For years I’ve been jotting down phrases I’d like to see on T-Shirts for some future online sales project. I’m thinking the time is now (inspired by Ms. Kitka’s desire to buy some porn-friendly merchandise and her offer of free modeling). I don’t imagine it’ll be big business, I just want the stuff for me and anyone else who thinks they’re worth putting on.
The design bit’s easy, but does anyone know of manufacturing alternatives to the ubiquitous Cafepress? I’d ideally like to get a few T-Shirts and a couple of bikini’s silk-screened (the bikini’s sound mad I know – but I have a design I’m sure people will want to buy and I want to see more people in bikinis damnit. I think about it all the time.)
I don’t mind a little expense, but have no desire to place large advance orders before I know if anyone’s interested. Obviously – as soon as I publicize the design’s I’ll be ripped off – so I’d prefer to just get stuck in. A single item is enough to start with, as long as orders can be filled after that. Any ideas? I’m very willing to partner with anyone who can help too. Free product will go to anyone making winning recommendations.
If on the other hand you would never buy a T-Shirt or anything else from SugarBank let me know that too…
Popularity: 20% [?]
Mr Links to the rescue! (I don’t want free merchandise, especially not bikinis – Thank you – just remember me when I’ll ask you for tips and tricks when I launch my website)
- Organized by Business Model -
*Cafe Press business model :
http://www.madmerch.com/
http://www.zazzle.com/
*Weird Business Model (I think you get had if your design is successful)
http://www.threadless.com/ ($1000)
http://www.nakedandangry.com/ ($500)
http://www.lafraise.com/ (EUR300)
http://www.omgclothing.com/ ($200)
*Your Business Model
http://jewelboxing.com/ (no clothes)
Or simply cut out the middle man and see if those guys can help you :
http://americanapparel.net/
Jamal, come on – a bikini. Think about how comfortable that could be.
Thanks for the links – I look forward to giving you any free advice I can. (until you’re rich at which point you have to pay of course). Kudos.
on a relataed note, anyone (glance in jamal’s direction) know of a site that specifically allows indecent content?
Well – it’s kind of an answer but T-Shirt Hell do pay a bounty on designs they’ll use. I can’t think of what they wouldn’t print…
You may want to have a look at:
http://testtubetshirts.com
The tech blogger drunkenbatman (http://drunkenblog.com) is using them and recommends them.
Myles – thanks for the tip, I’m on it like a T-Shirt.
Sam.
Sorry Rich, no se, but I think it depends on what you mean by indecent. I think dirty talk/type design or bum/breats would be okay for most of those merchants but they would stop at genitalia… Best to ask them first anyway…
You know, there ought to be silk screeners in your local area that you can talk to in person. If you find a small independent shop I’m sure you could negotiate for whatever quantity you need. From what I’ve read, silk screening is a univeral process, and anybody with the setup can pretty much print anything, so getting a tshirt place to do bikinis should be a snap.
Oh, and good on avoiding cafepress. Their quality is crap and their markup large.