derrickkwa: To start off, why don't you tell us more about shirtcity?

shirtcity: With pleasure.
For all about what shirtcity is and does I may refer to the other interview I did with wmraul or I recommend to check www.shirtcity.com to see for yourself.
Upon seeing the other questions I assume you want to hear about the company itself.
Shirtcity was founded in 2001, and introduced its core, the very first Online-Shirt Designer at that time, in 2002. The idea was to give the costumer the opportunity to make EXACTLY the shirt HE wants. All text, motive or design as well as product that it goes on is the choice of the buyer. Other projects followed, they're all under the roof of IDCOM, the idea company.
In 2005 Shirtcity introduced the ShirtcityClub, its interactive Design Community.
Meanwhile Shirtcity is a true Global Player, having branches is Japan, USA, Spain and the Netherlands. Shirtcity delievers in 33 countries and the site can be seen in 9 languages... and there is more to come (see below).


derrickkwa: How did you come up with the idea?

shirtcity: Shirtcity's founder and CEO Christian Schneider is a graphic designer who wanted to sell some of his T-Shirt ideas ... I was really surprised to see how big that has grown. I have been working here only for a relatively short time and I don't know him for so long, but one thing I can definitely tell you: he is always thinking of taking things to the next level.


derrickkwa: What has the experience of setting up shirtcity been like? Any significant challenges, for example?

shirtcity: Plenty of them...

Taking shirtcity to the international level for example caused many difficulties. Luckily I don't have to care about the whole tolls and taxes things, but selling in many countries makes quite a lot of things you have to know and care about.
For example: A customer from France may see a wicked design from a designer in Japan in the ShirtcityClub and buy it. Beside the shipping and the German sales tax we'll have to pay the Japanese designer his commission in accordance with the Japanese laws... All that keeps a number of experts busy.


derrickkwa: Any future plans for shirtcity that you're willing to share?

shirtcity: Currently in Neu-Ulm (shirtcity's production central) they are looking for a bigger production site. We're just willing to grow bigger and bigger. There are always new features added to our site, like a couple of days ago when we introduced profile pages for every shirtcity customers. We designed the ShirtcityClub to become the community of T-Shirt designers, -freaks and -lovers.
There are always new designs and also printable products added to our range.
We are constantly working on expanding our range, for example Scandinavia is next.
And there are a few things more that I can't tell you about yet, but stay tuned!


derrickkwa: What advice do you have for people who are thinking of starting an online business?

shirtcity: I read a good article a while ago that compared starting an online business to playing in a rockband. Until a band besomes successful, it has to gain an enormous amount of practice, expirience and conviction. Same is for online businesses, be it a shop, a blog or a community.
Second, word of mouth only works for really good ideas. No one wants to have/ buy a thing that already exists elsewhere. Unless it is really strikingly better or has other advantages unheard of. Third: even if the idea's good you have to light a spark in order to fire the flame. That means: marketing can't be underrated!


derrickkwa: Anything else you want to say to the readers?

shirtcity: You're designer!
Seriously, making your own T-Shirts can be easier than you might think. We believe in creativity and recommend everyone to try it!

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