$100 in 30 Days Challenge – Is a Chess T-Shirt Enough as a Gift?
I’m still wrestling with a key question in this challenge:
👉 Would a chess-themed t-shirt actually be a “good enough” gift for a partner to buy?
At first, I thought maybe—but then I went back to Quora and Reddit to take another look at real people asking real questions. And that’s when I found this post:
💬 Which is a better gift for my BF that loves chess?
I need help whittling down my options here for our 2nd anniversary gift. He loves chess and has played tournaments and taught classes for years. I asked him what he wanted and he said “Idk something to do with chess” in typical unhelpful boy fashion.
He has a MILLION chess books and boards, so I thought some decor or something like that would be good. I found these wall-hanging chess boards on Etsy. I thought it would be a cool decorative piece, but he could also play it, do puzzles, or teach his classes on it or whatever.
PLEASE let me know if I’m on the right track or if you have a better idea. I really want him to like whatever I get him, but I just don’t know chess!!!!
This isn’t just a casual purchase—it’s a significant gift.
That means the buyer wants something special and meaningful.
A t-shirt? Probably not enough for an anniversary.
2️⃣ Her budget was £70-£80 (~$90-$100 USD)
The wall-mounted chess board she was considering was not a cheap novelty gift.
She was willing to spend far more than the price of a chess t-shirt.
Again, this suggests t-shirts wouldn’t be the right fit for big occasions.
3️⃣ The most important line in her post:
“I really want him to like whatever I get him, but I just don’t know chess!!!!”
This sentence perfectly explains affiliate marketing (and business in general).
💡 She has a clear need: She wants to buy a chess gift for her partner. 💡 She has a pain point: She doesn’t know enough about chess to pick the right gift.
🚀 This is where a good affiliate marketer (or business) steps in.
If I (or any chess affiliate) help her find a gift that her partner will love, I will make a sale.
That’s the not-so-secret secret of successful affiliate marketing: 👉 Connect a product to a pain point, and you will make sales.
🎭 Where Does That Leave Chess T-Shirts?
From this research, I’m thinking: ✔ Chess t-shirts probably wouldn’t work as a main gift for a big occasion like an anniversary. ✔ BUT—if positioned correctly, they could work as a fun “extra” gift. ✔ They could also be a great main gift for a less significant occasion (like a casual birthday or Christmas stocking stuffer).
This also reinforces the idea that if Zero Blunders added a relationship-themed chess t-shirt, it could be marketed specifically for gifts between couples. Something like: 🖤 “You’ll Always Be My Queen’s Gambit” ♟ “You’re My Endgame”
Would it be enough for an anniversary? No. But would it be a fun secondary gift or casual birthday gift? I think so.
🏆 Next Steps
I’m still mulling over whether this is the best angle to focus on.
🔹 Should I suggest a new chess t-shirt design that’s more relationship-focused? 🔹 Should I pivot to a different audience segment (chess players buying for themselves, chess clubs, etc.)? 🔹 Should I just accept that chess t-shirts work best as casual, fun gifts rather than major presents?
I’ll be thinking it over—and in my next post, I’ll reveal which angle I’m going to focus on to try and hit my $100 target.
What do you think? Would a chess-themed t-shirt ever be a good enough gift for a partner? Or is it always going to be a secondary add-on? Let me know! 🚀
