8 Tips on Marketing with T-Shirts for Small Businesses

1. The Social Media Giveaway

Do you want your social media giveaway campaign to stand out? Offer your existing and potential customers something they’ll want to win.

A t-shirt happens to be that item.

A social media giveaway is an effective t-shirt marketing strategy. Anytime you give away free items, you’re sure to engage and delight your target audience.

Make a giveaway more interesting by pairing it with a competition. In addition to offering the prize of winning a shirt, have your audience create and submit potential shirt designs. One example is for the audience to come up with a new logo and tagline for your business or a new product.

From there, you can start selling t-shirts online that have the new winning logo or design.



As you giveaway shirts, consider adding your branding and logo. People who wear the shirt will share their brand loyalty and help market your business.

2. T-Shirt Bonuses

Are you launching a new product or service? Make it more desirable by throwing in a free t-shirt.

This is an effective way of grabbing your audience’s attention and motivating them to try your new product.



If you decide to give this strategy a try, you don’t have to give away t-shirts to every buyer. Limit the t-shirt bonuses to the first 50, 75, or 100 customers. Giving away t-shirts for a limited time will motivate your audience to act fast.

3. Consider Employee Uniforms

Do your employees work with customers in-person or via video chat? If so, customers can see what your employees are wearing. Take advantage of this by adding your business’s branding through the use of t-shirt uniforms.

Uniforms or company-branded t-shirts help your employees stand out. When they’re working, customers will know who they can approach for help or service.

The trick is you’ll need to choose shirts that look professional and look great on your employees, too. Make sure you include your company’s branding in a way that’s visible but not overpowering.



Make your employee’s shirts more versatile by considering moister-wicking t-shirt materials or branded jackets.

4. Company Swag for Employees

Does your company foster a great work environment? Are your employees proud of where they work?

Take advantage of this pride by offering your employees company swag. Employees who enjoy where they work are likelier to wear or use any company swag you offer. This swag will continue to promote your brand even when your employees are out of the office.



Marketing with clothing such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats with your company logo are effective ways of sharing your brand.

5. Build Customer Relationships

If you haven’t already, at some point you will experience a disgruntled customer.

When this happens, you want to do what you can to make them happy and keep them as loyal customers in the future.

Apologizing for the issue will only get you so far. Besides fixing the problem or reimbursing the customer, offer them souvenirs that they’ll enjoy, such as a t-shirt.



A quality free t-shirt is useful and will put a smile back on your disgruntled customer’s face. Use quality shirt materials and make sure to include your logo.

6. Focus on Inactive Customers

Every business, both new and old, has a pool of inactive customers. At one point, they were active, buying items and engaging with your business.

Now that it has been a few months—or longer—it’s time to get those customers active once again.

Pair your t-shirt marketing campaign with an e-mail campaign. Send your inactive customers a brief email saying hello and offer them a free branded t-shirt with their next purchase.

Take a moment in the email to reintroduce your business and share any new products they may benefit from. Be friendly, personable, and open to helping them with any questions they might have.



As mentioned, people love free items. Marketing with t-shirts is an effective way to get your customers active once again.

7. Boost Your Brand at Trade Shows

Does your business participate in trade shows? If yes, this is the perfect opportunity to boost brand awareness with t-shirts!

Most businesses give customers and booth visitors business cards. Think outside the traditional business card box and offer your visitors something more exciting, such as a branded t-shirt.

Don’t worry if the visitor gives the shirt away. The next recipient of the shirt can wear it and advertise your brand for you.



Make your shirt more interesting by incorporating a unique and memorable design. You want to offer visitors and customers a shirt they want to wear. The more they wear your branded t-shirt, the more others will see your brand.

8. Stay Trendy

What styles and graphics are trending in your region? Use that trend by incorporating it into your branding and t-shirt design.

Now, you shouldn’t copy the trending design, as that would be stealing. You can, however, use elements of that trend in an original piece of branding and design.



For best results, consider working with a professional designer. They’ll create a design that’s trendy and unique to your brand.

Start Marketing With T-Shirts Today

It’s time to spice up your marketing strategy.

Marketing with t-shirts is an effective way of engaging your users and keeping your brand relevant. Offering employees and customers a free t-shirt will boost brand awareness and keep your business growing.

Have you decided it’s time to order branded shirts and materials for your business? Let us know! Dynamic Designs is happy to help you with any of your promotional needs.