It’s Summer, and we all know what that means! The kids are out of school, the weather is warm, and people are itching to get out and get moving. Summer is the time for baseball games, parties, family reunions, and warm weather fun, but it’s also the perfect time to start a new side hustle or at-home business.
As inflation continues to drive up the cost of living around the country, more and more people are looking for ways to add an additional stream of income to their homes. One of the most popular ways to make extra money or start a home business is by customizing apparel with embroidery and heat transfer printing.
While the idea of starting a new custom apparel business or side hustle might seem daunting, especially if you have never customized clothing before, anyone with the right tools and resources can become a custom apparel master relatively quickly. As a leading manufacturer of embroidery machines and other custom apparel decorating equipment, Ricoma has made it their mission to help every new and aspiring decorator achieve success.
“For over 20 years, we’ve helped entrepreneurs around the world accomplish their dreams of becoming successful business owners,” says Ricoma CEO Henry Ma “We’ve seen plenty of success stories and love hearing about each one!”
Easier than ever
While many people aspire to have their own business or side hustle, most never take that first step because they’re worried that the process of getting started will be too difficult or take too much time.
That’s why companies like Ricoma have made creating custom garments easier — and more affordable — than ever. “We want to be a company that uses technology and innovation to empower people to achieve financial independence by decorating garments,” says Ma.
For as little as a few hundred dollars a month, budding business owners can purchase printing equipment or an embroidery machine to decorate clothes from the comfort of their own homes. To help their customers get started, Ricoma offers free online training and seven-day-a-week and after-hours support. They also have a library of online tutorials, articles, and cheat sheets filled with information to help new decorators overcome the learning curve.
With Ricoma’s training and resources, as well as some strategic social media and word-of-mouth marketing, most entrepreneurs can have their custom apparel venture up and running in a matter of weeks.
The personal touch
Another fear that holds many aspiring apparel decorators back is the concern that they won’t be able to compete with larger, more established companies or brands. However, the truth is that smaller businesses have many benefits that make them more appealing to customers than larger companies.
One way smaller businesses have an advantage over “big box” companies is their ability to personally connect with their customer base.
According to Henry Ma, being able to offer better solutions and products that will make your customers happy is the first step to becoming a successful apparel decorator. “You need to figure out ways to offer new, relevant products that keep you on-trend and keep previous customers coming back for more. That starts by learning what your customers want and need so you can offer a variety of solutions and products that will meet those needs.”
Maybe you’re the mom sitting in the bleachers cheering for the same little league team whose uniforms you embroidered, or perhaps you’re the dad who plays bar league softball and prints his team’s t-shirts. Since you are so intimately acquainted with the needs of your customers, you will have a much easier time connecting with them and meeting their needs.
Summertime is the best time
Now, we know what you’re probably thinking: “I’ve got so much going on. And with the economy the way it is, is right now really the right time to start an apparel business?” Our answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
With the value of the custom apparel industry expected to grow by nearly $1.8 billion by 2027, the time has never been better to get started decorating. And while not everyone can take time off from their daily grind, summer is still the perfect time for launching a new apparel business.
During the summer, teams for baseball, softball, swimming, and even non-sports activities like summer theater programs are forming. Each of these groups will need custom garments and come with the built-in enthusiastic buying market of proud families and supportive friends. By getting those people hooked on your quality garments during the “busy season,” enterprising entrepreneurs can establish themselves as the go-to person for custom garments and create a loyal customer base to carry them through the “off-season.”
So, if you’re looking to bring a little extra revenue into your household this summer, there’s no better time than now to take the plunge and begin your apparel decorating journey today!
