When I started selling my custom apparel designs online, I remember being really optimistic. I had some really good ideas for designs and knew with a bit of promotion I would have sales in no time. My starting point was Teespring because I heard good things about the platform so I put a few designs up and waited patiently. After a few months, I saw $0 and thought maybe uploading more designs will give buyers more options. So, I did just that, 5, 10, and 30 designs go up and to make a long story short about 12 months in I had close to 60 campaigns and no sales on Teespring. I decided to branch out to Sunfrog and Redbubble. I eventually make 1 sale on Sunfrog and I am ecstatic. Promoted my designs a bit more and made a few more sales then shortly after nothing. I had ups and many downs and I got discouraged at times. Does this sound like your story?

I see sellers online all the time inspired by success stories and seminars wondering what is going wrong with my sales. 

I am here to tell you that when you first start selling t-shirts online 9 times out 10 you will NOT see consistent success.

Does that mean you should give up… NO! There will be ups and downs and you may get discouraged along the way.

Here are several things you need to understand before you start selling custom apparel online or offline for that matter.

1. This is a business, not a get rich quick scheme.

Like any successful business it takes time and true dedication. Making a few quick bucks is not the mindset to have. If you think you will start with dope designs and make thousands of dollars off rip you will be highly disappointed.

2. The market is OVER-SATURATED!

This is an understatement. The startup costs are a minimum to nothing, especially with e-commerce platforms. Everybody is trying to sell something online and dope designers have tried and failed. So how do you stand out?

3. Do people know you exist… probably not.

Since the market is oversaturated getting your brand out will be difficult. Designers across the globe more than likely have done what you are trying to do. How do you get your message out?

4. You will be going back to the drawing board… constantly!

Some designs will work and others will fail miserably. Let your designs mature on you and ask for real advice from friends or strangers.

This is the not-so-bright side of selling merchandise and business in general. Starting up an e-commerce shop as I did with no real direction and not so big following takes time to build. My story above is a story many successful entrepreneurs can tell today. 

The above points should not deter you instead they should drive you!

Drive you to create the next big thing. If in fact, you do find yourself thinking negatively there are ways to overcome this slump! I have listed some actionable steps you can take to overcome disappointment and continue creating dope designs.

Surround yourself with awesome people.

Surrounding yourself with successful people will help keep your mind on track. Encouraging words and proven steps can refuel your drive. Real constructive criticism will also help in figuring out what actions are hurting you and how you can correct them.

Whom you surround yourself with tells a lot about who you are. Once you elevate your mind you will quickly find out who has your best interest at heart. This will elevate your conversations from “I wish” to “I will”.

Join online communities

Joining social media groups or other online communities will help provide insight into what other successful sellers have done and how you can achieve the same success. These groups will have chats and events that will give you the chance to network and collaborate.

You will also meet other sellers who are starting off just like you. Share your story and you will see you are not alone.

Find a targeted audience

Managing hundreds of random designs can be harmful resulting in you either not selling or exhausting yourself during the creation process. Find a niche you can relate to and speak to that audience. This can make the process more enjoyable for you while focusing on a particular audience instead of just any potential buyer.

Turn your hobby into a niche and create relevant content and apparel. You can join communities in this niche as well circling back to my last point.

Take a break

Self-care is one of the top things entrepreneurs can forget when taking on the industry. Step back and take a breather. Meditate, exercise, or relax in a calm setting to clear your mind and relieve yourself of negativity.

Vacationing is a great way to get away and clear your mind. The good thing is with this hustle you can always take your work with you. When inspiration strikes you can jot down notes and even create on the spot.

This is a journey you will travel not a sprint. Unless you have the money to buy a bunch of ads or a prominent marketing team then it will take some work to get your designs out and get those sales. I hope you take these steps and take action! There is custom apparel that people want and you have to be the brand to supply them.