OzBargain T-Shirt Project: Cheapest way to do custom T-shirts including postage?

scotty on 15/02/2012 - 23:47

Okay. This has been in the back of my mind for quite a while and I guess if I don't start asking around it would probably never be done.

OzBargain has been running for 5 years now and big thanks for everyone's support! Let's just say, I've got some budget to make OzBargain custom T-shirts and will be giving away some of them for FREE — how should I go and do about it?

For example, I might be able to get a budget of $5,000 — that includes the design, making the T-shirts and cost of posting it to whoever wants one. Obviously the lower the unit price, more T-shirts I can make, and more OzBargain members will get their shirts :) If each shirt costs $20 to make + post, that means I can give away 250 tees. If the cost can be reduced to $15, that means 333 shirts can be made. Yeah, the aim would be reducing the cost of each shirt so more people can get one. Hopefully the quality is not compromised either as well :)

Okay. I am a bit clueless with regard to custom shirts. Find me a bargain — what's the best solution for my problem? I guess I

  • Need a design. Prefer to have something simple with 1-2 colour prints. Anyone wants to contribute some T-shirt designs?
  • Need to source T-shirts of various sizes & have design screen-printed. (Local? Overseas?)
  • Need to dispatch printed T-shirts to individuals. (AusPost? Drop-shipped from overseas?)

Thanks. I am hoping to get this rolling soon, and appreciate any help from the community.

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • singlefished on 16/02/2012 - 02:54
    +4

    Scotty, great idea mate!

    I personally think that even if you sold them at $10 a pop (to at least cover postage) then the t-shirts would be literally "ozbargained" within hours! This would also let you get more merchandise out there from your allocated funds.

    My previous project used to get embroidered polo shirts run off in their hundreds so I will try and find out some info on how they went about it… I'm sure any company that could provide custom embroidered shirts and polo shirts would cater to the printed t-shirt crowd also.

    Design…. keep it simple. Orange strip around the middle of the t-shirt with the ozbargain logo. Under that have a "username: " then people could customise their own shirts with either their own username or ****** (or whatever) with a black permanent marker.

    Anyway, will try and get some info on the shirts for you.

  • Geewhizz on 16/02/2012 - 07:45

    Wait for a vistaprint free Tshirt offer - because each shirt will have something different about it …. ie, name or whatever then you're going to have to order just one and then do another 'one' etc etc and you'll always be getting the free tshirt. Pick your time when there's free shipping for over $60 or whatever. Even if you pay full price to upload the ozbargain logo, you're only using text to put in the individual detail on each shirt, so there's just one upload fee - $9 maximum. Of course in the true ozbargain spirit you should be trying for a discount on this also.

    Then you only have to find something to spend another $51 on to qualify for the free shipping and you're laughing. :)

    If that doesn't qualify for a free shirt for being really really cheap, I give up. lol

  • drexxx on 16/02/2012 - 09:51

    my mate said:

    The best place I have found so far for ME is a group called print mojo, all added up for a 4 color print I am getting $11.65 quoted p/ tee. That’s for a 25 print run. Higher orders will be even cheaper but again -> he would need to source his own quote from them based on the design … http://www.printmojo.com/

    But they hold the goods and ship it themselves, as well as setting up the e-commerce website. I don’t ever see the merch unless I order some, I just see the profit. So I am not sure whether he wants them all sent to him, or available from the manufacturer?

    The following sites offer a print and ship to your door deal if that is what he is looking for:

    http://www.psionline.com.au/
    http://www.adrenalineprinting.com.au/tshirt.htm
    http://tshirtprinting.com.au/
    http://www.omenprinting.com.au/

    Hope this helps somehow haha :)

  • huntress_love on 16/02/2012 - 11:53
    +1

    would be cheaper if you get them done overseas. its usually the shipping which cost a bit. slow shipping is at least 2 to 3 weeks or fedex takes only 3 days but cost more. depends on if you have the time to wait.

    Otherwise this one does min. order 100 Tshirt with free shipping (slow kind) for custom printed t-shirt only comes to $3.68 each.

    But you could probably negotiate a better price or get them to do free express shipping since your order is close to 1000!

    http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/438744784-Customize-T-S…

    • neil on 16/02/2012 - 12:05
      +1

      Wow, that's cheap. Is there any way to get 1 done to see what the quality is? The last thing you want is 100 really crappy looking shirts. Or maybe that's the look we should go for? ;)

      • _Bruce_ on 16/02/2012 - 12:17

        Usually the main cost is tooling and setup, so I doubt it. You could however get a different shirt from the same place (possibly with same colours).

    • scotty on 16/02/2012 - 15:29

      Very cheap indeed. AusPost postage to individually deliver each shirt would be more expensive than the shirt itself. Not sure whether it says something about the shirt or about the AusPost cost.

      As the shirt itself, it does say 100% cotton at 180g (I presume it's for size L). Not too bad from the "spec", but could be badly stitched together.

    • ca6leguy on 16/02/2012 - 15:34

      You do not want a cheap quality tshirt that doesn't last even 1 wash cycle.

  • RandomNinja on 16/02/2012 - 12:46
    +1

    One other challenge you're going to face is shirt size. Odds are you'll run out of one size and have too many of another.

    That's one of the reasons the company I work at moved away from T-shirts as promo items. That and free T-shirts usually end up unused or at the Salvos before long.

    Have you considered an alternative in the form of an Ozbargain mug? Personally I reckon an orange mug with OB logo would be pretty awesome!

    • bluedufflecoat on 16/02/2012 - 14:04
      +1

      Or pens. Everyone needs pens! They wouldn't cost much to deliver vs mugs which could be heavy.

    • Ughhh on 16/02/2012 - 14:10

      That and free T-shirts usually end up unused or at the Salvos before long

      I agree, can you really imagine yourself wearing it to the shops or something? Mugs would be a good idea, preferably one that is steal proof :P

      • Mugz on 16/02/2012 - 15:06

        I like the Mugs idea :)

        • neil on 16/02/2012 - 15:14

          Mugs seem more practical but then again a T-shirt could identify us say lining up for phone or collecting free slurpees

        • Ughhh on 16/02/2012 - 15:51

          But the tshirt might be giving stores a heads up of what might happen any minute - being ozbargained, and to the honest the definition of 'ozbargained' isnt exactly that pretty on urban dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ozbargained).

          Would sales people ignore you cause they know you wont be easily ripped off? Infact you might be lucky if they dont kick you out for potentially warning other unaware customers (http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/63647#comment-760010) ;)

        • scotty on 16/02/2012 - 16:01

          Haha. From your point of view sounds like it is probably not desirable to be publicly identified as a ozbargainer :) Maybe membership card + gangster sign would be a better mechanise in this case.

    • scotty on 16/02/2012 - 15:20
      +2

      Odds are you'll run out of one size and have too many of another.

      Runs out — yes very likely, especially if I am doing the first batch of various size shirts and giving them out for free, I can see they run out very quickly. Have too many of another? Probably not.

      Then JLove said:

      can you really imagine yourself wearing it to the shops or something?

      Heheh. That's the whole point. You wonder into the local OfficeWorks and spot someone else also wearing an OzBargain T-shirt. You can just walk over and ask, "hey mate what are you going to price match today?" :)

      But yeah mug — that's also a possibility.

  • ca6leguy on 16/02/2012 - 15:35

    How about umbrellas? I'm pretty sure more people will carry an OZBargain umbrella than wear a TShirt.

    • scotty on 16/02/2012 - 15:39
      +3

      For fending people off when you line up for slurpees?

  • Mugz on 16/02/2012 - 15:57

    What about a baseball cap? They're one size fits all, aren't they?

    I'm picturing the "[OZ]Bargain" in white, on the orange banner colour…makes for a decent trucker cap

    • Davo1111 on 19/02/2012 - 01:45

      i'm picturing a 100% orange hat with ozbargain in white lettering on the front

  • huntress_love on 16/02/2012 - 16:51

    i probably wont wear any logoed tshirt in public.
    I like to get bigger sizes and wear around home.

    If it's for publicity it's unlikely people will wear it with ozbargain on the front or back.
    But if it just had a cool design and a not easily spotted logo somewhere, then ozbargainer will
    recongise it or each other without other people such as shop owners catching on quickly!

  • m0nkeycheese on 16/02/2012 - 17:41

    Id wear it with pride ;) Oh and thanks for the stickers, havent go em yet but thanks heaps. I reckon bumper stickers are a good idea they are always a winner and it advertises the site.

  • 777 on 16/02/2012 - 20:36

    I ll put my 2 cents on DHGate

  • 777 on 16/02/2012 - 20:46

    Also they dont seem too bad for a polo and offcourse can we beated at other places just a reference, so no tax or import duties
    http://www.eclipsescreenprinting.com.au/shop/product-info.ph…

  • Davo1111 on 19/02/2012 - 01:50

    In all honesty it's probably going to be cheaper to have them made overseas and posted in to individuals. If they were made locally, you might be able to pack them into a4 letters, meaning it would only cost $1.25 ea?

  • auna on 20/02/2012 - 01:54
    +4

    If you ever do a T-Shirt can I suggest that you add a QR code somehow to it if possible? That way people can just scan you and be redirected here.

    • CuteChocobo on 22/02/2012 - 14:37

      Upvote this idea!
      See it done with some university clubs, where they put QR codes at one arm side (or the back) ppl can just use their smart phone and get the address!

  • scotty on 20/02/2012 - 14:30

    Looks like I might give the cheap AliExpress one a "try". More like an impulse buy — it would only be USD$386 wasted if the T-shirts turn out to be crap, which in that case OzBargain Sydney-siders are free to come to Kingsford to pick up one to wear at home :)

    Now just need to come up with a design. Medium'ish OzBargain logo in the front? QR code sounds cool although I would feel offended when someone walks up to me to scan the barcode on my T-shirt :P

    • ca6leguy on 20/02/2012 - 15:11

      Depends where the QR code is located.

      • bluedufflecoat on 20/02/2012 - 16:35

        on a sleeve might be unoffensive.

    • robotdad on 21/02/2012 - 13:41

      Re: Design, how about OzB Logo on the top left pec, situated in the middle of vertical orange and white or black racing stripes that would contine over the left shoulder and down to the back bottom of the shirt? QR code on one outside shoulder?
      See the following links for designs that I think would work well:
      http://www.atomretro.com/product_info.cfm?product_id=5577
      http://www.hurst-shifters.com/?wpsc-product=hurst-nostalgia-…
      And the Cobra 909 here: http://www.threadmanembroidery.com/motorsports.html

      • huntress_love on 21/02/2012 - 14:59

        the design in 2nd link look quite cool.
        if the shirt was orange, it seems too overpowering colourwise.

        • scotty on 22/02/2012 - 12:11

          Yeah. Although OzBagrain is themed orange, it's probably not the kind of colour I would wear outside.

        • robotdad on 22/02/2012 - 12:52

          I agree too…but there will have to be orange on the logo or stripe….

        • CuteChocobo on 22/02/2012 - 14:39

          C'mon orange is cool!
          I can wear it while riding in the dark too :P

          But I agree with orange stripes or orange pattern… lemme see if I can find some good examples!

  • Ughhh on 21/02/2012 - 14:41
    +1

    How about a warning sign somewhere on back, or front-
    "WARNING: OzBargain User
    We know our stuff"

    And perhaps another QR code linking to the ACCC website too since thats pretty much mentioned in every post/deal lol

    • scotty on 22/02/2012 - 12:16
      +4

      Another design I can think of is the dictionary one. For example taking from the ozbargained entry from Urban Dictionary:

      oz-bar-gained /ozˈbärgənd/
      adj. To be unexpectedly swamped by a phenomenal number of cheapskates for the sole purpose of getting something for cheap or free, who most probably gave you fake details and whom you will never hear from again.

      Or something along the line + an OzBargain logo somewhere.

      • Mikinoz on 22/02/2012 - 12:26

        I would wear that, although i would like the qr code to. How else do we direct them to the bargains lol. Also is there a slim fitting shirt for those who arnt overweight?

        So hurry up Scotty or do i have to make my own shirt lol

      • CuteChocobo on 22/02/2012 - 14:41
        +1

        Dictionary definition on the back, logo in the front, QR code on the shoulder side and the other should side "made in Australia"

        I can imagine the faces of the shop keeper once they see the shirt. That 'Oh crap, not them again' look hahaha

      • chansthename on 13/12/2012 - 11:30

        Do this!!

        (and then send me one for putting the entry up :P)

  • MrMaxwell on 23/02/2012 - 12:45

    I think basic is best.

    Two colour options:

    1. OzBargain logo in white on orange tee
    2. OzBargain logo in orange on white tee
    3. QR code on both

    Any hi-res OzBargain logo online?

    • scotty on 29/02/2012 - 15:12

      Here are some images I got when I made stickers last time:

      SVG file can be opened using Inkscape.

  • altomic on 23/02/2012 - 21:49
    +1

    How about a quote like "ask me how to get it cheaper" ?

    • Doey21 on 29/02/2012 - 12:29

      LOL I'm a fan of that.

  • KySuz on 29/02/2012 - 07:16

    Hi Scotty
    We could help you with cheap promotional t-shirts. Check out our site www.reevessportswear.com.au. Cotton t-shirts are the cheapest, but you also have the option of the cooldry sports t-shirts and singlets. Obviously we can give you a good deal if your ordering large quantities. Give us a call if you would like to discuss.
    Kylie

  • llama on 29/02/2012 - 16:49
    +1

    Here you go, Scotty :-)

    http://i41.tinypic.com/8vuolv.jpg

  • neil on 01/03/2012 - 01:20

    Just thinking of similar sites or inspirations:

    Digg's T-shirts I like the last one. Maybe the OzBargain logo, then + or - underneath.

    This guy made one with a workable counter

    Slickdeals Meh, OK I guess.

  • hm on 01/03/2012 - 16:38

    i do hope that when or if this becomes a reality the deal to get these doesn't get ozbargained because

    "I WANT ONE"

  • m0nkeycheese on 17/05/2012 - 21:51

    Hey Scotty any word on the shirts???

  • scotty on 02/11/2012 - 11:52

    I've Got Some T-Shirts :)

    Okay. Time to resurrect this old-thread. I ended up:

    • Contacting a seller on Alibaba.com about the custom T-shirt
    • Made 100 of them for our first batch. Various sizes — S, L, XL and XXL (for those claiming way too many Hungry Jacks and Subway offers). Note that Medium is absent.
    • They just got delivered this week (12 days turn around time from payment to delivery from China, not too bad). Cost is around $6.30 per T-shirt at the moment.

    I will be giving them away to all the participants of last month's Photo Competition first! That's about 40 of them, and the challenge now is — how do I find the cheapest way to post them?

    Currently the cheapest option seem to be sending them as large letters rather than parcels through AusPost (I'm still yet to visit one to ask them the option). That would be $3 + the cost of the envelope (hopefully finding something thick and cheap). What other options are there?

    • m0nkeycheese on 02/11/2012 - 17:59

      Can i plz has shirtz?

      • Mikinoz on 02/11/2012 - 18:09

        Me too pls :)

    • JayM on 03/11/2012 - 09:19

      Cheapest way to send them: tell OZBers they'll get a free shirt if they come pick them up ;).

      • scotty on 03/11/2012 - 10:17

        Yes we do plan to give them out in future meet ups. Need to organize meet ups first :)

    • martyn on 23/11/2012 - 11:14

      What is the quality of the T-Shirts like scotty?

      • scotty on 23/11/2012 - 11:16

        "Not bad" but then it's all subjective :)

  • Bamboo on 02/11/2012 - 18:15
    +1

    I like the sound of this! Are you taking orders for the others or giving them away too? I'd love to see how they turned out, can you post a pic of one? I'd want to wear one on my next trip to Officeworks.

    • JayM on 03/11/2012 - 09:20
      +2

      The OW people should know OZB by now and should automatically say, what can i price match for you today?

  • robotdad on 02/11/2012 - 18:21

    I'd love to see how they turned out and which crowd-sourced suggestions made it into the final product….oh and the obligatory 'please I can haz tee shirt?'.

  • rjb on 03/11/2012 - 05:55

    I would be happy with an Ozbargain mug….definitely be used multiple times ever day…….and we have not had many bargains for mugs posted on OZB!

  • scotty on 03/11/2012 - 10:21
    +1

    Okay. For all the "can I haz teez plz?" requests, I intend to give it to the recent participants of the photo competition first (yeah now you wish you have submitted an entry). I only have a small first batch of about 100 t shirts, but will make more after I manage to give them away.

    Mugs — maybe we will run a design contest in this?

  • k on 03/11/2012 - 20:14

    100 padded bags for $16.80 - http://ebpak.com/products/100-%2300-Bubble-Padded-Bag-Mailer…

    Approximately 17c per bag

    If you fold the tshirt such that it is under 5mm thick, you can post it for 60c.

    So 77c for postage.

  • scotty on 23/11/2012 - 11:21
    +1

    I have been mailing out T-shirts using AusPost's prepaid C5 envelopes (around $1.33 bulk buy). I have to fold the T-shirts in half to fit in obviously.

    However the problem is that AusPost actually deemed that "under-postage". I've posted out about 40 T-shirts. They still did the delivery, except for each T-shirt they billed me extra $5.20 + $1.50 admin fee (ouch), as they treat them as parcels.

    I still have about 60 Tees that I want to give away. However I need to work out a cheaper distribution method first. I can try C4/B4 envelope so no folding is required and less likely to go over 20mm, but they cost a lot more ($2.70/$3.20).

    How can Zavvi post a jacket from UK for 99pence, while it's even more expensive for me to post a T-shirt to the next suburb…

    • sk3iron on 24/11/2012 - 08:57

      shipping is always the killer scotty, you could always try declaring yourself a charity and giving away charity goods :P

    • KBZ on 13/12/2012 - 18:17

      I'd be more than happy to come down to Kingsford to pick up a freebie ;)

    • eve on 19/12/2012 - 04:48

      Do you have mods in each state? Maybe you could send a bulk lot to one person in each of the capitals for people to pick up from and post a few to the people who live too far out? 3kg parcel post is about $12.

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