Social feeds help promote new designs, but fans have no way to buy the products online. Te sees a clear opportunity to make the most of current and future audiences by starting an online shop.
Te isn’t sure what to do first: build a website or join an existing marketplace. Te talks to a few customers in-store to find out where they buy other hand-printed t-shirts, and searches online to see where similar products are sold.
Te finds an online marketplace focused on handmade art and design. It showcases a wide range of Aotearoa designers, so Te’s t-shirts are a great fit. It’s free to open an account and start selling, with just a small commission for each sale.
Te starts by selling just a few t-shirts online while working out the logistics of packaging and delivery. It takes time to build up a solid customer base, and a few delivery issues need sorting out first. But with low upfront costs, the marketplace is a good way to try out online selling.
Building a ‘Te’s Tees’ website can happen a bit later, when it’s time to market to a wider audience. In the meantime, Te makes sure to connect existing Instagram fans to the online store with regular posts about new designs and deals.