What to Consider Before Ordering Company Apparel for a Large Team

Ordering apparel for a large team sounds simple, until you're coordinating sizes, managing budgets, choosing products, and making sure everyone receives the right items on time.

Whether you're outfitting employees, field crews, sales teams, event staff, or multiple office locations, a little planning upfront can make the entire process much smoother.

Here are the most important things to consider before placing a large company apparel order.

Start With Your Goal

Before selecting products, ask yourself:

• Is this apparel for daily employee wear?
• Are you preparing for an event or trade show?
• Is this part of a new employee onboarding program?
• Will the apparel be worn outdoors, on job sites, or in an office?

The intended use helps determine the right products, decoration methods, and budget.

For example, lightweight t-shirts may work for an event, while embroidered polos or jackets may be better for employee uniforms.

Consider Your Team's Work Environment

The right apparel depends on how your team works.

Questions to ask include:

• Will employees work indoors or outdoors?
• Is durability important?
• Do employees need layers for changing weather?
• Does the apparel need to meet safety requirements?
• Will employees wear it daily?

Workwear, performance fabrics, and layering pieces often perform better for teams that spend time on job sites or in the field.

Choose Products Employees Will Actually Wear

Company apparel works best when employees genuinely enjoy wearing it.

Popular options include:

• Soft cotton t-shirts
• Performance polos
• Quarter-zips
• Hoodies
• Lightweight jackets
• Hats and beanies

Comfort, fit, and style all play a major role in employee adoption.

When people like the apparel, they wear it more often, increasing brand visibility and creating a stronger company culture.

Plan for Sizing Early

Sizing is one of the biggest challenges with large apparel orders.

To avoid delays:

• Collect sizes in advance.
• Allow enough time for employees to respond.
• Consider offering extended sizes.
• Verify quantities before production begins.

For larger organizations, online company stores can simplify size collection and reduce administrative work.

Think About Decoration Methods

The decoration method affects appearance, durability, and budget.

Screen Printing

Best for:

• T-shirts
• Large quantity orders
• Event apparel

Embroidery

Best for:

• Polos
• Jackets
• Hats
• Professional uniforms

Heat Transfer or Specialty Decoration

Best for:

• Small runs
• Individual names and numbers
• Specialty applications

Your apparel partner can help determine which method provides the best results for your project.

Consider Your Budget

Large orders often provide better pricing because unit costs decrease as quantities increase.

When building your budget, remember to account for:

• Apparel cost
• Decoration costs
• Setup charges
• Shipping
• Individual packaging (if needed)

Sometimes upgrading to a slightly better garment can provide significantly greater employee satisfaction for only a small increase in cost.

Leave Enough Time

One of the most common mistakes companies make is waiting until the last minute.

Production timelines may vary depending on:

• Product availability
• Decoration method
• Order quantity
• Shipping requirements

For large team orders, we recommend planning at least 3–4 weeks before your deadline whenever possible.

This provides additional flexibility if inventory changes or adjustments are needed.

Consider Future Orders

Many companies reorder apparel throughout the year.

Keeping artwork, logos, and approved products consistent makes future ordering easier and helps maintain a professional brand appearance.

Many organizations also establish standard apparel programs for:

• New employee onboarding
• Annual uniform refreshes
• Seasonal apparel
• Company events
• Recognition programs

Our Final Thoughts

Ordering apparel for a large team involves more than simply choosing a shirt.

By considering your goals, work environment, sizing, decoration methods, timeline, and budget, you can create apparel programs that employees are excited to wear while ensuring your order arrives on time and on budget.

Whether you're outfitting a field team, office staff, event crew, or an entire organization, our team can help guide you through the process from product selection to final delivery.

Ready to outfit your team?

Request a quote today to receive product recommendations, pricing, and expert guidance for your next company apparel order.

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