Sports Athletic Apparel

Taming the Rebel With Custom: Tapping the Youth Segment Through Customizable T-shirts

In the US, 26% of the population represents the youth segment. This figure is projected to grow to more than 40% in the next 10 years. Just how important are they to the world of marketing? Going beyond size, this market also possesses a strong purchasing power with spending amounting to $1.8 billion a year. With their influence on the purchasing decision of other age segments (such as their parents), you can easily increase their spending impact to ten times that amount. And finally, this market's longevity is also one of its major strengths. Once they reach the prime of their earning and spending life cycles, they would be in control of the consumer market.

What's a marketer to do?

Tame it, of course.

While this has been the dream of many in the marketing world, most are still unable to penetrate this much coveted segment. Their failure is rooted to two major factors. First, the tried and tested marketing strategies are no longer providing the desired results when applied to this difficult young audience. Second, this market segment is far less expressive than the adults in conveying their opinions, thus, advertisers and marketers are often left groping in the dark in terms of understanding and measuring the needs and wants of this age bracket.

They are what they are. They are rebellious to the fads and to the very concept of conformity, which makes predicting trends all the more difficult. Yet, what our failure to grab their attention and to come up with blitzkrieg marketing strategies is our own weakness. What they lack in communication skills, we should make up for in creative assessment. One of the common mistakes in marketing is that we insist on generalizing the youth segment. We claim to be listening to what they want but in reality, what we are doing is making the decisions for them. It is important at this point to think outside of your constrictive generalizations. Do not assume that just because you were young once that you still understand what they want.

Connecting with the younger segment

Here are some effective ways to connect with this age bracket:

1. Learn to listen – They're dying to be heard. Though you may not find the right answers in the usual way, try to find out what they're saying through alternative means. Focus groups and surveys may be out of the question, but if you look at the rest of the media spectrum you're bound to pick up something. The youth continually express their individuality not just in words but in almost any form of medium imaginable.

2. Help them express themselves - Traditional advertising that tells them how cool and intelligent they are no longer works. They already know this. What they want to hear are new ways and ideas on how they can express themselves. Thus, the most effective way in reaching this notoriously difficult market segment is to provide them an avenue for communicating their individuality.

3. Be innovate – You really can't go wrong with this approach. Some companies have found success with customizable websites and advertising campaigns that allows a high level of interaction with their young target audience.

The Personalize-It Philosophy

As a final note on the youth market, you must keep in mind that they have a very high regard for individuality. That said, you may want to consider adding promotional t-shirts as part of your marketing mix.

Promotional shirts can be deemed as the perfect approach because it allows the company to imprint customized messages on the shirts for their target market to wear. But the real trick here is in finding out the right message that expresses the sentiments of your young target market while promoting your brand. This may seem to be a intimidating task, but in truth, there are many creative ways of accomplishing this.

For instance, you can position your company as the ultimate solution to a youth segment need that has to be addressed. The first thing you have to do is to identify the need. Second, assess if your brand can in fact satisfy this need. Third, learn the lingo of the youth and be their voice. Now, combine them all together. There you have it. You've personalized your brand to make it more youth-friendly.

Now, by imprinting this message together with your logo on a promotional t-shirt, you have accomplished two things. One, you have created a shirt that the young market would be eager to wear since it helps them express their feelings and attitude. Two, you have positioned your brand as the answer for a particular need of your market.

There are other promotional products in the market to help you realize the Personalize-It Philosophy. Though if you're really targeting the youth sector, promotional t-shirts are your best bet. Promotional t-shirts and apparel are always a hit among the youth. For its price, it goes a long way in ROI.

About the Author

More promotional apparel articles are available at www.PersonalizeYourShirt.com.
Marc Perez is a seasoned marketing veteran. His expertise range from below-the-line and above-the-line advertising to direct marketing strategies. He also specializes in promotional item marketing. Perez has written various articles about promotional products for authority sites and ezines. His informative pieces discuss how to effectively integrate the strategy in your marketing mix.

Need help buying a shirt in the NFL!?

Im thinking of buying a couple of the NFL (large or XL) T-shirt and I do not want to lose $ 30 + in others, because I have an Amazon gift certificate money in my account .... I found this t-shirt for $ 27.99 Kyle Orton to suit me, but I am If being in the door for the 2006 season. Not to look stupid wearing a jersey of old players. Thank u. (By the way, I want to buy or Terrell Owens Eagles jersey before the team another player, despite the economic costs .... his last season). heres the shirt http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNONHM/qid=1153534934/sr=1-48/ref=sr_1_48/103-6337566-7749423?% 5Fencoding = UTF8 & s = & v = glance & n = 1036592 http:// clothing www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNONHM/qid=1153534934/sr=1-48/ref=sr_1_48/103-6337566-7749423 ?% 5Fencoding = UTF8 & s = & v = glance & n = 1036592 clothes THE LINK WONT show 100% N / Just go to AMAZON.COM AND RESEARCH Kyle Orton Youth Jersey shirt and poster $ 27.99!

Orton will be with the Bears in 2006 while sitting on the bench.

Desmond Young & Big Youth - Warning / Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Majestic MLB Replica Youth Two Button Henley - MLB Apparel $17.99 Youth pro replica jerseys. Screenprinted with authentic team logos. Made of cotton polyester, button henley.MLB Apparel - MLB Apparel

Majestic Youth MLB Replica Crewneck T-Shirt - MLB Apparel $11.99 Adult MLB replica jersey. Screenprinted with authentic team logo. Crewneck made of cotton. Made in the USA. Youth Sizes S - L. Available in all MLB Teams.MLB Apparel - MLB Apparel

Majestic Youth MLB Cool Base 2-Button Replica Jersey - MLB Apparel $19.99 Full athletic chest cut. Button henley. Straight hemmed bottom. Cool Base moisture wicking interlock fabric. Imported. Youth Sizes S - XL. All MLB Teams Available.MLB Apparel - MLB Apparel

Majestic Youth MLB 2-Button Cooperstown Replica Jersey - MLB Apparel $24.99 Full athletic chest cut. Button henley. Straight hemmed bottom. Cool Base moisture wicking interlock fabric. Imported. Youth Sizes S - XL. All MLB Teams Available.MLB Apparel - MLB Apparel

Majestic Youth MLB Player Name and Number T-Shirt - MLB Apparel $17.99 Youth Short Sleeve crew neck t-shirt. Screenprint Authentic Team logo with Player Name Number on back. cotton jersey. Imported. Youth Sizes YS - YL. Available Player/Team Jason Heyward/Atlanta Braves David Wright/New York Mets Josh Hamilton/Texas Rangers Joe Mauer/Minnesota Twins Derek Jeter/New York Yankees MLB Apparel - MLB Apparel

Under Armour Youth Elbow Sleeve - Black - Baseball Apparel Accessories $19.99 Form-fitting elbow sleeve provides protection and ventilation. HeatGear fabric provides excellent moisture transport and breathability. One Size. Color Black only.Baseball Apparel Accessories - Black - Baseball Apparel Accessories

Under Armour Youth Tech Loose Fit T-Shirt - Basketball Performance Apparel $19.99 Feels like cotton, performs like Under Armour. Workout gear with a cotton like feel, stretch and recovery, combined with the Moisture Transport System. Just the right amount of stretch for great mobility and heatgear fabric moves moisture away from the body. Youll never wear cotton again. Loose Fit. PolyArmour/ elastane. Imported. Youth Sizes YS - YXL Colors White, Black, Navy, Grey, Scarlet, Royal. heatgear Ideal Use Extremely warm weather. Keeping athletes cool, dry and light. HeatGear has rendered cotton t-shirts obsolete.Basketball Performance Apparel - Basketball Performance Apparel

Under Armour Youth Ignite Batting Gloves - Youth Baseball Batting Gloves $24.99 Features HeatGear fabric on back of hands with four-way stretch for cool, comfortable feel. Custom plate, features five team colors with peel away options to reveal athletes number or initials. Goatskin palm for soft feel and durability. Palm side finger perforations for increased breathability. Youth Sizes YS - YL Color Black/White/Black only. HeatGear For when its hot. Keeping athletes cool, dry, and light. Ideal use Extremely warm weather. Over a decade ago, HeatGear, the original second skin layer, sparked the revolution of performance apparel. Youth Baseball Batting Gloves - Youth Baseball Batting Gloves

Under Armour Youth Ignite Batting Gloves - Youth Softball Batting Gloves $24.99 Features HeatGear fabric on back of hands with four-way stretch for cool, comfortable feel. Custom plate, features five team colors with peel away options to reveal athletes number or initials. Goatskin palm for soft feel and durability. Palm side finger perforations for increased breathability. Youth Sizes YS - YL Color Black/White/Black only. HeatGear For when its hot. Keeping athletes cool, dry, and light. Ideal use Extremely warm weather. Over a decade ago, HeatGear, the original second skin layer, sparked the revolution of performance apparel. Youth Softball Batting Gloves - Youth Softball Batting Gloves

Youth $34.99 John Everett Millais Youth - Giclee Print

Under Armour Youth Clean Up IV Batting Gloves - Youth Baseball Batting Gloves $19.99 HeatGear fabric on back of hand for cool and comfortable feel. Four-way stretch for better fit. Goatskin palm gives soft feel and durability. Palm side finger perforations provide increased breathability. Internal locker tag allows for customization. Youth Sizes YS - YL. Youth Colors Black/White, White/Black, Red/Black, Royal/Black. HeatGear For when its hot. Keeping athletes cool, dry, and light. Ideal use Extremely warm weather. Over a decade ago, HeatGear, the original second skin layer, sparked the revolution of performance apparel. Youth Baseball Batting Gloves - Youth Baseball Batting Gloves

Under Armour Youth Clean Up IV Batting Gloves - Youth Softball Batting Gloves $19.99 HeatGear fabric on back of hand for cool and comfortable feel. Four-way stretch for better fit. Goatskin palm gives soft feel and durability. Palm side finger perforations provide increased breathability. Internal locker tag allows for customization. Youth Sizes YS - YL. Youth Colors Black/White, White/Black, Red/Black, Royal/Black. HeatGear For when its hot. Keeping athletes cool, dry, and light. Ideal use Extremely warm weather. Over a decade ago, HeatGear, the original second skin layer, sparked the revolution of performance apparel. Youth Softball Batting Gloves - Youth Softball Batting Gloves