Get Rich Selling Merch on TikTok Shop! (Better Than Print On Demand)

If you’re interested in starting your own clothing brand or want to make money selling T-shirts on TikTok Shop, avoid print on demand (POD) for three crucial reasons:

Quality Issues: POD often delivers subpar, inconsistent quality with limited garment and placement options.
High Costs: POD is expensive compared to the method this article will introduce.
Suspension Risks: TikTok Shops using POD often face suspensions due to delayed shipments and non-compliant warehouses.

As a seasoned merch seller with over 15 years of experience, I've seen an influx of competition facilitated by new POD technologies like Merch by Amazon, Redbubble, Printful, etc. Yet, my sales have continued to grow. Here’s how you can achieve similar success by becoming your own supplier and avoiding reliance on third-party companies.

Getting Started on TikTok Shop

Sign Up: Register your TikTok Shop using your phone number or email. Select your country and verify your identity with a driver's license or passport. You can sign up as an individual with your Social Security Number or as a company with an EIN number.
Setup: Complete your profile, set up fulfillment settings, and add your warehouse and return addresses.

Finding Niche Ideas

For those lacking design ideas, start with RandomWordGenerator.com. Choose random nouns and use them as t-shirt themes. Input these words onto platforms like Amazon to see what’s already selling. This process can spark inspiration.

Creating Designs

You have several options:

Templates: Use Envato Elements for ready-to-edit high-quality templates.
Web-based Tools: Utilize Placeit for customizable design templates.
Outsourcing: Hire a designer from Fiverr.
AI: Leverage AI tools like ChatGPT for creative design ideas.

High-Quality Mockups

With Placeit, create high-quality mockups for various apparel items. These mockups help potential buyers visualize the final product clearly.

Printing Your Shirts

Use Direct to Film (DTF) technology for quality and cost-effective printing. Platforms like DTF Llama allow you to upload designs and receive transfers, which you can then press onto garments yourself. The process is easy, and the quality is excellent.

Sourcing Blanks

Buy your garment blanks from wholesalers like S&S Activewear or SanMar. With a wholesaler account, you can access significant discounts, ensuring your products are cost-effective.

Shipping Your Merch

To ship your merch efficiently:

Fold your shirts and place them in clear poly bags.
Use mailing poly bags for outer protection.
Print and attach shipping labels. USPS First Class is a cost-effective shipping option.

With these steps, you can offer high-quality merch with better margins compared to POD.

Keywords

TikTok Shop
DTF Transfers
Print on Demand
E-commerce
Merchandising
Wholesale Apparel
Mockups
Graphic Design Tools
Shipping Solutions

FAQ

Q1: Why should I avoid print on demand for TikTok Shop? POD often results in inconsistent quality, high costs, and suspension risks due to delayed shipments and non-compliant warehouses.

Q2: How do I get started with TikTok Shop? Register with your phone number or email, verify your identity, and complete your profile. Set up your fulfillment settings and warehouse/return addresses.

Q3: How do I find niche ideas for my t-shirts? Use RandomWordGenerator.com to generate random nouns and input these into Amazon to see what types of shirts are already selling.

Q4: What’s the best way to create designs? Use templates from Envato Elements, web-based tools like Placeit, hire a designer on Fiverr, or leverage AI tools like ChatGPT.

Q5: How do I create high-quality mockups? Placeit offers a range of customizable mockups for various apparel items, allowing buyers to see what the final product will look like.

Q6: What is DTF technology? Direct to Film (DTF) technology involves printing your designs onto a transfer film, which you can then press onto garments, resulting in high-quality, durable prints.

Q7: Where can I source blanks for my shirts? You can buy garments from wholesalers like S&S Activewear or SanMar, accessing significant discounts through a wholesaler account.

Q8: What’s the best way to ship my merch? Fold your shirts into clear poly bags, place them in mailing poly bags, and attach shipping labels. USPS First Class is an economical shipping option.

By following these steps, you can launch a successful merch business on TikTok Shop without depending on print on demand services.