There’s never been a better time to own a custom t-shirt business than 2024. If you’re new to screen printing or you’ve been building your business for years now, you’ll be happy to learn that the outlook for the industry is quite rosy. Continue reading below as we highlight some exciting reports about the projected growth of the industry and what you can expect in the coming years.
Expected Industry Growth
In a recent report done by Precedence Research, the global custom t-shirt printing market is expected to reach a market value of $14.81 billion by 2032, representing a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 11.27% from 2023 to 2033.
Though this report covers the custom t-shirt market in general, the report writers make note that screen printing held the highest revenue share of the market at the time of writing.
What Trends Are Causing the Growth?
Depending on who you ask, the growing demand for custom t-shirts is being spurred on by a few factors. For starters, the writers of the Precedence Research report point to a growing sports industry as a possible catalyst for this positive outlook.
Others find that custom apparel is more popular with the younger generation, whose buying power is steadily increasing as they age. One of the possible explanations for this is that this demographic is looking for custom clothing to stand out from their peers, offering them a unique way to show off their style and personality. It also helps them showcase support and awareness for social issues, which is much more common today than in previous decades.
Tips for Taking Advantage of This Market Growth
There is no doubt that the screen printing industry will continue to grow over the coming decade. However, to take advantage of this positive momentum, screen printers should make some strategic moves to stand out to consumers and capture market share.
Get Online
As a sales channel, the online marketplace for custom t-shirts will likely dominate over the coming decade. Though brick-and-mortar shops are still successful in many markets, running an online shop allows you to reach a larger audience rather than being limited to your geographical location.
Partner with Artists
According to the Precedence Research report, the fastest-growing design segment for custom t-shirts is artwork. If you are not an artist yourself, consider partnering with a local artist to produce t-shirts using their designs. Not only will this help the artist reach a broader audience, but it can also help you offer fresh designs that your customers are looking for.
Invest in Your Tools
As the industry grows, you need to keep your skills sharp in order to maintain your position in the market and stay relevant to modern consumers. To stay at the top of your game, make sure to invest in quality tools, machines, and systems that can help you work efficiently and produce quality prints. As a result, you can boost customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing sustainable growth for your business.
