T-shirts are a common type of wear that depicts our style, interests, and affiliations. Market research shows that the global T-shirts market will be worth $10 billion by 2025. New entrants to e-commerce and old-timers often pick the T-shirts niche as they seem to have the idea that the chances of success here are higher. This is true in part.
However, learning how to navigate the e-commerce T-shirt niche will help your business compete favorably with the existing competition. We have put together a comprehensive guide to help you get started.
7 Steps to Start a T-Shirt Dropshipping Business
If you want to start Shopify T-shirt dropshipping, you need to understand the market and approach the business well-equipped. We have detailed how to start a T-shirt dropshipping business from the scratch.
1. Choose a dropshipping niche
Within the T-shirt business are many niches. You need to narrow down to what niche you are willing and able to start from. For instance, you may choose to use unique designs or create a brand image that sets your business apart from the competition. Once you have unique products to offer your customers, they will locate your store in no time and stay loyal to your brand.
You need to study the existing market to understand what is obtainable and how you can stand out to beat the competition.
2. Create your designs
Having studied the market, you will have known if the designs you have currently are unique. If they are, you can start creating them. If they aren't, you can modify them until you get unique designs. In the T-shirt niche, a unique design or brand is the minimum criterion for success. Get creative by using a pencil and paper to create your designs. If you doubt your creative abilities, you can hire freelancers on Upwork or Fiverr to help you with your designs.
3. Get feedback on your designs
Once you have some quality designs to work with, you can ask others for their opinions on the designs. Having others point out areas that need improvement in your design is a great advantage. Their feedback helps you to correct your designs before they are scrutinized by your potential customers.
4. Source your products
Once you have good designs at your disposal, you need good materials to work with. Get all your materials ready for work. Get the highest quality materials for your work so you can get a better output. Get high-quality T-shirts from a trusted dropshipping supplier. You can also outsource the printing of the T-shirts to a competent person or company around you. In all you do, make sure your processes and products are of the best quality you can afford.
5. Print your designs
Making high-quality prints on T-shirts is probably the most important part of the T-shirts dropshipping business. If customers find that your prints are breaking or fading fast, it may bring negative reviews about your business. Try a few samples and determine their quality before printing en masse. Also, determine the criteria for testing quality, and be sure that each product passes your quality assurance test. Find a good local printing company and bargain for excellent printing deals.
6. Establish a business model
If printing your designs is too expensive, you may dropship printed T-shirts instead. This will save you the capital and stress required to put prints on T-shirts before dropshipping them. Some companies offer dropship T-shirt printing models that allow sellers to print their designs on T-shirts from anywhere at a cheaper cost.
Now that you have your products handy, it is time to advertise them. Before you do, check your competitors to understand how they are promoting their products. Which platforms do they use for advertising? How do they target their audience? Which SEO keywords and tags are they using? As you make your research and gain more insights into how advertising in the market works, you should begin to develop your advert strategy.
4 Best Ways to Sell T-Shirts Online
Selling Shopify dropshipping T-shirts online requires a few technical approaches. If you follow them right, you can easily tap into the huge market and grab your share of loyal customers. Below are some great ideas to help you.
1. Pick an excellent dropshipping supplier
You want your customers to see a touch of premium quality on every part of your product. If you will be getting white label T-shirts from a supplier, order some samples to confirm their quality. Check supplier reviews to find out if the supplier is consistent in delivering high-quality T-shirts. Once you are sure of getting the best T-shirt dropship for Shopify, you can concentrate on your designs and techniques to create excellent products.
Once you are ready with your first batch of products, you can begin to spread the word about your designs. Use social media channels such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook to promote your products. Pay attention to your immediate community. You can offer to dropship custom T-shirts for an upcoming event. When you have done a good job for your clients, ask for their permission to promote the products on your various marketing channels. Eventually, you will get more patronage.
3. Ask for reviews and publish them
When you have delivered top-quality T-shirts to some of your customers, ask them for reviews. You can give incentives such as bonuses on new orders for customers who send you product reviews. Make sure you use the reviews to improve your business. Take into account users' complaints and make necessary adjustments. Publish only the positive reviews since you are just starting to gain customers.
4. Remarket your products
Don't get tired of showcasing your new designs. Each design may appeal to a different customer. As you advertise both old and new products, you will begin to attract customers who love your work.
Conclusion
Dropshipping T-shirts is one of the most promising e-commerce businesses newbies can try. With adequate knowledge of the industry, unique business outlook, and dedication to delivering high-quality T-shirts, dropshippers can quickly establish their business. Take your time to learn how to start a dropshipping T-shirt business before you begin.
