Whether you’re a business looking for a great deal on attire for your staff, a parent in need of an affordable way to outfit your family, a business that customizes shirts or an organization that needs shirts for an upcoming project or activity, buying shirts in bulk is the way to go. Buying large quantities at once often makes you eligible for significantly lower prices per item, so doing so is a great way to save a few dollars on the products you need.
Buying shirts in bulk is easy, but there are still a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck.
Choosing the Right Shirts
When you start shopping for blank shirts in bulk, you will quickly realize that there are a lot of styles, colors and materials to choose from. The options are virtually limitless, and it can seem a bit overwhelming.
Don’t panic. Think about what you need the shirts for. Are you starting your own custom T shirt line? Do you need shirts for your team? Are you looking for shirts that can be worn in the summer, winter or year-round? Who are you shopping for?
With answers to these questions in mind, you can better assess your options and find shirts that are well-suited to your needs. Let’s take a closer look at some of the options.
Style
A quick glance in your own closet will likely remind you that shirts come in a wide range of styles. Narrowing down which style you need is the first step in purchasing the products that are best suited for your needs. If you’re shopping for cold-weather wear, you may want to consider hoodies or long-sleeved tees. Tank tops are best for the summer and warm weather. If you want something that can be worn year-round, a T shirt is probably your best bet. T shirts are the most versatile option and the perfect choice for most situations in which you would need bulk shirts.
Material
A t shirt is a t shirt, right? Wrong. T shirts can be made from a few different types of fabric, and each material has its own benefits and drawbacks. While 100% cotton is the most popular option at the moment, polyester and cotton/polyester blends are also a good choice.
Shirts made from 100% cotton are soft, durable and they feel great on even the most sensitive skin. Ring-spun cotton is even softer than regular cotton, and shirts made from this material quickly become their wearers’ favorites. Cotton is also breathable and absorbs moisture to help maintain a consistent body temperature.
Polyester is a synthetic material that is extremely long-lasting and is resistant to wear and tear. It wicks moisture away from the skin, helping athletes and others stay cool and dry in intense environments. It also keeps the body warm in cold climates. It doesn’t breathe well, though, so it may not be the most comfortable on those hot summer days.
Cotton/poly blend T shirts take the best features of cotton and polyester and combine them to create a fabric that is soft, strong and holds its shape well. While shirts made from 100% cotton are prone to shrinking and being stretched out of shape, 50/50 cotton/polyester blends resist shrinking and retain their shape. While not as breathable as 100% cotton, it does a better job at letting air through than 100% polyester.
Fit
T shirts don’t all have the same fit, either. If you are purchasing blank T shirts to sell, understanding your target audience is vital. It’s also important to consider who you are shopping for if you are buying bulk shirts to outfit your employees, a team or an organization.
The classic, unisex crew shirt is the most universal option. These shirts can be customized to suit any application, and they can be worn by both men and women. They work well for outfitting teams, staff and organizations, among others. Their generic shape and styling make them extremely versatile, so if you are looking for something that is likely to appeal to everyone, they’re your best bet.
If you’re wanting something a bit more stylish, fitted tees have a bit more shape and are available for both men and women. You can choose from crew neck or V-neck styles to suit your preferences.
Brand
Once you’ve decided on a style, material and fit, you still haven’t quite reached the end of the decision-making process. Now you need to consider what brand of shirts you would like to purchase. Online wholesalers that sell bulk T shirts don’t only sell one brand. Most carry products from all of the leading brands. While they all may look pretty much the same, there are some key differences that could influence your buying decisions.
When it comes to shirts, there are a lot of big-name brands out there – Jerzees, Champion, Gildan, Anvil and Next Level Apparel, just to name a few. They all offer high-quality products, and when you buy them in bulk, the value is unbeatable. So how do you decide what’s right for you? Thinking about your personal values and your budget is a good place to start.
If you need standard, basic shirts for screen printing, decorating or even just wearing as they are, brands like Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Hanes and Anvil are a good investment. These brands are viewed as the standard option because they are the most affordable. When choosing one of these basic brands, your options will likely be more limited. Most shirts from these brands are made from 100% cotton and have a boxy fit. Some do offer fitted options, though, such as Gildan Soft Style.
If you’re looking for a bit more versatility and shirts that are a bit more fashion-forward than plain boxy tees, a brand like Next Level Apparel may be a good choice. They offer everything from basic poly/cotton crew neck tees to stylish V-necks, scoop tees and more, and all of their styles come in a rainbow of colors. What could make Next Level Apparel shirts even better? The company is passionate about social responsibility, and they do their part to reduce their impact on the environment and ensure fair working conditions for the people involved in manufacturing their products.
Finding the Right Online Wholesaler
A quick online search for wholesale shirts returns more than 260 million results. With all those options, how does one even begin to decide where to take their business? While there are a lot of great wholesale shirt companies out there, some are definitely better than others. Just like when you are shopping for anything else, it’s important to take the time to look around to find the business that will best suit your needs. Whether you are looking for a company to form a long-term relationship with or you will most likely be a one-time or an infrequent customer, there are a few factors to keep in mind when looking for the right wholesaler.
Selection
While a huge selection may not be important if you are only in need of one specific style, it’s vital if you want to stock a wider range or have access to lots of colors, fits, etc. Even if you only need one or two styles now, consider your future needs. If you’re starting a business and only plan to offer a few colors and styles in the beginning, a huge selection may not seem to matter now, but what do you plan to offer in the future? Looking for a wholesaler that meets both your current and future needs could prove to be highly beneficial.
Value
Finding a company that offers exceptional value means a lot more than finding the one that offers the lowest prices. Shopping from a wholesaler rather than buying at retail prices undoubtedly saves you a lot of money, and choosing the company with the lowest rates could help you keep even more money in your bank account. Be careful, though. Cheapest isn’t always best.
Ideally, you want to find a company that offers the perfect blend of affordability and service. Choosing a wholesaler based on price alone may save you some money upfront, but how much money do you stand to lose if your order doesn’t show up on time (or at all)? Keep in mind that some companies offer extremely low prices by selling seconds or irregulars instead of first-quality products. Do you really want to sacrifice quality just to save a few cents per shirt?
The companies that offer the best value for your money are those that offer reasonable prices alongside exceptional customer service and a commitment to your complete satisfaction.
Experience
In today’s economy, new businesses are popping up all the time. While some of them are amazing and have the products and customer service that ultimately allow them to thrive, there are also a lot of fly-by-night companies that seem to shut down as fast as they open up.
If you are looking for a great experience when buying wholesale shirts, look for a company that’s been around for a while. Choose a wholesaler with experience and a strong reputation for superb customer service and high-quality products. While no amount of experience can guarantee a perfect transaction every time, working with a business that has been around for a while makes it more likely for you to reach a favorable resolution if trouble does occur.
Well-established businesses also tend to have the widest selections, and they are able to get their products to their customers quickly. Some large companies have warehouses spread throughout the United States to enable them to deliver orders within just a few days. When working with a newer company, you may have to wait longer simply because they do not have the means to package and ship items quickly, and they may just have one warehouse that isn’t located anywhere near your address.
Return Policy
If all goes well, which it hopefully will, a wholesaler’s return policy won’t matter. But if you don’t love your order, you receive incorrect items or your products arrived damaged, you will want a business that offers fair and easy returns. Before you place an order, check the policies to find out what will happen if you need to make a return.
Look for a company that has a 30+ day return policy and does not charge a restocking fee. While most businesses will not refund your original shipping fees, try to find one that will send you a pre-paid label for returning your merchandise.
Conclusion
When you need bulk shirts, it’s important to choose the ones that are best-suited to your specific application and to find a company that provides exceptional value and superb customer service. Your options for shirts are virtually unlimited, and there are nearly just as many wholesalers as there are shirt styles and colors. It may take some time to find the perfect product from the perfect company, but your efforts will be rewarded both now and in the future.
