In the sea of promotional products in GoPromotional‘s arsenal, custom T-shirts are an advertising classic. Though many say they’re basic and uninspired, there’s a reason so many companies continue to use them. They work!
Practical and universally beloved, T-shirts are something everyone of any age, or profession needs. Therefore, they’re the perfect branded gift to reach the widest demographic possible. Plus, they’re portable, so any company that adds their logo to them will get their brand in front of a fresh pair of eyes on a continuous basis.
But the true magic of T-Shirts lies in their design. Apart from a logo and company information, a brand can easily print them with a whole host of patterns, colours and prints. This will not only increase their appeal as a stylish accessory but also support teamwork. Nothing lets employees know that they’re valued and a part of a team like getting a personalised T-shirt for their corporate team.
Therefore, any brand that is struggling with coming up with a promotional campaign, should go back to the basics. Though it’s much simpler than a flashy 10-second ad, branded T-Shirts can still effectively raise brand awareness, in a simple, yet very effective way.
Why Use T-Shirts to Advertise?
A traditional 10-second ad may be a tempting option for raising brand awareness, but it isn’t necessarily going to be effective. Ads can be flashy and far too expensive. Not to mention that they can be intrusive. With so many companies trying to catch the public’s attention, ads are constantly bombarding consumers from all sides and interrupting their daily activities.
Though a few ads a day may be harmless, too many of them are a nuisance. This intrusiveness can cause people to develop resentful feelings toward a brand — which is the exact opposite of what an advertisement should do.
In contrast, T-Shirts are an incredibly low-key way to advertise. They’re a practical item that customers can wear on a daily basis for any occasion. That already makes them more appealing than an ad that offers nothing except perhaps visual entertainment. However, their true worth lies in the fact that they’re a passive form of advertising.
They don’t assault potential customers with brand info. Instead, they display the logo, allowing the customer to notice it on their own. For people who are tired of annoying ads hogging their social media feed, this form of advertisement is infinitely more preferable. Not only does everyone appreciate free gifts, this also lets brands build rapport with their consumer base.
They Don’t Just Work For Customers
Another benefit branded T-Shirts offer is that they don’t just work for customers. They’re a fantastic way to reach potential business partners and employees. Any brand knows how important it is to let employees know they’re valued.
Branded T-Shirts are the perfect way to do that. They’re like a stylish, yet casual company uniform that lets employees know they’re part of a team, and working toward a common goal. Plus, customers aren’t the only ones who like receiving free things! Employees can appreciate a free branded T-Shirt too, especially if it’s stylish enough to wear on a daily basis.
Business partners can also benefit from branded T-Shirts. A branded accessory that is also stylish? That is the perfect combination for projecting an image of professionalism and prestige. Therefore, not only will brand Tee’s remind potential business partners about the company, they will also show that a company is successful enough to hand out a useful item en masse.
Branded T-Shirts: Affordable Yet so Powerful
A widespread belief is that an effective ad campaign will cost a lot of money. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, branded T-Shirts prove the exact opposite. They’re effective, while still being suitable for everyone regardless of budget.
Wholesale retailers like GoPromotional offer plenty of exciting T-shirt designs, at incredibly affordable prices. They have plenty of different T-Shirt styles, in a plethora of different colours and designs. However, beyond existing designs, a brand can opt to print their own design on a T-Shirt to best represent their message.
It’s just a matter of loading up the website, uploading your preferred design and presto. The perfect branded T-Shirt is complete and ready to do some advertising.
Though this all sounds exciting, the real question is, will this cost more? Not necessarily. Especially for a company that decides to bulk purchase the T-Shirts. Bulk purchases always come with a pretty impressive discount, which is ideal for a brand doing a large promotional campaign during a fair or corporate event. And if you have the budget to splurge, you can throw in some printed beanies or corporate branded caps in the mix.
How to Choose the Right Kind of Promotional T-Shirt
The above-listed info perfectly illustrates why T-shirts are an excellent promotional tool. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean any old T-shirt. The T-shirt material, the quality of the seams as well as the printing technique all play a vital role in determining how a T-Shirt will look. Not only that, but it will also determine how long the Tee will last.
Therefore, when ordering T-Shirts, brands should be mindful of several different factors.
1. Materials
The road to quality clothing items starts with materials. And the best of the best is, of course, cotton. Often called, ‘ the king of the fabrics’, it’s the most common type of material manufacturers use to make T-Shirts. This isn’t just because it’s affordable.
As a fabric, cotton is very versatile. It’s very heat resistant, and therefore easy to work with. What’s more, it’s a fairly soft, hypoallergenic fabric. Therefore, it feels comfortable, while also being suitable for those with allergies or sensitive skin. However, because the material is so widespread,
However, not all cotton is created equal. Since the material is so popular, growers have tried selling subpar cotton to meet the high demand. As expected, this type of cotton makes for very cheap clothes that tear easily. Therefore, when buying promotional T-Shirts, a company should pay attention to cotton quality.
Good, durable cotton has long thick fibres. The longer the fibres, the better the garment, as manufacturers can weave them into tight seams. Such quality stitching results in a material that is thick and soft to the touch, without being heavy. Plus, the tighter the seams, the longer the T-Shirt will last since they’re unlikely to tear even when exposed to damage.
While it’s possible to find standard cotton that meets these requirements, companies that want to splurge can opt for Pima or Egyptian cotton. Both are classed as extra-long-staple cotton with long, silky threads that are extremely damage resistant. Granted, both varieties are synonymous with posh, pricey clothing items, but they’re a great option for a more high-end promotional campaign.
2. Production Quality
The second most important contributor to T-Shirt quality is of course how it’s made. If a T-Shirt is haphazardly slapped together, then it won’t matter how good the material is. Therefore, when shopping for T-Shirts, a company should always choose T-Shirts with good quality stitching.
As discussed above, this means looking for T-shirts with complex seams. One way to do this is to pay special attention to several things:
- The inside of the T-Shirt: Missing stitches or loose stitches on the inside of the T-Shirt is the first sign that a piece of clothing is poorly made. Good quality fabrics will have even, flatly stitched seams.
- The number of stitches: A high-quality T-Shirt will have plenty of tightly packed stitches. They are clear-cut signs that the manufacturer spent a lot of time putting it together.
- The collar and the hem: While the inside stitching is the biggest indicator of quality, the hem can also reveal a tee’s secrets. If the collar and hem are uniform and tightly stitched, that’s a pretty good sign of a quality piece of clothing.
3. Printing Technique
It’s common sense that the printing technique determines how the T-Shirt looks. However, the type of print doesn’t just affect the aesthetic. It also determines how long the logo and accompanying design will last. Cheap printing techniques will yield low-resolution designs which will not only look bad, but also fade away after a good wash.
Therefore, it’s crucial that a company choose quality printing techniques. One of the best on the market is silkscreen printing. It’s the standard finishing method designers use for every type of fabric. This is because it can print over large areas, in multiple colours on both the front and back of the T-shirt. It can also easily apply a finisher to the sleeve areas.
Apart from silkscreen, Direct to Garment Printing works as well. This method is very advantageous because it uses inkjet printers to seal the ink directly into the fabric. The design will blend with the cotton strands, resulting in a firm, clear design that won’t fade easily.
Beyond printing, another way to add a logo to a T-Shirt is embroidery. This option is admittedly very labour intensive, but worth it for brands that value quality. Complex embroidery has a rustic, aesthetically pleasing look that can elevate a T-Shirt to the next level. Plus, unlike standard print designs, there’s no risk that it will fade away.
Because the process takes up a lot of time, it may be pricier than other options. However, it’s a good idea for companies looking for a more high-end promotional item to hand out to potential business partners.
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Key Takeaways On Promotional T-Shirts
T-Shirts are the perfect gift for every occasion. They’re a practical, comfortable piece of clothing everybody needs. Hence why they make for such a powerful promotional item. They allow a brand to tap into a wide demographic while advertising their business in a very subtle way.
Because they’re easy to customise, a company can use them any time anywhere. Be it for high-end corporate events to impress potential business partners or casual company teambuilding picnics, T-shirts are multifunctional. They can impress, raise brand awareness, and bring people together as a team.
However, in order for the Tees to be effective, they should be of good quality. The right material, stitching and printing technique will not only determine how good the T-shirt looks but also how long it lasts. Therefore, companies looking for an inexpensive, long-term promotional item should look no further than branded T-Shirts.
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Screen Printed T-Shirts – 13 Reasons Why They Make Great Promotional Products
Looking for something different? Browse our full range of branded clothing and if for any reason you still can’t find what you are looking for, then simply give us a call on 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today. You may also wish to consider complementing your order of T-shirts with some printed jackets or even some custom scarves which are sure to be well received by customers and employees alike!
