How to Order Custom Merch for Your Team (The Complete Guide)

Why Custom Team Merch Matters

Let's skip the corporate fluff. Custom merch for your team isn't about "building brand synergy" — it's about giving people something they actually want to wear. A quality shirt with a thoughtful design becomes part of someone's rotation. A cheap shirt with a clip-art logo becomes a rag.

The difference? Caring about the details. Here's how to get it right.

Step 1: Figure Out What You Actually Need

Before you start shopping for shirts, answer these questions:

What's the occasion?

How many people?

This affects everything — your printing method, your per-unit cost, and your timeline. Most screen printing (the best method for bulk) requires minimums of 24 pieces.

What's your budget?

Be honest about this upfront. Custom merch can range from $8/shirt to $40+/shirt depending on the garment quality, print complexity, and quantity. Knowing your budget helps you make smart tradeoffs.

Step 2: Choose Your Garments

This is where most people go wrong. They pick the cheapest blank available and wonder why nobody wears the shirts.

For everyday wear: Go with a quality cotton tee in the $10-15 range (blank cost). Brands like Bella+Canvas 3001, Next Level 6210, or Comfort Colors 1717 are crowd-pleasers. They fit well, feel soft, and hold up to washing.

For a premium feel: Heavyweight tees (6+ oz) like the Comfort Colors 1717 or Los Angeles Apparel 1801 have a substantial, vintage feel that people love.

Beyond t-shirts: Don't sleep on hoodies, hats, and quarter-zips. A branded hoodie might cost more per unit, but it gets worn 10x more than a basic tee.

Pro tip: Order a few blanks before committing to a large order. Feel the fabric, check the fit, wash it once. It's worth the small investment.

Step 3: Design Something People Want to Wear

The #1 rule of team merch design: Would you wear this on a Saturday?

If the answer is no, go back to the drawing board.

Design Tips

Less is more. A small, clean logo on the chest or a simple back print beats a shirt covered in text and graphics.

Think about placement. Left chest logos are classic. Full back prints make a statement. Sleeve prints are trendy. Pick one or two placements, not all of them.

Color matters. Your print colors should work with your garment color. White on dark garments is always clean. If your brand colors don't work on every shirt color, it's okay to create a modified version.

Use your AI tools. If you don't have a designer on staff, AI design tools (like the one we offer at My Swag Co) can generate solid concepts quickly. Describe your vision and iterate.

Step 4: Collect Sizes Without Losing Your Mind

Size collection is the logistical nightmare of team merch. Here's how to handle it:

Use a shared form. Google Forms, Typeform, or your HR system. Make it dead simple: name, size, done. Set a hard deadline.

Include a size chart. Different brands fit differently. Share the specific garment's size chart, not a generic one.

Order extras. Always order 10-15% extra in popular sizes (M, L, XL). People will lose shirts, new hires will join, and you'll wish you had extras.

Our Group Campaigns feature handles this automatically — you create a campaign, share a link, and everyone picks their own size. No spreadsheets, no chasing people down.

Step 5: Understand Pricing

Custom apparel pricing isn't complicated once you understand the components:

Example: 50 Bella+Canvas tees with a 2-color front print might run $12-15 each. 100 of the same? Probably $10-12 each. 200? Could be under $10.

Watch out for hidden fees. Some shops charge for artwork review, digitization, rush fees, shipping, and more. At My Swag Co, our pricing is transparent — what you see in the configurator is what you pay.

Step 6: Plan Your Timeline

Custom apparel takes time. Here's a realistic timeline:

Total: Plan for 2-3 weeks minimum. Need it faster? Rush production is sometimes available, but it costs more.

Step 7: Place Your Order

When you're ready, here's what you'll need:

At My Swag Co, the entire process is online. Configure your garment, upload or create your artwork, enter your sizes, and check out. No phone tag, no email chains, no waiting for quotes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ready to Order?

We make this as painless as possible. Start configuring your order at My Swag Co — pick your garment, create your design, collect sizes, and get it done. We're a direct manufacturer (Montana Shirt Co + Homeplace Apparel), so there's no middleman markup and no surprises.

Questions? We're real people who make real shirts. Reach out anytime.