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Running a custom t-shirt business means dealing with a large inventory of blank t-shirts in different colors and styles. Whether you're using Bella+Canvas, Hanes t-shirts, Comfort Colors, or cotton-poly blends for screen printing, DTF or sublimation, keeping your inventory organized is crucial for efficiency and ease of access.
In this post, I'm excited to share the best ways I have found to store and organize your blank shirts to ensure your business runs smoothly.
Maximize Space with Shelving Units
Shelving units can dramatically increase your storage capacity, especially in a small space. These 11” cube shelves from Target are the perfect size for folded t-shirts and sweatshirts. I have two 12-cube units side-by-side. These hold all of my adult blanks from size small to 3XL. I have found that stacking the shirts and organizing each cube by size and style has been the best way to see my inventory.
In addition to open cube shelving, it's a great idea to store blanks like hats and blankets in bins. These IKEA bins and Kallax shelves are a great way to store hats or other loose items that might not stack as well as t-shirts.
Shelves: Cube Shelves at Target
Bins: IKEA DRÖNA Box
Best Tool for Folding T-shirts
Folding all of these blank t-shirts was quite a task, but it was much easier using this shirt folding board. This simple tool not only makes folding faster, but each shirt is folded perfectly making them easier to stack.
Utilize Dresser Drawers to Organize Blanks
If you don’t want your shirts out in the open, a dresser is an excellent storage solution for blank t-shirts. You could fold your shirts neatly and organize them by color, size, and type. I use a dresser to organize my blank tea towels, aprons, tote bags and sweatpants.
Drawers:Malm 6-Drawer Dresser
Hanging Your Blank T-shirts by Size
This was my method of storing blank t-shirts for many years. I loved the ease of being able to flip through the hangers. I hung all of my adult size shirts by size on a closet rod. If you have a built-in closet in a spare room, this is another practical way to organize your blank apparel.
Use Storage Bins for Clean Storage
Storage bins are versatile storage ideas for both small and large inventories. They can be easily moved around and stacked to save space, but even more importantly, they will keep your blanks looking and smelling new. This is especially important if you are working in a space that collects a lot of dust or you have pets. Clear bins make it easy to see your inventory, but you can also label opaque bins to know exactly what’s inside. These bins are great for storing items used less frequently, like seasonal long sleeve shirts or specialty items for DTF transfers or sublimation.
Clearly Label Shelves, Drawers or Storage Totes
One of the challenges I run into with organizing my blanks is keeping a close inventory of what I have in-stock. Clearly labeling each tote, shelf or drawer with the contents inside, such as “Bella+Canvas Large” or “Adult Large Soft-Style,” will keep your inventory organized. You can print your own labels using a label maker or with your Cricut or Siser cutting machine.
Label Maker: NIIMBOT B1 Label Maker Machine
Clear Label Clips: IKEA Children's Section
Keep Popular Choices Accessible
Ensure that your most popular choice, like my favorite Bella+Canvas classic fit blank t-shirts, are always within easy reach. Store these shirts in a convenient location, such as an easy-to-reach shelf, where it is easy to see how many of each color and size you have on-hand. This strategy helps you keep a visual on your inventory levels so you can quickly fulfill orders for these high-demand items.
Save Money by Ordering in Bulk
If you are looking for ways to cut your costs so your business makes more money, one money-saving method is to purchase your blanks in bulk. Purchasing in bulk allows you to get the best prices. The larger your order, the more savings you get per-item. You'll also save money on shipping costs if you can spend enough for free shipping.
Threadsy is my go-to site for ordering blanks at wholesale prices. There is no minimum order and no business license needed. If you are just getting started, this will be a huge savings over purchasing your blanks at retail stores.
When ordering blanks, I always place a large order to bump my cart total over $50, so I can take advantage of Thready's free shipping. Now when a customer needs a last minute shirt, you are not paying extra for expedited delivery times on your order.
Setting up Your T-shirt Business Work Space
Stop wasting your valuable time searching through piles of blanks or placing a new order when you have plenty on-hand already.
Organizing your blank t-shirts effectively is essential for the smooth operation of your custom shirt business.
Finding a Storage Solution That Works for You
There are plenty of options when it comes to storing your blank inventory. Whether you use closet organizers, shelving units, closet rod, storage unit with bins, or a combination of these, it is most important that you find a solution that will keep you organized.
As a small business, efficiency is important.
Whether you're working with a small space or a large warehouse, using a combination of dresser drawers, closet organizers, and shelving units can help you keep everything in order.
By ensuring easy access to your most popular choices and making efficient use of extra space, you'll be able to run your business more efficiently and meet your customers' needs promptly.
