Why You Should Have More Than Just Your Logo on Your Shirt

Whether you're a thriving non-profit, a dedicated ministry, or a community group, custom t-shirts can be a game-changer for your outreach, customer service, and brand awareness. Imagine your staff and volunteers proudly sporting unique uniforms that showcase your mission and values. Picture your members wearing branded shirts and walking advertisements for your products. Envision the powerful impact of stunning designs that build recognition, and loyalty, and even raise funds for meaningful causes.

We're not just talking about basic ad hoc print jobs. The world of custom apparel offers a wide range of high-quality options, from classic t-shirts and embroidered polos to stylish hats and promotional giveaways. You can create a memorable aesthetic that aligns perfectly with your church, attracting new customers and boosting community spirit. Whether you need bulk orders for uniforms, a smaller batch for a special event, or even gift items for the holidays, this is tailor-fit to your needs and budget.

How Including More Than Just Your Logo Impacts Recognition

When it comes to spreading your ministry's message or promoting your church events, custom shirts can make a huge difference. Just imagine your congregation proudly wearing shirts that reflect your values and mission. It's not just about throwing your logo on a shirt – it's about creating a visual identity that resonates with your community and helps you stand out.

By adding more than just your logo to your shirts, you can boost recognition and make your shirts more memorable. Whether it's incorporating your colors, taglines, or unique designs, these extra touches help reinforce your trademark and make your shirts more engaging.

Customizing your shirts beyond the logo isn't just about aesthetics – it's about building trust with your congregation. When people see your brand represented in thoughtful, creative ways, it shows that you care about the details and are committed to delivering quality.

Apparel isn't just clothing – it's a powerful tool for promoting your ministry and strengthening your community. When your members wear your branded shirts, they become walking advertisements, spreading the word about your church wherever they go.

What Are the Benefits of Customizing Your Shirts Beyond Just the Logo?

When you incorporate custom designs, colors, or messages on your shirts, you create unique pieces of apparel that can help you better connect with your target audience. Custom prints provide an opportunity to showcase your ministry's personality and values, allowing you to communicate your message in a visually appealing way.

Personalized shirts go a long way in making your ministry more relatable and engaging to customers. By offering custom apparel options, you give people the chance to express their individuality while promoting your brand simultaneously. This personalized approach to shirt customization not only enhances your brand image but also creates a sense of community among your customers, strengthening their bond with your brand.

Customizing your shirts beyond just the logo allows you to tap into current fashion trends and preferences, making your label more relevant and appealing to a diverse audience. By staying ahead of the curve with unique shirt designs, you can attract new customers and retain existing ones through fresh and exciting merch options.

How Can You Leverage Custom Shirts for Marketing Purposes?

Custom shirts present a powerful marketing tool for ministries looking to enhance their brand visibility and reach a wider audience. By designing custom t-shirts with your brand logo, tagline, or promotional message, you can effectively promote your merch in a subtle yet impactful way. Custom shirts act as mobile advertisements, allowing your brand to garner exposure wherever they are worn.

Furthermore, leveraging custom shirts for marketing purposes enables you to create a lasting impression on potential customers and clients. When people see your employees or customers wearing custom shirts showcasing your brand, it reinforces brand awareness and encourages brand recall. This increased visibility can translate into higher brand recognition and customer engagement over time.

Moreover, using custom shirts as part of your marketing strategy can help you differentiate your church by positioning your brand as innovative and customer-centric. By offering unique, high-quality custom apparel, you can attract attention, generate interest, and ultimately, drive sales while strengthening your brand's reputation.

Why Does Adding More Than Your Logo to Shirts Help in Building Trust?

Incorporating more than just your logo on a t-shirt plays a vital role in building customer trust and credibility. When customers see your brand represented through various elements like brand colors, slogans, or designs on shirts, it signals attention to detail and a commitment to quality. This comprehensive branding approach instills confidence in customers, reassuring them of authenticity and reliability.

Additionally, going beyond the logo on shirts demonstrates a genuine interest in engaging with customers on a deeper level. By incorporating meaningful messages or unique designs on custom shirts, you show that your ministry's values customer preferences and strives to create products that resonate with them. This personalized touch fosters trust and loyalty among customers, leading to long-lasting relationships with your brand.

Moreover, the customization of shirts beyond just the logo allows you to communicate your brand story effectively. By using visuals and messaging that align with your brand's values and mission, you do more than just sell custom tees. You create an emotional connection with customers, making them more likely to trust and support your brand in the long run.

What Role Does Apparel Play in Promoting Your Ministry?

Apparel plays a significant role in promoting your brand beyond just the logo by serving as a tangible representation of your brand identity. When customers see your brand logo or messages on apparel and clothing like t-shirts, hats, or other items, it reinforces brand recognition and awareness. Apparel acts as a mobile billboard for your brand, reaching a wider audience and creating opportunities for brand visibility.

Using apparel to promote your brand goes beyond basic advertising and enables you to communicate your brand values and culture. By offering branded shirts and merchandise to customers, you showcase your brand's commitment to quality, creativity, and customer service. This demonstration of brand characteristics helps establish a positive perception of your brand in the minds of consumers.

Apparel serves as a powerful tool for promoting loyalty and engaging with your target audience. When customers wear your branded merchandise, they become ambassadors, spreading awareness and advocacy for your ministry organically. This word-of-mouth promotion through apparel can significantly boost loyalty and attract new customers.

Ready to get started? The Church Shop can help you create an online store with a great product line that reflects your ministry's values. Whether you need uniforms for your staff or merch for your congregation, we've got you covered. Reach out to us at hello@dev.thechurch.shop to learn more!

Design Requirements For Embroidery

DOWNLOAD EMBROIDERY GUIDE

Embroidery is a bit different from DTG printing--it has some specific requirements when it comes to designing.

Because embroidery machines have limited capabilities and threading techniques, it's important to follow these requirements to ensure that your finished product matches your mockup preview.

Color Choice Overview

We use high-quality Super Bride Polyester thread available in 15 standard colors. We have access to the entire line of Robison-Anton 450 Colors.

Snow White 5597 • Black 5596
• PN Navy 5824 • Blue 5520
• Radiant Red 5566 • Manila 5766
• Vanessa Purple 9057 • Dark Texas Orange 5769
• Kelly Green 5540 • Otter Gray 9115
• TH Gold 5906 • Warm Wine 5796
• Scholastic 5765 • Gray Flannel 9117
• Cerulean 5801

Hex Thread Conversion

Size requirements

Firstly, you'll want to make sure your design meets the size requirements. There are minimum and maximum thicknesses for shapes, as well as specific height requirements for uppercase and lowercase letters. It might seem strict, but following these guidelines will help you achieve the best result possible.

Text Size
- Avoid using letter sizes smaller than
- 0.07” (2 mm)
- For thinner lines, a single line of stitching will be executed
Letter height from:
- 0.25” (6.4 mm)
- Avoid more than 20 letters per line
Script or serif fonts are not recommended for text smaller than .5"
- Capitalized letters in san serif produce the best results.
Minimum overall size of file is 1.5"
Max Size
- Headware: 5"x2.5"
- Garments (Polos, jackets, etc):4.5"x4.5"

The Do's and Don'ts of Embroidery

When it comes to designing, there are a few do's and don'ts to keep in mind. Solid shapes and colors are best, and you'll want to stick to the 16 thread colors available. Use a high-quality file and simplify your design as much as possible. On the other hand, you'll want to avoid using gradients, blend effects or photographs, as well as small gaps, backgrounds, and transparent edges.

Do!

Use solid shapes and colors. Gradients do not work with embroidery. Distressed/textured logo will result in a loss of detail
We have a wide range of colors. But for best matching, We suggest you stay within the colors listed above.
Use a high-quality file. Try to aim for 300 DPI (if using a JPEG/PNG file). Use a file with a resolution of at least 1200 × 720 pixels (for hats) or 1200 × 1200 pixels (other products).
Simplify the design as much as you can; the best outcome will be achieved if the design is simple. Modify gradients to be solid colors. Remove small details (trademark symbols).
Modify negative space to be solid
The embroidery design will be best matched in size as possible. Sometimes we will increase size to produce a better quality embroidery.

Don't!

Don’t use gradients, blend effects, or photographs
Avoid having small gaps in the design; minimize negative space
Avoid backgrounds; the background will be removed as part of the digitization process
Avoid having transparency around the edges of the design – it will be automatically cropped, and the design will be scaled.

Cost of Embroidery

Does The Church Shop charge for digitizing designs?

Nope! We don't charge extra for embroidery. The only time you will see a price increase on embroidery is due to the size of the design. If it is a large or stitch intensive design (think full color, no blank space) there may be a small increase in costs.

What's Next?

Following these important requirements will ensure that the finished product matches the mockup preview.

Embroidery Timeline:
• 3 Days to Digitize file (first time only)
• 7-10 Days to fulfill

Embroidery products are made differently than other products at The Church Shop, which is why we recommend placing a sample order before you launch the product in your store. This way, you’ll have full confidence in the product before offering it to church.

Designing Files for Print on Demand DTG: Tips for a Perfect Print

Print on Demand DTG is a fantastic way to create custom, high-quality clothing without having to worry about minimum order quantities. This process works by printing your designs directly onto a shirt using special inkjet printers that are designed to work with fabric. The end result is a vibrant, durable print that is both comfortable to wear and eye-catching.

TLDR: 300 DPI, PNG Files, No Transparency

However, getting the best results from your Print on Demand DTG process requires careful attention to the design of your files. Here are some tips to help you create the perfect print every time:

1. Use High-Quality Designs:

The first thing to consider when designing files for Print on Demand DTG is the quality of your artwork. Ideally, you should aim to use designs that are at least 300 DPI, which is the resolution that most printers work at. This will ensure that your design is sharp and clear when printed onto the fabric.

2. Use PNG Files with Transparent Backgrounds:

When it comes to designing files for Print on Demand DTG, you should always use PNG files. This is because PNG files support transparency, which is important for ensuring that your design does not have a solid background that would detract from the overall look of the print. When creating your PNG files, be sure to use transparent backgrounds so that your design can be applied to the shirt seamlessly.

3. Understanding the Difference Between Digital Artwork and Photos:

Another important consideration when designing files for Print on Demand DTG is the difference between digital artwork and photos. Digital artwork has the potential to look better than a photo because it often features larger solid colors. This means that the colors will be more vibrant and easier to see when printed onto the fabric. On the other hand, photos tend to have more detail and texture, which can make them more difficult to print onto fabric.

4. Use Full Opaque Files:

It's important to note that half-transparent designs do not work with DTG. When designing your files, be sure to use full opaque designs so that your print will come out as planned.

5. Order a Test Shirt:

While we do our best to make sure that your files will print great, it's always a good idea to order a test shirt to be sure. This will give you the chance to see the final product before ordering a larger batch of shirts.

In conclusion, designing files for Print on Demand DTG requires careful attention to detail. By following these tips, you can create high-quality, vibrant prints that are sure to impress. So go ahead, unleash your creativity and get started on your next Print on Demand DTG project today!

Fulfillment & Shipping

Answers to the BIG questions you ask.

What are shipping costs? How long does fulfillment take? Is it here, yet?

HOW LONG DOES FULFILLMENT TAKE?

T-Shirts - 1-3 Days
Long Sleeves - 1-3 Days
Hoodies - 1-3 Days
Accessories (mugs, tumbles, etc) - 2-5 Days
Embroidery (Hats, Polos, Jackets) - 5-10 Days

Orders begin fulfillment within 24-48 hours.

Fulfillment can take longer for the following reasons...

Stock issues: If we are out of an item, we will either wait for it to come back in stock, ship a similar brand/style of the same color, or reach out to you for alternative items.
Embroidery: The first time an embroidered item is ordered, we digitize the image to work on embroidery machines. This can take up to 3 business days.
Large Orders: if your order is large and made up of different types of items, it may delay your order. Also, expect items to ship in separate packages.
Seasonal Delays: At different times of the year, orders go up, and our production lines get overrun. Fulfillment can take longer at these times.

Not all items arrive together!

If you opened your package and don't see an item, don't worry, it's on the way! Embroidery and drinkware items ship separately from other apparel. You will receive an email notification of each shipped package with tracking.

HOW LONG DOES SHIPPING TAKE?

Shipping is typically within 5 days. We say "typically", because we all know how USPS likes to run. Larger orders will ship via UPS and on occasion, we will use other 3rd party shipping companies. We try to find the balance between cost effective and fast shipping.

We constantly work to keep shipping lower. These are our standard rates*

	First Item:	Additional Items:
T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, polo shirts, etc:	$5.04	$1.99
Hoodies, Jackets, Sweaters, Tumblers, etc:	$8.98	$1.99

Stickers	$4.74	$.75
Drinkware	$6.20	$3.30

*Rates are subject to change without notice. For current rates, please see your final checkout screen.

Custom Promo Codes

Churches love people.

And people love free stuff. And churches love when people share about the great work they are doing in Jesus' name.

That’s why most churches give some kind of gift to first-time guests who attend their church gatherings.

The gift is not a bribe or a pay off for a visitor to attend. No matter how awesome your church visitor gift is, it’s never going to make up for a terrible experience at your church. They will remember the friendliness of your church long after the visitor gift is used up or worn out.

But we know generosity makes an impact. So it’s worth investing some time and money into your church visitor gift.

But gifts are challenging. No one needs an extra cup. A bag of post its, pens, and key-chains get tossed out the moment they get home. You want something that will be thoughtful, memorable, unique, and fun!

A branded t-shirt, mug, tumbler or hat is a gift that keeps on giving!

There's no better way to show your visitors you love them than to give them $10 toward your church store! Then they can choose what shirt they want, or if they want to go big and get that hoodie or jacket, then you have helped them along the way without breaking the new-visitor budget.

Gift card are a classic option, it's easy to manage and they have a long shelf life.

What is the difference between Gift Card & Custom Promo Code?

Gift cards are the standard gift card you would purchase on any site, like Amazon. Purchase a $10 gift card and you will get a unique random code to give to someone. They can then enter it at checkout for $10 off. You can purchase these here.

Custom Promo Codes are a more robust custom way of creating promotions for your store.

SO HOW DO CUSTOM PROMO CODES WORK?

Fill out our Promo Code form here (also available on your dashboard) to preload your code. Fill out the form to your specific needs and we will have it applied to your store soon after.

Can our church cover the cost of shipping?

Yes, you can choose to cover some or all of the cost of shipping for your church members. The promo is pre-loaded so you never have to worry about over spending either!

Can one person use the code 10 times?

Nope. The code will only work for that user 1 time. We track usage by emails. That way you can give out the same code to everyone (less codes to manage) and only have to worry about them using it once!

Why would I want the code to expire?

People forget, lose the code, or simply just don't want another shirt in their drawer (I know, crazy!).
Setting the code to expire allows you to set a new code for new guests without the need to spend more money. If you bought 100 and only 20 were used in the time before they expired, then request a new code for the remaining cards, and you don't have to worry about too many codes being used.

How to I request a new code?

Simple fill out the form and select "replacement code." We will set up the new code with the remaining number left and you can start passing out new codes.

Can we track the code?

Yes! On the Gift Card menu, you can see how many codes have been used, how many are left, and if/when they expire.

What if we never use them?

They are on your account forever. Give them away at Christmas, to your staff, volunteers, or even your leaders. You all work hard to make your church a special place for God, you deserve a new shirt!

Where do I start?

Set up your Promo Code right on your dashboard, go here!

Templates for Drinkware

Use these templates for your Mugs and 20oz Tumblers!

For Mugs, anything submitted as transparent or white will print as white, even on black mugs.
To ensure a proper print on a black mug, submit with a black background.

Transparent backgrounds on Tumblers will print transparent resulting in a silver Tumbler.

MUGS 11oz - Download .PSD Template | Canva Template

MUGS 15oz - Download .PSD Template | Canva Template

TUMBLER 20oz - Download .ai Template | Canva Template

What We Offer: Print Types

We offer a wide range of printing types. DTG is our go-to for most apparel.

DIRECT-TO-GARMENT

Direct to garment (or DTG) printing involves laying ink directly onto a garment. These prints are generally thinner than screen prints, allowing for more intricate designs and a softer print texture. The full range of color in a photograph or gradients of an image can be expressed with this print method. We require high-quality (150 dpi) raster PNG files for DTG print orders.

Our go to printing for all garments
Full color
Makes Print on Demand possible
Offers great pricing and long lasting printing
DTG is the method we use for all of our print-on-order apparel that is not embroidery

SCREEN PRINTING

Screen printing, sometimes referred to as silk screening, is a form of garment printing in which plastisol-based inks are pressed through a screen onto a garment. Screen printing is the most established and widely-used form of garment printing available. During the printing process, a set of screens (one for each color) rotates around a press in a carousel motion and is alternately pressed onto each garment. We only use screen printing in bulk orders. A minimum quantity of 15 is required for best price.

Available for apparel
Up to 8 colors
Low prices for all quantities
Screen Printing is a go to method for large bulk orders with simple designs

EMBROIDERY

Embroidery is a classic handicraft and decoration technique using a needle to apply thread to textiles.
For best practices and print specifications, download our Embroidery Reference Guide.

Available for polos, jackets, and more
15 standard colors, 400+ specialty colors
Low prices for all quantities
Quick Tip: Converting a design to Embroidery takes about 3 business days on the first order.

SUBLIMATION

Sublimation printing occurs when ink is transferred by heat and pressure to a specially treated surface. These prints feature vibrant, high-fidelity color and are very durable. We require high-quality (150 dpi) raster PNG files to be submitted for sublimation print orders.
Available for mugs and phone cases

Full color
Low prices for all quantities
For Mugs, Tumbles, and more

POSTER PRINTING

We offer borderless, full color digital printing for posters. All posters are printed on premium 200 GSM gloss or matte paper with aqueous ink, suited for full-color digital art prints. We require high-quality (150 dpi) raster PNG files to be submitted for poster printing orders.

Available in 4 paper types
Full color
Low prices for all quantities
Currently available by request only

Printing with DTG

When it comes to printing colorful, complex designs, even photo-realistic ones, DTG (Direct to Garment) is your best bet.
That is what we use here at The Church Shop!

What’s DTG printing and how does it work?

DTG printing is the process of printing a graphic or image directly onto a garment. It’s done with modified inkjet printers that spray water-based ink directly onto the fabric. Unlike screen printing, which involves pushing the ink and laying down the fibers, the ink used in DTG is shot down into the fabric, so it looks like the design is part of the garment.

Does the type of fabric used in DTG printing matter?

Absolutely. Since DTG relies on water-based inks, you need to have a fabric that can absorb the ink. Natural fabrics, specifically cotton, work best because the ink can adhere to the fibers and soak in very well, whereas synthetic and even poly-blends will repel the ink, resulting in a less than stellar end result. To get the very best outcome, we use 100% cotton for all DTG orders. We also use 50/50 and other blends for apparel items. If you can't find your favorite brand in our catalog, most of the time this is the reason, and we want to make sure your orders come out the best they can.

What do I need to do to prep a design for DTG printing?

DTG is great for complex, vibrant artwork and images. For those details and colors to translate, you have to start with a high-quality design. We print PNG files of at least 150 dpi (dots per inch), so your design should really meet or exceed that minimum for it to look its best. Image resolution also comes into play. While it’s often confused for the size of the file, the resolution is really a measurement of the pixels in a design, expressed in height and width. Say you want a 10″ by 10″ design on your t-shirts. To get that size at 300 dpi, make sure your design is sized at 3000 pixels high by 3000 pixels wide. When in doubt, submitting an image in the highest resolution possible is always a good rule of thumb. High res images can always be scaled down, but low res images that are scaled up often look blurry.

What are the pros and cons of DTG printing?

The pros:

Printed products have a natural feel – Because DTG printing embeds the ink into the fabric, the products are breathable and soft to the touch, making it difficult to distinguish between the ink and the fabric itself.
Great image quality – DTG printing is able to recreate intricate details in virtually any color, which enables very detailed and vibrant high-quality results.
Environmentally friendly – Today’s technology has paved the way for the use of eco-conscious inks and safe materials to be used for DTG printing.
Print on Demand – This allows us to print as each item is ordered reducing the setup costs for one garment and allowing for quick orders and no inventory on your end.

The cons:

Doesn’t work on all types of fabrics – Garments used for DTG printing must be made of cotton to aid in the absorption of ink pigment for better quality.
Not always as cost-effective in bulk orders compared to screen printing when printing only a few colors. We offer the option to screen print when placing a bulk order.

How’s DTG printing different than screen printing?

While both DTG and screen printing will produce designs that hold up and wash well, there are several key differences. We’ve listed a few below.

DTG doesn’t require much set-up, whereas screen printing requires separating artwork, creating screens for each color in the design, registering the screens on the press.
The sky is the limit on the colors and designs used for DTG printing. However, that’s not the case for screen printing, which is best for simple designs with limited colors.
There are no minimums for DTG orders. However, we recommend a minimum of 15 garments for screen printing orders due to the setup time required.

What garments do you recommend for the best results?

All that we offer work great for DTG! Our selection process is very specific to make sure you have long lasting designes every time!

But our favorite t-shirts are:

The Bella + Canvas Unisex T-Shirt

The Bella + Canvas 3001 feels soft and light, with just the right amount of stretch. It’s super comfortable with a cut that flatters men and women.

Solid colors are 100% combed and ring-spun cotton
Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/y² (142 g/m²)
Pre-shrunk fabric
Tear-away label
Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
Side-seamed

The Next Level 3600 Men’s Tee

This Next Level 3600 is soft, form-fitting, and pre-shrunk, so it will maintain its shape after washing.

100% combed ring-spun cotton
Heather Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
Fabric weight: 4.3 oz/y² (145.8 g/m²)
Pre-shrunk
Tear-away label

How well do DTG prints hold up after multiple washes?

DTG prints will remain just as bright and soft and won’t crack when properly cared for. Here are a few tips to ensure your garments will last a long time:

Wash inside out with cold water with similar colors using a gentle cycle
If ironing is necessary, iron inside-out on the lowest setting
Tumble dry low or hang-dry
Avoid using bleach and do not dry clean

How do I start a shop with The Church Shop?

Starting your own Church Shop with us is easy. Just head over to dev.thechurch.shop/how-it-all-works register for a free account or log in to get started. If you need a little help to get things going, reach out to us at hello@dev.thechurch.shop.