An increasing number of people, businesses and organizations are getting interested in ordering custom t-shirts for themselves or their members, customers, partners and employees.
Custom t-shirts can be a great way to show off team spirit, advertise an upcoming event or product launch, or simply raise brand awareness.
But who exactly is the target market for custom t-shirts? And how can you attract them to your printing business?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the target market for custom t-shirts and some tips on how to attract them.
Who is the Target Market for Custom T-Shirts?
Custom t-shirts are most attractive to people who are looking for a way to express themselves, their interests, or their affiliations.
The main segments of the target market for custom t-shirts include:
- Clubs or organizations
- Businesses
- Sports teams
- Schools or colleges
- Special events or causes
- Individuals
Let’s look at each of the segments more closely.
1. Clubs or organizations
Clubs and organizations are often interested in ordering custom t-shirts for their members, customers, or partners.
Some examples of clubs or organizations that might order custom t-shirts include:
- Local sports teams
- Fraternities and sororities
- Community groups
- Professional associations
Wearing a club’s t-shirt is a way for members to show their pride and allegiance to the group.
It’s also a way for clubs or organizations to promote themselves to potential new members.
Some smaller clubs with limited budgets also use custom t-shirts as a way to raise funds.
2. Businesses
Businesses are a large target market for custom t-shirts because custom t-shirts can also be a great marketing tool for businesses.
Businesses use custom t-shirts to:
- Advertise an upcoming sale or event
- Promote a new product or service
- Build brand awareness
- Thank customers or clients for their business
- Reward employees for reaching sales goals or hitting target objectives
Employees often wear company t-shirts as a way to tell the world where they work. For many, this can be a status symbol.
Customers and clients often appreciate receiving a t-shirt with the company’s logo or slogan as a gift.
3. Sports teams
Many sports teams order custom t-shirts for their players and fans. Wearing a team’s t-shirt is a way for fans to show their support for the team.
It’s also a way for sports teams to promote themselves and build brand awareness.
Professional sports teams also use custom t-shirts as a way to generate revenue. For example, they might sell t-shirts with the team’s logo at the stadium or arena.
Small local sports teams sometimes sell custom t-shirts to raise money. For example, schools or youth leagues may sell t-shirts with team logos to parents and guardians as a fundraiser.
4. Schools and colleges
Custom t-shirts are also popular among schools and colleges. Some examples of how schools and colleges use custom t-shirts include:
- As part of a school uniform
- To show school spirit
- To raise funds
- To promote an event or club
Schools in many parts of the world require students to wear uniforms. Custom t-shirts can be a way for schools to add their own logo or branding to the uniforms.
Some schools also sell custom t-shirts with their mascot or name to students, parents, and other members of the community as a way to show school spirit.
The alumni of a school can be a significant target market for custom t-shirts because they often like to purchase such t-shirts as a way to show their pride in their alma mater.
5. Special events or causes
Custom t-shirts are also popular among people who are supporting a special event or cause. Some examples of special events or causes that use custom t-shirts include:
- Charity walkathons or runs
- Fundraisers
- Political campaigns
- Environmental causes
- Religious groups
People often wear custom t-shirts to show their support for a cause. For example, they might wear a t-shirt with the logo of the charity they are supporting. Or, they might wear a t-shirt with the slogan of a political campaign.
Custom t-shirts can also be a way for people to start a conversation about the event or cause. For example, someone might wear a t-shirt with an environmental message to raise awareness about the issue.
6. Individuals
Some people just like to order custom t-shirts for themselves. They might choose their own design or select from a design template.
Individuals order custom t-shirts for a variety of reasons, including:
- As a gift for someone else
- To show their personality or style
- To support a cause
- To commemorate a special event or occasion
Some people like to wear custom t-shirts as a way to express their personality or style. For example, they might choose a t-shirt with a funny saying or an interesting design.
Others might wear custom t-shirts to support a cause they care about. For example, they might wear a t-shirt with the logo of an environmental organization.
Some people like to order custom t-shirts to commemorate special events. For example, they might order a t-shirt with the date of their wedding or a photo of their family.
Many online clothing stores offer a customization option, where a customer can upload a photo and a t-shirt with that photo printed on it is delivered to their doorstep.
Conclusion
The target market for custom t-shirts includes clubs or organizations, businesses, sports teams, schools or colleges, special events or causes and individuals.
These potential customers could order custom t-shirts for a variety of reasons including advertising an upcoming sale or event, promoting a new product or service, building brand awareness, thanking customers, clients or partners, and rewarding employees.
Custom t-shirts are also used as a source of revenue or fund-raising. For professional sports teams, branded t-shirts are a revenue source. Schools, colleges, charities, etc. sell custom branded t-shirts to raise money for their institution and causes.
And finally, individuals order custom t-shirts as a gift for someone, or to show their personality and style, or to commemorate a special occasion like the birth of a child.
