Almost every bulk-order horror story — wrong sizes, missed deadlines, prints that peel — traces back to a question nobody asked before the run started. Here’s the checklist we wish every customer used, whoever they print with.
1. Lock the deadline first
Not “roughly when do you need them” — the actual date shirts must be in hands. Share it before anything else, and get the printer’s honest answer on whether it’s achievable. (Ours: most orders deliver 5–7 business days after mockup approval; tighter timelines get a straight yes or no upfront.)
2. Collect sizes properly
Don’t guess the size spread. Send a form around the team, add one spare in the two most common sizes, and remember most ranges run S–5XL — nobody should be squeezed into an L because nobody asked. Mixed sizes should never cost extra within your minimum.
3. Confirm the garment, not just the price
A quote is meaningless without the garment behind it. Ask for brand, fabric weight (GSM) and colour code. Better: order a blank sample first. Ours is $15, fully credited on your 10+ order — the cheapest insurance in printing.
4. Get the artwork checked early
Send your file before you’re in a hurry. 300 DPI, PNG or PDF, transparent background is the target; if yours isn’t there, a good shop will flag it immediately and fix it (our studio does from $49) rather than discovering it on press day.
5. Approve a mockup — in writing
Never let anything print that you haven’t seen mocked up: placement, size, colours, garment. We send a free digital mockup within 24 hours of every enquiry and nothing prints until you’ve said yes. Whoever you use, insist on the same.
6. Confirm what’s included
Setup fees? Artwork fees? GST? Delivery? Four questions, thirty seconds, no surprises on the invoice. (Our answers: $0, from $49 only if artwork needs work, included, free Melbourne metro on 50+.)
7. Plan the split
Event with staff and volunteers? Different colours per role in one order. Club with juniors and seniors? Mixed sizing in one run. Decide the split before printing, not at the handout table.
8. Ask about reorders
Will your artwork and specs be kept on file? Can you top up 5 shirts later at a sane price? The answer tells you whether you’re buying a print run or starting a supplier relationship.
9. Doing 100+? Get a pre-production sample
On large runs, one real printed garment approved before the full run is standard professional practice — we include it free on orders of 100+.
Checklist ticked? Build your order in seconds with our calculator — or send your artwork and date to chameleonprintstore@gmail.com and we’ll start with the free mockup.