If you know one shirt manufacturer, you may think you know all shirt manufacturers. But the reality is there are many differences in how you represent your product, your brands and your professional pitch on your business. As a shirt manufacturer, the challenge is how to stand out from the rest… and yes, it is possible.

Aside from the obvious points of recognition – quality of shirts, price points and delivery availability – there are three ways that can help shirt manufacturers truly stand out in the marketplace. The first is through display options. Besides from just selling shirts, how are you supporting your accounts through merchandising them on their retail floors? Some options include signage, point of purchase displays, or shirt fixtures. Even supplying your own hangers can allow you to stand out. Find out from the bulk majority of your accounts what they may like and then determine what is best for your unique brands from a merchandising perspective.

Secondly, identify who your competition is and then work to rank higher in customer satisfaction from them. Consider your retail accounts as customers and the final consumer as your customer. Often the difference of your shipping abilities, your re-order terms or your return policies can make a difference as to why you aren’t selling as much as your competition. Know your competition so that you can outshine them in their strengths.

Finally, be willing to change. If you have staple products that sell again and again – great. But if you have some shirts that are bulking up your inventory, considering closing them out and buying into new shirts that are making a dent in the marketplace. Change may mean more work – as if you don’t work hard enough – but it can also mean more dollars. Now that’s change worth working for!