shirts. Your profit will not be as high as if you sell them independently. When selling shirts for an event, price them for quick sale, you don’t want to have any leftovers that are dated or can’t be sold later. The great thing about t-shirts is the profit can be double, triple or even more than the cost of producing it. A shirt you paid $2 for can sell for $10.
Now what does your shirt say?
