Let’s get real for a second: ordering merchandise on a tight deadline can be stressful. Between planning an event, managing a team, and checking off everything else on your to-do list, apparel and promotional products often get pushed to the last minute. We see it all the time. Folks come in needing something quick for an event, and what could be a memorable moment doesn't get as much attention as it could.
Relentless was built for bulk orders and quick turnarounds, (including a 10,000-piece Super Bowl order for the Kansas City Chiefs) so we’re happy to accommodate your order regardless of timeline. But if you have the opportunity to plan ahead, you’ll end up with more options, fewer headaches, and a better final product.
The Benefits of Planning Ahead:
Better Product Selection
The most popular garments and colors don’t stay in stock forever. Waiting until the last minute can limit your options, especially during busy seasons.
Starting early gives you access to more apparel styles, more color choices, and more time to find products your team, customers, or community will love.
Easier Approval & Built-In Budgeting
Merch orders often involve more than one decision-maker. Maybe your marketing team wants to review the artwork, your finance department needs to approve the budget, or someone else has to sign off before production begins. Starting the order process earlier gives everyone time to give their input.
It also makes budgeting easier. Planning ahead gives your organization time to account for apparel expenses instead of scrambling to secure funds.
Avoid Busy Seasons & Rush Fees
School orders ramp up before students are back in school. Businesses order for trade shows and company events at the same time every year. The earlier you start, the easier it is to secure the products you want, avoid rush fees, and keep your project on schedule.
Tips for Planning Ahead:
Work Backwards From Your Timeline
Our standard turnaround time is three weeks for decorated apparel and four weeks for promotional products. Working backward from your event date gives you plenty of time for artwork approvals, production, and unexpected changes.
Think About Delivery
Something else to factor in your timeline is fulfillment–is your order going to be shipped or picked up? The former will take an additional 4 days to your timeline.
You're welcome to pick up your order as soon as it's ready. Just remember that we are open during regular business hours, Mon-Fri, and are not open on weekends.
Gather The Basics–Not Every Detail
We want to make your ordering process as quick and easy as possible. You can help by sharing the basics of your order with us:
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Garment Type: t-shirt, hoodie, etc.
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Color preferences
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Artwork or logo
- Location of artwork/logo
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Estimated Quantity
- Shipping + address or pickup
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In-hands Date
Still deciding on the rest? Don’t sweat. Our expert sales team will help you work through product options and timelines as the project comes together. We’d rather start the conversation early than wait until every detail is finalized.
Take Advantage of Bulk Pricing
If you know you'll need apparel throughout the year, think beyond your next order. Combining multiple smaller orders into one large order often lowers your cost per piece and helps you get the most value out of your budget.
Ordering Merch All the Time? Consider A Webstore
If you’re placing similar apparel orders throughout the year and hit a consistent quantity, a webstore can save you a lot of time.
You can keep it live for as long as you need, update or add products, and add fundraising or employee allowances to the store. The best part? Apart from selecting your products, the process is hands-off. We handle the printing, packing, and shipping, while your customers get exactly what they want online. Check with your account executive to see if this option is a good fit.
Save Yourself The Stress
Sure, planning ahead makes our job easy–but it makes yours even easier. You’ll have more products to choose from, more time to make decisions, and a memorable experience thanks to your merch.
And if your order does end up being a last minute rush? Give us a call anyway. We’ll do everything we can to make it happen.
