Figuring out how to order custom apparel for your business for the first time—or even the fifth time—can feel overwhelming before you even get started. Artwork formats, quantities, size breakdowns, turnaround times. It’s not complicated once you know what to expect, but it helps to go in with a sense of the process.
Here’s what to think about before you place your first order.
Start With the Purpose
The most useful thing you can do before reaching out to a print shop is get clear on what the order is actually for. Staff uniforms are different from event shirts. Onboarding merch for new hires has different requirements than fundraiser tees. Knowing the end use helps shape the garment style, the print method, the quantity, and the timeline.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you get in touch. But having a sense of who’s wearing this, when, and why makes the whole process move faster.
Think About Your Artwork
Print shops work best with vector files, typically an .AI, .EPS, or high-resolution .PDF. If you have a logo or design in one of those formats, you’re in good shape. If your artwork lives in a low-resolution JPEG or was pulled from a website, it may need some cleanup before it’s ready for production.
That’s nothing to stress about. If you need design help like cleaning up an existing file, adjusting a logo for print, or starting with some existing elements, Tiny has in-house graphic artists who handle that regularly. Just factor in a little extra lead time if the artwork needs work before production can begin.
A few things worth keeping in mind as you think about your design:
- The number of colors in a screen printed design affects both cost and production complexity.
- Embroidery requires a digitizing step to convert artwork into a stitch file.
- If your design has very fine lines or small text, it’s worth a conversation about how it’ll translate at the size you’re printing.
Figure Out Quantities and Sizes
Custom apparel is priced by quantity, so the more you order, the lower the per-piece cost. Most screen printing has a minimum run—typically around 12 pieces depending on number of ink colors. DTF transfers offer more flexibility for smaller quantities as low as one.
Size distribution is something worth thinking through carefully, especially if the order is going out to a broad group. Ordering too many smalls or not enough mediums and larges is one of the most common snags in a first order. If you’re ordering for a specific team or roster, collecting actual sizes before you finalize is always worth the extra step.
Give Yourself Enough Time
A standard order typically takes two weeks from final artwork approval — potentially a little longer during busy stretches like back-to-school season or the spring rush. If your order has a hard deadline, share that upfront so the timeline can be planned around it.
The earlier you get in touch, the more flexibility everyone has. That’s true for any print shop, and it’s especially true during peak seasons.
We’re Here to Help You Think It Through
A lot of customers come to Tiny without having every detail figured out, and that’s completely fine. Part of what we do is help you get from a general idea to a finished order—asking the right questions, flagging anything that might need attention, and making sure what you get back is something you’re proud to hand out.
If you’re ready to get started or just want to talk through a project, get in touch.