Couple Start Up Ideas

[Ctash]

After being on vacation I witnessed several ideas that are not being implemented within the area I live in. The two that I will described below are the ideas that I think would work the best.

Idea One: Iron on transfer T-shirts. After walking around to the many tourists shops I noticed that a few stores has designs numbered, for example A-12, and have a heat press to transfer the designs onto the blank T-shirts. A basic shirt would sell for $9.99. A rough math estimate would be $2.50 for the shirt, $1.00 for the transfer sheet, and another $1.00 for the heat press. The revenue created would be $5.49. I witness my girlfriend and two sister by two shirts each.

Idea Two: Golf Cart Taxi. I am not to sure about this one due to the amount of start-up capital needed. Basically, the taxi would shuttle tourists up and down the main roads. There were also around 8 advertisements on the sides. As I type this, I am becoming more sure that it is not a good idea. Rough math would be 12,000 for a 8 seat cart, monthly insurance, and nightly cost of fuel.

[JohnGalt]

Drop your shirt cost a dollar and raise your transfer cost a dollar depending on what type of transfers you are doing. Where would you set up your t-shirt business? You need a good place to sell and transfers that your target audience will want.

[Ctash]

At first I would sell them on the internet to test the strength of the designs, then at the flea market, then at a small retail space.

[JohnGalt]

You might do better at the flea market and small retail space than online since there is already a lot of competition online for t-shirts. I think the heat press on demand business works best when the designs are related to where they are being sold. E.x. at the beach kids buy drinking t-shirts with the beach name on them, tourists buy shirts with designs and names of the area they are visiting, etc...

Also check out T-shirtforums.com, it is the best resource I have found for information about t-shirt businesses.

Best of luck

[Ctash]

I live near the Great Smoky Mountain area of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville. There are currently no shops using the heat press method. Over 10 million people visit the area per year. There is a huge market, however the designs have to stand out from the competition. The t-shirt forum has a vast amount of information. Thanks for your help