What if my customer isn’t interested in any of the new heat printing offerings?

With “new” fabrics and apparel items that require “new” heat print technology to decorate and “new” finishes including reflective and chalkboard heat transfer vinyls, there’s a lot going on. But what if your customer base just isn’t interested in any of that “new” stuff? Then it’s time to present an “old” product in a “new” way. This can mean a number of things, but here are two suggestions.

First, let’s consider how you package and present your product. I don’t mean the actual box or design that you’re using to show samples or deliver the product. I’m talking about the way you are selling. Consider presenting your product to your loyal customer in a way that benefits them. For your local organization, that could be a fundraiser or by giving a portion of your proceeds back to their cause. For your local business customer, you could provide them a way to advertise their business. For your local sports team, it could be partnering with your local photographer to package apparel and team pictures together. Provide a benefit that they might not have expected when choosing their apparel decorating partner.

Second, consider how you’re making it easy for them to do business with you. One of the fastest growing ways to sell decorated apparel to groups is through an online group or team store. This method of selling eliminates so many headaches for your customers. The online store manages sizes, decorating options, taking payments, and even distributing decorated items after the store closes. If you’re not giving your customers the ability to sell your decorated apparel online, you need to start researching immediately on the platform that is going to work best for you and your customers.

—Stahls’