This page provides answers to questions on how to market products produced with your printer such as heat transfers for photo mugs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, mousepads, etc.  Just click on a question and it will take you right to the answer.

1. What types of products sell well?

The products we (www.mariesgiftshop.com) sell best are light colored T-shirts with photo transfers applied and personalized 11-oz sublimation coated mugs. The pricing structure for retail sale of T-shirts with transfers is based on a Jerzees 50/50 T-shirt.  You can see that pricing structure at http://www.mariesgiftshop.com/custom_t-shirts.htm. 

2. My prices are high compared to promotional products. How do I compete?

Promotional products are made by screen printers or pad printers. Their market is normally based on high volume. We produce custom items with photo realistic artwork. We compete by producing items that takes advantage of multicolor artwork and accurate colors such as skin tones. Set your prices to make a decent profit and market your results (custom, photo realistic, and quick turnaround). Screen printers must produce a screen for each color they apply. That takes time and money to produce. Each color must be applied separately. You will find you are cost competitive on multi-colored designs up to about quantity 144.

3. Screen printers can print lots of shirts and apply them to dark fabrics. What can I do to get part of that market?

Buy our new white toner with an Okidata C3200 color laser printer and you can transfer directly to dark fabrics as well as uncoated dark hard surfaces. 

4. How can I make my transfers really stand out?

Photo transfers are really eye catching if designed properly. However to really make them stand out, you can add garment decorating from another media, such as embroidery. 

5. I am running out of places to sell T-shirts. What else can I produce and sell using transfers?

Hobbyists abound in this day and age. One of the truly popular hobbies is quilting. What better way to enhance a quilt than to add a series of squares with photographs applied? Aprons are needed in restaurants all the time and are usually white and need decorating. How about a nice custom ball cap or tote bag? If it is made of fabric, you can decorate it.  Using the white toner, you can also apply transfers onto uncoated hard goods such as black mugs, mirrors, glass, acrylic, leather, etc.  If you can get it into the heat press and it can stand the heat, you can add a photo to it.

6. Can I make any products other than mugs and T-shirt transfers?

Our primary transfer item is T-Shirts.  Number 2 is mugs and number three is ball caps.  After that, we periodically produce plaques, name tags, license plates, mouse pads, and coasters.  Many will produce ceramic tiles as well.

7. How can I reach my target audience?

The first question you need to answer is, what is your target audience? You need to know your niche and specifically work at reaching them. Once you know who you are trying to reach, you can then apply the marketing technique that is most effective for those who produce custom work: "Guerrilla Marketing" as put forth in Jay Conrad Levinson’s excellent series of books on marketing. Networking is the single most effective tool you have. Our niche is to support small businesses and we send out letters and brochures to those small businesses, then follow up with phone calls and personal meetings. We use promotional products to help get our message out and depend on happy customers to carry forth the message about me. If you have not read any of Jay Levinson’s books, do yourself a favor and get one that is specific to your situation and read through it.

8. Should I try to get in with schools?

Many times schools already have screen printers who provide support for their "official" needs. There are many unofficial needs where you can earn a great deal of business. Normally there are booster clubs for the sports teams and the band. Coaches of sports teams need shirts and ball caps produced on short notice. Schools provide great opportunities for custom transfers.

9. What is the value of joining the Chamber of Commerce?

Depending on your market niche, the local Chamber of Commerce is an excellent way to network with key people in your town. Since networking is the primary way small businesses gain business, you should really consider joining the Chamber and being active with it. 

10. Should I consider donating items to charitable functions?

Definitely! Giving contributions to charitable organizations is a terrific way to let your work be seen by many people who wouldn’t otherwise see it. Donating also generates "good will" towards your company. You simply cannot lose by donating products.

11. Should I be a member of local civic groups?

Joining local civic organizations like the Lion’s Club, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis, etc is another good way to network. 

12. Are shows worth attending as a vendor?

Attending shows such as RV, Boat, Car, Dog, Cat, Horse, etc is an opportunity to market to a vast array of people you would not otherwise see. Many times these crowds are from your region, but not your town. When at shows, they are much more likely to spend money on goods which are tailored to their interests, and the prices they pay are normally higher than what you can otherwise get. There is an investment involved to attend shows, both from a time perspective and a booth rent perspective, but you can easily generate sales of around $1500 for a weekend show. If you sell a T-shirt for $15 that costs you $2.50 to produce and 10 minutes of your time, and produce 6 per hour, you make $75/hour for your labor. If you are working the show for 20 hours across the weekend, your labor earns you $1,500. Out of that your expenses may total $500 for the weekend. You likely will end up investing about 36 hours in the show for preparations, set up, etc. After expenses you still end up earning about $18/hour all together including your set up time. You can also take custom orders and ship the goods to the person after the show. If you do your marketing at the show well, you can expect at least another 50% additional business after the show. Attending shows is not for everyone though. It is hard work and a great deal of interaction with people.

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Last modified: July 14, 2007