It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. For one coach, the stress of collecting sizes and checks from athletes was absent. Packaged orders prepared and ready for distribution was the norm. And there was even some fundraising money in the team account, acquired without selling any overpriced tea. All this while eliminating hours of wasted time organizing spirit wear for the program. Beaming is the coach, as the athletes admire their new gear, received before the first meet of the year. The money raised plus the money saved helped the coaches on the sidelines look as sharp as the drills the players were running.
For another, it was the worst of times. Tracking down sizes for all 80 athletes. Handling the stress of counting cash and checks that are incorrectly made out.
“A day wasted on individual orders is gear wasted sitting on one’s shelf.”
The issues piled on and on, as did the garments in the storage closest, unlabeled and unorganized. Another task on the coach's growing list to tackle. With 2 matches past, and the stress continuing to mount, the coach can only scratch his head and wonder how could things get any worse.
“Death may beget life, but inefficiency can beget nothing other than itself. Especially when the check does not include tax.”
Two situations, two completely different outcomes. Options abound when choosing your course of spirit wear ordering. But equal are not all options.
“Bad service and unresponsive distributors require a lot of time; it is the rule.”
As a coach, you always look for advantages that help your team and players improve on the field, track, or court. Why, then are you not looking for options to improve their spirit wear? Out-dated are the days of collecting order forms and checks from parents. It is now an avoidable stress that wastes valuable time. Time best spent with your athletes.
“He knew enough of the world to know that there is nothing better than the faithful service of a great screen printer.”
Online stores create a stress-free, efficient way to organize your spirit wear and get your gear back to you in a timely fashion. They also provide a simple fundraiser that can be used for coach’s gear or athletes in need of help. Plus, the gear arrives in pre-labeled bags and organized by the individual's name.
“Liberty, quality gear, exultant athletes, and faithful service: -- the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Coaches!"
It is possible to paint a simple picture for success with your team apparel.
As the first coach said about his experience, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done with my spirit wear; it is a far, far better process that I go through than I have ever known. The glorious vision of doing good for the young athletes is so often the sanguine mirage of so many good minds, but those visions are only achievable with the right screen printer in mind.
“And a beautiful world we live in, when it is possible to have no worries about spirit wear, and when many other such things are possible, and not only possible, but the gear is already done-- done, see you! -- under that sky there, every day our athletes representing our team!”
Clearly, the best of times for any coach was one simple decision away. Choose to simplify. Choose to save precious time.
"Nothing that we do, is done in vain. I believe, with all my soul, that we shall see triumph!"
Fundraising has always been an inefficient process. It can be tedious and, frankly, it can be dangerous for our kids. Unfortunately, fundraising has become a necessary part of high school sports programs. To meet our budget requirements, we coaches must seek funding from sources outside of our school. If we don’t fundraise, it is nearly impossible to provide our players the best possible experience. Our teams need equipment, practice gear and we have to travel.
In the past at Rocky Mountain, we utilized traditional fundraising methods. I’ve been on both sides of fundraising, both as a player and a coach. As a player, I ventured into the cold Idaho evenings selling cookie dough and coupon packs door to door. It wasn’t easy. And I was a bigger player. I can’t image how intimidating this process would be to an undersized freshman.
As a coach, we do our best to set up our players for fundraising success. But once the player leaves our locker room, there is very little I can do to help them.
Until we made the switch.
A few years ago, Rocky Mountain moved from traditional fundraising to the more modern online fundraising. And it was easy.
Today, we do a big part of our fundraising through an online team store. Like most programs, our players need to buy specifically required apparel. We also offer spirit packs to players and parents that want to show their support by wearing our school’s colors. An online store allows us to put all these items in one place.
Utilizing an online store for our program has been a game changer. By adding a couple bucks to each item, we able to raise a large part of our budget in a safe and easy way. No more door to door sales. No more hoping for the best. We get a very accurate estimate of how much money our online store will raise and can plan accordingly.
Now, as a program, we take that door to door time and invest it in our community. This year we spent it volunteering and raising money to buy turkeys for families in need. It was an awesome team building experience.
And as an added bonus, taking advantage of an online store has saved our coaching staff countless hours of work. These are hours that we are now putting in to developing our players and perfecting our game plan. The online store takes care of itself. The store collects all the order information and payment. The gear is ordered, printed and delivered straight to us. All we do is hand out the prepackaged orders to the players on our list. We are the heroes without all the work.
To learn more about online stores, click this link. Or you can send Select Printing an email. We would be happy to get you more information and figure out exactly what your team’s needs are and how we can help.
Please include credit to www.selectprintingusa.com with this checklist.
However, we've found that by looking at designs that have been done by others, we can be inspired and can get the creative juices flowing.
To be clear, WE ARE NOT ADVOCATING STEALING SOMEONE ELSE'S DESIGN. We are suggesting that design can help design. Use a design as inspiration, not plagiarism (Relax trademark lawyers)
With that in mind, here are eight designs that are simple but creative. Some are name brand and others are off brand. But the point is that any of them could be tailored to what you are doing.
If you are wondering where we found these images, it took about 10 minutes on Pinterest.
How could you redesign them for your group?
]]>No matter how competitive you are, as an athlete you want to be able to perform at your best. In dropping temperatures, outdoor sports provide the added challenge of mixing the sweat from work with the cool climate.
We like the Eastbay Baseball Compression Top as a performance base layer because it easily stretches with you as you work and gives you added warmth. At the same time the EVAPOR technology will also wick away sweat to keep you from cooling down too much.
It comes in a variety of colors and also has both long sleeve and 3/4 sleeve options. The price comes in below Nike but the performance is strong. We've tested the EVAPOR material under heavy stress, from long half marathons to short MetCon workouts. It is perfect for hitting the slopes, a hike on trails or shooting hoops at the park.
If you are interested in checking out the Eastbay Baseball Compression Top, contact our sales team and we can arrange for you to get your hands on a sample.
Click here to have someone contact you.
]]>But can the holiday spirit be captured in a shirt?
Well, here are some ideas that might help you do just that!
A simple way to offer new designs but without the rework (or spending tons of time) is to change the colors of a current design.
This can be as easy as taking a previous design and color of item and switching them up.
Of course, you can always go for a very specific and new design as well. If you have some holiday design ideas, be sure to check with our graphic designer and see how they can help you.
Another way to make your online store special is to offer something different that you've never offered before and only make it available for a certain time. You will see this done a lot by the NBA this year on Christmas when the ten teams that play will all have unique jerseys.
It is a great way to do something special and remind people how much you care about your brand, company or team.
In the example below, we took a basic design but would offer it on these new and different garments. Then, we would make it clear that this is truly a limited time offer.
People love scarcity and the opportunity to grab something unique that no one else will have.
While the holidays are a festive time of year, keep in mind that some folks may not have the means to purchase high end items as others. It is always a great idea to offer items that span the price point spectrum.
If you are looking for an affordable lower priced item, talk to someone on our sales team and we'll be able to set you up with a great looking gear at a lower price point to add to your options.
If you haven't already taken a look, check out our recent post on why running an online holiday store is an easy way to help your team with gift giving in a stress free way. To see how to set up a holiday store, click here.
Time is definitely running out on the opportunity to capture that holiday spirit in a shirt (or any other garment).
Contact a sales person here at Select Printing and we can help you share the holiday cheer with others!
Click here for contact info.
]]>And the holidays are a great time to show your pride and share the love by giving a cool gift to someone else.
At the same time, the holidays are also incredibly busy so making this process easy for you and your team is crucial. That's why a holiday themed store is the perfect solution.
Running a holiday themed team store is an easy way to do just that. Pick out a few items that you think can really showcase your brand and we'll get a store up and online in time to get your items printed and back to you before the celebrations begin.
If you've never set up a team store with Select Printing or would like more information, click here to see all the details on how they work and how they can save you hours of time while getting a better solution for your team. For the holidays, we highly recomend ending your store by December 1 to ensure enough time for printing and delivery.
Whether it is for the big days ahead in December, celebrating the New Year or just saying thanks for being awesome, a shirt or hoodie with your team on it is a great way to say it. Check out our online store option today!
Click to read the article: Three Extreme Benefits Of Utilizing Online Team Stores
These reversibles span the price spectrum and one of them is sure to meet your upcoming basketball needs.
The following are the five most popular reversibles based on customer response. The pricing below is based on the following so any changes will affect the price:
*Some of the following items are in limited demand depending on style and color. To check, contact Clint at (208) 989-1550 or clint@idahoselect.org.
These affordable reversibles come in 16 different color combinations and also have women's cut and youth sizes available. Adult men's sizes run small through 3XL. They are your basic reversible polyester mesh and are perfect is you need to get something simple and are on a budget.
They start at $21.50 per jersey for a minimum of 10 but pricing may drop if more are ordered.
The Elevate Reversibles provide a stylish jersey but at good price point. The dark side of the jersey has a sublimated pattern that looks great and they are built on the EVAPOR™ moisture-management technology that keeps you dry during competition.
They come in men's, women's and youth sizes with over 15 different color combinations. They start at $31.00 per jersey but stock is limited in some colors and styles.
As far as Nike products go, the League reversible is considered a classic. With a color panel over the should that features the iconic Nike swoosh and Dri-FIT fabric you get the great Nike quality at a great price.
These reversibles come in men's and women's cuts and are available in 8 different colors. They start at $40.00 per jersey but stock is limited in some colors and styles.
If you want to rep the GOAT, these are what you want. The Jordan Reversibles have the clean look you would expect with the Jumpman logo on the right chest of both the siver and dark side. The 100% Dri-FIT fabric will keep you cool and dry all game or practice.
The Jordan reversible basketball jerseys are available in men's cut and are $39.50 each. Seven different colors are available, though be sure to check for availability.
These reversibles are unique in that they only come with one layer but can be worn either way. The single layer makes them one of the lightest reversibles you can find while the Dri-FIT technology will still keep you dry and comfortable. You will definitely be one of the few teams to sport these amazing looking reversibles.
The Elite reversibles start at $46.50 each and come in eight different colors. Definitely check on stock as some colors are limited.
]]>But sometimes you need a job done even faster. We are here to help you with that too.
Here are a few things that you can do to help us produce your job quickly and correctly. As you will see, the biggest keys are communication and reducing complexity.
Select Printing's print process isn't rocket science. Ultimately we're taking the design you want and putting it on the shirt, hoodie or whatever you want printed.
However, when things get complicated it can really slow things down. Here are a few things that are in your control that will help us turnaround your screen printed job faster.
It is probably obvious that printing on items that are in-stock are going to be faster then getting items that are scarce and even on backorder. This is something that our sales team can easily help you with. They know the products we work with inside and out and can help you find items that have the quantities you need.
Key takeaway: we can quickly help you find items that are available right now
Changing the order quantities needed after we've started the process can also slow things down. Sometimes this can mean restarting the job sequence or phasing the order, causing items to arrive at different times. We know that this situation may be out of your control. But if avoided it will keep things on schedule.
Key takeaway: picking a set order quantity up front will keep things from slowing down
Another factor that can affect speed is the color of item needed. We can print on any color and make it look great. But keep in mind that dark items often require extra steps to make that print really pop off the garment. If you need something in a hurry, consider ordering light colored items. It will speed up the print process and keep the quality at a high level.
Key takeaway: printing on lighter colored items can help speed up the process
Need something quickly? Contact our sales team at (208) 989-1550 |
Our design team is great at helping you get what you want. Often artwork is a sticky point for a job when there are lots of complexities. We don't mind this in all. In fact, we love the challenge! But challenges can slow down the process. Keeping things simple can really help.
We realize that for some groups this may not be an option. However, if you have artwork that is print ready (ie a true vector file with colors broken in to layers) then it will really speed up the process. You can see how this works on our graphic guidelines page here. Building your art with a program like Adobe Illustrator is generally the best way to do that.
Key takeaway: provide print ready vector artwork to reduce the time it takes to print items
If you can provide how big and exactly where you want your image printed, that is also an easy time saver. For example, if you want a small print on the front of a shirt on the left chest, you could provide the following:
Now we know exactly how to mock up your design to get it right on the first try.
Key takeaway: provide as much detail as you can on the size of print and location
When items are printed, every color (on a typical job) has to be printed separately (the exception is full color printing but those are not fast jobs). So if you have 3 colors in a design they will take 3 times as long to print compared to a job that needs only 1 color. So ask yourself, "Do I really need more than 1 or 2 colors in this print?" If not, bring the number of colors down to speed up the process.
Key takeaway: the fewer colors in your design the faster it can go
Have a design question? Shoot us an email at r.comer@selectpringingusa.com |
There are a few things that yourself and Select Printing cannot control and one of them is the mail or parcel industry. While there are several choices out there (USPS, FedEx, UPS) all of them rely on physically moving items from one place to another. And while local businesses in the Treasure Valley can arrange for a simple pick up or delivery, out of area jobs do require some logistical considerations.
Since we keep our prices down by not stocking most items, we first order your items from a distributor. Under normal circumstances, delivering to us is pretty quick. Here are two things to consider if you need a speedy job done.
If you are ordering items around holidays, keep in mind that most delivery companies will be giving their employees time off. And for busy mail holidays like Christmas, there is a lot more volume of packages being delivered. This can slow down when your items are delivered to our shop. This is when really planning ahead and talking to us about your job early can help a lot.
Key takeaway: consider potential jobs that may happen near holidays and try to give yourself a little extra time
Yep, even in today's world of electronics and instant information, in the printing world Mother Nature can still play a role. And while those of us in the Northwest understand that winter can play havoc, other parts of the country are affected in different ways.
For example, if you need items that are sourced from the southeast, hurricane season may play a role in delivery time. While there is no way to predict a hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster, be sure to work with us. We often can find you another distributor not in harm's way or an alternative but similar item you will love.
Key takeaway: weather can't be controlled but our sales team knows how to solve these types of problems
Hopefully these tips will help you understand how to speed up your screen printing turnaround time.
Successful jobs under a time restriction start with communication. Feel free to give us a call or send us an email to better understand the factors that can speed up or slow down the screen printing turnaround time.
]]>
We've picked out six awesome items that are not only perfect for the changing weather, they will keep you looking great. And with a wide range of price points you can find something that will fit your budget.
Each of these items have been chosen by our clients from around the northwest as either a standard item for their crew or to be used on their customized team stores.
This is a newer pull over from Next Level that is lightweight and comfortable. It is perfect for mild days and as a layering item. The tri-blend fabric makes it durable and less likely to shrink while the combed ringspun cotton gives it an incredible softness.
You can see more at the product website here: www.nextlevelapparel.com/Prod-24-1-46-2/tri-blend-unisex-hoody.htm
An order of 36 or more with a simple one color print would run $12.00-$18.00 each.
There is just something comfortable about a zip up and this one is no exception. Another item from the tri-blend mold, this hoodie is stylish and slightly heavier then the Next Level pullover.
You can see more at the product website here: www.bellacanvas.com/product/3939/triblend-unsex-litweght-hoodie.html
An order of 36 or more with a simple one color print would run $17.00-$22.00 each.
This hoodie is warm and built on Sport-Tek's performance fabric called Sport-Wick. It is a great hoodie for the price, giving you performance and value in a good looking item.
You can see more at the product website here: www.sanmar.com/sanmar-servlets/CatalogBrowser?productId=F244&prodimage=&swatch=Kelly%20Green&top=Y
An order of 36 or more with a simple one color print would run $23-$27.00 each.
The Eastbay hoodie is very comparable and maybe a slight step up from the Sport-Tek hoodie. While the Eastbay version has a slightly smaller hood (it has two panels) the cuffs are little nicer and the fleece lining inside is softer and thicker.
You can see more at the product website here: www.eastbayteamsales.com/product/model:211331/sku:2180128/eastbay-team-performance-fleece-hoodie-2.0-mens/grey/grey/
An order of 36 or more with a simple one color print would run $25.00-$30.00 each.
The Nike KO is the top of the line hoodie for team gear. Therma-FIT brushed back fabric that keeps the heat in and the cold out. It looks incredible, prints amazing and never ceases to impress.
You can see more at the product website here: www.eastbayteamsales.com/product/model:221470/sku:21940656/nike-team-ko-hoodie-mens/red/grey/
An order of 36 or more with a simple one color print would run $39.00-$43.00 each (retails blank at $49.99).
An order of 36 or more with a simple one color print would run $49.00-$55.00 each (retails blank at $64.99).
]]>It wasn't easy to streamline but thanks to having an in house electrical engineer, a sharp graphic designer and a customer specialist, we've got things dialed in.
Click here to see all the current online stores
Here are the benefits of utilizing an online store:
Until the development of simple online stores, teams, companies and organizations were forced to use one of two methods: paper forms and in house stores.
Paper forms are a pain. They require you to print them out and distribute, fill out with a pen or pencil, collect back up, collect checks or cash and then turn all of that back in to whomever is getting you your gear. Then you have to separate everything out when you get it so it goes to the right people. And that doesn't factor in having to review each order form, make sure it is filled out and legible and make sure that all the money is accounted for and collected correctly. Don't even get us started on calculating and collecting sales tax.
In house stores require time to set up, schedule people to work and make sure there is enough inventory...but not too much inventory. Left overs cost you money. And you still need to collect money and have enough change on hand for those paying with cash. Again, sales tax must be collected.
With Select Printing's online stores we take care of all of this.
Select Printing's online stores can really help you build trust with the people you want to purchase from your online store.
Comparing to the paper forms and collection methods, there is no risk of losing a check or cash that someone gave you to pay for their items. We utilize a secure online payment process that ensures that a customer's credit card info is safe and secure and that nothing will get lost.
With online stores, you as the admin have complete control over the price point of each item. While there will be a minimum cost for each item, you decide what you will charge customers.
We have found several organizations that use their online stores as a way to also raise money for their programs or finance upcoming purchases. Simply add a couple of bucks to each items and when the store closes Select Printing will cut you check for however many items the store sold.
At the end of the day, online stores are good for you and Select Printing. You get to save time, build trust and raise money. We get to provide you an awesome service that will continue to develop our relationship for many years to come.
For more details on how you can set up your online store, contact Clint Hordemann at (208) 989-1550.
]]>
Here is an infographic to show you how quick and easy it is to get your organization's online store up and running. Your team gets the gear they want. You save time by not having to collect order forms, payments and deal with the inevitable "you know, I changed my mind. Can I get this instead?"
Want more details on how to get your store up and running? Contact Clint at (208) 989-1550 or shoot him an email at clint@selectbasketballusa.com
]]>About 6 years prior to now (from the time this post was written) Idaho Select Basketball (as we were known back then) realized that as an organization, we were purchasing as much team gear, event shirts and apparel as most high schools and even some small colleges. And while that was fine (Select Basketball was growing rapidly) we were running in to three main problems: the items were getting more expensive, the gear was being delivered late and the quality was inconsistent.
At that volume the obvious question to us was "Why not start our own screen printing company?"
Except there was a big problem: we didn't know anything about screen printing. Here's how we got started.
Despite not knowing how the screen printing business worked, the idea still seemed like a good one. We partnered up with some other guys that knew the screen printing and design business and began what would turn out to be a fun and beneficial learning experience for all of us.
And even though after about five years we decided to go a different direction then our partners, the experience we received laid the foundation for what would become Select Printing.
And we thought that was probably the case for a lot of the people in our network as well.
So, with some pretty simple logic, we decided to move forward with a new screen printing company that would be run entirely by us and putting people that we trusted in key positions.
Worst case: we spend the same amount of money on gear that we had in the past, break even and provide a few people with new jobs.
Best case: we find a way to bring down our costs while keeping the quality high and getting everything we needed without being stressed by deadlines.
Wow, were we wrong...
In a great way. It turns out that between our ability to find great people to help us while learning from our mistakes (which we made a lot of at first) we were able to create a the core of a company that could find success.
We now work with all kinds of groups, events, teams and organizations and it's a blast. Because for us, it goes behind just printing some gear. We get a chance to really work with these customers in a unique way since we've been in their shoes.
So when we work with our customers to fulfill their screen printing needs, we also get to exchange ideas on how their business is going, other ways we can help and most of the time, we learn a lot from them as well.
As corny as it sounds, we truly form a partnership with our customers. Their best interest is our best interest.
]]>On our website, we have a page simply names Screen Printing Projects (click here to see it). It is a running list of current projects we have completed. Right now the projects have been divided in to seven different types. Do you work in any of these areas?
These project types don't represent every type out there, but they give you a good idea of the types of projects we've been working on recently.
Working with youth groups is always rewarding. The challenges are often understanding what young kids like to wear and combining it with what their parents want.
These are great for organizations that want to offer a convenient way for their participants, fans, families, etc. to get cool apparel...with the hassle of collecting order forms and checks or cash. The online stores we build take care of all that and have also proven to be excellent fundraisers for groups looking to raise a little extra money.
You know spring is here when the weather starts to warm up and the possibility of getting outside starts to get real. That means baseball and track & field are just weeks away. We've put together a line of gear for these teams that will let them get in their work weather it is hot, cold, wet, snowy or the sun is shining (and in the northwest these things can all happen in one day). Teams are building their selections based on layering.
Whether you are a new business or keeping the momentum going with an established company, there is no denying the importance of branding. And a screened t-shirt or sweatshirt is one of the most cost effective ways to keep your brand on people's minds. Don't just take it from us. Click here to read an article written by a web development company on the value of using t-shirts to promote a company.
One of the most powerful offerings that Select Printing offers customers is the ability to get high end name brand gear at significant discounts. Our relationships with a variety of distributors mean that you can get excellent pricing on brands like Nike, adidas and Under Armour.
Screen printing may not be sexy, but by staying up to date you can keep your team looking good, unique and save some money. Sign up for our newsletter and get updates sent straight to your inbox.
]]>The reality is that when you wash items in hot water, especially items that have a lot of cotton in them, those items are much more likely to shrink.
Following up on a previous post about finding the softest t-shirt available and ranking the top 10 (click here to read about which ones rank the best), here is information about what happened when we washed those same items several times in cold water and in hot water.
We acknowledge that we can’t reasonably test every shirt out there. We had to narrow it down. So we wanted the test to be limited to shirts that had at least 25% cotton in the blend. So dri-fit moisture management type shirts were out. Sorry Nike and Under Armour, you’ll have to wait for a different type of test.
Additionally, we stuck to distributors that we know so that we could be sure to get the items in time.
This led us to 19 shirts from 10 different brands. The brands included American Apparel, Anvil, Bella + Canvas, District Made, District Threads, Gildan, Hanes, LAT, Next Level and Port & Company. We used all black shirts (or as dark as possible if the style didn’t have a pure black). And they were all size XL, in case you were curious about that.
The testing was pretty straightforward.
As you might expect, washing the shirts in cold water had little to no effect on the shirt's width or length. In fact, only 3 shirts were affected and those effects were tiny. So should you always wash in cold? We recommend it. It preserves the size and the printed image on your shirt better. And, according to this article in the Smithsonian, has other positive results as well. But in case you want to wash in hot...
The shrinkage calculation was pretty simple. Remember geometry in school? Area = length time width to get the total square inches. We took the post hot wash area of the shirt and divided it by the pre-hot wash area of the shirt. That will tell you how much of the shirts area has shrunk. We turned it into a percentage and...shrinkage.
Here are the top 5 shirts that fared the best after a hot water wash and a medium dry.
#1 [0% shrinkage] Anvil 780 - 100% ring spun cotton (preshrunk)
#2 [1.92% shrinkage] Next Level N6210 - 60% cotton / 40% polyester
#3 [2.47% shrinkage] District Threads D142 - 50% polyester / 38% cotton / 12% rayon
#4 [2.93% shrinkage] Gildan 50/50 - 50% cotton / 50% polyester
#5 [3.50% shrinkage] Next Level 3600 - 100% ring spun cotton
These five came in at the bottom, showing the most shrinkage after a hot wash and medium dry.
#1 [8.23% shrinkage] LAT 6901 - 100% ring spun cotton
#2 [6.58% shrinkage] District Threads DT6000 - 100% ring spun cotton
#3 [5.53% shrinkage] District Made DM130 - 50% polyester / 25% cotton / 25% rayon
#4 [5.52% shrinkage] District Threads DT4000 - 100% ring spun cotton
#5 [5.33% shrinkage] Gildan 64000 - 100% ring spun cotton (preshrunk)
For the most part, based on the previous years of experience with these brands and styles, the results seem consistent with what we have seen in the past. Really the only surprise was that the DM130, which is a tri-blend with minimum cotton, shrank as much as it did. What we did see and would be confident enough to say is that if you don't want your shirts to shrink, wash them in cold water. And, typically, the more cotton there is, the more likely it is to shrink when washed in hot water.
Obviously, when you only test one sample one time there is no way to draw absolute conclusions. Any scientist will tell you that your sample size needs to be much bigger to account for variability in the manufacturing. So take these results with a grain of salt.
You can see from the results that words like pre-shrunk can mean different things (compare the Anvil 780 and Gildan 64000 above) and even the country of manufacturing within a brand or style can make a huge difference (another case for why American Made builds consistency).
The next step would be performing the same style of testing on shirts using a much bigger sample size, controlling for variables such as country of manufacturing and doing more of an apples to apples comparison (all 100% ring spun).
You will be able to see the rankings and some of the surprises we were not expecting!
We acknowledge that we can't reasonably test every shirt out there. We had to narrow it down. So we wanted the test to be limited to shirts that had at least 25% cotton in the blend. So dri-fit moisture management type shirts were out. Sorry Nike and Under Armour, you'll have to wait for a different type of test. Additionally, we stuck to distributors that we know so that we could be sure to get the items in time.
This led us to 19 shirts from 10 different brands. The brands included American Apparel, Anvil, Bella + Canvas, District Made, District Threads, Gildan, Hanes, LAT, Next Level, and Port & Company.
We used all black shirts (or as dark as possible if the style didn't have a pure black). And they were all size XL, in case you were curious about that.
The set up for the testing was pretty straightforward. We covered the labels on the shirts so there wouldn't be any bias and then some of our employees rated them on softness on a scale of 1 (less soft) to 10 (more soft). We didn't limit how they could test so some used their hands while others used their cheeks.
Keep in mind, the testing wasn't a ranking system. They were rating them all individually so some shirts scored the same.
Following the test, we then washed all the shirts twice and hung dry them. We then washed them again and dried them on a "medium" heat setting. Then we did the softness test again.
First, the top 10 and their scores:
#1 [9.25] District Made - DM130 (Tri Blend)
#2 [9.00] American Apparel - TR401 (Tri Blend)
#3 [8.5] Next Level - 6410 (60/40 with suede finish)
#4 [8.00] District Threads - DT4000 (100% ring spun)
#5 [6.5] Next Level - 6210 (60/40)
#5 [6.5] District Threads - DT6000 (100% ring spun)
#5 [6.5] District Threads - DT140 (100% ring spun)
#8 [6.25] Bella + Canvas - 3001C (100% ring spun)
#9 [5.75] Next Level - 3600 (100% ring spun)
#9 [5.75] LAT - 6901 (100% ring spun)
#1 [9.5 +0.25] District Made - DM130 (Tri Blend)
#1 [9.5 +0.5] American Apparel - TR401 (Tri Blend)
#3 [9.0 +0.5] Next Level - 6410 (60/40 with suede finish)
#4 [8.5 +3.25] District Threads - DT142 (Tri Blend)
#5 [7.5 -0.5] District Threads - DT4000 (100% ring spun)
#6 [7.25 +0.75] Next Level - 6210 (60/40)
#7 [6.5 +0.0] District Threads - DT6000 (100% ring spun)
#7 [6.5 +0.0] District Threads - DT140 (100% ring spun)
#7 [6.5 +0.25] Bella + Canvas - 3001C (100% ring spun)
#10 [5.75 +0.25] Hanes - Nano 4980 (100% ring spun)
The finish by the DM130 by District Made was not what we expected. Even as a tri blend, this dark horse wasn't expected to score this high, let alone at the top. And when you consider that these shirts anywhere from $2-$4 less expensive then the American Apparel TR401, it definitely makes it worth considering. However, the American Made aspect of the TR401 is always a strong argument for purchase.
Not listed in the top 10 of either test was the American Apparel 2001, that company's popular 100% ring spun cotton. It finished at #11 in both tests, but our first guess was that it would be in the top 5.
Check out the DT142 by District Threads in the post-wash test! While it is not uncommon for t-shirts to get softer as they are washed, the jump from this style was impressive. That makes is a great candidate for those seeking shirts for the long term.
If you are looking for softness in a t-shirt, choosing a blend is going to help. The next consideration is probably how the shirt will be used. If you are running an event and doing a give away, the pre-wash test is what you might look at. If you are looking at shirts for your team that you know are going to be worn repeatedly with laundering then the post-wash numbers might be a better choice. And of course price is always a factor.
If you would like some more detailed information on pricing or any other way we can help, call or email us directly.
*These tests were done for Select Printing's internal use. Opinions may vary.
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