How to start a custom merch store without buying upfront inventory
Starting a custom merch business stalls when trying to source blanks and handle inventory without spending a fortune upfront. Without predictable sales figures, deciding whether to keep sizes and colors in stock or purchase materials as orders arrive makes it hard to launch quickly from home. Tying up money in bulk inventory creates unnecessary financial risk before the store even gets off the ground.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1buying blanks and an embroidery machine to make items manually
- 2ordering a bunch of hats from a custom vendor and listing them until they sell out
- 3partnering with an Etsy vendor to funnel orders through their store to avoid pre-buying and warehousing inventory
- 4Outsourcing transfers for printing instead of buying expensive printing equipment
- 5Buying blank apparel only as customer orders come in
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m in the very beginning stages of starting a small apparel/merch business from home.”source ↗
“How did you handle inventory when you first started? Did you keep shirts/colors/sizes on hand or buy blanks as orders came in?”source ↗
“Where do you buy your blanks and Libbey glasses in bulk without tying up a ton of money in inventory?”source ↗
“I’m genuinely trying to learn how people built this into a sustainable small business without spending a fortune upfront.”source ↗
“I would like to get some advice on where to start”source ↗
“Would be curious to hear how others have approached this issue of custom merch stores. I am looking to get this up and running in 2-3 months. I also don't have a good idea of what I am likely to see in terms of sales, so I would like to get started quickly without overthinking it.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 20How to start an online store with no money
- 9Why am I getting no sales on my new online store?
- 2How to source non-print-on-demand inventory for an online store
- 6Do I need a business license to sell my crafts?
- 7How do you find a reliable clothing manufacturer and avoid getting scammed?
- 5How do I price my handmade items without undercharging?