How to choose Corporate T-Shirts Supplier

Before you start running to suppliers and catalogs, it’s important to understand your business objectives. 

• Are you after a basic round-neck t-shirt or a polo T-shirt?  
• What is most important to you? Fabric, cost, delivery time?
• Will you be needing a continual supply, or just a one-off purchase of a bulk order? 

Once you have sorted your business needs, you can then turn your focus to the basic decisional factors. 

Comparing Local vs. International Corporate T-Shirts Suppliers

One big question business owners ask themselves is “Should I source locally or internationally?”. 

To help you compare we have created a chart below.

Bonus Tip: If your business will need a new supply frequently and you want to turnaround fast, consider a local supplier. If your ultimate priority is cost for a large one-time event, which could include t-shirts, there is nothing wrong with contacting an international supplier.

Things to Look for in a Trusted T-Shirt Supplier

Are you still unsure how to vet a corporate T-shirts supplier? You can use the following checklist:

• Portfolio of Past Work – Request samples or photos.
• Client Testimonials – Try and find testimonials from other corporate clients.
• Fabric Quality – Feel the fabric if possible. Is it breathable and durable?
• Corporate T-shirts printing Style- Notice this because a good printing has a noticeable impact over customers.
• Minimum Order Quantity – Do they meet your desired volume?
• Logistics Support – Can they provide bulk deliveries to multiple addresses?
• After Sale Support Service – Do they assist in dealing with returns and sizing issues?

Just remember, the right supplier is not just an order supplier, they are your true partner to brand success.

Case Study: Successful Corporate Campaigns Using Branded T-Shirts

For any corporate branding project, quality and consistency are key. Rove Hotels, a modern and contemporary chain of hotels in the UAE, understood this when planning a custom apparel campaign reflecting their brand identity.

The Goal

Rove Hotels were set on creating a line of branded T-shirts for their staff and event marketing. The goals of the project were clear:

• High quality, breathable fabric, especially for longer shifts, 
• A clean, modern aesthetic in-line with their minimalistic brand, 
• Accurate logo placement and colour printing, 
• Chill materials, 
• Quick turnaround as an upcoming hospitality event was approaching.

To embark on the project, they enlisted the help of Merchlist, a custom corporate uniform supplier who prides themselves on delivering sustainable, high-end custom apparel.

The Process

Discovery & Design Briefings

Merchlist arranged various meetings with Rove’s branding team to discuss fabric preferences, fit, and branding expectations.

Material Choice

After sampling several different fabric types, Merchlist narrowed it down to a cotton blend that was hoping to be soft, breathable and ideal for everyday wear, but also could handle an extraordinarily high-quality screen print.

Custom Printing

With screen print, Merchlist was able to ensure: 

• The logo would keep its vibrancy. 
• Accurate colour mix with the brands colours.
• The design would be positioned correctly on a number of T-shirts.

Quality Checks

We quality-checked for color, strength and finish. The client also reviewed test prints of the shirts prior to mass production.

On-Time Delivery

With an incredibly tight turnaround, we delivered the whole order before Rove’s significant event in hospitality so that staff could wear the new branded apparel while meeting and greeting guests.

The Results

• Enhanced Brand Image: The T-shirts’ premium look and feel, improved staff presentation, and changed guest perception.
  
• Team Cohesion: Employees noticed their branded, uniform t-shirt making a sense of team resemblance.
  
• Eco-Friendly Impact: The sustainable fabric offered to Rove made sense with their modern-day values.
  
• Timely Completion: We executed a timely schedule and delivered fast to not delay their rollout before the event.