Take Control of Apparel Ordering for your School or Sports Team

There are specific events when most people would wear branded apparel; when attending sports games and school or community events. As a parent, sponsor, fan or community member if you are going to watch the local high school football game or to the neighborhood parade or a fundraising event, you will likely throw on a t-shirt, jacket or hat that has the team or school logo. Branded apparel is a powerful marketing tool that schools rely on to rally support and funds. When it comes to branded apparel, schools and teams often have issues. It is common that their logos being duplicated inconsistently, streamlining ordering processes and organizing an ordering process that benefits the school. Here are some things to consider if you are looking to take control of your school or teams branded gear.

1. Create a Master logo - Your logo is your main branding element and it needs to be consistent to establish recognition. In order for it to be duplicated consistently, you need to have a vector logo. This will allow you to share that logo with your decorator and have it be reproduced correctly every time. If you do not have one, get your current logo file reproduced. It is worth it. You also need to have logo and possibly brand guidelines developed. This will help you establish fonts and colors you want to be used and associated with your logo to keep your look consistent.
2. Streamline Apparel Ordering - If it is common at your school for team moms are taking it upon themselves to grab a sweatshirt and bring it to a local t-shirt decorator you are missing out on a fundraising opportunity and risking consistency. Take control by getting apparel set up in an online storefront (like ours) and streamline ordering. This will allow for orders to be placed through a school approved store and ensure consistency of your logo and the apparel or gear that it is put on.
3. Get a Rebate - You should be able to negotiate a rebate with your storefront provider to enable the school to raise funds while supplying the community with branded gear.
4. Establish Rules - While athletics is usually a primary driver of apparel within a school they do not have to be the only group that needs apparel or receives the benefits. Schools have many organizations from theatre, choir, band, clubs and much more. All of these organizations can receive the benefits of the apparel sales to help support the school as a whole. In addition, help encourage coaches, teachers, and other team leaders to use the resource for apparel through the school to ensure the school gets the rebates. By offering a variety of products at different price ranges and with different brands, it will help to ensure that there is something for everyone.

We help schools and organizations with complete storefronts that cover all of their apparel needs from uniforms to booster gear and also help with single orders. We are a resource for schools, but we are the most useful is when we can really dive in and be a partner to customize a relationship that will strengthen your brand and benefit your school. It is important that people know where to go to get your gear. If you market that message through school communication (internally and externally) you will increase sales. In addition, all orders should be paid direct by and shipped direct to the user so your staff will be more efficient when they do not have to make and sort orders for their team or event. For more information on our products, reach out to us at info@thegeargroup.com.