Choosing the Right Promotional T-shirt
Giving away promotional T-shirts (and other items) is a wonderful way to advertise any type of business. Consumers, of all ages, love getting something for nothing. So… if your T-shirt is unique enough, chances are it will be worn quite frequently and will then help to increase your customer base.
(This type of promotional giveaway is a wonderful way to garner interest in nonprofit organizations, as well.)
T-shirt printing continues to be a very competitive business. Because of this, it pays to shop around to get the best deal possible. When taking the time to research, you’ll no doubt be surprised at the money you can usually save.
Yes… there are many companies, which offer promotional printing services. Even so, deciding on the best company to work with doesn’t have to be a daunting task. The following tips should help you make your final decision.
First, you must decide on the quantity of T-shirts needed and the price you are willing to pay for each. Most vendors offer a bulk discount of some kind. Make sure to initially ask about this, when making general inquiries.
If you are artistic in nature, it is entirely possible to save money on your purchase by creating your own logo. There are many wonderful computer graphics programs, which will assist you in doing so.
(When creating your own graphics, it is important that you follow the guidelines of the printing company you have chosen to work with. This will avoid the possibility of altering the logo, at a later date. TIFF and PNG are two common file extensions used to save work that will be later used for printing.)
For designs, which are smaller in size, consider embroidery as opposed to screen printing. This will normally produce a better quality design. However, it should be noted that opting for embroidery will add to the total purchase price.
If you’re working with a limited budget, it is wise to choose T-shirts that are white in color. This is typically the least expensive choice and will give you the most money to spend on the actual logo choice and printing process. Gray and tan T-shirts are probably the next best choice, as far as price goes.
It is also advisable to order T-shirts, which have been preshrunk. If this is not a possibility, you should instead choose larger size shirts that can still be worn comfortably after they had been washed and dried.
Should you locate a vendor who is out of your price range, it never hurts to ask if they will price match or even be willing to work within your budget. Many times they will do so, in order to secure your future business… and the possible business of your acquaintances. (Word-of-mouth advertising is still a very successful practice, in most industries.)
If you prefer more vibrant colors, there are a couple of things to consider before choosing them. One of these things is customer demographics. Who is your typical customer? Is it someone from ‘the younger crowd’? Man or woman? Are they the conservative type?
These are important questions. Why? In a nutshell, you don’t want to order pink T-shirts if you are trying to attract the attention of the male population or rather boring black-and-white T-shirts in the event they will be given to children. Nor do you want to order Gothic or funky-themed shirts, if you cater to a more conservative crowd.
It is also best to match the T-shirt style with your logo or message. For example, if the shirts will be given to young women you want to choose a feminine looking shirt… not a pocket T-shirt without sleeves.
You want to work with a T-shirt printing company that offers a satisfaction guarantee. While the majority of these companies produce quality work, there is always the chance that something might go wrong. You don’t want to be obligated to pay for something that you won’t be able to use.
If your promotional T-shirts will be distributed during a special event, it is VERY wise to order them as far in advance as you possibly can. This will avoid the possibility of the order not being completed in time.