Keeping in mind, we can compress any 100% cotton t-shirt; here are some points to think about when choosing your tee:

1.) Brand- Selecting a quality brand that you can trust is essential- Hanes, Gildan, Fruit of the Loom, Alternative Apparel, American Apparel, Anvil, Port & Company, Monster, Jerzees, & District Threads are just a few brands that we use. These brands have dependable stock, an assortment of colors, and quality control. It comes down to personal preference when deciding between them.

2.) Style- Knowing who your target audience is will help you decide what style to use. We can supply ring spun, fashion fit, women’s cut, youth, and long-sleeve shirts. You can even mix styles as long as your artwork remains the same on the shirts.

3.) Print- When selecting your tee it is important to decide what the role of the artwork printed on it will be. You want a shirt that is going to compliment your artwork and give it some pop. Sometimes the artwork will dictate what shirt you print on. For instance, digitally printed shirts used for complex images are printed on either white or light colored shirts.

4.) Color- Most brands offer an array of shirt colors ranging from the basic red to a pigment dyed or ringer tee. Some shirt colors are based on specific PMS colors, so if you want to match your company logo PMS to that of the shirt, it can often be done. This helps further brand your order and message.

5.) Cost- Budget is always a factor. Your most cost effective route is our stock white shirt. This is a basic 5.6oz heavyweight that is commonly used for promotions and is always a safe choice.

Once you have determined the tee you can move forward to putting together a promotion that will work for your company. Tee Compressed is here to assist you. We have a highly trained staff that knows apparel and can help you every step of the way.

Result: Our neighbor down the road, Encinitas Foreign and Domestic Auto (EFADAR) was already a client of our sister division Durrani Design when they asked us about creating a new customer loyalty marketing campaign. We suggested the 3D custom compressed t-shirt shape and they loved the idea. Our design division at Durrani was already managing all of their website design, marketing and search engine optimization so it made sense for us to also come up with the design for their new compressed t-shirts.

Our team took care of every detail for EFADAR: we designed the actual screen print for the t-shirt, shot the photos of their classic Corvair signature surf van, designed the insert card and custom 3D shape and even included the new cutout promotional coupon for their customers. The EFADAR surfboard Corvair truck is a well known icon in the little surf town of Encinitas, so when these 3D compressed t-shirt shapes hit the shelves, they were a huge hit. The order was also split between 3 different t-shirt colors to give the recipient a choice of shirt (the more the recipient likes the shirt, the more often it will be worn). Recipients were also directed towards the company website to enter to win a free auto detail by simply submitting their email address (email addresses are a great tool for marketing campaigns).

We really get excited about projects like this. It lets us really flex our creative muscle and come up with a great campaign start to finish and includes our design team, staff photographers and marketing group.

Compressed t-shirts come in hundreds of shapes including the 3D custom shape shown below. The 3D shape is achieved by using 3 printed insert cards and wrapping all sides of the compressed t-shirt, instead of just the usual front and optional back. With compressed t-shirts you get double the promotional value: first with the compressed shirt and second with people walking around town wearing the t-shirt promoting your company.

Result: API ordered a classic black t-shirt printed with their logo and information to give away to prospects and customers at trade shows through out the year. This will surely give API a surge of business when the recipients wear these walking billboards.

But, sometimes none of these choices hit the mark.  For instance, I am working on an order for an automotive company.  The surf van they use on their website, and in print has duel purpose.  It represents their industry but also their culture, since they are a beach side shop.  We went through the transportation shapes to see if their specific van could fit in one of our stock vehicle shapes.  The answer was no…we came close but agreed that we wanted an exact fit of their van as the shape.  Therefore, we decided to create a custom shape. 

So, to answer the question how or when the custom shape is utilized- it’s used to brand your company message, whether the message is promoting your company with an exact fit of your logo in a shape or a specific product that has a unique or new shape to it.  Often times a stock shape can convey the message, but in the case where it isn’t the right fit turn to a custom shape to really stand out and make your company memorable.

Custom shapes can be used at any quantity.  The mold is free at 3,000 units or more.  You can trust that if Tee Compressed doesn’t have the stock shape you are looking for, a custom shape can be created to meet your needs.

Client: I walked in to the front of my shop one morning to hear laughter and conversation between my employees and our customers.  I was immediately elated at the excitement in the room.  I wondered what changed the moral?  I came to find out that my employees had started to give away the promotional shirts we printed.  This exchange of a t-shirt between my employees and the customers instantly created a positive connection outside of the usual business transaction.

He went on:  I could see that my employees felt good about giving the shirt away. It gave them an opportunity to open a door to conversation and personalize the interaction.  Our customers reciprocated this gesture with positive feed back, a smile, and a hand shake.

The moral to this story:  Using the compressed t-shirt as a give away in everyday business is reason enough.  The purpose of the promotional product is to make the client remember you, personalize your interaction, and bring them back for repeat business.  While trade shows, holiday parties, product launches and special events are places to stand out and give something memorable so is at the front door of your business. 

This client is going to order more shirts.  Again to give away to customers as a way to say thanks for bringing your business our way.  The shirts this time are going to be split in 3 colors, all printed with the company logo and branding.  The client understands that printing the shirt with this imagery makes the shirts walking billboards.  The client is going to utilize 2 insert cards- one with company information; the 2nd with a coupon to drive repeat business.

If you would like to share a story like this please write or call us, we’d love to hear it.  If you would like help creating a story like this contact us for pricing.  We will help get you the compressed tee shirts you need to start an interaction between employee and customer that ends in a smile and keeps them coming back.

If you don’t want to promote your company with the holiday theme, you can still use this lucky shape.  For instance, if your company has an upcoming trade show, print the clover shaped insert cards with a code for entry into a contest that your company is running, and have the recipients try their “luck” at winning!  Or give the shirts out with a catch phrase “lucky you, you’ve just received a free tee!”

We have many more ideas just like these.  Contact us today to match a shape to your promotional needs! 

1.) Who is your audience?  Choose a product that speaks to your target recipient.  A printed piggy bank may work for a bank give away but not necessarily for a baseball game.

2.) What is your budget?  Consider if you can afford to give an item to each individual or if one high profile giveaway will suit your check book.  Be careful about what you choose though, don’t just purchase 5,000 pens at a great price- remember who your audience is.

3.) What is your marketing goal?  You may be trying to brand your company, launch a new product, or direct customers to your website.  The product you choose needs to clearly reflect this goal.

4.) What is the rate of Return on Investment (ROI)?   At trade shows particularly, you have to be careful of giving something away that will attract the masses (i.e. edible goodies that have printed wrappers; the wrapper is quickly peeled off and thrown away with no memory of the company that gave them) with no return.  You want a giveaway that is going to turn prospects into customers. People should walk away from your booth knowing who the giveaway was from, and alternatively you should gain information too. Create a drawing for a free new computer giveaway or collect business cards in exchange for a printed compressed tee shirt.

5.) Is the giveaway memorable?  Consider all the above points when choosing your product give away but most importantly make the product something that will be remembered by your target audience.  You want the recipients of your product to go home and connect the product you gave them to your company and your marketing message.  To accomplish this select something that has sustainability and value. 

Result: This promotion got an A+! Teachers were recognized with a star shaped compressed t-shirt at a dinner celebration. The print on the shirt was done in metallic gold to really make the teachers wearing them shine!

Result: BankTEL struck gold with this promotion! By giving out our bar shaped compressed t-shirt that is wrapped in gold foil BankTEL systems conveyed their message that they are "setting the gold standard".