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| Messages 1 - 19 of total 19 in this topic |
Arista
Sport climber
Chicago
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 21, 2017 - 06:50pm PT
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Hey everyone :)
My boyfriend and I recently launched a website for apparel geared toward climbers. We both had gotten tired of seeing the same cheesy climbing t's online, and not finding many designs for women. We also wanted to use the store as a way to raise money for AccessFund.org, and potentially other climber-related organizations in the future. We haven't had much success over the past few weeks since launching however (zero sales despite decent traffic), and I'm reaching out to you all to see if you could offer some advice on what might need some improvement. Do our designs suck? Are there too many color options? Not enough? Is there something that climbers might like to see that we don't have? Does the layout of the site lack in some way? I definitely want to provide a high-quality experience, and unique designs. If any of you have any pointers or suggestions, or even anything you'd like to see available, I'd sure be super appreciative to hear about them.
The website is: https://upwardboundapparel.com
Thank you in advance for your time and support.
Love,
Your fellow climber. - Arista
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:04pm PT
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I don't know if climbers are the best target audience for $25 t-shirts, regardless of what might be printed on them.
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looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:07pm PT
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Considering how many climbers I see wearing prAna, Patagonia, and Arc'tyrex I don't think that price point is too outrageous.
Of course literally every t-shirt I wear I got at a thrift store or on clearance, soo...
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Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:20pm PT
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I like the graphics on the ones with the varied fonts. Nicely designed.
It just takes time, and though people buy North Face Prana, and other brand names for t-shirts, climbing related t's is a tough market(I know, because I also design/sell them).
Patience - it does take time, and the holiday selling period is when I do the most business.
I didn't look deeply at you SEO, but if you are not familiar with engone optimization take some time to begin to get an understanding. As an example on the graphic I opened ("Women's Conquer Tee"), you will want to include the text within you description. This will help the item get picked up by search engine when people use the words in that phrase, whereas the engines can not "read" a picture. Unless, of course, you are able to attach text to the image file. I am not familiar with Shopify, so don't know if you can do that.
No doubt Shopify has a discussion forum for their customers. That will be a good place to ask questions about SEO as it pertains to your website on their platform.
Yes, it will help to have more designs, but you can only do so much. Just try to keep at it and add when you can.
Pinterest and Instagram are good social platforms where you can post your images, both the graphics and other related pictures, such as your climbing trip shots. Of course, it does take work to build that up, and it's really important to participate and interact with other people's stuff. Don't just post your own and do nothing else.
Blogging id also a good way to get indexed by the search engines. Again, you do need to have some understanding of SEO and use those techniques when you post.
Also -
People like stickers - if you can also offer those, you may do some business. Sure, not the same amount per sale, but if you sell five stickers to people who would otherwise not have bought anything....
Best of luck to you!
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:26pm PT
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^^^^^^^
Jim might not have taken the most tactful approach to your problem, but that doesn't mean he's not right. Spend some time cruising the T-shirt web and you'll see the need to up your game.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:31pm PT
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Agree w/Jim
Change the graphics, add some 'warmer' colors, be a lot more subtle with what does go on there be it pictures, wording, etc.
Sometimes smaller is better:-)
The idea of regional (ie your Kentucky shirt) graphics is a good idea but that will also limit your sales. If you had a wider range that might help.
What I see doesn't interest me in the least and I'd bet that's true for most folks that have stopped by so far. Once you do start making sales pay close attention to what IS selling and do variations to that.
Good luck!
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:34pm PT
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Yeah, the designs are kind of lame. Anyone wanting to buy a t-shirt and support the Access Fund could just go the the AF website and buy a way cooler looking shirt with original artwork for $10 less than what you're selling yours for.
https://store.accessfund.org/collections/apparel/products/25th-anniversary-shirt
I think maybe a good idea for t-shirt designs would be to do topos for some really famous multipitch routes or crags. Like the Nose, Astroman, the Cookie Cliff, ect... That would be sort of a cool memento or souvenir people might buy after their trip (or maybe before, then they'd always have the topo on hand). You'd have to actually draw all the topos and stuff from scratch which would be more work than just slapping some words on a shirt, but they might sell, I dunno.
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Mar 21, 2017 - 07:50pm PT
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bump
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Mar 21, 2017 - 09:07pm PT
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I would buy a tie-dyed tee with the crazy cosmic avatar on it.
I get my tee shirts from Access Fund when I renew, and one a year at Facelift. Nothing left in the budget for 25 dollars tees.
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Russ Walling
Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
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Mar 21, 2017 - 09:19pm PT
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Mar 21, 2017 - 09:23pm PT
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I like where you're going with it, try incorporating the names of various climbing areas, like Yosemite or Joshua Tree, Boulder Colorado that way people can identify your work with a place. I used to buy used thrift store tees and put my images on the back, they sold very well.Keep adding more designs and you'll find what works. . .df
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Mar 21, 2017 - 09:39pm PT
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Hi Arista,
I like your gusto and energy but like many here so far I think the designs are pretty below average in appeal. Honestly the website is a bit stale and none of the artwork gets me too excited. BUT the fact that you are enjoying the process and willing to ask for real critique is brave and honest of you. I've designed a lot of t-shirts in my day and the good ones that have been real hits have always had three things in common....
Good, simple, unique art.
Very few words
Bold and uncomplicated from 15 feet away.
ANY shirt that sells well comes down to the artwork. Fonts matter. Colors matter. Look at what's trendy out there and mirror it a bit without being a copy cat. Look into other sports or advertizing slogans or current movies and see what inspires you.....then tweak it to ypur artistic style.
Find five websites you like.....and study their layouts and eye appeal. Yours looks a bit simple and dated. I like your Rosie the Rivetter idea, but the design of the shirt is plain and the font boring. Maybe mix it up a bit. Maybe make it a black silhouette of the iconic image, with your text filling up the negative space inside the black image....... slap it on a bright green trendy tee and you might have something.
Stay with it. Draw on artwork that inspires you.
Keep shooting your ideas out there. Good luck!
Scott
P.S. maybe consider a bunch of different designs/shirts with the same general vibe rather than a bunch of different kinda haphazzard options. For true success you want to develop a bit of a brand so people can see your stuff, know its yours, and keep coming back for more!
Heres a couple more thoughts..... when you see these T-shirts you immediately think skaters
When you see this lineup you think motorcross.
Here's what goth kids are drawn to:
And I'm a flyfisherman so I love the simple clean lines used by Simms:
So....... when it comes to rock climbing and mountains, what kind of lines, textures and images come to mind? Find your artistic theme, know your audience, and run with it!
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Mar 22, 2017 - 04:39pm PT
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apparel geared toward climbers
I did look at your site. I was not attracted to any of the designs, but I'm probably not the age demographic you are aiming for anyway.
I will say that in general, when I'm climbing I choose clothing based on functionality. I typically would not wear a $25 100% cotton T shirt while climbing. Once every couple of months, I get a $10 coupon for Kohl's good for anything they sell, and I go there and get synthetic, or cotton/synthetic sports-cut T shirts essentially free, that I don't feel bad trashing. I go to the huge outlet mall on the south strip when I'm in Vegas to get any brand name stuff I need, at a great discount. It all gets filthy pretty quickly.
Based on your designs, it looks like the stuff that you are selling is for climbers who really want people to know that they are climbers, when they are just hanging out other places. Maybe that's just not a very big market? I certainly don't relate to that.
Perhaps for your second round, define your target audience and do some market research on what they want, and if that area is saturated or has room for growth. Good luck.
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Mar 22, 2017 - 08:15pm PT
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If that one is supposed to be a play on "Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat." then you should take out all the "&" signs. The &'s just make it sound awkward.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Mar 22, 2017 - 08:38pm PT
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Ampersand for the win!
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Arista
Sport climber
Chicago
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2017 - 07:25am PT
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Thank you everyone for your honest and helpful responses! I really didn't think so many people would take the time to take a look and offer their suggestions, so I'm very grateful. Your suggestions have definitely helped shed some light on some major issues I need to address, so it looks like it's back to the drawing board for me! I'm actually a biologist, and this is my first foray into anything creative/artistic, so its been quite a steep learning curve, learning photoshop/marketing/web design/etc. I guess that's pretty obvious in the outcome...
I'm going to get back to work on coming up with (hopefully) better designs, do some more research on the kinds of climbing shirt designs that the major brands are putting out there, and come up with some more subtle stuff. I'll also see if it's possible for me to switch to more performance based material. Once I have it put together again, maybe I'll reach out to you guys again and see what your thoughts are. :)
Thank you again everyone!
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Mar 23, 2017 - 07:54am PT
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The only one's that make/made sense to me were JRat and Fish. The shirts I see these days are remind me of guacamole with sour cream.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Mar 23, 2017 - 08:14am PT
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Welcome to your first business and a great business lesson it will be.
I tried a similar thing in 1987 using the classicfied sections of climbing magazines. Sold 3 shirts in 2 years. Still have some in the garage.
That was the beginning of my career as a marketing guy.
Some tips for on line selling: With every click you loose 50% of your visitors. You can get a free Google Analytics code that will prove this to you.
So your product is waayy too deep, 4 clicks in. You should see product on the front page.
Your graphic design and creative skills are very good. Coming up with what people actually want needs work. Use survey monkey dot com to find out what people really want to buy.
Most of the product has a certain noob attitude. Kind of macho or antagonistic. Do people want that? Check out the designs at Patagonia, North Face and other successful companies. Do similar type of work. They are professionals who make money and nearly everything they do.
Already stated but the rock climbing market is a terrible place to make money. Most are broke, some have money but don't spend it.
If you sell your designs on an ESTY site each product is made to order so you don't have to keep inventory.
If you are now stuck with inventory consider putting it up for sale in some climbing gyms on consignment. I did this in th 1980's but lost most of my inventory when the little climbing shop went out of business.
Good luck and good for getting out there and doing something. You can't win if you don't play.
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