You’ve decided your team needs custom shirts. That part is easy.
Figuring how you’re going to decorate the shirts or do you want light weight or heavyweight shirts? Maybe don’t even want shirts, maybe hoodies are a better option? Don’t even get started with color. There’s so many options it can be overwhelming. This is where most people get stuck. Analysis paralysis is what the smart people call.
What do you send first, what happens next, and how do you know it’s on track?
This guide walks through how to order custom shirts in Austin with Kong Screenprinting, step by step, from the day you first reach out to the day you need more. If you’d rather skip ahead, get a quote and we’ll start the conversation.
The quick answer: Every Kong order moves through the same five steps, so you know where you stand.
- Discover. Tell us what the merch is for and who’s wearing it.
- Quote. We build an easy to understand estimate to fit your goals and budget.
- Proof. You see your design on a digital model of the garment before anything prints.
- Produce. We print in Austin, and we’d love to have you visit.
- Follow up. We check the work, and we keep your details on file for next time.
Keep reading for what to gather first and what each step feels like as a buyer.
What to Gather Before You Request a Quote
You don’t need a finished plan before you reach out. You need a starting point. Gathering these four things ahead of time is the single biggest thing you can do to cruise through your first order:
- What it’s for. Staff shirts, a fundraiser, a company launch, a retail line. The use shapes what we recommend.
- Your artwork. Vector files (AI, EPS, or SVG) print best, but a logo pulled from your website works too. Send whatever you have and we’ll tell you what’s workable.
- Quantity and sizes, even a rough range. It helps us scope the right decoration method and estimate the costs.
- Your deadline. Tell us the date you need the shirts in hand, we’ll let you know if it’s doable and scheduled production accordingly.
None of these have to be exact, but the more information you can give us the better we can help you. If you know your group is somewhere between 80 and 100 people but haven’t collected sizes yet, it’s ok to say so. That’s still enough for us to start.
Step One: Discover, Telling Us What the Merch Is For
Every order starts with a conversation. The Discover step is where we want to learn more than what you’re printing, we try to learn why you’re printing and who you’re printing for.
You can start this by calling 512-851-7024, reaching out through our contact page, or heading straight to our quote page. A real person picks this up, and they’ll ask about your artwork, your rough count, your deadline, and what the shirts are for.
If you’re not sure which decoration method fits, that’s part of this step too. Screen printing handles most tee and hoodie orders at volume, DTF fits smaller full-color runs, and embroidery covers polos, hats, and jackets that need a stitched look. Still weighing print against stitching? Our screen printing vs. embroidery breakdown covers that call in full.
You don’t need to have this figured out before you call. That’s the point of this step. Tell us what everything know and we’ll ask the rest.
If you already know what you want or prefer to browse on your own time, you can also place an order yourself online at create.kongscreenprinting.com
Step Two: Quote, Getting an accurate, easy to understand cost
Once we know what you’re printing and why, we create a simple, easy to understand quote. We factor your quantity, the colors and decoration locations in your design, the garment you’ve selected, and your decoration method. We don’t avoid extra charges and fees whenever possible, and try to give you a clear understanding of what you’re paying for.
If you want the full breakdown of what moves the cost, ask us. This step usually moves fast once we have your artwork and the basics from Discovery.
Step Three: Proof, Seeing It Before We Print It
Once you approve the quote, it’s time to get an accurate idea of what your merch will look like when it’s done. The more guesswork we can remove here, the better the experience is for everyone.
We build a digital proof using Seddi Decorator, a tool that scales your design to the actual specs of the garment you chose. So what you approve on your screen is what shows up in the box. The ink color on your shirt should be a match to your brand color, so we match ink and thread to Pantone colors at no extra charge. If a digital proof isn’t enough to get you confident, we’re happy to coordinate a photo proof or an in-person press check, free of charge, no matter your order size. We want to know that you’re going to love what we create for you. Whatever we need to do to make that happen, we’ll do it.
Step Four: Produce
Once you sign off on the proof, production starts. That’s when things get real. Literally! Your artwork, idea, product, or whatever it is – becomes a real thing. More often than not, a whole bunch of real things.
Standard turnaround is about three weeks once your order is paid. That clock depends on both of us: we proof it, order your blanks, and print it, and you keep it moving by getting payment in and approving your proof quickly.
Order size matters too. Most orders fit the standard window, but if you are ordering more than 3,000 pieces, plan for a longer timeline. If you’re on a tight deadline or have a must due date, say so during the Discover step.
For screen printing, if we can get it done, we’ll do it with no rush fee. If we can’t we’ll be up front about that as well. Embroidery runs on a tighter calendar, so earlier notice helps.
And if you’re comparing us against a national online ordering site, our local vs. online screen printing breakdown covers what printing in Austin gets you.
You’re welcome to visit while your order is on press. Plenty of customers stop by to watch their design print and film it for their own social media promotion. You can see the full picture of how we work on our process page.
Step Five: Follow Up, What Happens After Your Order Ships
Before anything ships, it’s been checked multiple times. If something isn’t right, we want to catch it before the boxes leave the shop. But we’re not perfect, so if something get’s to you and it’s not right, we want to know so we can make it right.
We also keep your artwork, garment specs, and ink colors on file. So the next time you order, whether that’s next month or next year, your reorder matches what you got the first time. Our guide to screen printing reorders covers what we keep on file to make that happen.
If you’re coordinating an order for a group, like a school fundraiser, a PTO, or a team roster, ask about setting up a webstore. Everyone in your group orders and pays on their own. You skip the hassle of tracking down sizes, quantities, and payment.
Placing Your First Order
Ordering custom shirts doesn’t have to feel like guesswork or a chore. Our goal is to make it easy. Heck, maybe even fun!
Gather your artwork, a rough count, your deadline, and what the merch is for, and you’ve got everything needed to get started. Still comparing shops? Our guide to choosing a screen printing partner in Austin covers what to ask any shop, including us.
If you’re an Austin organization getting ready to place your first order, or your fiftieth, we’d love to hear from you. Get a quote and we’ll get started!
Frequently asked questions
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Your custom merch deserves a partner, not just a printer. Get a quote and we’ll start with Discover.
