how to make my business bigger

[connors_tshirts]

im only 14 and i sell customised tshirts and hoodies at my two nearest schools i make about about 30 quid a month any ideas to make more ??

[Clinton]

Well done! I love to hear stories of enterprising kids.

You could add other items to your list. If they like dealing with you they may be open to caps, jackets, scarfs...

Would it be worth you designing and printing a little brochure with the options (items/sizes/colours) available?

[connors_tshirts]

yeah ok ill take thoses ideas in im designing a brochure now but its only on publisher so isnt the best

[TestAPlug]

Great good on you. Ive spent a long time in business now and like to pass on some knowledge. Give us a text on 07877736731 and Ill talk to some locals and see if they want some shirts doing. KEV

[Lorro2]

You could consider selling on markets, shows,festivals etc and could theme your designs for a particular market ie if you were doing a steam rally, music fest or country fairs it is a good idea to target your designs at the customers those events will attract. You could open an online shop or ebay shop. If you have a general flair for design there is lots of directions you can go in. There are good art and design forums where you can gain a lot of help. Very good luck

[Matt1959]

im only 14 and i sell customised tshirts and hoodies at my two nearest schools i make about about 30 quid a month any ideas to make more ??

if you;'re making £30pcm from 2 schools, can you work out a way of selling to 4 schools and so on?

[connors_tshirts]

thankyou all for the help i might open an online shop anyone know any ones like ebay or is ebay the only way to go and if so what type of tshirt designs would be popular? thanks again

[Tw Installations]

Three basic ways of greater profits!

1) Find more customers
2) Offer another product or service
3) Cut your overheads

No1 - you could obviously try to sell to more schools this would be the obvious route.

Why not put some offers in aswell, ie, if they buy 3 tshirts they get one for FREE , or if they introduce another customer who buys something from you they get 50% off their next purchase.

Try to get people to spend more and get your average sale price higher!

Try to put some offers in to get people to introduce you to new people, id bet half the people in your school live in the same neighbourhood as people from different schools - Find out how to reach them

2) Offer another product - I think the main one here for the Young crew surely must be baseball caps, if you could start customising these then you'd be bound to make a few quid

brainstorm what other things you could offer:

How about special occasions: valentines day, mothers day, fathers day, birthdays ect. I am sure there would be some ideas in their for you for some personised bling!

3) Cut your costs - I dont think you need to worry about this area quite yet, and I might be inclined to put your online shop on hold as there is still plenty of scope for you.

Where do people at school get their money from? do they buy at the end of the month or the start?

Is there a school newspaper you could pop an advert in or some flyers?
even a notice board.

How about the boys who deliver the local newspapers to your neighbourhood, could you get them post some flyers for you.

Im sure if you worded it well ( everyone loves a good story ) local boy 13 trying to start own business....... you might get some interest

Good post and good for you

Tommy

[Tw Installations]

Another thing:

Say you targeted Fathers Day with a t-shirt saying "Best Dad in The Whole Wide World"

I know its cheesy and you will no doubt have better ideas for this!

you might want to start the promotion a month before, get a sample t-shirt printed up and show it to everyone, leave it pinned to a wall in the school, that way you can take as many orders as you need without paying a single penny out of your own pocket, when you have all the orders in - then get them made up.

If the school dont want a pupil to be making making money out of it, then why not sell the charity route, ie put the t shirt up as normal in the school, but say that for every t shirt you sell 50p will go to a charity. Dont think of it a loosing money think about it as selling more and people like to give to charity too,

So both you and the school benefit and your seen to be activaley raising money for a greater cause

[writecombination]

How about targeting other venues and events where young people gather?

I suggest you take one or two of the ideas from here and go them a go - don't try to do eveything all at once. I agree with the comment that you probably don't need to do an online shop yet. Selling to real people face-to-face is probably easier than trying to sell online.

Well done for being so enterprising.

[directmarketingadvice]

if you;'re making £30pcm from 2 schools, can you work out a way of selling to 4 schools and so on?

Maybe bring in some partners who are at school in other parts of town? You get a cut of their sales.

Steve

[connors_tshirts]

thanks again eveyone espiccaly tw installations

[applemaidcleaning]

People do like personalised gifts on ebay - but you have to make sure you do not do anything that is copy right - you could do the persons names or flirt t-shirts joe loves ben - might be a hit - or aim it at pop groups but work around it like Emma loves JLS - Emma loves ........ Girls go for this (im sure legal advice on here can help)

Why not do a service where they bring there own cloths and you personalise them? just an idea

[MorrisSelfStorage]

Hi,

well done, and keep it going,

thats a member - pimpmyparty who want a quote for 500tshirts on the section, might be worth ago!

Ben

[Write My Site]

Hi,

Well done - I wish I'd flexed my entrepreneurial muscles at your age.

Here are some marketing ideas for you:

- Set up a Facebook fan page for your business, invite all your friends and encourage them to invite their friends and so on.
- Link your Facebook page to an online shop, selling your products.
- Place ads in any newspapers/ newsletters run by the schools you're targeting.
- Upsell to your existing customers and offer them incentives to tell their friends about you (e.g. a free t-shirt when 5 of their friends have become your customers).

One further thought is to get yourself a business mentor. Ask your friends and family whether they know any successful entrepreneurs who would be willing to offer regular guidance and support.

Good luck! :D

[Write My Site]

ps Make sure your supply chain is robust: you've got to be able to fulfil all of those extra orders!

[arfurd]

Ref the eBay route:

Just try selling a couple privately. If you don't have an account ask someone who does as good feedback can help sell an item. (Test the water)

Generally on eBay the selling can be very unpredicatable.

Time it so that the item ends on a Sat Evening when people are likely to be home and looking at the computer. This way the market on eBay is maximised.

[PrestigeShopping]

Good work Connor!!

May I ask a question. Do your teachers support your actions? I remeber was I was your age and I used to sell chocolate on the playground. I'd buy it from Costco and sell it at shop prices or a little bit less. However, the teachers at my school hated it and tried to stop it by any means. Is this the case at your school?

Also, if your products are very good quality, why not speak to sports clubs, local business and see if you can provide them with basic uniform.

Best of Luck.

[Michelle Carvill]

Hi Clinton - I'm assuming that you already have a website? Is your target audience 'school children' - if so why not speak to the heads of schools in your area - the local borough will have details of all heads, failing that their details and email addresses are likely to be on the school website. Why not send a simple email to all Headteachers in your area explaining what you do and can you promote your wares. Enterprising for the children - and you'd be happy to share your story with others in an assembly etc. Schools have book bags and work folders etc - I'm often finding promotions in them about sports activities and clubs etc - so see if you can promote your business that way too?
Best of luck

[startinbusiness]

im only 14 and i sell customised tshirts and hoodies at my two nearest schools i make about about 30 quid a month any ideas to make more ??

how nice of you connor, a young entrepreneur.. keep it going and surely your business will grow..:D

[braq]

Hello,
Here are some ideas...
1. Walk your neighbourhood with your lawn mower, pick a lawn that needs it, mow it and leave a note saying "Hey, I mowed your lawn for your for free! Willing to pay for it next time?" and include your name and number.
2. As you are walking the neighbourhood, ask people who are in their yard if they know anyone who would be interested in your services.
3. On the weekends, set up a lemonade/baked goods stand and market your other services with a price list.
4. Send out post cards to the same neighbours reminding them that you still want to earn their business.

[victormarketinguk]

For now I would stick to the tshirts and hoodies and not mess about with selling on ebay or other stuff. That is, until you can start a simple business plan.

You can make more money within the school, ask other kids what they would like to have on the tshirts and hoodies.

Keep the good work, homework also.

Victor