Comments on: IAMTHETREND: How Much Does it Cost to Make A T-Shirt? The Gloves come off!

By: JESSICA EVANS

JESSICA EVANS — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:57:00 +0000

I WANT TO MAKE MY OWN T-SHIRT AND POSTERS SO I CAN RUN FOR STUDENTCONCIL VISE PRESEDENT……..

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:31:13 +0000

first time checking this out ,very cool.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:31:13 +0000

first time checking this out ,very cool.

By: 40% off at Dance Party Massacre until Sunday :: Hide Your Arms

40% off at Dance Party Massacre until Sunday :: Hide Your Arms — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:31:54 +0000

[...] so we’re clear, the (much discussed) prices in the store are not the sale prices, the discount is automatically applied when you put [...]

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:24:57 +0000

Since what was meant to be an informative, helpful article about costs of t-shirt printing has seemed to create more bad than good, I have removed it from our blog. The intent in which it was written is not showing through to some, and for that I apologize. It was not written as a means to justify, or defend, our price tag, but I did use DPM as an example so I can see how it could come across that way.

How this then became an argument of EZ vs DPM was a surprise. In my opinion, Kyle's post seemed grossly vindictive (plus way dramatic), and it was disheartening to see others back him up. And while he is surely knowledgeable and had points to make, not everything Kyle said is accurate. Things like stating AA shirts cost $17 online was interpreted as us saying we pay $17 to buy a blank. This may just be how it looked to him, but it was very weird to see such things turned around over and over.

I've learned a good lesson in discrepancy from this, and about being scrutinized on the internet. I'll take into account what people have said and move on. I still stand by Dance Party Massacre as something I am proud of, and I am thankful for the people who enjoy what we're doing.

You can always shoot me an e-mail at alex(at)dancepartymassacre.com.

By: Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:11:19 +0000

I have to agree with Kyle on this, especially as I'm a new brand as well and I've seen a lot of these situations. There's a lot of cost in starting up a company and getting your ducks in a row with promotional stuff, but you can't take that out on the customer. You have to put a bit of love into the brand to build a following of loyal friends and customers, and by explaining your prices like this to people you might be shooting yourself in the foot.Try to do as many of these things as you can yourself, that'll help with the costs. Good luck, I wouldn't wish this kind of press on anyone.

By: margatefam

margatefam — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:34:57 +0000

what's with calling people retarded? that is so off and make you look like a total tool.

By: fletchy

fletchy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:39:11 +0000

It's an interesting topic, and after reading the original DPM post, well there was no need to rip them apart. Sure some of it is a bit debatable, but they never said this is how/why we charge $28, so i'd say its been taken out of context, instead they said “maybe this helped some of you people thinking of starting something similar.” and “”give you customers an idea really what goes into a tee you buy”. So in that context they are valid costs that eat into the profitability of a clothing line (price reductions to clear unpopular stock costs the apparel industry over $300bn a year). I don't see that this post was an attempt to justify their prices, which I personally wouldn't say are high at $28. What they choose to charge is up to them (as you say at the end Kyle), every customer has a different price sensitivity and so it depends who they are targeting and how well they can position their brand to appeal to that customer. Personally I have no interest in the theming of their shirts, no interest whether they were $10 or $40. Reducing their prices wouldn't help. But I would pay $40 for a t-shirt. The right t-shirt. How much someone is willing to pay for something, has little to nothing to do with what it cost to make it, value is in the eye of the beholder, just ask people that pay $500 for a Louis Vuitton handbag.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:54:24 +0000

Went to a party here in a 'big city' and these two dudes had a small print set up right in the club. They screened one-color designs on AA (I think) and were selling 'em for $40 a pop! They had a line of women dropping mad cash for 'em too. Obviously these club goers were not DPM or EZ's demographic.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:51 +0000

I COMPLETELY agree with Kyle's points. Dance Party Massacre is a brand that's just starting out. They don't have a following. In my opinion only established brands can get away with those price points.

By: kyle crawford

kyle crawford — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:07:52 +0000

if you want some too dude we can do this. just because you're a stand up guys, doesnt mean i have to be. you know when you're around your gf's parents and you have to refrain from saying curse words, well you can continue with that mentality and I'll continue to be as completely honest and blunt as I want to be.crude or not, it's the truth, don't like it, don't read it. nothing you say is going to change my views or the way I talk or present myself, but let's be completely honest, is it really hurting my business? Doesn't look like it

By: David SEIBEI

David SEIBEI — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:59:39 +0000

just to clarify, those cut and sew hoodies you sold for ten dollars are pretty rad – BUT you reduced the price on them to ten dollars when you were down to a handful of X-Smalls, right? Your prices are always super reasonable, but that ten dollar hoodie thing wasn't some everyday occurrence. Like I said before, you make a lot of good points, but I really could've done without all the cute little jabs and jokes.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:39:33 +0000

As much as I could give a fuck less about “horror themed companies” with big spooky zombies and blood everywhere because blood is apparently the new black, this guy does seem like an asshole (Electric Zombie Guy that is) he makes good points. Plus his prices are fair which is definitely cool. As far as “DPM” that shit is a joke. Worst name ever for one thing. Plus the whole “you would pay 17 dollars for an AA shirt at the store” that's a bunch of bullshit . I could order 50 at 5 bucks a pop from any old online wholesaler without a resale i.d. right now.The fact that people pay others to design websites, and graphics just blows my mind. If you're in such a creative business then do that shit yourself. What's the point of having a creative outlet if you're not pouring your own creativity in it.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:36:43 +0000

By: kyle crawford

kyle crawford — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:26:29 +0000

lets also compare designs sir.... your simple 1 color designs vs mine.
not saying your designs are complete shit, but from my standpoint and my opinion. I wouldn't buy it, I don't even wear 80% of my stuff, so don't think that I am "singling you out"

You basically made excuses for yourself, and you had to explain yourself, why? I don't know why.

and don't EVEEENNN bring my prices into those. I've sold hoodies that were cut and sew and cost me THOUSANDS for 10 bucks. If someone walked up to you with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (your shirt)
or a hot fudge sundae (think rugrats ice cream mountain) what would you take?

for your list of complaints and wanna be rational reasoning for your price for what you get it's not worth it.

it also makes no sense to sell a shirt for 28 and then a crew neck for 7 more bucks.

do what you want, say what you want, but make sure it makes sense.
It's a pile of excuses

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:13:41 +0000

All I'm gonna say right now is if you add in Kyle's $5 S&H charge ($7 if you order 2 shirts...) our shirts are dollars apart.

EZ
$16, $18, and $20
+ $5 = $21, $23, and $25

DPM
$22, $25, and $28 with no S&H charge

COMPARE
$21, $23, $25
$22, $25, $28

Whether you think his shirts are better than mine, that's another story.
Ugh, such drrammmaa.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:11:00 +0000

If you add in Kyle’s $5 S&H charge ($7 if you order 2 shirts…) our shirts are dollars apart.

EZ
$16, $18, and $20
+ $5 = $21, $23, and $25

DPM
$22, $25, and $28 with no S&H charge

COMPARE
$21, $23, $25
$22, $25, $28

That’s all I am gonna say right now.
Ugh, such drrammmaa.

By: marsipan

marsipan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:17:05 +0000

Incredible Read. Although I may have to get my eyes checked after reading DPM's, black text on red back ground.

DPM's Blog on how they price their shirts was an extremely retarded read. Guilt tripping customers about your woes is definitely not the way to get your customers to come back or even make another purchase. Yes we all know what AA t-shirts cost at the stores but being a former AA Headquarters Employee I can tell you that AA specifically looks for big spending city placement for there stores. Where fashion sits high and nobody questions their total at the completion of their purchase.

But us T-Shirt entrepreneurs know that blanks range between 2.95 and 4.00. Depending on how much you purchase and what type of relationship you have with them. To even post a blog like that these dudes must be getting emails asking why their shit is priced so high when I can only see that 3 designs needed an 'Oversize' print which would mean shirts would be less on those printed with standard screen sizes.

Runs of 60 would make for a more expensive shirt as well because of the low quantity being ordered but again. If you are ordering only 60 and having a problem moving them, you should not price shirts higher to try and triple your money back but instead try and sell them for an affordable price and work towards "CREATING A BRAND" like they mentioned in step 10.

Kyle Crawford, I appreciate your impeccable honesty & response to DPM.

By: How much does it cost to make a shirt? | Tee Junction – The T-shirt Blog. Coupon Codes, Sales, Offers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:20:10 +0000

[...] a shirt?By Ivy I’m actually sitting in a lecture right now, but I thought I’d share this interesting article that popped up on my Twitter feed. In this article, I Am The Trend’s Adam Hendle presents a [...]

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:12:47 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by kyleisez: the gloves are off! EZ VS DPM!http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/2009/11/19/how-much-does-it-cost-to-make-a-t-shirt-the-gloves-come-off/…

By: Rick Waters

Rick Waters — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:01 +0000

I greatly enjoyed this article. When I am pricing my shirts I look at them through the eyes of the consumer. Since I am a pretty heavy consumer myself, it's not that difficult. Would I buy a one-color shirt with a monkey picking his nose for almost $30? Noooo...

I also buy strictly eco-friendly material, which is more expensive than regular cotton tees. But why should I make it more expensive to be green?

Anyways, great article, very informative, very honest, great job!

OMUNKY

By: chrispike

chrispike — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:02:48 +0000

Great read, I enjoyed it to the fullest extent.

By: Darold Pinnock

Darold Pinnock — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:01:44 +0000

LOL….Talk about “GOING IN & Taking OFF THE GLOVES” Kyle, very strong points and informative points!