As soon as they hear "I print t shirts" out comes the idea. They're always pumped up about it and they all think they're going to make a million dollars with the scheme. So, here are a few opinions on the marketing of t shirt ideas.
Before the Internet, it was very expensive to do custom t shirts in small quantities.. The chances of anything happening were almost impossible. At best they would invest a few hundred dollars in art, screens, and production of a dozen shirts or so. They give some away and try to sell the rest.
In all the years I've been doing this subject, I've only seen a handful of achievement stories. Those were people who already knew a thing or two about marketing anyway. All the others got an expensive education in Marketing 101.
Going online things have changed. The knowledge has changed too. Now you can use any one of a number of digital Direct-to-Garment (DTG) companies like Cafe Press, Zazzle, or Printfection. These companies specialize in shortrunsand they'll even help with the marketing.
Second, before you go to all the cost of printing up a bunch of pricey samples do somebasic research to find similar products.. Start by doing a Google Search for (Your Design Idea) + T Shirt. So for instance do a search for: Funny Cat + T Shirt and see how many similar ideas are out there.
Here's an IMPORTANT TIP - you want to find competition.. If you don't find somebody who's doing something similar, it usually meansyou aren't going to connect to the market. If you find 50 Funny Cat T Shirts (and there will be a bunch,) you'll knowthere's a good chance other people are having success. This is a really GOOD sign.
If you're encouraged by what you discover, it's time to move aheade. In the initial stages of your business, it's probably best to go with digital DTG. With DTG, you go to thier siteand follow their instructions to upload your art. Many websites will now allow you to create your design online in their design lab. This is an efficientapproach, but you are much better off doing your design work offline and simply uploading it through their order page.
It is important that your art be in the right format. Here's a hint, DO NOT do your art work in Microsoft Word or Power Point. They're unacceptable formats. DO NOT do a screen capture from a web page. You'll get aweful quality. The pros will tell you what you need to do.
Go the added mile and get the art completed correctly right from the beginning. Great art is what sells shirts. When you have a great idea, you get their attention, but it's the art that closes the deal. If you need to, get a REAL graphic designer to do the art for you. Having youruncle, who has Photoshop, do the art for you is like doing brain surgery on the kitchen table. Results are not going to be good.
With a a small amount of shirts in hand, it's off to the races to see how many you'll sell and how quickly. Remember, the more people you can get your shirt in front of, the more exposure you'll have. YouTube and Flickr can be great for this. Be sure to link to your sales page url so everyone who sees it can buy it. Next
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By: easyarticles
Photograph by: Coudray Serigraphics
Mark Coudray is a respected author, speaker, and presenter in the screen print and decorated apparel industry. His companies have consistently produced and delivered awarding winning screen printed apparel for over 36 years. He can be reached at http://www.CoudraySerigraphics.com
This Great Idea For a T Shirt
reneband, Sunday, July 26, 2009Dress Based on Body Shape
reneband, Sunday, July 12, 2009With the wedding season upon us, many of us may have to go dress shopping in the coming weeks. This time, however, I'm not talking about fashionable day dresses, maxi dresses or trendy satin frocks, but
So, why not go for a classic little black dress? Or any other "real" dress for that matter, one that we can dress up or down by playing with various accessories, and which is not made from stretchy fabrics such as Lycra or spandex. Go for a medium-weight structured dress made from wool, cashmere, silk or even linen, and you'll be surprised at how well it will withstand the test of time, being the perfect canvas on which to build a glamorous "wedding guest" look. And finally, don't chose a dress that's too long or a mini dress, as they go in and out of fashion all the time, while a dress with a hemline that hovers just above or below the knee is timelessly elegant.
It's essential to select your classic party dress based on your body shape. Focus on the proportion between hips, waist and shoulders. If your shoulders are wider than your hips (this look can be associated with a more ample bust as well), chose a dress with a draped top and a pencil skirt-type lower half, that will compensate for your heavier upper half and enhance your hips and legs. Avoid plunging necklines, as they will place too much emphasis on your already heavier torso. If your body has a rectangular shape and there is small difference between your waist and your hips, you need a dress which creates the illusion of a more feminine silhouette. Chose an empire dress with a scoop or V-neckline that emphasizes the lower part of your ribcage and "raises" your waist.
If your hips are wider than your shoulders and you have a slim torso, the most flattering dress will be one which enhances the bust line. Go for a dress with a fitted top and a straight or even slightly cloche bottom half which skims your hips and thus minimizes and straightens out the natural roundness in a pear-shaped body. Finally, if your body is hourglass-shaped and you have a well defined waist with proportional upper and lower halves, a V neck cut suits you best. Choose a dress with a fitted top, a high waist and which flares gently wider toward the bottom, skimming your hips. Take time selecting the appropriate dress and don't be afraid to pay a little bit more for a good-quality model, since a classic-cut dress will hold for years, as long as you accessorize it smartly. Have fun! Next>>
Chose Your Fashion Style
reneband, Friday, June 26, 2009Choosing the right fashion for oneself is a pretty complicated matter. In fact, it can be compared to some of the more complicated things in life. The term clothing can be attached to a wide range of things including apparel. From clothes to various accessories, alltogether are termed as clothing.
Quality and Durabilty
Though fashion keeps changing now and then, there are certain qualities that are certain things that remain untouched - Quality and Durability. It isn't always necessary that one will get these advantages only in ultra-expensive apparel stores, but expensive clothes are more often of high quality and durability. One has to be very lucky to get quality clothing from sales and non-branded retailers.
Also, branded clothiers and retailers have taken care to keep the people who accuse them of daylight robbery at bay. The cut and feel of expensive clothes are vastly better than economical clothes. Also, the designs, fittings and patterns of these expensive clothes are better than economical clothes.
Therefore, it is always suggested to invest a proper amount into a small sized branded wardrobe than a huge non branded wardrobe. Also, to quote Giorgio Armani, 'The difference between style and fashion is quality'.
What and When
To decide what fashion is best for oneself, one should first think about your profession, lifestyle and social standing in life. However, breaking the rules and being a rebel has its own charm and excitement too. For example, someone turning up to a board meeting in rag tag jeans and a Bahamas beach shirt can mean many things - either they own the company, their next job is all set, or they don't actually care getting a sack letter soon.
But seriously, choosing the right fashion would also depend on the occasion. A business meeting would require something entirely different than a casual beach shack hangout.
The change evident in a man when he wears a good quality suit is legendary. Sharply cut dresses for a woman also changes her entire being for the moment. People of short stature should stay away from prints, because it makes them seem shorter than they already are. Next
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Make You Look Slimmer
reneband, Tuesday, June 16, 2009Wear wide leg pants
You may think that wide leg pants make you look bigger than what you are. In fact, the wide leg style creates a nice straight line and also the illusion of longer legs. This makes you look taller. If you are interested in something other than traditional wide leg pants, cuffed leg is the right one to go for. If you are under 5'5 avoid cuffed pants because they make short legs look shorter.
Wear boot cut or slight flare jeans
Jeans are an everyday wear, so you have to be very careful and clever while choosing the jeans. Boot cut jeans and jeans with a slight flare look good on every body type. As Jeans creates long and clean lines, it creates a soft silhouette giving it a slimming look.
Choose the right fit
A common mistake we make when shopping is we look at the number on the tag and neglect the fit. Size varies from one store to another. So you have to try a variety of sizes to know the best fit. If you wear something too small it makes you look a lot bigger than you are. So make sure you get the right fit.
The longer the better
Pants that are too short cause great irritation. You have to make sure that the pants you choose are long to cover most of your shoe. The longer your pants, the better they are. Long lines create long legs and create a slimmer look.
Pointed toe shoes
Pointed toe shoes make you look slim. Whether they are flats or heels, they allow the length of your pant to flow into a point. Rounded toe shoes cut off the line and make your legs look stumpy.
Wear dark colors
Dressing in dark colors makes you look slimmer. Instead of traditional black, opt for charcoal or navy. If you like something other than a solid color one, go for a dark woven tweed or subtle pinstripe. Avoid dressing in head-to-toe dark colors. Dark pants and a fun bright top or a top in contrasting color make the right pair.
Don't be clingy
Wear pants made of heavier fabrics. They won't cling to your leg and hide your flaws. Look for flowy and light fabrics, which pull away from your body.
Focus on your assets
Every one of us will have some wonderful assets that we want to show. If your legs are gorgeous, wear a nice full knee length skirt. If you've great arms, wear sleeveless tops. Wear it with a blazer that cinches at your waist. You can also add a belt to pull the blazer in. Next
Figure with Right Dress
reneband, Thursday, May 28, 2009Balance those Heavy Bottoms
If you have a pear shaped figure with heavy bottoms, then you can balance such type of figure with a dress that glides over the lower part of the body. The figure that is bottom heavy can be balanced out with dresses in allover prints. Calvin Klein has a lovely dress with overall print in U-shape along with full sewn pleated skirt. This helps to control the fullness. The flabby arms can be covered up easily by wearing a pretty dress with lantern sleeves. Donna Morgan has come out such a dress in metallic brocade material. The petite figure can be enhanced by wearing trendy styles and little black dresses with empire waists. The empire waist tends to elongate the figure. Puffed sleeves should be avoided to do away with the little girl look.
Plus Size Dressing
The extra curves can be disguised smartly by flattering your figure with a lovely party dress. Some skin show will work well for plus sizes. JS Boutique has designed a sensuous party dress of sequin trim. Are you worried about your unattractive legs and do not wish to show them? Many people tend to wear pants for the purpose of hiding unattractive legs. You need not wear pants always to hide your legs; instead, you can try out longer skirts or wrap around. The long skirts provide with extra coverage in combination of sensual appeal. The long skirt should be chosen in rich prints.
Complement Your Wide Shoulder Line
The wide shoulders can be balanced by a dress with other details for body balancing like emphasis on wide hemmed bottom in color block. The wide shoulder line can be further broken up with a soft and rounded neckline. Voluminous tops in combination with slim bottoms should be avoided. Puff sleeves should also be done away with as these exaggerate the width of the already wide shoulders. The thick waist can be disguised by either lowering or raising the waistline or eliminating it completely. A raised waistline dress coupled with a deep V neck is eye catching and these details take away the attention form the thick waist. A dress with drop waist also does well to hide the thick middle.
Women with heavier bust lines should choose to wear dresses with flattering necklines, especially deep V or plunging necklines. Look for fabrics that glide easily along the figure and avoid stiff or clinging fabrics. Flowing skirts with fuller structures balance the top heavy figures. Blouson styles, embellished bodices and ornate necklaces should be avoided. Most of the dresses perfectly suit women with small busts, but if you wish to add extra volume on top, then add fullness or embellishments to the bust. If you are very thin, add curves to your dressing with bold patterns and bright colors. Next
Fashion Tips
reneband, Wednesday, May 27, 2009Do you want to be always sexy and in Fashion? Would you like to attract everyone’s looks without having a vulgar look? Here are some tips in order to solve any possible confusion related to the fashion topic.
• Wear what you like and what suits you;
• Wear a skin colour bra under a white blouse;
• Wear horizontal stripes if you have narrow shoulders, small breasts and narrow hips. You can also wear horizontal stripes on the narrow parts of your body if you want to divert attention from a big bust or hips;
• Try to show your physical qualities and hide the defects;
• Wear artificial fur because the natural one is old- fashioned;
• Use a natural make-up during the day;
• Wear low size trousers if you have a big posterior. Those trousers designed with a high size will stress this little defect;
• Wear the appropriate size because a small t-shirt or bra won’t give you a sexy look but an unpleasant appearance;
• Don’t wear long skirts with large t-shirts. This combination will make you look fatter;
• Don’t let your lingerie out of the trousers; it will give you an unpleasant, vulgar look;
• Don’t use black lipstick;
• Don’t exaggerate in using all kind of accessories as, for example, a ring on every finger;
• Don’t mix up styles. For example, don’t wear sport accessories with an elegant outfit, or any other weird combination. Next
Angelina Jolie fashion
reneband,I don't always love what Angelina Jolie wears, but I usually do like the way she wears it: on her own terms. Whether it's an inexpensive secondhand dress or a couture creation, Angelina likes to accessorize with her many tattoes instead of the usual red carpet diamonds. It's an unconventional approach for the beautiful actress to mix tattoos and couture, but it works for her. Pictured here in Cannes, Angelina Jolie wears a sheer nude asymmetrical Versace gown that shows off both her arm and back tattoos. What do you think? (Photo Credits: (left) Dave Hogan/Getty Images; (right) Francois Durand/Getty Images)
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