The OP mentioned that we might be slipping into a depression, and asked about the wisdom of investing $ in more inventory. All I was trying to say is that many people are currently buying gold, food, and ammo, which is a pretty good sign that those people believe the economy will get worse.

The Y2K remark was a reference to a slightly similar period a decade ago. What happened? Nothing. A Lot of programmers made money working around the clock up until 31DEC2000. That's it.

No one I know has a definite idea of what will happen tomorrow, next month, or next year. But if you deal in items that sell well in times of perceived crisis (seeds, coins, MRE's, etc.) then you might be able to capitalize on a section of the market at this time.

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the input. I'm still not sure what I am going to do or to what extent so all comments are still welcome.
Here's the deal. I used to sell mostly beer items but I had decided to start selling t-shirts as well. I have them made for me as I don't have the equipment nor the knowledge to make them myself. (although I have done alot of reading and think I could do it except the graphics part still throws me) Anyway, my idea had been to start on feebay but as timing would have it as soon as I ordered the majority of them, feebay changed and I closed the store with-in two months and said to hell with them. So I have been kind of sitting on them anyway. I still sold some on feebay (not the shirts) but now that I no longer do at all I really wanted to concentrate on the shirts.
Soooooooo, to make a long story shorter, there are some of the shirts that I don't really even like. LOL. A couple because she just didn't to them like I wanted them and a couple because of my inexperience. Anyway I found someone else to make them for me and was going to add to what I have.
T-shirts are very competitive to begin with and certainly not something that a person has to have. Yes they need clothing but with the economy as it is, will they go buy cheapies at WalMart or just do with what they have?
So there you have it. There are some that I really wanted to have made and start selling but as I said, I'm not sure it is the wisest thing to do right now. Yet then I think " What if those would be some of the most popular?"

Angelsong777 wrote (View Post): › I personally would not invest in T-shirts at this time unless they were so appealing that people would really be interested in them. Maybe some with cute sayings about the economic difficulties to lighten spirits a bit? I for one own way more T-shirts than I need already. So does my husband. The only person we might need T-shirts for would be my son since he's a fast growing boy. But, we live near a K-Mart that has such items at dirt cheap clearance prices all the time lately. Honestly, we could get what we need there for less than what it would cost to ship T-shirts from online even if the selling price was zero.

Hi Angelsong,
Yeah I know what you mean. I've always had to think about K-mart and WalMart and the cheap prices but I was doing better than I expected especially with a few particular shirts. But now, are people going to say "Oh I really like that saying or design" and buy, or will they say "I can do without" I never could compete with K-mart or WalMart but then I wasn't trying to. I offer a different product and better quality. But, I don't know if that will be enough right now.

I should say that I mean no disrespect to anyone who buys there when I say I sell better quality shirts than WalMart or KMart. It's just that I use the 6.1 heavy weight shirts and most department stores use the cheaper shirts. That's all I meant.

skydragon wrote (View Post): › I should say that I mean no disrespect to anyone who buys there when I say I sell better quality shirts than WalMart or KMart. It's just that I use the 6.1 heavy weight shirts and most department stores use the cheaper shirts. That's all I meant.

Yes, that's understandable. I do think though that many people these days are happy enough to have a shirt to wear regardless of quality or design. Which may also mean that people will be wearing what they already own rather than buying new clothes for a while. OR, people may be limiting their clothing purchases to items that serve a particular purpose such as clothing to make them look good for job interviews or therapeutic clothing that would improve their quality of life.

That's what I'm afraid of. Or I have to become very niche oriented but if people don't have money than it probably just won't matter. In the long run the shirts are less expensive because they will last longer, but buyers might not think like that at this point. I probably wouldn't either.

This is my slow season but in years past I have continued to buy inventory but not this year. My present inventory will last a long time the way sales are going.

For new inventory I am looking at items that people can make money with or have much benefit from. In hard times buyers are looking for essentials.

I am expanding my shop and putting in a small foundry to cast aluminum and brass. There is a demand for replacement parts for older machinery and vehicles. Some are cast so I will try that.

Actually hard times create new technologies and products. Industrious people have their thinking caps on. There will be some benefit amidst all this gloom.

skydragon wrote (View Post): › In the long run the shirts are less expensive because they will last longer, but buyers might not think like that at this point. I probably wouldn't either.

LOL, I have a favorite shirt from last fall that just came out of the dryer this morning with a few holes in it. I have figured out a way that I can shorten the sleeves and use the fabric from the sleeve ends to patch over the other holes. Some people will MAKE their cheap clothes last longer.

I love t shirts with funny sayings on them. My very favorite shirt is a purple t shirt that says "I'm out of bed and dressed. What more do you want?" I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on it!

Unfortunately I sort of "outgrew" it since I quit smoking. And I loved that shirt. Got any like that?

I'd be interested!

Jo

Angelsong777 wrote (View Post): › skydragon wrote (View Post): › In the long run the shirts are less expensive because they will last longer, but buyers might not think like that at this point. I probably wouldn't either. LOL, I have a favorite shirt from last fall that just came out of the dryer this morning with a few holes in it. I have figured out a way that I can shorten the sleeves and use the fabric from the sleeve ends to patch over the other holes. Some people will MAKE their cheap clothes last longer.

Angel,
You are much more creative than me. I don't know how to patch anything so that it blends.

joflora wrote (View Post): › I love t shirts with funny sayings on them. My very favorite shirt is a purple t shirt that says "I'm out of bed and dressed. What more do you want?" I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on it! Unfortunately I sort of "outgrew" it since I quit smoking. And I loved that shirt. Got any like that? I'd be interested! Jo

The old quit smoking curse. Unfortunately I don't have one with that saying. Although, I am committed to some purple shirts and have changed my mind about what I was going to put on it. I think I have seen those somewhere but can't remember which site or I would tell you. If I come across it again I will make a thread and let you know. How about a "Doggie Germs Are Good For You" shirt with a goofy looking dog that shall I say is spreading around a few doggie germs. He's actually kind of cute.

skydragon wrote (View Post): › Angel, You are much more creative than me. I don't know how to patch anything so that it blends.

Oh no, blending is too boring and too hard to do. I will choose a pretty contrasting thread, edge around the bottom of the sleeves so that they have that lettuce look, then do the patches with the contrasting thread so that they look like intentional patchwork.

Angelsong777 wrote (View Post): › skydragon wrote (View Post): › Angel, You are much more creative than me. I don't know how to patch anything so that it blends. Oh no, blending is too boring and too hard to do. I will choose a pretty contrasting thread, edge around the bottom of the sleeves so that they have that lettuce look, then do the patches with the contrasting thread so that they look like intentional patchwork.

YIKES!

skydragon wrote (View Post): › YIKES!

Hey, if you're gonna to live in poverty, do it with flair! That's what I say. Actually, what amuses me greatly is that I will go to these lengths to recycle a shirt, yet at the same time I'm selling clothing items that retail for up to $286. each. The irony of that is just too darn funny.