This is the pound the pavement approach to selling your t-shirt line. Even though it is called the pet shop approach, it can easily be adapted to car shops, pizza shops, beauty shops and even body shops. It may sound simple but it is very powerful. You can design some shirts today and sell them tomorrow using this approach.

Choose a business group like "Pet Shops" and design a few shirts for them. Look at the local pet shop advertising including their yellow page ads. Pick out what is important to them and create designs that you think they would like.

Note: Don't use their company name without permission. However, if you take the time to get their permission it can be very powerful when you follow up with the presentation you promised.

Once you have the designs created, develop a sales sheet or brochure. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece or take a long time to create. Put the designs on a standard piece of paper - preferably in color. It just needs to be a good representation of your design with your contact information on it.

Then, hop in the car and deliver them to the owners. If they are not available that day, ask for an appointment. The key is to show them what you created and ask their opinion. Rather than immediately going for the sale, finesse a conversation and get their opinion. Let them design the shirt. When they ask you for some changes, ask them for a commitment. "If I change the blue lettering to red, would you buy some shirts for your business?" It's easy to ask.

Do what they ask and take the order. What is nice about this kind of business is the reorders. Once you get someone to order for their business, they are your client. They will order and reorder. The first sale  is the hardest.

If this approach works for you, choose another niche market and repeat the process. There are a lot of businesses buying t-shirts right now. If you give them a reason to buy from you and they like it, you're in business.