How to Use Our Price Estimator
We know that when it comes to custom t-shirt printing, there are thousands of options out there. Going through the creative process of designing your garments requires many decisions to be made, and tiny alterations in your design or garments can results in big price changes. Making the creative decisions like adding another color to your design or putting your logo on the sleeve can impact your total cost. You want to create the ideal version of your product while staying within budget.
On our website we have a handy tool we like to call the price estimator. It’s available to use with every garment on our website and gives you an accurate cost for your custom apparel order. We use it when determining cost and if you have been wondering how it works, this post is for you!
The price estimator is a helpful way to figure out how much your order will cost.
We want your ordering process to be as smooth as possible so that you can experience efficiency from start to finish. As a team of people with experience in the custom screen printing industry, we strongly believe that you have the right to know what you’re spending your hard earned dollar on. There are never hidden costs with us. We have a price calculator built into our website so you know how much your order will cost. This calculator includes everything you need to know about your total costs, including adding customizations like hem tags, folding and bagging, and pricing for larger apparel sizes.
When looking at this tool, it can seem a little daunting. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the possibilities. Our Customer Account Specialist, Syd, walks us through the process using the price estimator.
Syd says that this tool “can be super helpful and straightforward once you start using it.”
If you have a game plan, or have done this before then it’s straightforward. If not, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the possibilities when you go to our website. We have a couple hundred garments on our website and these are just a portion of what is available to you. So what can you do?
Selecting your garment style is a good place to start.
This is where you decide whether it’s a crew neck, pullover hoodie, or something else, then you can filter even further.
You can filter by material, category, brand, and price. Once you find a garment that you like, notice the price estimator. It should be to the right of the garment on a desktop and under the product description and colors when viewing on a mobile device.
Let’s go through the process together.
So you’ve decided on the Next Level 3633 Tank.
We see that the cost of the tank with a one color print would be $6.60 at a quantity of 100 shirts.
On the righthand side in the price estimator box, put the number of colors that are in in your design for the front and the back of the shirt.
It’s important to know exactly how many colors your artwork has. For example, if your design is a gradient it’s not just the two main colors, but all the shades in between. This also is not the CMYK color numbers, just the number of individual colors in your design. We explain more about artwork creation and file prep on our website.
Something that you may not realize is that each additional color and location added will increase the price because each color requires its own screen. If your design is over 17 inches, then it’s considered a jumbo sized design and the minimum quantity increases.
For this example, let’s use the Threadbird logo with a blue bird and black lettering. Using this example, the amount of colors is two on the front, no colors on the back, and this is not considered a jumbo design.
When you select the number of colors on the “Front” dropdown, you will see a table showing the cost per shirt based on total quantity ordered underneath!
You can see all the pricing and if there is an “x” listed, that quantity is unavailable with the number of print colors currently selected.
We see that the minimum quantity of 24 shirts is an option, and that each shirt costs $12.95. In regards to shirt colors, we can split different color shirts if its the same shirt, but must print at least 12 of each color. We can also do an ink change fee sometimes instead of doing two completely separate set ups.
Scroll down to find charts explaining the cost per shirt when adding things like additional colors, print locations, and finishings. For example, if I want two of my 24 shirts to be size 2XL, these will cost $14.70 each (12.95+1.75).
In the “each additional location” table, see how much it costs to add another spot with each number of colors. Add this to each cost for individual shirts. So if we wanted to add another Threadbird logo on the left sleeve, it would cost $5.15 per garment if we only order 24-35. You can quickly see how much more cost-effective it is to order in larger quantities.
If you keep scrolling, you see the finishings section. This includes tag printing, hem tags, folding and bagging, and hang tags.
So there you have it!
If this ever feels confusing, our CSRs are here to answer questions and do any calculations for you. We hope that this tool can be used to make your ordering process smoother and better. Ready to try it out? Head to Threadbird to create your first estimate!
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
The Legend Heavyweight from ITC
The Legend Heavyweight Hoodies and Sweatshirts by ITC
Just like that, it went from summer to winter in the blink of an eye. So you know what that means? It’s cold and your t-shirts just aren’t cutting it for most of your customers. You need a sweatshirt that your customers are going to be happy to rock but that is also going to keep them warm and last all winter long. The good news is that Independent Trading Company is bringing you their most durable sweatshirt yet, one that will last all this winter and many more after.
"You need a sweatshirt that your customers are going to be happy to rock but that is also going to keep them warm and last all winter long."
Introducing Independent Trading Co’s series of Heavyweight Cross-Grain Hoodies - their highest quality hoodie yet. Featuring heavyweight 450gm/13.5oz fleece, and true 1x1 ribbing, this hoodie is one that will last all of your customers for years to come. You might even need one for yourself.
1x1 ribbing for extra reinforcement and shape!
These hoodies feature 1x1 ribbing on the cuffs (1x1 ribbing is a knit that helps to reinforce the fabric), the hem, and sides create a fashionable garment that retains its shape over time. The heavy-duty shoelace drawcords are finished with antique silver drawcord tips make this look like it’s something that came right off the streetwear runway.
IND500C
What's the difference with heavyweight?
As opposed to a lighter fleece garment, not only is it warmer and more durable but let’s talk about its shape. This series of Heavyweight Cross Grain sweatshirts and hoodies maintain their shape wash after wash, and they also look great on. Whereas most hoodies bunch up and pull easily, the weight of these sweatshirts pulls it down making for a nice hang. It’s exactly that streetwear vibe your customers have been begging for!
But aside from that, heavyweight is in! It’s the quality associated with the garment when you pick it up. It feels heavy, the finishings are solid, it maintains its shape and color after multiple washes, and it’s a garment that will wear in and get better with time.
But, what are the options?
Hoodie or Sweatshirt - it’s your choice! They’re both fantastic, it just depends if you want a hood or not. They have the same amazing ribbed features throughout and hold up back to back.
As for colors - ITC has thrown it back to traditional collegiate colors by offering the classic Navy, Maroon, Alpine Grey, and Black. But if you are looking for less of a throwback and something a bit brighter it comes in Bone and Dusty Pink as well.
Streetwear brands all over are selling simple heavyweight sweatshirts like this for over $200! Talk about a serious margin for your brand as well. High-quality garments like this are what your customers are looking for, let your brand deliver.
ITC claims this is the best sweatshirt and we might have to agree, it has everything you’re looking for. It’s cozy, comfy, and cool. If you’ve accomplished the three C’s, what else can you really ask for?
Want to get your hands on one today? Check out the sweatshirt and hoodie today!
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
How to Start a T-shirt Company - Index
Congrats! You’ve made it to the end of this business-starting journey.
Now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned to establish and grow your own brand. Our series on ‘How to Start a T-shirt Company’ took you step-by-step through the process of starting your own t-shirt company, from creating your first design to getting a business license.
This series is full of valuable information, guides, and resources to help you to start your business - even if all you currently have is an idea.
Here at Threadbird, we’re focused on not only helping you find the perfect t-shirt but being a partner with your business. It’s our goal to help you grow your business from placing orders of 24 pieces to orders of 1,000.
There’s a lot involved in starting your own t-shirt company, but to keep you from searching through our blog to find the best information, we’ve linked out the whole series here.
Follow this easy guide to get to the information you need:
- How to Start a T-shirt Company
- Choosing the Best T-shirt for Your Brand
- Creating a Brand
- How to Run a Business
- Social Media
- Advertising
- Showcase Your Stuff
- Creating Designs
- Beyond the T-shirt
- Growing Your Brand
We are excited to see everything you have learned from our series. If you’ve combed through all of this content and you’re ready to go, get your order started here!
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
Customer Feature: walk in love.
‘walk in love.’ is not just a brand, it’s a lifestyle. Choosing to ‘walk in love.’ is embracing the small things in life, like the love amongst family and friends. But most importantly, doing everything you do with love – “walking in love”.
Started in 2008 in Manheim, PA, ‘walk in love.’ was a mission trip fund started by T.J. Mousetis (the founder of walk in love.). In order to raise funds for his mission trip to Russia with his father, he began selling t-shirts with the words “walk in love.”
T.J. felt like that phrase defined how he felt about his faith.
He wanted to pursue a life “walking in love,” without being pushy about it. The phrase is simple enough – we can all relate.
What started as a small fund-raiser became a college hobby and today it’s grown into a full-time job for T.J., his wife Brooklyn, and their family. In addition to their t-shirt brand, they run a lifestyle blog full of advice, recipes, and great stories about their family. You can even find a delicious recipe every now and again like their Summer Berry Cobbler.
Their blog and their entire brand supports faithful encouragement - to not only love those around you but love your family deeper.
“Our message has remained the same through the years and that’s we should love others every chance we get, no strings attached. We try to live that out in our daily lives and share ways we do that as well as acknowledge that we fall short of that.”
– T.J.
Through their blog, T.J. and Brooklyn are candidly transparent as a couple. They share their triumphs and struggles, they share real-life stories with their audience “about how we pursue the idea of walking in love and choosing joy in our actual life.”
They’ve set their brand apart through this - it’s not just a t-shirt, but an entire platform their audience can connect with. T.J. and Brooklyn embody their brand as a lifestyle and live intentionally and minimally to stay engaged with their family. They’re an example for many others who are trying to achieve just that. T.J. says,
“My absolute favorite tee is the Bella + Canvas 3413.”
The walk in love. brand chooses to illuminate their message of love with quality garments they're sure their customers will love. After years of trying different brands and styles, they landed on Bella + Canvas as their go-to brand. With the addition of custom printed tags and hem tags, it’s these small elements that build brand consciousness and help to set their designs apart.
walk in love. has grown from a hobby to a career for the couple.
We asked T.J. what advice he would give other brands looking to grow their business and he attributes a lot of their success to Instagram.
“I think because we were early adopters of Instagram that helped since it is so challenging to grow an audience today but I also think a lot of how we’ve grown is understanding who we are, what we want to share, and sharing that."
“So many brands, to me, don’t understand who they are and tend to focus on just posting trendy content and while that might get you, followers, I don’t think they will stay with you. We tend to focus on saying what we want to say, not what others want us to say.”
T.J. and Brooklyn have created an authentic brand and that’s something their audience can see. It shines through not only their blog but each t-shirt you buy from them.
Check out the walk in love. blog today and grab yourself one of their t-shirts while you’re there, you won’t regret it! Their next t-shirt drop is on February 16th, 2020 - make sure to mark your calendars.
Showcase Your Stuff - Don't just show it off, tell a story
With your product in hand, it’s time to formulate a visual concept for your brand. Setting up a photoshoot to create digital assets helps tell your story and engage your customers.
Careful planning and setting goals will make sure that your products are being shown in a way that evokes the right emotions from your customers.
Before you begin your shoot ask yourself the following questions:
- What story am I trying to tell to my customers?
- Where are these images going to be used?
- Based on their use, what size should I shoot them in?
- What is my goal with these images?
- Do you have a call to action for these images?
Once you’ve determined your narrative, the process of creating a series of images will come easily. Your story can be told through images with the use of backgrounds, props, poses, and interactions between your models.
Curating a Lookbook
A great way to show off your entire collection is through the use of a lookbook. A lookbook can be a downloadable file that can be made available on your website, typically released on a collection basis to show off an entire product line.
Create a story, style your products, and take pictures to create a unique lookbook for your brand. This is a great customized way to show off and build up anticipation for your products.
Here are some steps to create the perfect look book:
- Pick out which products you want to feature – Curate the perfect mix of complementary products and create a cohesive look. Brands typically release lookbooks on a product release-cycle basis.
- What’s your goal? – Each lookbook should have a goal. Determine what you are trying to achieve with this lookbook.
- Create a mood board – Put together ideas, photos you love, color schemes, and editing styles. This will help you determine the look you want to create.
- Find a location – Dive deep into your mood board then head outside to find a location that works best for your shoot. Don’t forget to factor lighting and props
- Book models – Determine who you want to model your products and book them. Have a mix of people with unique looks.
- Set the shoot and get to it! – Pick a date and time for the shoot.
- Find your platform to create a lookbook – Since it will exist online it’s important for there to be a link that can easily be shared. You might even check out an online service that creates lookbooks like Flipsnack or Joomag.
- Finalize it and release it – You’ve taken your pictures and designed your dream book, now it’s time to put your creation out there on your website and social media sites.
- Get it to your customers – Create an email blast or a social campaign around your lookbook. Push it out to your customers so they know all about your new t-shirt drop!
Getting Social to Show it Off!
Being active on social media sites is one of the best ways to show off your products. The more your customers are seeing your items the more likely they are to think about them and eventually convert and buy them.
Showcasing your products is a key piece in advertising. We live in a visual age so it’s important to give your customers quality visual assets. Creating unique and consistent imagery will produce a recognizable brand presence.
New Product: We're Dropping the (Enamel) Pin!
Enamel Pins are the rage everywhere nowadays, from jean jackets to backpacks, it’s a trend that’s here to stay and can be a simple, margin-conscious addition to your brand. Pins are easy to produce and have a high-profit margin, so they’re a great tool to bring your average cart value up. They also have a high perceived value - at less than $2 a piece (for quantities of 1,000+) they make great free order add ons or giveaways at your next event.
So, What’s the Low-Down on Pins?
Two of the most popular enamel pin styles are Soft Enamel and Hard Enamel. Each style has a different outcome. Let’s take a look at the details:
Soft Enamel Pins
- Consist of raised edges
- Defined edges make the colors pop
- Best option for designs with smaller details
Hard Enamel Pins
- Smooth to the touch and have an even surface with no ridges
- Best option for larger, less complicated designs
- Flat and glossy look
Shapes and Sizes?
Pins can be made in almost any shape or size. At Threadbird, we offer pins in the most popular sizes: 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”, 1.75”, and 2” sizes. If you’re looking to completely customize the size and shape of your pin, we can create any custom size up to 2 inches.
Even your most colorful designs can become a pin, with the ability to use up to a max of 7 colors. Designs with 4 colors or less are included in our standard pricing, but don’t let that stop you from getting creative!
Metal Options
Go one step further and incorporate a complementary metal that fits your design. This effect gives a more dramatic look to the raised metal on soft enamel pins.
Customize the Front and the Back!
Enamel pints are a fully customizable item, which means you can choose the backing and tailor how your finished pins will be presented.
Backing Options
Every pin needs a backing, and we offer a range of hardware options. For larger pins, you can even add two backings to make sure the weight of the pin doesn’t affect the look once your customers are wearing it. This prevents the dreaded pin spin that leaves your amazing design sitting upside down.
Packaging Options
Present your pin in the most brand-appropriate fashion. Give your finished pin a retail look by adding a personalized custom backing card.
Are your pins a gift? Plastic boxes, or the more budget-friendly option of velour bags, can present your pin in a gift-worthy setting.
Ordering
Check out our in-depth Enamel Pin PDF that contains all the options we have available. Choose your artwork, then pick out the size, colors, backing, and finishings. Send the artwork our way, and we’ll take care of the rest. Turnaround time on pins is typically 15 business days with an additional 3 days for shipping.
If you’re looking to get a quote on pins check out the PDF here or if you’re ready to stick an order to us, send an email to [email protected].
Showcase Your Stuff - Photography 101: Catching the light
Playing with lighting can change the whole mood and vibe of a photo. It’s important to light your pictures in a way that best reflects who you are as a brand. When deciding how to light your subject there are two ways – natural lighting and studio lighting.
Natural Lighting
Natural lighting is using sunlight to illuminate your subject. You can use windows to work with natural lighting indoors or head outside to take advantage of the outdoor glow. With both indoor and outdoor natural lighting, it’s important to consider the time of day, location, and shadows that are going to be cast on your subject.
Finding the best natural light is all about planning around a specific time of day. Ideally, you want enough light to illuminate your subject, but not so much where the sun is high and casting shadows.
Times of day to shoot in natural lighting:
- 6 AM – 8 AM – Right after the sun comes up for soft morning light.
- 9AM – 10 AM – Late morning light for those who are not early risers. You’ll have minimal shadows and enough time to enjoy your coffee.
- Golden Hour – 4 PM / 5 PM Right before sunset, the Golden Hour. Perfect for soft lighting, the setting sun casts beautiful gold rays from the sky and onto your subject.
- Twilight – 5 PM / 6 PM As the sun is setting and right before you lose all the light, twilight makes for the perfect pre-evening moody lighting. It allows for your subject to be lit while creating a nighttime vibe.
Studio Lighting
There is little stability in using natural light and many factors can easily change your ability to capture the exact picture you’re looking to take. For more control when it comes to lighting, you can invest in lights to use while you’re shooting. There are two types of lighting: continuous lighting and strobe lighting.
Image from Peta Pixel
With continuous and strobe lighting, there are a variety of light setups you can use to create your look. It’s best to research different types of studio lighting to see exactly what kind of light set up would work best for you and your brand.
Continuous Lighting
Continuous lighting is going to remain the same and stay on and constant. Typically in the form of LED lights, continuous lighting allows you to view the lighting in the shot before you snap the photo.
Strobe Lighting
Strobe lighting flashes are synced up to your camera shutter (they can either be on your camera or on stands). When the shutter button is clicked, it triggers the flashes, resulting in a bright stream of light. This is perfect if you want to create a studio-lighting look in your images.
Lighting has an important role in creating the perfect look for your brand. Whether your images are brightly exposed by the sun or moodily-lit in the shadows, lighting will aid in shaping your brand’s visual look.
Showcase Your Stuff - Creating a Look
The way you visually present your designs can affect how your brand is viewed. Your customers want to see your designs, but it’s the way they’re presented that can either wow them or leave them feeling flat. According to Neilsen’s Product Survey, 59% of consumers prefer to buy products from brands they know. Creating a consistent brand look can help your brand become an easily identifiable icon.
Showing Off Your Products
You’re selling a product. Whether it’s a t-shirt, hat, hoodie, cup, or dog leash you’re putting an item out there that people are going to look at, wear, and use. Your items will be displayed on your website, social media, and other sites so it's important to create visually striking images that not only show off the features of your products but reflect the overall style of your brand.
Creating a Look
left to right: Gucci, Off-White, Civil Regime
Defining visual blueprint for your brand is imperative when it comes to creating content. Popular brands like Off-White, Civil Regime, and Gucci gained popularity due to their consistent look in both their designs and how they showcase them.
For inspiration, take a look at the Instagram feeds for all three of these brands. They use similar backgrounds, editing styles, models, and poses. All of these characteristics help set brand standards for your imagery. So go get creative: explore different themes, colors, and styles for your brand to help you discover and create a cohesive brand look.
Work From Home - The Essentials
Make work from home comfortable
As we adjust to the new temporary, many of us have found ourselves taking our work offices to the home office. Providing products to fit the changing lifestyle of your customers will help your brand stay relevant.
We’ve put together a list of customizable items that are helpful as we spend more time in the home office, wearing comfy clothes, and hanging with our dogs.
From joggers to pet toys and mousepads to notebooks, Threadbird is here to give your brand some unique ways to reach your customers working from home.
Eco-Fleece Dodgeball Pants (Alternative Apparel 9881F)
These fleece joggers are softer than a kitten and well structured to create a nice slimming pant. They're even stylish enough to wear outside your home office. (in Eco-Grey and Eco-Black). Pair it with our favorite hoodie Alternative Apparel and you have a Dynamic Duo
Challenger Washed Terry Pullover Hoodie (Alternative Apparel 9595CT)
Made out of the same lightweight fabric as the ‘Champ,’ this pullover is lightweight, comfortable, and fashionable. And if you're looking for a sweatshirt version check out the Champ Washed Terry Sweatshirt (9575CT) from Alternative Apparel as well.
Unisex T-shirts that You'll Want to Check Out
Two brands that continue to release top-notch t-shirts are Bella+Canvas and Tultex. The Canvas 3001 is one of our favorite, most reliable, cotton t-shirt. It has a retail-ready fit and a wide range of color options.
However, the Canvas 3001 isn't the only one on the market right now. Tultex recently released the Heritage T-shirt. This t-shirt is designed to be in line with vintage and distressed brand styles. With muted tones and a worn-in fabric feel it's comfortable and perfect for printing.
But maybe those t-shirts aren't for you. We carry a wide range of high-quality t-shirts from Alternative Apparel and other brands to appeal to even the most high-end apparel brands.
Go-To Tee Shirt (Alternative Apparel 1070C)
They call it the go-to tee for a reason, once you try this one on you’ll never want to take it off. (in Pine)
The Outsider - Heavy Wash T-shirt (Alternative Apparel 1010C)
Heavyweight and soft? We didn’t think you could get both in one tee. Made with luxurious fabric, this tee is heavyweight enough to create a cool streetwear look. (in Faded Pink)
The Outsider - Heavy Wash T-shirt (Alternative Apparel 1010C)
Heavyweight and soft? We didn’t think you could get both in one tee. Made with luxurious fabric, this tee is heavyweight enough to create a cool streetwear look. (in Faded Pink)
But, it's not all apparel, throughout this blog post you probably caught images of drinkware, office supplies, custom dog products, and so much more. At Thradbird, you have the ability to customize a wide range of products that relate to your brand - No matter the brand!
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.