T-Shirt Contemplation

How many of you have souvenir T-Shirts? Do you just have your logo or do you have a saying or something funny on them? How many do you sell a year? And what size(s) move the best? Do you wear your T-Shirt in the inn? Do you give them away sometimes? Any special colour?

We bought t-shirts to wear & sell - pocket, no-pocket, and nice collared. Just our name on front pocket w/ logo, name, city, state and phone # on back. Sold very very few. They became a hassle so we don't even put them out anymore. We wear the t-shirts as our uniform when we are here. Stock up on L, XL & 2X. It really was a waste of money for us. We shouldn't have bought so many different varieties and we should have bought more of the larger sizes. We have Small & Med that won't sell and we can't wear.

We have a diner-ish place in town, Betty's Restaurant. They have logo'd t-shirts in a variety of sizes and colors, which say on the back 'I'm not Betty'. (She's in another non-earthly realm, now)
I always wanted to get men's t-shirts for our place with 'I'm not Tom' on the back of the shirt for my DH. At least half the people in town think that's what his name is since the inn was names after a Thomas.

We have t-shirts and sweatshirts. 2 colors that match our color scheme. They have our sketched drawing on the front (large) Above the sketch is our inn's name and below the sketch is our website address. The sizes we go through a lot are L and XL. I'm always left with XXL.
We order about every 4 years. They are not a huge seller, but definitely nice to have and with our weather which changes quickly, it's an opportunity for our guests who haven't packed for chilly weather (even in the summer) to grab a sweatshirt and go to the beach.
We order about 10 of each size for each t-shirt and sweatshirt.
We don't have a lot of stores near us, so I think with you being in an urban center, they might not sell very often.Who knows though!

Unless you accept 2-legged animals, do not bother with Small. We did T-shirts and polo shirts in burgundy with my logo (small) on the left side in white where a pocket would be. This (polo shirts) is my uniform now. . We sold quite a few over the years. We also had shirts for the rail-trail - both bicycle and horse version. We sold out and I never reordered (I was broke at the time). I also had aprons with my logo on the bib. The cost of them went up to the point that I did not think people would buy them so did not order them - even though I had at least 2 guests who said when i got them again, let them know. The place I got the lunch bags from cannot get them any longer - their supplier changed.
IF I were to get them again, I think it would be a few medium but more large and XL I may have to order some for me as mine are starting to get a mite thin in the material.

Remember my love shack tshirts? Have sold 2 or 3 only. I thought for sure they would be a big hit. Nope.

Joey Bloggs said:

Remember my love shack tshirts? Have sold 2 or 3 only. I thought for sure they would be a big hit. Nope..

Click to expand...

Is it that people don't want a souvenir T-Shirt or the price point?
See, I'm wondering if it's a "fun" shirt versus a souvenir shirt if that changes things. And if some might like it as part of a package they bought.
I have to admit that at the moment the only things that I sell out the door are jam and "cookies" (as someone called them, though they aren't, but in any case...) and I just had guests who asked if we had them (because I was wearing a VP freebie.)

Joey Bloggs said:

Remember my love shack tshirts? Have sold 2 or 3 only. I thought for sure they would be a big hit. Nope..

Click to expand...

Why not just make them part of a package when honeymooners stay in the cottage? Or do you already?

I've read a few books on running an inn. I'm sure we all have....or written them.
Anyway, one thing stuck with me more than most. "Heads in the beds." His point was selling T-shirts might be fun but it isn't getting you more 'heads in the beds.'
On the other hand, I did order polos with our name on them for DH and DS and they wear them. Have not had any requests to buy.
I like the idea of sweat shirts on hand because it does get cool at the oddest moments.

TheBeachHouse said:

I've read a few books on running an inn. I'm sure we all have....or written them.
Anyway, one thing stuck with me more than most. "Heads in the beds." His point was selling T-shirts might be fun but it isn't getting you more 'heads in the beds.'
On the other hand, I did order polos with our name on them for DH and DS and they wear them. Have not had any requests to buy.
I like the idea of sweat shirts on hand because it does get cool at the oddest moments..

Click to expand...

I think the person who wrote the book is wrong. Every time someone wears your cool t shirt someone new sees it. It reminds them off the great time they had and they come back.
Ditto logo mugs. Ditto logo pens.
You have your absolute best marketers in your happy guests.

TheBeachHouse said:

I've read a few books on running an inn. I'm sure we all have....or written them.
Anyway, one thing stuck with me more than most. "Heads in the beds." His point was selling T-shirts might be fun but it isn't getting you more 'heads in the beds.'
On the other hand, I did order polos with our name on them for DH and DS and they wear them. Have not had any requests to buy.
I like the idea of sweat shirts on hand because it does get cool at the oddest moments..

Click to expand...

Yes, you need heads in beds, but the bottom line is REVENUE. Without being offensive or pushy, you need to get as much revenue out of those heads in your beds.
That's why so many of us have started doing elopements. It puts heads in beds and more cha ching in your pocket.

Madeleine said:

TheBeachHouse said:

I've read a few books on running an inn. I'm sure we all have....or written them.
Anyway, one thing stuck with me more than most. "Heads in the beds." His point was selling T-shirts might be fun but it isn't getting you more 'heads in the beds.'
On the other hand, I did order polos with our name on them for DH and DS and they wear them. Have not had any requests to buy.
I like the idea of sweat shirts on hand because it does get cool at the oddest moments..

Click to expand...

I think the person who wrote the book is wrong. Every time someone wears your cool t shirt someone new sees it. It reminds them off the great time they had and they come back.
Ditto logo mugs. Ditto logo pens.
You have your absolute best marketers in your happy guests.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

I think the person who wrote the book is wrong. Every time someone wears your cool t shirt someone new sees it. It reminds them off the great time they had and they come back.
Ditto logo mugs. Ditto logo pens.
You have your absolute best marketers in your happy guests.

Click to expand...

Yes, branding is important. And can be fun!
Another aspect to the day in and day out drudgery of running an inn. You know, we are the fortunate innkeepers, with technology and access bigger and better and at our fingertips, literally, we are able to do whatever the heck we want to do, and be as creative or not as we want to be! It really is a boon.
Every time someone whinges about not wanting to do a blog, or take photos, or update their website with innviting content I cringe thinking, "You used to have to pay someone to do EVERY thing, now you can do it and have some fun!" what the heck!
Brand it baby, go ahead, "just do it" not to steal but borrow a slogan from another brand.

Jon Sable said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Remember my love shack tshirts? Have sold 2 or 3 only. I thought for sure they would be a big hit. Nope..

Click to expand...

Is it that people don't want a souvenir T-Shirt or the price point?
See, I'm wondering if it's a "fun" shirt versus a souvenir shirt if that changes things. And if some might like it as part of a package they bought.
I have to admit that at the moment the only things that I sell out the door are jam and "cookies" (as someone called them, though they aren't, but in any case...) and I just had guests who asked if we had them (because I was wearing a VP freebie.)
.

Click to expand...

Great idea, JS. Fun shirt -
I stayed at Sable Bed & Breakfast
and all I got was
a wonderful breakfast,
a great night's sleep,
fun, new friends
AND this lousy t-shirt

Kay Nein said:

Jon Sable said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Remember my love shack tshirts? Have sold 2 or 3 only. I thought for sure they would be a big hit. Nope..

Click to expand...

Is it that people don't want a souvenir T-Shirt or the price point?
See, I'm wondering if it's a "fun" shirt versus a souvenir shirt if that changes things. And if some might like it as part of a package they bought.
I have to admit that at the moment the only things that I sell out the door are jam and "cookies" (as someone called them, though they aren't, but in any case...) and I just had guests who asked if we had them (because I was wearing a VP freebie.)
.

Click to expand...

Great idea, JS. Fun shirt -
I stayed at Sable Bed & Breakfast
and all I got was
a wonderful breakfast,
a great night's sleep,
fun, new friends
AND this lousy t-shirt
.

Click to expand...

Kay Nein said:

Great idea, JS. Fun shirt -
I stayed at Sable Bed & Breakfast
and all I got was
a wonderful breakfast,
a great night's sleep,
fun, new friends
AND this lousy t-shirt

Click to expand...

I am definitely stealing that idea...

"Pillows are like coffee - you cannot please everyone. We have guests who bring their own pillows. We have guests who bring their own coffee."

Kay Nein said:

Jon Sable said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Remember my love shack tshirts? Have sold 2 or 3 only. I thought for sure they would be a big hit. Nope..

Click to expand...

Is it that people don't want a souvenir T-Shirt or the price point?
See, I'm wondering if it's a "fun" shirt versus a souvenir shirt if that changes things. And if some might like it as part of a package they bought.
I have to admit that at the moment the only things that I sell out the door are jam and "cookies" (as someone called them, though they aren't, but in any case...) and I just had guests who asked if we had them (because I was wearing a VP freebie.)
.

Click to expand...

Great idea, JS. Fun shirt -
I stayed at Sable Bed & Breakfast
and all I got was
a wonderful breakfast,
a great night's sleep,
fun, new friends
AND this lousy t-shirt
.

Click to expand...

Kay Nein said:

Great idea, JS. Fun shirt -
I stayed at Sable Bed & Breakfast
and all I got was
a wonderful breakfast,
a great night's sleep,
fun, new friends
AND this lousy t-shirt

Click to expand...

I like this a lot!