Starting a Running Apparel Co. - Need input

Sorry, there is nothing cool about running. I prefer a Nike T-shirt simply because it's neutral.

Too late, it's already called Tapout and Ed Hardy.

Men have never spend much money on running clothes. Women on the other hand do but since that is not your target market I would say don't invest too much money.

Bad idea. Most of us prefer plain t shirts.

tycobb wrote:

Men have never spend much money on running clothes. Women on the other hand do but since that is not your target market I would say don't invest too much money.

bingo. if you look at the selection in retail stores of womens vs mens running clothes, women have 5x or more options. so many short shorts, whereas most non-running stores won't have any short shorts for men, just basketball shorts.

do i think your singlets would be cool: possibly. would i pay what you ask? probably not, because you will have to charge a lot early on to avoid going under.

Make race t-shirts. VERY few people actually wear singlets and it will always be that way. Still make singlets, but find out how to brand t-shirts as race t-shirts and you'll have a business. Cycling loves crazy looks and colors to their jerseys. Our sport needs the same and people would embrace it.

Look at Threadless as a model in terms of getting designs for the shirts and you should seriously consider launching your business through a Kickstarter project. You need a website, strong social presence and need to hustle to all of the major road racing events (at least in your region) to start selling these.

Good luck!

This will initially be more of a side project, only investing what I can afford to gamble with. I wouldn't mind designing for both men and women.

I like the t-shirt idea. Though it targets more of the so called "hobby jogger" demographic, it would probably be the most profitable. If anything, I could use that to get things going and move towards the more serious runners later on. I also don't want to limit myself to runners only, but all exercise apparel.

I realize most men prefer to wear plain gear right now, but I'm wondering if that's just because there are not other options out there?

Something along the lines of the singlets the Nike athletes wore during the 2008 Olympic trials would be the style I'm shooting for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c-bI5Ui5OE

Andre3kTheGiant wrote:

I plan to start making running/racing singlets for runners and selling them. The idea behind the company is to add some style and flare to running apparel. The designs will be original hand drawn designs that are imaginative and artistic. I want the designs to have a tattoo-esque look and be very large, covering most of the shirt.

Yea, you and everybody else. That idea is old and tired.

Here's an easy way to order custom singlets

www.impulseapparel.com

Click on the sublimation category then click on athletic apparel

Take the lead from cycling. You can go into any bike shop and buy a cycling jersey with any thing from ACDC to Go Army, to any number of wild designs.

Running singlets are pretty much limited to boring primary colors.

Is there a market? Yeah, this newer crop of runners seem to be all about that kinda stuff. Think the same crowd that buys vibrams and does all these silly color runs, foam runs, etc..

My input? Don't do it.

People buy Nike and Adidas apparel. That's not going to change. An extremely hard market to tap into.

How are you getting the singlets? Buying wholesale from a distributor, screening and then selling? Are you going to try to source them yourself from a supplier in Asia? You'll need to be able to sell them at the same price as the big boys. My own opionion would be if Nike has a singlet for $30.00 I might pay $35.00 for one with a really cool design or logo (like the aformentioned cycling apparel), above that forget it.

Honestly, I would not be interested. I don't like gaudy stuff.

Someone who is doing this, and I assume profitably, is Anthony Famiglietti-

http://www.recklessrunning.com/Racing_Singlet.php

Horrible idea. Though you may get some meatheads wearing them. Just look at inknburn dot come. Look how ridiculous those shirts are, and I assume that's what you're looking to do. Want to do handdrawn singlets, just make it something small, like a dead tree going up the side with a could of crows flying around. All black on a blue singlet. I'd wear that. I've got ideas a plenty on how to make artistic singlets, but don't do the meathead/Ed Hardy look. Get in touch with me if you'd like to work on designs.

eh..go for UV protection shirts and market to parents of kids. It would be easier to sell based upon fear of skin cancer. That would be a better market than trying to be like wearing tats.

Make shorts with pockets. I am always having problems finding short to run in that have pockets.

im sorry but i wouldnt wear them if they looked like tattoos. i prefer plain stuff for running. the stuff people wear cycling wouldnt work for running. people are more self conscious running around parks and whatever and having stuff shouted at them. cyclists dont give a shit about that stuff as theyre on a bike and dont get as much hassle.

I've actually found a site with affordable whole sale singlets. I think $25 to $30 would be the price range. That should help me turn a decent profit. I mostly just wanna have a little fun with this and have a hobby. If I start taking huge losses I'll give it up.

Moby Dick wrote:

Horrible idea. Though you may get some meatheads wearing them. Just look at inknburn dot come. Look how ridiculous those shirts are, and I assume that's what you're looking to do. Want to do handdrawn singlets, just make it something small, like a dead tree going up the side with a could of crows flying around. All black on a blue singlet. I'd wear that. I've got ideas a plenty on how to make artistic singlets, but don't do the meathead/Ed Hardy look. Get in touch with me if you'd like to work on designs.

inknburn.com is a little over the top and not exactly what I'm going for. I like the idea you described here. One design I've started working on is the goddess on the front of the olympic medals. Some variation of this: