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How to Build a Hyper-Local T-Shirt Business in a Weekend
The steps and tools I used to make my first sale
In this post, I break down how I started a hyper-local t-shirt business. From idea to MVP to the first sale, I will share the exact steps I took along the way.
The Idea
Dunwoody Tees — a hyper-local t-shirt brand that specializes in connecting the citizens of a small town through branded apparel and local identity. You can check out the initial website here.
The Research
I didn’t do a ton of industry research or competitor analysis. I followed a hunch and a personal interest in a good t-shirt that made a statement about identity.
Online original t-shirt sales have grown faster than online retail overall. For the last 5 years, the industry has grown on average by 5% driven by rising per capita disposable income. As I was doing research, the brands I was inspired by were 404Proud, DirtyCoast, and Raygun. The largest players include CustomInk, Zazzle, and Threadless.
Next, we will define the problem, brainstorm potential solutions, and identify value creation opportunities.
