What is the emerging market for t-shirts and other workout wear? You may be surprised, but a new niche market for workout wear is the middle and high school market.Schools have long required their students to buy “gym” shorts and t-shirts for gym class. In the past these t-shirts and shorts have been of poor quality and cheaply made. Administrators, in an effort to save money, ordered gym uniforms based on bulk price, not quality.
With the surge of popularity in promotional clothing such as t-shirts and polo shirts embellished with company logos schools are now able to purchase cost effective high quality gym wear for their students. When promotional clothing salesmen brought their wares into schools to sell to administrators and teachers for faculty and staff wear it was noticed that quality was improving and price was decreasing. Many school principals and athletic directors began to re-think their previous choices in gym wear.
It was quickly discovered that schools could offer their students a better quality of gym wear for only a small price increase. This price increase was actually money-saving when the durability of the t-shirts and shorts was considered. What originally required replacing several times a year was now lasting for the entire school year. Most students found they could make do with 2 printed t-shirts and pairs of shorts for the school year.
If they haven’t already, promotional clothing salesmen must focus on this emerging school athletic wear market. By directing their efforts to this market they may be able to weather the current recession. Students will continue to require gym wear for gym class. If your company can offer these items to students at a great price point and still provide the quality they need you will be gaining, not losing clients.
(c) Image by Ben Voos, www.sxc.hu/