WHITE LABEL
Put Your Name on It
Unlike starting a private label, a white label is much simpler to start, but still deals with some of the same pitfalls.
Get the basics about adding your label and creating a name for your business.
WHAT IS WHITE LABEL?
Learn more about selling as a white label business
SELL WITHOUT A SITE
Find the best platforms for selling your apparel without having to build a website
REALITY CHECK
Is your business idea viable? Learn more about business basics
DESIGN TOOLS
Get free tools for designing your brand or your label
LABEL BASICS
Learn what to know before starting a fashion label
T-SHIRT PROS & CONS
Learn the pros and cons of starting a t-shirt business
WHAT IS WHITE LABEL
THE DEFINITION
A white label business involves buying wholesale from a manufacturer or distributor that offers the option of adding your brands' custom tags to pre-existing garments.
The type of clothing you decide to sell (t-shirts or fashion apparel) will determine the level of time and financial investment required for startup.
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LABEL STARTUP TIPS
WHAT TO KNOW BEFOREHAND
UNDERSTAND THE COST
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When starting any form of business, understanding the costs will help you to map your budget and prioritize.
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Having a good understanding of the expenses you'll have will keep you from over-spending and being in the ed before you have a chance to start
CHOOSE THE BEST PRODUCTS FOR YOUR BRAND
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Your products should represent your brand.
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Knowing your brands message and value systems will help in deciding the types of apparel your should be selling
DEFINE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
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Defining your target audience ties in with choosing the best products for your brand.
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If your target audience is young and trendy, you want want to sell attire that may be more suited for an older for more classic styled audience
DEFINE WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?
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How do you stand out? Are you just another clothing company, or do you offer something that is not currently available, or can you do what others do quicker or better?
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The thing that makes your different should be positive and insightful. Your message is what will get your brand a following.
DEFINE YOUR BRAND
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Your brand is your image and the message your deliver.
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Your want your brand to have meaning and you want to protect its image.
PROVIDE QUALITY & A POSITIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
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The customer experience is the biggest factor of a company's' success.
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You may have the most popular items, but if the customer doesn't feel appreciated, you'll lose customers, which will hurt your businesses profits and reputation.
FIND A QUALITY SUPPLIER
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Ensure that you are dealing with a supplier that has the best practices and quality.
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You may have to visit the factory location and you will definitely need to order a sample to ensure that the quality matches your expectations.
MARKET YOUR PRODUCT
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Without marketing, no one will know your product exists.
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Paid advertising is the most effective option, but there are also free tools available for smaller budgets.
Read "How to Start Your Own Private Label Brand from Scratch" - Sellers Choice
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Note: *This article states "Private Label" but the term is used incorrectly. To defend the writer, White Label is a form of Private label sales and this article has very good information for providing the first steps of getting a label started.
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CREATE A LOGO
Learn best practices and get tools for creating an impressive logo
FREE RESOURCES
Want to stretch your dollar? Get links to free design and business tools
INVENTORY
Find wholesalers and manufactures that offer white label services
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THE PROS & CONS
OF T-SHIRT SALES
PROS
The Upside
EASY TO START
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T-shirt sales is one, if not the easiest clothing business to start. With no need to keep inventory or even set up a website, this business type is one with quick and simple set up.
LOW COST START-UP
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If you have a creative eye, you can create designs for free
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No need to buy inventory. There are many printing companies that offers design online stores and drop-shipping. You initial costs could be free.
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No printing equipment to buy. The printing company handles this for you
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No direct shipping costs. If you drop-ship, you can work the cost of your shipping into the retail cost.
NO NEED TO HOUSE INVENTORY
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Like other clothing industries that offer drop-shipping, most t-shirt printers have a drop-shipping option. With drop-shipping , you don't keep your own inventory. The order gets placed by the customer and your put in an order with the manufacturer. They take care of the creation and shipping for you. Some companies even offer an embed option where your can embed your online store from their company onto your own websites.
EASE OF SELLING
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The entire process from buying inventory, to selling can be done online.
FAST GROWTH IS POSSIBLE
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With programs like Amazon's Merch option and the easy marketing tools like Facebook or YouTube, you can grow this business quicker than some other business types.
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Apply at Amazon.com to Sell Amazon Merch
CONS
The Downside
THE MARKET IS FLOODED
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The ease of start-up has caused this market to be flooded. In order to have sustainable sales, your designs will need to be original, thought provoking or inspiring and be connected to a niche or subject.
DROP-SHIPPING UNPREDICTABILITY
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Drop-shipping is cost effective and you don't have to deal with inventory, but the downside is the process of drop-shipping itself. When choosing a manufacturer or wholesaler to do business with, read reviews and do research regarding their quality and their time to ship. Long shipping times and sub-par quality won't sit well with customers and you will lose money in the long run.
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BUSINESS SUPPLIES
Get links for free business supplies, tools and resources
BUDGETING TOOLS
Get free and inexpensive budgeting tools to help balance your expenses
DESIGN & COLOR
Get ideas and inspiration for creating a unique and memorable brand design