When the call came for someone to head up the PTO’s spiritwear effort, it sounded simple enough. Get some T-shirts printed with the school mascot on them and you’re done, right?

Not so fast. Whether it’s your school’s first foray into spiritwear or just time to do things a bit differently, you’ll find that the items available to show your school pride are many and varied, from T-shirts and sweatshirts to boxers and bandannas—and almost anything in between.

The process, from selecting a vendor to choosing colors and sizes, can be confusing, but we’ve gathered plenty of advice to help you size up whether this fundraising/community-building option is a good fit for your school.

Selecting Your Spiritwear Items

Once you begin to see the wide range of spiritwear options, you might be tempted to order as many items as possible for students and parents to choose from. But that’s not necessarily the best way to go. Don’t try to do too much; instead, limit your selections to a handful of items with only one or two variations each. If you have to sell a minimum quantity for each item you offer, make that list even shorter.

Despite the wide variety of spiritwear items available, T-shirts and sweatshirts are by far the most popular. But whatever apparel you go with, choose a design that appeals to children of all ages in the school: bright colors, gender-neutral styles, and fun designs.

Special T’s

Many parent groups sell spiritwear to raise money, but Gardens Elementary School PTO in Marysville, Mich., did it to instill pride and foster a sense of community. PTO President Lori McVeigh says her school decided to change its spiritwear to a patriotic theme: “We doubled our sales from previous years. We have 525 students, and we sold 600 of a combination of T-shirts and sweatshirts,” McVeigh says. “We did not make this a fundraiser. We wanted everyone to be able to afford one so we could show school and American pride.”

Another popular use for spiritwear is as a commemorative gift, particularly for graduation. One shirt style features the last two digits of an elementary class graduation year in large print, with reproductions of the students’ signatures alongside. Spiritwear can also be used to commemorate participation in special events, such as a school play.

Spiritwear is a great way to build unity. As Blackhawk Elementary in Burlington, Iowa, prepared to join with Prospect Elementary, which was closing, the two PTOs coordinated a spring funfest. They sold T-shirts that celebrated the union, according to PTO President Carole Whitcomb. “We wanted to do a T-shirt with a new design, something that emphasizes a brand-new future,” Whitcomb says. “We thought it would be really fun if everybody wore their new shirts on the first day. That way you don’t know who’s from Prospect and who’s from Blackhawk. It’s just one big school.”

Choosing a Vendor

Choosing a spiritwear vendor is like choosing any other service provider: You should consider reputation, convenience, and price.

Local vendors say they offer convenience and control over the product you’ve ordered because they’re close at hand. Larger companies maintain that they provide more services, quick turnaround, and better prices.

Regardless of whether you choose a local printer or opt for a larger fundraising specialist, the relationship plays an important role. You need to be able to reach your your sales contact to ask questions and place reorders.

Interview vendors thoroughly, regardless of whether they’re local or national. Get price quotes in writing, and find out what they’ll do to make the process easier, whether it’s packaging the products by classroom or shipping directly to homes.

Get references, and actually check them! Ask what the experience was like, how responsive they were, and what their policies were for returns and mistakes.

Taking Spiritwear Orders

There’s a debate over whether it’s better to take orders from samples or to prepay for a certain number of shirts in a variety of sizes and colors and hope to sell them all.

Lee Longo, PTO president at Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School in Plainville, Conn., says her group learned its lesson about prepaid orders the hard way. The group bought sweatshirts from a vendor just before Christmas one year and hoped the school community would buy them as gifts. The solid navy blue sweatshirt featured the school’s name on one side. “We actually only sold 10 percent and were stuck setting up a table at each event to sell more and finally raffled off the rest of them,” Longo says. She thinks the plain design detracted from sales. But her advice on ordering is “always take orders and payment up front.”

Whitcomb of Blackhawk Elementary agrees that pre-ordering is the safest way to go, especially if you change the designs frequently. “That way you’re not stuck with a lot of shirts you can’t sell. And a new design every couple of years just encourages people to buy a new one,” she says.

If you do opt for buying a set inventory in advance, keep the overall numbers small and get details about how they’ll handle reorders—are there different minimums? Get extended sizes?

Buyer Beware

As with any venture, it pays to ask questions, read the fine print, and know what you’re buying. Look for potential hidden charges, such as fees to make changes and higher prices for reorders. The charges might be legitimate; just be clear on what you’re agreeing to, and don’t assume anything. Read the contract and make sure you get all your questions answered—before you sign.

Be especially aware of art charges because some companies charge a high hourly rate for graphic design. There might also be a charge for screen changes as well as color separations.

Get samples of any products you're considering so you can check the quality of the fabric, the clarity of the printing, and the effectiveness or durability of the item.

Think about your audience: Kids outgrow clothes fast, and most parents prefer wash-and-wear garments. Most vendors say a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend is best for youngsters’ sweatshirts and T-shirts, while adults tend to prefer 100 percent cotton for their items.

Questions To Ask a Potential Spiritwear Vendor

Before you hire a spiritwear vendor, ask these questions:

• How long have you been in business?

• Do you have references?

• Do you provide graphic design support, or do we need to provide you with camera-ready art?

• Are there charges for graphic work?

• Is there a setup fee?

• Are there charges if my design features more than one color?

• Are there extra charges for large sizes, such as 2X and 3X?

• Can I see the design before you print the item?

• Are there charges for shipping and/or handling?

• If I have a rush order, is there an extra charge?

• Do you provide a customized order sheet, and is there a charge for that?

• What is the turnaround time for an order?

• Is a deposit required or can you bill us?

• What is your policy if there is an error in printing?

• Is there any additional charge to reorder?

• Can I get the pricing in writing?

Originally posted in 2003 and updated regularly.