just how bad is my idea?

nostalgic

nostalgic

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Lately, I've developed an interest in screen printing and was trying to think up of a good niche. Then it hit me. The deaf community.

How about this: A screen-printing business run by a fellow Deaf woman that is aimed towards the Deaf community? I will be creating my own line of t-shirts with some deaf jokes and humor in them as well as be available to any interested clients. Those deaf events that are held world/country-wide? They like to sell t-shirts with the year and event name on them. I can make those t-shirts for reasonable prices and fast turn-around times. Deaf schools across the country need school spirit shirts, sport shirts, etc. There seems to be a lot of potential in this.

I'm rambling a bit here - just trying to throw out my idea and see if it's really that terrible. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated!
 
Might not be too bad. Seems hard to get ahead in the t-shirt business with places that can mass produce, though. Could be grants in it being deaf owned and operated to help narrow the gap. Plus if some portion of proceeds goes to good causes may help business.
 
I have a great ASL graphic shirt that was done by a business started here in Iowa by two friends, one deaf, one hearing.

I haven't heard anything else about it for a couple of years, so I think you are going to have a bit of an uphill climb, but I would certainly support the business if you get it started.
 
my friend got t/shirt printing company in uk and he going under.so be careful,but it do seem good idea
 
Many thanks to you guys! The screen printing business is definitely a tough industry to survive and thrive in because it seems that a lot of people slip under silently. But I do have some contacts and ideas. The fact that it's operated/run by a deaf person may help with the sales but I'm not relying on that. The places that do mass-produce are all done by machine. I'm looking to bring the handcrafted technique back into screen printing - to work with my hands. I actually interned for a very successful screen-printer in my area that did all the work manually and thrived. I just need to think up of something to truly separate this business/studio from others. I don't think just being Deaf will suffice.
 
dereksbicycles said:
Be careful. Someone may be reading this and stealing your idea.
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I already am gonna steal this except it'll be a deaf-run business selling to hearing folks. She'll never know what hit her!
 
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good luck hope you do well,maybe you show sell ship out some of your work
 
nostalgic said:
Lately, I've developed an interest in screen printing and was trying to think up of a good niche. Then it hit me. The deaf community.

How about this: A screen-printing business run by a fellow Deaf woman that is aimed towards the Deaf community? I will be creating my own line of t-shirts with some deaf jokes and humor in them as well as be available to any interested clients. Those deaf events that are held world/country-wide? They like to sell t-shirts with the year and event name on them. I can make those t-shirts for reasonable prices and fast turn-around times. Deaf schools across the country need school spirit shirts, sport shirts, etc. There seems to be a lot of potential in this.

I'm rambling a bit here - just trying to throw out my idea and see if it's really that terrible. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated!
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what's a screen printing? I guess printing stuff on tshirt???

and your idea is just about same as everybody else especially at DeafExpo including some of my friends. I'm sure you've already know this - as long as your idea is very original and unique... :thumb:

good luck!
 
nostalgic said:
and you edited it haha.
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And you edited yours too. :naughty:

Seriously, you might want to check out competition such as cafepress.com and even tshirthell.com The challenge I see is all the competition you'd be facing. Even if you make some awesome looking shirts you got at least 5 other companies doing the same thing.

IMO it would be worthwhile to look into website rankings, advertisements, even on craigslist. it would be all about getting the word out at the lowest possible cost.
 
Heh. You should make one that says "WHAT??" And before I get jumped on, I mean it sardonically. As an audiologist, I hear that EVERY $#&^(ING TIME I tell someone what I do. It's not funny. It's not clever. It is, in fact, super rude, ANNOYING, and embarrassing to me as it demonstrates how completely insensitive the hearing culture can be. Honestly, I could just smack people for it. In fact, I have one sister who insists upon doing this even though she knows it really pisses me off, because after ten years of dealing with hard of hearing patients, I automatically repeat, slower, trying to enunciate better...and then she starts cackling, and at this point, I just hit her.
 
heh...I already have one for my branch of audiology (hearing loss prevention):

"Hearing conservationists do it with protection. After all, no one really wants to get aids." (I know, not necessarily applicable in this forum, but keep in mind, our primary client population starts off with normal hearing and then tosses it out the window because they assume hearing aids are a magical cure.)
 
I used to have a shirt that said "Blah Blah Blah I can't hear you". I had to retire it. It wasn't really a deaf joke, I got it in the misses section so it was really for obnoxious teeagers, but I love that stuff!! I haven't seen any shirts like that in awhile.....so get right on that :D
 
ambrosia said:
I used to have a shirt that said "Blah Blah Blah I can't hear you". I had to retire it. It wasn't really a deaf joke, I got it in the misses section so it was really for obnoxious teeagers, but I love that stuff!! I haven't seen any shirts like that in awhile.....so get right on that :D
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Was it Happy Bunny? Because I have that on a luggage tag.
 
LK said:
Was it Happy Bunny? Because I have that on a luggage tag.
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I don't think so, it was just the text, no picture or anything. I had another one that said "I can't hear you when I'm not listening", had to retire that one too. :( I didn't like it as much though lol kind of made it seem I had a choice in the matter. Although, technically, if I'm not actively trying to listen I can pretty much ignore any sound, and if I'm not looking directly at someone I'm not going to understand them, so yeah I guess sometimes I'm just not listening. I remember telling one of my coworkers once that if she ever sees me having a "conversation" with someone and I'm doing a lot of nodding and haven't asked "what" at least every 2 or 3 sentences, I'm not really listening. I'm just letting the person talk and I don't really care what they're saying lol.
 
bunnynotlistening.jpg


Hee.
 
Hi Nostalgic,

Your message about the screen-printing came across when I Googled deaf-owned business. I was wondering if we could talk. I can be reached at 5 8 r a y m o n d @ g m a i l

Take care,

Raymond
 
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