I am new boomer and new web entrepreneur starting an online business and part of the business will include selling t-shirts, mugs and other items that can each be customized individually. However, I can't find anyone who will customize each and every t-shirt, for example. Most t-shirt businesses want to do a quantity of t-shirts with the same design, but for my business to work, they have to individualized. What is the best way to find suppliers who can do this for me at a reasonable cost, and what is the best way to approach them in order for them to take me as a serious business?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

One-off manufacturing/customization AND cheap don't belong in the same sentence.

Some costs for companies are fixed... whether you're doing 1 pc, or 10,000 pcs. That said, the price per item becomes cheaper the bigger your factory order.

But check out cafepress.com.  Just don't expect to make a killing selling.  CP will get the big chunk of money, and you'll get peanuts... assuming someone will buy what you're offering.

Actually, that information is very helpful to me. Thank you. I didn't know what to expect and perhaps I need to rethink how to do this. Would it make more sense to be the middleman and send people to a t-shirt printer, and other suppliers earning a commission for myself? Do you think that would make more sense?

Would it make more sense to be the middleman and send people to a t-shirt printer, and other suppliers earning a commission for myself?

Why can't these people go to these companies and suppliers themselves? Why do they have to go through you?

Do you think that would make more sense?

There's a lot of t-shirt companies out there.  It could be a profitable venture.... IF you hit a home run.

The successful ones design the shirts, print hundreds of them, and sell it for $29.95 (or less) apiece. Some of these companies make million$ a year.

OF course, it's the "design" that is the product. Something funny, or witty, or have a fanbase. (like cat lovers, or sports team, or funny cartoons).

You can target a niche market and design shirts for that niche market... (say music lovers, and you have shirt designs related to music/audio/concerts... say fishing folks, or hunting folks, whatever... )

You probably have started already. But just in case you haven't you might wanna check this company.

http://www.printmojo.com/pm/t-shirtcompany.php

Also I can help with designs if you need some assistance for customizing images, designs banner logos text for T-shirt. This business can be lucrative if you have the desire to work it out.

You can check this website for customizable designs in case you need somebody with a knack on adding catchy phrases to funny images.

It specializes on log and banner but very capable of designing just about anything that you want for T-shirts, bumper stickers, emblem, coffee mugs, albums and whatever image tweaking you can think of.

Hope that helps.

Good luck,

Leojin

all valid points - because of websites life cafepress, many folks are going direct.  what is your unique selling proposition is what i would harp on if you want to stand out and have the chance for any success