Starting a merch business can seem like an expensive investment, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you’re looking to start your first merch business or your fifth, you can start small and gradually build up your operation by following these instructions on how to start a merch business on a budget.
The key to succeeding with your merchandise business on a budget is to be smart about where you spend your money and which products you sell.
Calculate startup costs
At an average of $12 per custom hoodie, it would cost $288. At this point, you’re probably wondering why to start with one when you can get started right away and order 20 custom hoodies wholesale for that same price.
Doing so will only incur an additional shipping fee at checkout and best of all, 20 custom hoodies mean quadruple the revenue.
Once you’ve calculated how much it will cost, purchase your bulk wholesale padded jackets suppliers from companies like Puffer Jackets Canada or Softshell Outlet Canada
Choose your brand’s name
Karolina & Jazmin is a start-up based in Calgary, Alberta. Karolina and Jazmin are committed to providing you with quality jackets for the best prices possible.
They find that customers are usually overwhelmed by the variety of designs when searching for wholesale puffer jackets online.
They have taken all their favorite designs from various companies and put them into one single collection. These three stylish new brands are unmatched in quality, creativity, and style!
Select your product range
The easy way to start a merch business is by buying wholesale winter jackets in Canada from our extensive collection of hooded jackets.
We have padded jackets in bulk, as well as custom hoodies Calgary and custom hoodies in Canada with no minimum available. Now, you’re ready to get going with your new idea!
Find a drop shipper
Buying wholesale jackets from Canada can be a cheap and easy way to start your merch business. Most people think of wholesaling as buying in bulk, but if you’re just starting out or looking for an affordable way to test the waters, there are other alternatives.
Whether you buy jackets wholesale from china, cotton fabric wholesale from China, or bulk candy wholesale from the US – buying in larger quantities is not the only way to do it!
We offer one of the lowest rates for Jackets sales. You won’t find such deals anywhere else. All these perks without paying expensive retail prices? Sounds too good to be true right?
Gather your graphics and mockups
The first step is choosing the product you want to offer as your merchandise. This can be anything, but I recommend focusing on items that have high demand and low competition – think hoodies.
If you’re not in the US, Alibaba has many wholesalers based in other countries that you can talk with and get samples from.
The next step is finding suppliers who are willing to work with you by providing quality products at a reasonable price point.
This might take some time depending on how detailed your search parameters are, but when you find the right supplier it will be worth it!
Many wholesale retailers are looking for entrepreneurs like us so don’t be afraid to reach out directly about this.
Get the quality of your product checked
Part of setting up any new business is getting your product quality checked.
In the garment industry, it’s common for merchandise vendors to have their products inspected by either an independent company or by someone in-house at the vendor’s company.
The cost of quality checking can vary depending on where you go and what your personal needs are, but expect it will range from $200-300 per hour.
Order samples (it is worth it!)
Every good business starts with great samples. Be sure you order samples, even if it is your first time designing with this company because you never know what the quality will be like until you see and feel it for yourself.
Since we were ordering hoodies, I ordered two of each color that the company offered just in case the pink color looked funky when printed.
Getting samples was one of my best decisions, as the pink did turn out a little more lavender than expected. But by ordering two each, I was able to compensate for any errors and made sure that my customers would get the perfect product from me.
Add a 10% margin for unexpected issues
Merchandise starts with picking a t-shirt design and adding it to your cart. Once you have an idea in mind, you can get pricing from any major retailer such as Teespring or Redbubble.
This includes the costs of printing, shipping, and handling charges that must be paid upfront for them to print your custom designs.
Once you have all of the details ironed out, these companies will provide you with a quotation for what it will cost for everything you want to be printed.
Calculate how many sales you need per month
To calculate the sales you need per month to stay afloat, divide the total number of money you need by how much your t-shirts cost.
Set yourself a deadline and stick to it!
Recently, it seems like the popularity of merch has skyrocketed and there are more merch-focused companies than ever before.
Whether you want to start your own merch business or use merch as part of your marketing strategy, there are so many choices out there and it can be difficult to narrow down what’s best for you.
To help streamline the process, we’ve put together this list of five essential tips for starting a custom hoodie wholesale business without breaking the bank.
