Shirtwascash Re-Launch Updates
Hey friends!
As many of our long-term fans know, we've finally begun relaunching the brand with many new and throwback designs. Earlier this year we had a couple suppliers close shop unexpectedly.
We're creating this blog just as a public report of what we're working on, fixes and new updates you might otherwise not see.
What happened in 2025?
When we started, memes weren't mainstream and this "all-over print" didn't really exist. Every few years there's a shift that closes companies yet we never give up.
You'd think tariffs wouldn't affect a brand Made in America, neither did we, but key production partners had a lot of business attached to other countries. This year, one partner closed, then another, and one even tried moving to Mexico without a plan and failed.
US apparel manufacturing as a whole squeezed.
At first it seemed like normal delays until suppliers we relied on stopped delivering entirely without warning.
This led to open-ended refunds to you but also inventory, tags, and many expenses we'll never get back. Months of personally keeping the company afloat.
Fast forward to today, similar to COVID era, we had to basically test every potential partner, source new samples, rebuild our entire design catalog and more. I've personally been working 2 (or 3) workdays per day, separated by a mid-day ice bath.
Today is the first day I feel good about where we're at. After many sleepless nights, even still, the work we've put in has refreshed Shirtwascash products and set us up for expansion otherwise impossible in 2026.
One key decision with sourcing was increasing the ceiling of products, customers, and sales channels available to us. With this work, we will be able to vastly expand into new categories and begin approaching new markets in 2026.
So, similar to COVID, this may be a blessing in disguise. I hope you pray for us as we pray for you.
Thank you for the support! We're officially 11 years old now and ready for Shirtwascash 2.0
What we're working today
Oct 14: Finalize samples, new partners and fulfillment
We successfully decided on new partners and fabrics after a 6 month long process of supplier failures, realizing the situation, creating a Pro-Active Reimbursement Program for late orders and testing suppliers across America and Europe.
Oct 14 - Nov 11: Remaster every Shirtwascash design (since launch) and templates
We've spent the last month dusting off old servers recovering every notable design since launch back in 2014. In total, we have 294 designs remastered to a new format and have added them across 24+ products.
With this relaunch, we've chosen a bigger focus on higher-end cotton versions. Many popular designs are now available as graphic shirts, sweaters and hoodies.
Nov 11 - Nov 16: Transfer the back-end SKUs and initial product pages
For the first time in 11 years, we took the Shirtwascash.com website down for a few days while doing a major refresh of all product pages, back-end information, inventories and product pictures.
This resulted in relaunching with 1,100 current products with 400+ more underway shortly.
Nov 17: Improving product pages and new shipping costs
This is today and the rest of this blog will be in a bullet-point format to report updates:
- Add KnowYourMeme style description to most searched product pages. This helps parents know what they're buying and add fun context to gems
- Phone call with Klaviyo to turn emails back on without "spam" penalty from email service providers
- Research how turning the website off for a week and changing product page URLs affected our Google search rankings
- Investigate international shipping costs to reflect lower costs but added VAT tax.
Nov 17: Improving product pages and new shipping costs
- Update URLs in Google for 404 broken searches
- Fill in missing mockups on product page back-end
- Added ~100 cotton designs, desk mats & mousepads, towels, blankets
Nov 18 - 21: Finishing website & SEO
- Initial product transfer and releases is finished
- Christmas 2025 is live
- Added Mega menu for mens
- Tags added for shopping by design style
Nov 22 - 24: Catalog sorting, product tags & metadata
- Rebuild the entire back-end product tags
- Begin switching previous reviews to the new product pages
- Fill in metadata for searches and SEO
- Send first email
Nov 25: Catalog sorting, product tags & metadata
- Size charts updated
[pending tasklist]
- Fix reviews not showing up on pages
- Update Bundles and "Frequently bought with"
- Make "finding the right design" easier
- Finish new website 👀