If you are thinking about getting into the t-shirt business, there are a lot of great reasons why now is the perfect time to do so. By 2025, the global market for custom t-shirt printing is expected to exceed $10 billion. And while trends come and go, the humble t-shirt is always in style. Selling custom t-shirts is a great way to get into eCommerce, too.
Whether you are looking for a side hustle or thinking about starting a full-time business, the booming t-shirt industry is a solid option to consider. If you decide to go this route, though, you’ll need a niche. The most successful t-shirt businesses are the ones that have unique niches and market to very specific audiences. Wholesale t-shirts can be customized in just about any way imaginable. Finding the right way to customize yours is the best way to build a profitable business.
With the correct niche, attracting customers is a breeze. Choosing a niche you love is an excellent way to remain passionate about your business, too. If you still haven’t figured out what kinds of shirts you should sell, keep reading to discover a few of the most profitable t-shirt niches.
Source: Inna Kot/Shutterstock.com
1. Television
TV shows, anime, comics and manga all make excellent t-shirt material. And thanks to Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix and other streaming services, television series are super popular right now. Printing characters, TV show posters, etc. on t-shirts is a great way to help your customers show off their love for their favorite series. You can use licensed images (with the appropriate permission, of course) or you can create shirts emblazoned with your unique fan art. Either way, shirts based on television series are big sellers.
2. Jokes
Funny tees have been around for decades, and they will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Get on this never-ending trend by creating joke t-shirts. From kid-appropriate jokes for youngsters to more subversive humor for adults, there are plenty of options for making funny shirts for just about anyone. Joke tees are great conversation starters, too, so you can bet that your customers will be telling their friends where they bought their hilarious tees.
3. Pets
There are lots of folks who love animals more than they like most people. Capitalize on that by selling t-shirts featuring cats, dogs and other pets. Any pet parent would love to have a shirt featuring a picture that resembles their favorite furry family member. If cats and dogs aren’t quite your style, you can dive deeper into this niche by making custom shirts featuring reptiles, pocket pets and other unusual animals.
4. Gaming
The gaming community is getting bigger and bigger each year. While it has been expanding over the past several decades, it saw explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic as people sought ways to pass the time while stuck at home. From video game aficionados to those who prefer tabletop games, just about every member of the community would be thrilled to wear shirts that reference their favorite games. Gamers are passionate about their favorite hobbies and are always looking for new ways to show off their passion and connect with fellow community members. Whether you make shirts featuring video game characters, artwork from popular card games or even well-known lines from games, your products are sure to be a hit among members of the gaming community.
5. Music
If you have any interest in t-shirts, you probably have at least one band tee hanging in your closet. Or maybe you have a tee from your first concert tucked away in a drawer. Music and t-shirts are both universal, so it just makes sense that band and concert tees go hand in hand. Shirts featuring band logos and photos, song lyrics and other music-related imagery are always popular sellers, making this niche one of the most profitable for business owners.
6. Hobbies
From reading or crocheting to fishing or working on cars, hobbies are as unique and varied as the people who enjoy them. One thing that remains consistent, though, is that hobbyists love showing off their passions. A fisherman may not be able to spend every day on the water, but they can wear a tee shirt that shows off their favorite hobby. Plus, hobby shirts make great gifts, so this is a perfect niche to be in around the holidays.
7. Travel
Many people enjoy traveling and love buying t-shirts when they visit new destinations. Travel enthusiasts also like apparel featuring quotes about travel and adventure. And since people who travel frequently tend to have disposable income, they have money to spend on your tees. You can customize wholesale hats for travel lovers, too, to create stylish and functional accessories.
8. Career
Just like hobbies, people like wearing shirts that showcase their careers. Whether they are a veterinarian, a hairstylist, a physical therapist or any other type of worker, a t-shirt proclaiming them as such is always a fun wardrobe addition.
Choosing the Right T-Shirt Niche
There are many options to choose from in terms of t-shirt niches. Selecting the one that’s right for your business can be tricky, though. You will need to consider your personal interests as well as the interest of your target audience. And if you plan on opening up a brick-and-mortar store, you’ll also need to think about your geographic area and the people you will be serving. Careful research and planning are needed during all steps of starting a business, and choosing the right niche is no exception.
The Bottom Line
Source: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com
The niches listed above are just a few of the many options. There are thousands of niches to choose from, and if you can find one that is being underserved, you can greatly boost your chances of business success. Whether you are selling online or in a store, the key is to offer something that draws in customers and is different from what your competitors have to offer. It takes time and a lot of research, but finding a profitable niche is the foundation for building a successful t-shirt business.
Ft. img. Source: Pro.designertawsif/Shutterstock.com
