How To Save Money When Ordering Custom Apparel

It’s no secret that using custom apparel as a marketing tool is a must in most cases. Custom apparel is so versatile and is one of the best ways to increase the exposure of your branding and messages to others. Ordering custom apparel can get a bit tricky, especially if you’ve never done it and have a budget to stick to. Not sure how best to save your money when placing a custom apparel order? Look no further!

Here at Rogue Star, we specialize in helping you select garments and print methods best suited for you so that you’re getting the best bang for your buck. This guide will help you with some of the basics when it comes to saving money when ordering apparel.

Print Locations

Not every type of print method is based just the number of colours or just the size, but all print methods take into account how many print locations you want. If you’re not happy with the quote you’re getting for your order, try cutting down the number of print locations you’re getting. A simple cotton shirt with 4 print locations could run you almost the same amount as a premium brand shirt with one print. Try foregoing a few prints or combining some artworks. This may mean spacing adjustments to qualify two prints as one or a rearrangement of layout. 

Order Quantity   

The more, the merrier. The more shirts you print, the less expensive your order will be. The #1 thing we tell any first time custom apparel ordering client is that the promotional industry gives great discounts for bulk orders. A 10 unit quote can be cut down significantly if you order, say, 24 pieces. In a lot of cases, we find that spending the extra money on a few units to reach a new price bracket saves clients more than the higher price at a lower number of units.

Print Colours & Size 

When deciding to print your apparel, keep in mind that the more colours you use or the bigger the design, the more expensive it becomes. Some print methods are based on the number of colours in your design(s), some are based on size. Depending on the print shop you choose, both may play a part in the price. Reps will let you know which print method is most appropriate for your order and which your pricing is based off of. If prices are looking too steep for you, consider having your artwork altered to lessen the number of colours in it or consider shrinking it down by a few inches to save a few bucks per unit. 

Garments

If you find that print costs aren’t varying much between different print methods, consider your garment colour. Many print methods need to lay down pretreatments and/or a layer of white ink before printing colours in order to make them stand out from the garment’s base colour. Instead of choosing black or coloured garments, consider using white. This will eliminate any additional steps and products that can increase printing costs. Another factor to consider is garment brands. If you’ve chosen a premium brand for your garments, consult with your rep about garments that are similar at a lower price per unit. This along with garment colour will keep your pricing high no matter the print method being quoted.

Flexibility

If cost-effective is your number one concern, it’s best to walk into your custom apparel project with flexibility. It’s always great to have a strong vision of what you want your order to look like, but allowing your rep to present you with various garments, brands, and print options will give you some flexibility in return. Another way to offer your flexibility is with your deadline. Allow a decent amount of time for inquiries and production by starting your order well in advance. This presents you with the maximum number of options available to complete your order inside of your budget. Production can take up to two weeks, garments may need to be ordered in, and there may be orders booked solid ahead of your in a printer’s queue. 

Custom apparel is for any time and anywhere. Choosing the right garments and decoration adds value to your brand and message. What makes this value even better is when you can save a few bucks in the process – it makes your investment go so much further. Here at Rogue Star, we specialize in all things custom apparel and promotional products that can be decorated using screen printing, embroidery, laser engraving, and more! We’ll help you make the most of of your next order. We can even ship your order to you whether you’re local to Edmonton or elsewhere in Alberta or Canada. Give us a call now to get started!