Tshirts – Make or Break Details

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Tshirts – everyone has their favorite, whether it’s because of it’s worn-in comfort, the great graphic design, or the memory it evokes. With tshirts being such an everyday item, we don’t often think about the small details that can make a shirt our go-to favorite, or buried at the bottom of the drawer.

“Six years I’ve had this t-shirt. It’s my best one. I call him Golden Boy.” – Jerry, in “The Marine Biologist”, Seinfeld tv comedyanatomyoftee

Take into consideration what preferences your group will have when ordering tshirts. You may want to mix styles for men and women to appeal to both. Some features to consider:

Neckline

The wrong neckline can ruin the feel of a shirt. Ever had one that just didn’t lay right or stretched out too much? Or maybe a crew neck just gives you that strangling feeling!

  • Crewneck – soft rounded look, close to the base of the neck, also available as a ringer (contrasting color)
  • Scoop – a lower rounded neckline, usually for women, varying depths
  • V-neck – more common for women, but seen lately in men’s styles
  • Notch Crew – a slightly deeper crew neck option for men’s styles

Fabrics

Softer fabrics are the current style and offer a higher perceived value. If you want to ensure your apparel will be worn after your event or occasion, choosing a soft fabric combined with a great design makes all the difference.

  • Open-End Cotton – less expensive, less refined, good value – used for very basic tshirts
  • Ring Spun Cotton – smoother, stronger and softer than open end
  • Combed Ring Spun Cotton – even more refined and softer than plain ring spun
  • Poly and Poly Blends – performance fabrics with moisture management properties
  • TriBlends – combination of three threads – polyester, cotton & rayon to create a heathered look with a soft, drapey feel; very popular in fashion styles, and softest fabric

Weight

Weight is determined by the weight of one square yard of fabric. The trend lately has been towards lighter weights, but consider who will be wearing the shirts and when they will be worn.

  • Lightweight – 3-4.5 oz; usually for women’s, fashion and performance styles
  • Midweight – 5-5.5 oz; most standard tshirts, holds up well
  • Heavyweight – 6 oz+; durable, holds up best to frequent washings

Fit

Be aware of the size range of your group and choose accordingly. Mixing women’s styles in with standard adult sizing makes your apparel more appealing and comfortable.

  • Adult Sizes – unisex fit, but really made for men with longer sleeves and boxier fit
  • Ladies – slightly more contoured than adult sizes, with shorter sleeves
  • Ladies Fashion Fit – more contoured with shorter sleeve lengths
  • Junior – most contoured and body-hugging for slimmer silhouettes

For a comprehensive guide and graphics on tshirt styles and sizing, Sanmar has put together this handy chart:  Sanmar Tshirt Fit & Style Guide

 

tshirts

April News – Safety Programs Can Return 6x Their Cost

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Safety Programs Bring Returns:  Involving employees in safety awareness programs helps create better safety habits and reduces injuries.

Read about ways to incorporate promotional marketing into your safety and health programs.

Click Here to Read Our Newsletter…

 

Safety Programs Bring Results

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Safety programs are good for business. They not only promote a safe work environment, but they help companies save money through reduced injuries and employee time off.

For every dollar spent on an Injury and Illness Prevention Program, an employer can expect up to six times a return on its investment. 

– Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)

safety signs

By adopting a safety program, companies have seen workers suffer fewer injuries, illnesses and fatalities. In addition, they see improved compliance with regulations and workers are able to experience a safer and healthier workplace. In short, safety and wellness programs are good for everyone involved.

So what makes a good safety program and how does promotional marketing fit in?

A successful program needs to include these major elements:

  • Designated individuals responsible to implement and maintain the program
  • Employee involvement and encouragement to participate
  • Hazards and safety issues identified and assessed
  • Education and training provided in an understandable format
  • Periodic reviews of the program progress and results

Promotional marketing comes into play to help encourage and reward safe behavior. Some ways this can be utilized:

  • Safety and wellness reminders – workplace items which will be seen daily as a constant reminder to stay safety aware. This can include apparel or drinkware with graphics promoting safety, or useful tools such as flashlights, box cutters or multitools which also carry a message.
  • Incentives for safe behavior – set goals for safe behavior and reward employees with premium gifts such as coolers, auto kits, or drinkware when they reach those goals.
  • Rewards for employee observations – create a method for employees to report unsafe situations or suggestions for safer procedures. Reward these observations and participation with small awards.
  • Reward employees for completing safety training – Give employees a premium promotional gift after completing safety training. Including a safety message on the gift helps reinforce the message.

To learn more how safety programs are good for business, OSHA has a variety of resources:

  OSHA Illness and Injury Prevention Programs