Question 1

How does the “Customize Now” page work?

Accepted Answer

It's a two-step process. First, browse our selection of top quality blank apparel on this page and choose the style, color, and size that fits your project. Once you've selected a garment, you get the option to start designing. With our free Custom Design Creator tool, you can upload your own artwork and position it on the product exactly where you want it, or build a design from scratch using text, graphics, and our built-in design library. No design experience needed. Once your design is finalized, you choose your preferred decoration method (embroidery, DTG printing, or transfers), select your quantity, and submit a quote request for your order. Our Customer Support team will get back to you promptly.

Question 2

Do I need a designer or design experience to use this page?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. If you already have a logo or design ready, simply upload the file and position it on the garment. If you're starting from scratch, the Custom Design Creator gives you access to text tools, clip art, and pre-built templates that make building a professional-looking design quick and easy, even without graphic design experience. If your artwork needs professional cleanup or preparation before decoration, our team can help. Contact us with your file and we'll advise on whether any adjustments are needed.

Question 3

Which garments are available for customization?

Accepted Answer

Our curated selection features blank styles across all major apparel categories, including:

T-shirts and tees (crew neck, v-neck, pocket tees)
Polo shirts and performance polos
Hoodies, sweatshirts, and fleece
Hats and caps (structured, unstructured, trucker, dad cap)
Jackets, vests, and outerwear
Tote bags and accessories

Question 4

Can I order a sample before committing to a bulk order?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We strongly recommend ordering a sample or a small test run, especially for embroidery, before placing a large order. This lets you confirm the placement, sizing, and our highly-rated decoration quality before committing to volume. Sample orders are available at competitive per-piece pricing with no minimum quantity requirement. You can order 1–3 pieces as samples using DTG or transfers first, then approve the look and placement before moving to an embroidered bulk run. It's the smartest way to de-risk a large order.

Question 5

What decoration methods do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer three primary decoration methods - embroidery which is our specialty, DTG, and transfers. Not sure which to choose? See the comparison table below.

Factor	Embroidery	DTG	Transfers
Full Color Support	Limited	Yes	Yes
Photo-quality Detail	No	Yes	Yes
Raised/3D Texture	Yes	No	No
Works on Any Fabric	Most	Cotton-best	Yes
Best for Small Runs	Moderate	Yes	Yes
Premium/Corporate Feel	Yes	Moderate	Moderate
Durability	Excellent	Good	Good

Question 6

Which decoration method is best for corporate uniforms and branded merchandise?

Accepted Answer

Embroidery is the industry standard for corporate uniforms, polos, hats, and high-end promotional merchandise. It conveys a premium, professional finish that holds up through repeated washing and daily wear, which is exactly what corporate buyers and brand managers expect. If your corporate design is logo-only or text-based with a limited color palette, embroidery is the ideal choice. For more complex brand graphics with gradients or photographic elements, DTG or transfers deliver results that embroidery physically cannot.

Question 7

Can I use more than one decoration method on the same garment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in many cases. A common combination is an embroidered logo on the left chest with a DTG or transfer print on the back. This gives you the premium corporate feel of embroidery for the primary brand mark, plus the full-color range of print for secondary graphics or messaging. Not all garments support every combination, however. Compatibility depends on the fabric and garment construction. Contact our support team to confirm what's possible for your specific style.

Question 8

What is embroidery digitizing and do I need to provide a digitized file?

Accepted Answer

Digitizing is the process of converting your artwork into a stitch file that tells the embroidery machine exactly where to sew, in what direction, and in which thread color. It's a required step for every embroidery order. You can upload your digitized file if you have one or let our team handle the digitizing as part of our order setup. Simply upload your non-digitized artwork (vector or high-resolution PNG) and we'll prepare the stitch file for your approval. A one-time digitizing fee may apply per new design.

Question 9

What is the turnaround time for custom embroidery orders?

Accepted Answer

Depending on logo design, order quantity, and garment stock, our standard turnaround time for most embroidery orders are 5-7 business days AFTER final order approval and payment is received.

Question 10

What are the steps of the custom embroidery quoting/ordering process?

Accepted Answer

Step 1.
You can submit a custom embroidery quote request from product pages or by choosing your preferred products in this page. Simply begin design with our free Custom Design Creator tool, enter your details, upload files and request a quote at the end.
You will receive an email within 1 business day to view your custom embroidery quote approval with included virtual samples images of your customized products and estimated pricing. You can check on the status or make changes to your quote request from the “My Quotes Requests” page.
Please note: The estimated pricing listed in the custom embroidery quote is an estimate only. It is subject to change (usually within plus or minus 15%) based on the final stitch count of the logo, which can only be confirmed after logo digitizing is completed.

Step 2.
Approve your custom embroidery quote & make a deposit payment
After reviewing the quote details and virtual sample images, approve the custom embroidery quote with estimated pricing from the “My Quotes Requests” page and make a deposit payment to start the logo digitizing process . If you would like to make changes to the quote, you can also request changes here and a revised quote will be sent to you.
After the logo digitizing is completed (usually within 2 days) and the final embroidery stitch count is confirmed, a custom embroidery order approval with the final pricing will be sent to you.

Step 3.
Approve your custom embroidery order & make remaining payment
After receiving the custom embroidery order approval with the final pricing, please review the order details and make sure logo design, placement, thread color, etc is correct. If everything is correct, approve the custom embroidery order from the “My Orders” page and make the remaining payment. Once your final order approval is received, you will receive a confirmation email and your order will be processed to start production.

Order In Progress
You can track the status of your order in the “My Orders” section of your Account Dashboard. Your custom order will be shipped out to you after production is completed. An order shipment email with the package tracking information will be sent to you when the order is shipped.

Question 11

What fabrics work best with DTG printing?

Accepted Answer

DTG printing performs best on 100% cotton and high-cotton-content blends (e.g. 60/40 cotton/poly). Natural fibers absorb the water-based ink well, producing vivid, long-lasting prints with a soft hand feel. Polyester and synthetic fabrics do not absorb DTG ink as readily, which can result in duller colors or reduced durability. For polyester-dominant garments, transfers (DTF) are generally a better choice as they adhere to any fabric type.

Question 12

Are transfers a good option for hats and caps?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Transfers are one of the best decoration options for hats and caps when full-color, photographic, or gradient-rich designs are required - situations where embroidery's color limitations are a barrier. Since the design is applied with a heat press, there's no hooping required and the curved surface of a cap is handled easily. For corporate logo hats with simple, bold designs, embroidery remains the more premium-feeling choice. For creative, colorful, or highly detailed cap designs, transfers deliver results embroidery simply can't match.

Question 13

Is there a Minimum Order Quantity for custom orders?

Accepted Answer

Minimum order quantities vary by decoration method:

DTG printing: No minimum. You can order a single piece.
Transfers (DTF): 64 pieces minimum.
Embroidery: No minimum. Once your design is digitized and on file, reorders are available too.

As a wholesale store, larger quantities unlock progressively lower per-piece pricing in ShirtsBargain. Volume tiers typically kick in at 12, 48, 144, and 288+ pieces.

Question 14

How is pricing calculated for my custom order?

Accepted Answer

Your total order cost is made up of several components:

Blank garment cost - The wholesale price of the apparel style you select
Decoration cost - Per-piece pricing for the chosen method (embroidery, DTG, or transfers)
Setup fee - A one-time digitizing fee for embroidery. No setup fee for orders above 24 pieces, applicable to other decoration methods also depending on the method.
Additional location fee - if decorating more than one position on the garment

All pricing is conveyed transparently by our Customer Support team production. Bulk pricing is applied automatically based on your quantity - the more you order, the lower the per-piece cost.

Question 15

Can I mix sizes and colors in one custom order?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can mix sizes, depending on the style, within a single order and your total quantity will still count toward bulk pricing tiers. Color mixing within one order is also available. However, for DTG printing on dark garments, please note that the underbase and pretreatment process is color-specific, which may affect turnaround timing for mixed-color runs.

Question 16

Can I order the same design later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your artwork and design files are saved in your free account with ShirtsBargain for future reorders. For embroidery, your digitized stitch file is stored on file - meaning reorders bypass the digitizing step entirely, reducing both cost and turnaround time. Simply log in to your account, find your previous order from the order history, and reorder. You can adjust quantities, sizes, and colors without re-uploading or re-approving artwork, as long as the design hasn't changed.

The Finest Styles To Customize - All In One Place

Port & Co ® Ladies Ring Spun Pique Polo. LKP1500

Port Authority Gingham Polo K646

Port Authority Plaid Flannel Shirt. W668

Port Authority Youth Value Fleece Jacket. Y217

Port Authority Youth Core Soft Shell Jacket. Y317

Port Authority Ladies Silk Touch ™ Performance Long Sleeve Polo. L540LS

Port Authority Ladies Knit Blazer. LM2000

Port Authority Ladies Stretch Heather Open Neck Top LK583

Port Authority Girls Silk Touch ™ Peter Pan Collar Polo. YG503

New Era ® Ladies Heritage Blend Crew Tee. LNEA100

Port Authority Ladies Eclipse Stretch Polo. LK587

Port Authority Ladies Gingham Polo LK646

Port Authority Ladies UV Choice Pique Henley LK750

New Era ® Ladies Slub Twist Polo LNEA301

Sport-Tek ® Youth PosiCharge ® Electric Heather Fleece Hooded Pullover. YST225

Sport-Tek ® Youth Sport-Wick ® Mineral Freeze Fleece Colorblock Hooded Pullover. YST231

Explore Our Highly-Rated Decoration Methods

Embroidery

DTG (Direct-to-Garment)

Heat Transfers

Frequently Asked Questions

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