T-shirts
Cheap
and Nasty
There are several options for producing team shirts, the cheapest is producing
your own design and printing them on iron-on paper for T-shirts bought
from your local computer shop. This doesn't look particularly professional
but is cheap for small numbers and a design that would be different for
each shirt. However you are limited to white shirts as the designs don't
come out well on darker colours and you obviously can't print white from
your average home printer! One way to keep the cost down even more is
to go to your local T-shirt printing company and buy the shirts from them
as they will cost less than from a normal shop.
Printing
Companies
The next cheapest
(and most common) alternative is going to a T-shirt printing company. Some
companies will give you a discount if you give your own artwork so it's worth
asking but now most don't charge for the artwork anyway. All you need to do
is produce the image on computer and either save it to disc or print it out,
or you can even just draw it on a piece of paper. Don't forget though to give
the company the dimensions you want the design to be if it is not actual size
on the copy you give them.
There are a few cost cutting tips you could use. The first is to limit the designs to one colour. Don't forget you can use the colour of the shirt as the second colour by leaving gaps in the print colour design. This is cheaper because each print colour needs a new screen which is added to the cost of the T-shirts. The approximate cost of a screen is 21 pounds and for each colour and side you want to print on the more the total cost will be. (The price of the screen is divided between the number of shirts so there more you get the less, per shirt, the screen will work cost). Therefore the cheapest design would be one print colour on one side and this can reduce the cost to about 5 pounds per shirt if you shop around.
Another cost saver is to choose white as your shirt colour. This reduces the cost by about 50 pence per shirt. The next price up are basic colours like black, red or navy blue. If you want a more obscure colour like olive you may end up paying more.
The biggest tip is to shop around. Out of all the companies I contacted to research this page prices varied for 30 shirts with one colour on one side on navy blue shirts from 11 pounds per shirt to 4 pounds 89 pence per shirt so keep looking. Any price around 5 to 6 pounds is a good deal. Just flick though the yellow pages and phone every company.
Gaia
Gaia can supply
your team with shirts with a discount price for 15 shirts or more. You can
order by e-mail, phone, mail or fax but not over the Internet. You need to
go to the gaia-europe site to see
the full selection and the contact details as well as the price. Don't forget
shipping charges and personalising will cost extra.
It is also worth remembering that you get a 10% discount on all other Gaia gear when you include it with the team order. The man to contact is Heiko Kissling at info@gaia-europe.com or visit their website.
Below is one example of the type of shirts you can buy. Product information from www.gaia-ultimate.com
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Gaia Serpent Team Jersey - Gaia flo technology, 100% microfibre hyper-light jersey provides moisture wicking and temperature regulation for high performance. |
