Customized T-Shirts: A Business That’s All About Individuality

 BShashikant Nishant Sharma | Oct. 17, 2023  | Publication: Eduindex

Customized T-shirts are more than just pieces of clothing; they are a canvas for self-expression. This thriving business allows people to wear their personalities, beliefs, and creativity on their sleeves, quite literally. Custom T-shirt businesses have exploded in recent years, capitalizing on the desire for personalized clothing. Here, we explore what it takes to start and run a successful customized T-shirt business. Dongphucdongdo.com is doing a great business in Customised T Shirts. 

Photo by Leticia Ribeiro on Pexels.com

The Art of Personalization

Customized T-shirts are much more than simple apparel. They are a reflection of individuality, used to commemorate special events, express unique opinions, promote businesses, or simply showcase creativity. From witty one-liners and vibrant artwork to meaningful slogans and photos, these shirts tell a story about the person wearing them. With the rise of online shopping and e-commerce, it has never been easier to create and order personalized T-shirts.

Starting a Customized T-Shirt Business

  1. Market Research: Begin with thorough market research to identify your niche and target audience. Understand the demand for customized T-shirts in your area and your potential competition.
  2. Business Plan: Develop a solid business plan outlining your goals, budget, pricing, and marketing strategies. Determine your niche, such as custom event shirts, corporate merchandise, or personalized fashion.
  3. Legal and Regulatory Requirements: Register your business, obtain any necessary licenses, and comply with local and national regulations. Ensure you have the rights to use any copyrighted materials for your designs.
  4. Sourcing Materials: Find reliable suppliers for quality T-shirts and printing materials. The choice of fabric and print quality greatly affects the final product.
  5. Designs and Printing: Invest in the equipment and software necessary for creating and printing designs. This could range from screen printing and heat transfers to direct-to-garment (DTG) printing or sublimation.
  6. Website and Online Presence: In the digital age, having a strong online presence is vital. Create an appealing website or e-commerce platform for customers to design and order shirts. Include an easy-to-use design tool.
  7. Marketing and Promotion: Develop a marketing strategy that might include social media advertising, email marketing, and partnerships with local businesses or event planners. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and provide testimonials.
  8. Customer Service: Excellent customer service is crucial. Be responsive to inquiries, offer customization guidance, and ensure timely order fulfillment.
  9. Quality Control: Inspect each product for quality before shipping to maintain your brand’s reputation.
  10. Pricing: Determine competitive yet profitable pricing. Consider factors such as material costs, labor, and overhead expenses.

Unique Selling Points

To stand out in the competitive world of customized T-shirts, consider these unique selling points:

  1. Quality: Emphasize the quality of your T-shirts and printing. High-quality materials and craftsmanship can set you apart.
  2. Fast Turnaround: Offer quick production and shipping times to meet tight deadlines for events or special occasions.
  3. Eco-Friendly Options: Consider environmentally friendly printing and sourcing options to appeal to eco-conscious customers.
  4. Range of Customization: Allow customers to customize every aspect of their T-shirts, from colors and styles to the choice of artwork or text.
  5. Bulk Discounts: Offer discounts for larger orders, appealing to organizations and businesses.
  6. Unique Designs: Develop a library of unique and eye-catching design templates for customers to personalize.

Challenges and Opportunities

Running a customized T-shirt business can be highly rewarding, but it’s not without challenges. Competing with large print-on-demand platforms can be tough. However, focusing on local, personalized services and building a loyal customer base can be an opportunity for success. Stay adaptable and up-to-date with industry trends and technology to keep your business thriving.

In conclusion, a customized T-shirt business is a versatile and creative venture that caters to the individuality and self-expression of customers. With the right strategies, a commitment to quality, and a focus on customer satisfaction, this business can be a canvas for both artistic and financial success.

References

Sharma, Shashikant Nishant, Shankar Chatterjee, and Kavita Dehalwar. “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: Challenges and Opportunities.” Think India Journal 26.1 (2023): 7-15.

Sharma, Shashikant Nishant. “A Review of Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana.” Think India Journal 23.1 (2020): 26-32.

Sharma, Shashikant Nishant. “Evaluation of the JnNURM Programme of Government of India for Urban Renewal.” Think India Journal 8.2 (2005): 1-7.

Best Ideas for Starting Manufacturing Business

No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” So that is what I bring to you today- A curated list of manufacturing business ideas under 10 Lakhs in India to choose and experiment from.
See, the fact is – the business world and its ways are reforming. And in 2021, you do not need to be another Larsen & Toubro or another Jindal steel to make a difference; you just have to be – well, you!
Entrepreneurship in manufacturing business might seem to be a fancy venture where you can dabble your way to success and earn millions and live happily ever after. But let me burst the bubble and tell you – the truth cannot be any further. It requires plans, strategies, skills, expertise, a supportive team, and most importantly – honest efforts to make a dent.
If it’s your first time, this will help.
Here are 20 manufacturing business ideas in India to start in 2021:
1) Handmade Organic & Exotic Soaps
With more and more people opting for chemical-free alternatives, it is the perfect time to dive into the hand-made organic soap business.
You need to make an initial investment of INR 1.5 – 2 lakhs and can expect pretty exciting returns. Another favourable fact is – you won’t have a hard time convincing prospects.
Why? Because people are already switching to an organic lifestyle. Check out SoulPure, a Bangalore-based startup that produces not only skin-friendly but also environmental-friendly soaps, for more inspiration.
2) Fashion Jewellery
This is one of the most profitable manufacturing business ideas under 10 Lakhs in India.
What makes it profitable? Rather than hoarding on gold and diamond, modern-day women now buy jewellery that is light and pleasant and wears it to work, events, and celebrations. And fashion jewellery serves the purpose well.
These days jewellery brands leverage e-commerce and social media – Instagram and Facebook pages, for marketing. Secret tip – Influencer marketing is a great way for such brands to gain traction.
For clarity, study about Pipa+bella, brain-child of Suchi Pandya, a thriving Mumbai-based jewellery business.
3) Women’s Footwear
The world is evolving and so are the choices. Women are actively seeking home-grown brands and are more than willing to try new and unique styles.
The demand for businesses that manufacture non-leather, cruelty-free, fashionable yet comfortable footwear for women is on the rise. And this is the best time to take the leap.
Here, again, social media marketing proves to be fruitful – you can start with your website/blog/page. Know more from those who are already leveraging the industry – Devika Srimal’s Kanabis, a Delhi-based footwear business and Chondamma Cariappa’s The Sole Sisters.
Interesting story – Chondamma started a Facebook album named ‘Fetish’ where she would post pictures of shoes from various parts of the world that she came across while travelling.
The album turned into a blog, ‘The Sole Sisters’, and the response she received pushed her to start the footwear label.
4) Eco-friendly cutlery and kitchen items
The common denominator in all successful manufacturing businesses under 10 Lakhs in India is that they all make their customers’ lives easy. Eco-friendly cutlery is another growing business that does the same.
It not only saves us from the hassle of maintenance but also is the best possible alternative to plastics.
With our generation becoming more aware and environment-sensitive, there’ll be no dearth of customers in this business. The aesthetic appeal will serve as an added advantage.
For this, you’ll need to invest in cutlery making machines that will cost around INR 50,000. The best example I can think of is Narayana Peesapaty’s Hyderabad-based Bakeys that makes edible cutlery from nutritious food materials.
The company claims the cutlery contains no chemicals, additives, or preservatives. Bakeys claims the products have a long shelf life as they are moisture and fat-free.
5) Environment- friendly bags
This category encompasses Jute, canvas cloth, and paper bags that are sustainable alternatives to plastic ones. This is one business that will never fall short of customers because. Well, we are not going to stop using bags anytime soon!
Paper bags and envelopes are in high demand with large supermarkets, pharmacies and other retailers. Its raw material is inexpensive and available in abundance.
The use of biodegradable and reusable “golden fibre” is also at a high. And its manufacturing process is also simple. These kinds of bags serve multiple purposes.
The canvas cloth bags, on the other hand, are used by college-going students which again make them rich in demand. EcoAd is doing a great job in this context.
The paper bag making startup says – “We target the elimination of polyethene from our culture and society. Every day we are getting closer to it. Closer we go more we realise the magnitude of this issue.”
6) Smartphone accessories
Out of the many manufacturing business ideas under 10 Lakhs in India, this one is obvious. With smartphones, we carry our world in our pockets, quite literally.
There’s no if and but about its demand – and the same goes with its accessories. Anyone who uses smartphones will need tempered glass, phone cases/covers, selfie sticks, and other accessories as well.
This makes the business high in terms of profit. Speaking of investment, the low capacity tempered glass making machines cost around Rs 75,000 while high capacity ones cost over Rs 1.5 lakh.
One inspiring story is that of Chirag Demla and Pawan Demla’s CellBell. It’s an eCommerce platform for mobile accessories – Selfie sticks, headphones, cables, screen glass, and covers that started with an initial investment of 7 lakhs.
Recently, CellBell was selected by Amazon as a ‘strategic account’ due to its consistent sales performance and was the single brand account to achieve a sales target of over Rs 12 crore.
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7) Personal care range
In today’s day and age, people are more than willing to splurge in natural/organic personal care products. The reason is simple – awareness.
The products range from facewash, face creams, lotions to lip balms and scrubs. You can choose a single product or an entire range to start your business. The returns are great and sure to come.
One such home-grown brand is Shabia Walia’s Mumbai-based Wild Earth. It offers natural beauty products free from sulphates and parabens.
Started with a single product, she then went on to launch her own company. It today has 17 categories of products for hair and skincare that recorded an annual turnover of Rs 1.23 crore.
8) Recyclable apparels
What if I tell you heaps of waste can build you an empire? Well, not an empire, but definitely a start-up. You can recycle waste or used clothes to produce edgy apparels out of it.
Sounds innovative? It is, and start-ups are leveraging it already. A unique idea backed by innovative marketing can turn this business into a goldmine.
One such inspiration is RawPressery, a Mumbai-based food and beverage startup that has started an eco-friendly initiative called RawCycle. “The used beverage bottles are first washed and chopped into flakes.
These are then melted and converted to chips before extruding the same into yarn. The yarn is woven into a fabric, stitched and dyed to make t-shirts,” Raw Pressery told YourStory.
9) Indian handicraft items
Thinking of starting a social startup? Here’s an idea! Indian handicraft items are high in demand and bridge the gap between artisans and customers.
You can start this manufacturing business with low investment, and there’s much more than monetary benefits you’ll earn in return.
One such story is that of Ahmedabad-based Gaatha. They use recyclable materials such as bamboo, wood, leather, fibre, and even urban waste to produce clothes, jewellery, paintings, and stationery. The products are crafted by artisans of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kashmir.
10) Handmade candles
We are a generation that strongly believes in the power of aesthetics. And that makes handmade candles a high in-demand product.
In recent years, there’s been an inclination towards scented and therapeutic ones – found in restaurants, households, and hotels, spas, and spiritual places. With an initial investment of INR 20,000 to 30,000, you can expect great returns, especially in the festive season.
11) Homemade chocolates/cookies
Let’s face the fact – Indian have a sweet tooth! And we are always looking for new and refreshing flavours. If you think you can serve pure delight on a platter, then this manufacturing business is for you.
The best part? It requires an initial investment of less than INR 50,000. Also, you’ll have a wider target market to cater to as this is one product that will tickle the taste buds of children and adults both.
12) Garden Landscaping
There are multiple backyard/ garden landscaping ideas available online. All you need to do is come up with something similar at your place and for which you won’t need to shell out a fortune as well.
For there are a number of flea markets and recycled goods stores present in major cities. You can also upcycle old furniture to come up with mix and match styles of decor. Once you’re done posing across the newly landscaped backyard or garden of yours, just post it online for marketing it across. And don’t go anywhere but your existing social media handles to showcase your work. When you’ve successfully created a buzz around your newly acquired skills, it will be time to cash things in by taking up projects.
13) Pickle-Making
All you need for kick-starting a pickle business in India is the right workforce. Once you set your hands upon the right people to deliver the utmost, authentic taste, this venture hardly needs any more investment. Pickle making, packaging and delivery has been one of the most underrated manufacturing businesses under 10 Lakhs in India with low starter investment.
14) Dairy Production
Go local is the sentiment echoed by many when it comes to consumption of dairy products in both urban and rural areas. Dairy production does require low capital investment but the legal and compliance framework of this business can be a tough job.
Cattle and feed legal requirements are strict and tasking. Although known as the business for all seasons in India, dairy production can be an exhausting endeavour.
Other than these 14 sought-after manufacturing businesses under 10 Lakhs in India, there are several more to sample from:
15) Home-Made Ice-cream manufacturing
16) Home-Made Jams
17) Home-Made Rakhis
18) Paper Egg Tray Making Business
19) Envelope & File Manufacturing
20) Hand-Made Paper & Personalized Gift Wrappers Making

TOP 9 Small Business & Start-Up Ideas for 2020 (ONLINE FROM HOME)

Today, we’re going to talk about TOP business ideas for 2020. They are not going to be those obvious ideas that you can think of yourself like starting a restaurant or a car wash; we are going to talk about ideas based on recent trends, recent growing markets.

How To Start A Business

A very important rule! If you decide to start your own business, your motivation shouldn’t be because someone said: “It’s going to be a great business!”. Your perfect business idea should consist of the following things: it should be something you like doing and it should be something you are really good at.

1. Coworking Space

Remote workers are spurring on a new revolution for white-collar professionals, as many roles traditionally set in the office space transition to working via the web. Since loneliness is an all-too-common affliction for remote workers and working from a coffee shop isn’t always the quietest choice, the appeal of shared coworking spaces grows each year.

2. Posture Corrector

Nowadays, people constantly hunch over their phones and laptops, it’s no surprise that there’s been a rise in back and neck pain. The keyword “posture corrector” gets about 74,000 monthly searches proving to be a great startup idea for new entrepreneurs.

3. Fitness Tech

Apps related to diet and fitness account for 3.31% of all app on the Apple Store. People are constantly on the move. Making it possible for consumers to fit daily workouts conveniently into their crazy schedules closes another barrier to a healthy lifestyle.

4. Men’s Cosmetics

Men’s cosmetics industry is worth approximately $3.4 billion. One of the most popular niche products targeting men is beard oil, a part of the male grooming industry that makes approximately $6 billion in annual sales. Approximately 39% of American men have beards.

5. Food truck

Food trucks represent all the benefits of a restaurant but without the initial investment of a brick and mortar business space. Only 10-20% of food trucks fail, whereas the failure rate for new restaurants can be as high as 90%.

6. Healthy Fast Food

Think about why people flock to their favorite fast-food chains. The price, speed, and convenience offer consumers a quick way to eat on the go and on a budget. With high demand and low competition, healthy fast food makes a great business idea for 2020.

7. Reusable Bags

As people become more conscious of the waste they produce in their homes, some are starting to use reusable bags to lower the amount of plastic waste. Business ideas centered around preserving the environment can help you build a socially conscious brand.

8. Smart Apparel

With smart apparel’s surging growth rates, this niched industry is looking to net over $4 billion by 2024. This subsector is still so new, making it fresh for innovative ideas from budding entrepreneur techies.

9.Travel Consulting

If traveling is your passion and you are always updated about things like best airplane ticket options and hotel deals, then you fit the bill. You can start by helping your family and friends, securing the best travel deals and selling rewards flights.

Hope these ideas are useful to young budding minds out there looking forward to being Entrepreneurs of tomorrow!

TOP 7 ‘WORK FROM HOME’ BUSINESS IDEAS IN LOCKDOWN 2020

the spread of Corona Virus and strict lockdown in the entire nation, everybody is looking for – Work from Home options. However due to the shutting down of businesses, Companies are not in hiring instead they are laying off employees due to recession. Many home-based businesses can be started with very little money and very little experience. How do I know? Because I’ve been there and I’ve done it.

You can begin small, even part-time. And then you can grow them at your own pace. You can make excellent profits even with a very small home-based business. And if you want you can grow it into a much larger enterprise. So even if you don’t have much experience or savings, you too can start your own home-based business and become highly successful.

The key behind a successful business is finding out the DEMAND in the market depending on the situation and customer needs. With Corona Virus being the topic of this year, the demand for related products like hand sanitisers and disinfectants have surged more than these manufacturing industries could ever imagine.

But what can I do sitting at home? It all starts with an idea, hence here are the Top 7 business ideas that can be executed from home during covid-19 pandemic:

  1. Tiffin / Lunchbox Service:

After the entire Nation shut down, many students who lived in hostels and bachelors who were dependent on outside food were left hungry and starving. At such times starting a Dabba Service will not only earn profits but also blessings from these people struggling to find home-cooked food.

In order to run Tiffin service successfully, you will require more than a passion for cooking. Furthermore, you will need good planning and management skills as well as flexibility to successfully handle any last-minute changes required by customers.

How successful your Tiffin service will be will depend mainly on having good reputation. For this business setup to succeed therefore, you must be able to meet the needs of your customers and have the ability to work well under pressure.

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Table cloths 
  • Kitchen facilities
  • Tables
  • Tiffin boxes
  • Serving equipment
  • Utensils – silverware, glassware
  • Simple but healthy home-cooked meals preparation
  • Online Tuitions & Tutoring:

Schools and Colleges have shut down leaving a big stress among everybody. Students are concerned with completing their portion without their teachers. At such times the need for online assistance for education is at a rise.

Online tutoring is a profitable business. This industry is developing rapidly with advent of innovations, technologies and wide spread usage of the internet. Parents and students are comfortable with online tutoring websites for their personalized learning requirements.

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Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Start a face-to-face video conferencing.
  • Speak to each other with high-quality and excellent voice.
  • Write, type, erase and draw in distinctive colours on digital advanced whiteboard.
  • Text chat via instant messaging.
  • Upload and share files.
  • Alter message progressively with other person seeing what you are doing. Access the session from all devices.
  • Mask Stitching and Selling:

The world has changed. Not only has the world economy shut down, but people are also on edge. This is likely because we can’t leave our homes, and this can lead to isolation. Nowadays you cannot spot a single person on the streets without a mask covering their face.

If one is good at stitching at home, then this is a golden opportunity to not only earn money but also get creative. People are bored of the old plain mask and hence are looking for designer and customised masks. One can use their own imagination and entice people with your unique masks.

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Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Face Mask Cloth
  • Mask Inner Ear Loop threads
  • Paints, beads, needle works
  • Stitching machine or sewing machine
  • Needle and thread
  • Online Fitness and Yoga Coach:

The threat of coronavirus has left the fitness industry ailing and barely able to stand with smaller gyms on the verge of shutting down, larger chains contemplating huge losses and unemployment becoming a very real prospect for many thousands of trainers and support staff.

However, if you have a laptop and good functioning internet connection you can become a fitness coach for everybody missing the gym and looking for services from home. With people wanting to keep themselves fit and improving their immune system, Yoga trainers are high in demand.

WARNING! What they don't tell you about taking your yoga business ...

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Create a virtual workshop using online studio software
  • clean background
  • remove clutter and distracting objects
  • place select “yoga” objects in frame if desired
  • Use a tripod if you can
  • Test to make sure that the camera can capture you in all your poses
  • Use impeccable, clear language (don’t rely on video)
  • Embrace imperfections! Be human and carry on.
  • Cake Baking for Special Occasions:

Are you the one that makes killer cakes for every birthday? Do you churn out to-die-for donuts? If you’re ready to turn your talents into a profitable bakery, you’ve come to the right place.

No matter what the situation, the show must go on. Cakes have been the symbol of any kind of situation since centuries. But with all CAKE SHOPS and bakeries shut, one cannot access them for special occasions. If you are a good baker, then this is your time to shine. Homemade cakes will be a hit and people will be assured about its safety.

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Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Mixers
  • Oven
  • Dough proofer
  • Bakeware
  • Tools for measurement
  • Ingredients as per flavour
  • Refrigerator
  • Bread slicer
  • Dough mix
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Piping bags
  • Dairy products
  • Display case
  • Gardening and selling Organic Fruits & Vegetables:

If you are interested in gardening at home and have enough space to grow more for everyone then organic farming is a great business idea. With today’s vegetables being produced with pesticides and chemicals

Growing a garden for profit is something that definitely needs to be kept simple. The reason is that if you try and do a whole bunch at once, then you won’t be great at any of it. If you pick a few simple and small things to start out with, then you can work to perfect those things and be much more successful.

I learned that the hard way because I wanted to sell EVERYTHING out of my garden. Well let me tell you, that is impossible without a team of employees. You just can’t do it well, so don’t try it.

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Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Put them in baskets
  • Order personalized boxes with your logo/brand name on them
  • Make signs that tell about your unique produce
  • Include a recipe card for how to cook with it
  • Organize the different colours in patterns
  • Put the containers on their sides so they appear to be “overflowing” with fruits or vegetables
  • Incorporate wheelbarrows, gardening tools, flowers, etc. into your display
  • Build your own shelves to sell from that stand out
  • Design a logo or picture to use for your new “business”
  • Take attractive pictures of your produce for your display
  • Use tablecloths or nice napkins that make it feel more high end and less dirty.
  • Customised T-shirts and Dresses Painting :

Whenever people think about starting a business, a t-shirt company is probably one of the first five ideas that come to their mind. Why? Well, t-shirt printing business looks like fun and cool. To some extent, they are right. Being your own boss, having own t-shirt designs, selling them with your brand label, having people supporting your work – that’s happiness. Isn’t it?

If you enjoy T-Shirt painting, then there is a whole lot of millennial generation ready to throw all their money at your unique art and designs.

Henry Li showing how to paint a T-shirt with liquid acrylic paints ...

Things you require for a Successful Take-off:

  • Plain t-shirts
  • Fabric paints
  • Tracing paper
  • Sunlight
  • Innovative and creative designs
  • Trendy drawings
  • All size t-shirts

So there you have it in a nutshell- First you need to decide where you are going to sell your produce. Then you can decide what you are going to sell.

Remember your business will grow if people are happy with what they buy from you. Make it look nice, and only sell the best you have.

Now you are all ready to go for it! Good luck!