Starting an online business is no easy feat. However, if you are up for it and believe that you can create yourself a decent source of income, then you should give it a try.
You will need an idea before you start. There are multiple ways to make money online. Some people chase their passions because it is easier to find motivation and push through even if things are difficult. Others prefer to research the market and create a list of potential ideas before committing.
Custom merchandise could be a worthwhile method to pursue. Etsy is a good platform to sell your merch products. Reading an etsy print on demand guide that covers the basic information about selling on the platform should give you a general idea of how to get started on the platform.
If you are wondering why trying your luck with custom merchandise is worth it, the reason is pretty straightforward. The custom t-shirt market worldwide is expected to cross 10 billion dollars by 2025. And it is not just t-shirts that you can sell. Products like face masks, hoodies, stickers, or phone cases are in demand as well.
Now that you already have the business model picked and a platform to sell on let’s discover what else you need to create a successful custom merchandise venture.
Unique Designs
Let’s start with designs. You will not sell merchandise if your designs are lackluster. Many businesses have already established themselves and had a head start. If you want to get a share of the custom merchandise market, the least you can do is offer unique designs that let your brand stand out from the competition.
Those who do not possess the necessary design skills should hire a freelance graphic designer and leave the work to them. Besides, when you do not have to worry about designing, you can focus on other business aspects, like advertising.
Reliable Supplier
Manufacturing products yourself is an option, but it is not necessarily the best option given how much investment it would take to purchase the equipment.
Instead, you would be better off collaborating with reliable suppliers that would provide merchandise for you. There are services that let you order products in bulk and put on the designs for you. Such an option would simplify the processes even more as you would get the merchandise ready to ship to the customer.
Functioning Website
Do not underestimate the importance of having a good website. Some aspiring entrepreneurs make the mistake of not investing enough money in hiring someone who can develop a proper site. Instead, they spend a few hours on pages themselves and leave it poorly optimized and missing important information.
No, a website and its pages should look professional. Otherwise, a potential customer who ends up on the site will leave it without spending any of their money.
Besides having proper product description pages with high-quality photos, your custom online merchandise store should also include:
- Customer reviews
- Social media buttons
- Search bar
- Mobile optimization
- Fast loading speed
If you decide to create a website from scratch yourself and not hire someone with experience, make sure not to neglect any of the mentioned aspects that make a website functional.
Marketing Campaign
Creating a marketing plan is a tricky step. However, it is necessary regardless because customers will not appear out of thin air. No, you will need to advertise the store and drive traffic to the website. And even then, the majority of the site visitors will leave without adding merchandise to their shopping carts.
Now, the question is how to pick the right marketing methods. It is likely that you do not have the resources to run multiple campaigns on different fronts simultaneously.
For the most part, social media is usually a good investment. You can collaborate with influencers by sending them free merch in exchange for a shoutout. Posting in relevant groups should bring positive results as well, though be mindful of spamming because too many advertising posts will likely result in you getting removed from a group.
Search engine optimization is also a worthy investment. Traffic from Google is worth a lot. If you optimize the site for buy-intent keywords and rank the website to be at the top of search engines, expect to receive a decent amount of relevant website traffic.
Exceptional Customer Service
Word travels fast, and if the customers are happy with your services, they will recommend the store to their friends and family.
Offering exceptional customer service will help avoid negative customer testimonials that are a hindrance to the success of your business.
Have a reliable customer support department that responds to customer queries and provides answers quickly. Also, work with your supplier or manufacturer to avoid poor quality merchandise.