Don’t you hate it when you find out a secret and realize you’re the last one to know?

Like when your favorite artist announces a surprise concert in your city and the tickets sell out in under 2 minutes? Talk about FOMO.

It sucks to be left out, but don’t stress. When it comes to custom apparel, our mission is to keep everyone in the know. That’s the Scrappy way.

There are industry secrets that other apparel printing companies don’t want you to know, and today we’re going to share five of them.

Ready to take notes? Let’s dive in:

1. Quality matters more than price.

With screen printing, sublimation, cut and sew, or any custom apparel technique for that matter, quality should always be your top priority.

We know you want to save money whenever you can, but skimping on quality will only cost you more in the long run.

If you have a custom apparel brand, you should aim to create products that your customers will love and want to wear over and over again.

If you cut corners to save a few bucks, it’s only going to hurt your business in the long run.

Or let’s say you don’t have an apparel brand, but you need to order work shirts for 500 employees at your company. Guess what? Quality matters for you, too.

If you choose the lowest-priced products on the market, don’t be surprised when your team members complain about holes in their shirts, faded artwork, and unraveled embroidery.

Low-quality custom apparel will burn a hole in your pocket when you have to reorder shirts for your team multiple times per year. Don’t do that to yourself.

So, can you promise us you won’t order the cheapest products just because they’re the cheapest? Great, now we can move on to the next industry secret.

2. Choosing the right custom apparel partner is crucial.

When it comes to apparel printing companies, not all manufacturers are created equal.

In order to get the best possible product, you need to take the time to find a manufacturer that you can trust.

What should you look for in a custom apparel partner? Here are a few key qualities:

The ability to produce top-quality apparel

This one is pretty self-explanatory. You want a manufacturer that is capable of creating products that meet your high standards.

The apparel printing industry is constantly evolving, and the best manufacturers are always ahead of the curve. They invest in the latest technology and have a team of experts on staff who are ready to take on any challenge.

A strong understanding of your brand

If your manufacturer views your brand as a dollar sign and that’s it, you won’t get the same level of support and insight as you would from a manufacturer that’s truly invested in your project.

Genuine partnerships with apparel printing companies should feel like a two-way street. You should be able to rely on them for thoughtful feedback and strategic insights that can help you scale your brand.

A commitment to customer service

When you’re working with a custom apparel partner, you should feel like you’re their only client. They should be responsive to your needs and always available to answer your questions.

You should never feel like you’re being brushed off or that your concerns are falling on deaf ears.

With the right custom apparel experts, your project will be in good hands from start to finish.

3. You should choose a printing method based on your custom apparel goals.

Screen printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing are the two most popular printing methods for custom apparel. Although they are very different, both printing methods have their own distinct advantages.

Pros of screen printing

Screen printing is ideal for apparel brands that want to create vibrant, long-lasting products. Although the setup process takes a while, screen printing provides faster production for bulk orders than DTG does.

For bulk orders, screen printing is the most cost-effective option by far.

Cons of screen printing

Screen printing can be more expensive than DTG for smaller orders. If you’re ordering screen printed products, usually there will be a minimum order quantity (MOQ), which is not ideal if you only need one or two shirts.

At Scrappy Apparel, our MOQ for Retail Ready Screen Printing is 50 pieces.

Pros of DTG printing

DTG produces photorealistic prints. It is perfect for apparel brands that want to print complex designs or need fast turnaround times for a small number of products. With DTG, there are no minimum order requirements.

Additionally, DTG gets an A+ for sustainability since its inks are eco-friendly.

Cons of DTG printing

DTG is more expensive than screen printing for larger orders. DTG prints also don’t last as long as screen prints. If durability is one of your top priorities, screen printing will be the better option.

Why we offer screen printing at Scrappy Apparel

Many of our customers are focused on scaling their clothing brands or ordering custom apparel for their teams of 50 or more. Since screen printing is the way to go for larger orders, we set out to provide the best screen printing services in the industry.

4. For large orders, bulk manufacturing is a more cost-effective option than print-on-demand.

Many apparel brands choose print-on-demand (POD) for their custom apparel needs. POD is great for small orders, but it’s not the most cost-effective solution for large orders.

Bulk manufacturing (a.k.a. when custom apparel is produced in large quantities all at once) is a better option for apparel brands that want to order 500 units or more.

The biggest advantage of bulk manufacturing is that it’s more cost-effective than POD for large quantities. When you order in bulk, you’re able to take advantage of price breaks. The unit cost goes down as the quantity ordered goes up.

Our customers often come to us because they want to order a large number of shirts at the same level of quality they’d expect from a POD service. We’re able to provide our partners with top-of-the-line, bulk manufactured apparel at a fraction of the cost per unit.

5. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for speed.

Just because you need your custom apparel quickly doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice quality. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying (or simply misguided).

It’s all about finding the right partner that is able to deliver the stunning, ultra-soft garments that you can be proud of.

At Scrappy Apparel, we pride ourselves on being able to provide our clients with both quality and speed. We understand that time is of the essence, so we don’t waste any of it.

We offer lightning-quick shipping times with expedited options available. Need a quick turnaround? Tell us when you need your order and we will let you know if we can meet your deadline.

Ready to take your brand to the next level?

Let’s shoot for the moon together. Our team is excited to connect with you.

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