First-Time Ordering Guide for Schools and Youth Sports in the St. Louis Area
A practical, step-by-step guide for PTOs, coaches, and team parents on ordering uniforms and spirit wear—covering planning timelines, collecting sizes and payments, design approvals, and ways to keep the process stress-free with Kick Print.
Why this guide — and why Kick Print
Ordering uniforms or spirit wear for the first time can feel overwhelming: timelines, sizes, proofs, and payments all compete for attention. For organizations in the St. Louis area, Kick Print (Pacific, MO) is positioned to simplify that process. Local customers consistently praise responsive communication, high-quality printing, and quick turnaround—points that matter most when you’re organizing school events, team seasons, or fundraisers.
A simple step-by-step timeline to follow
Start early: begin planning as soon as you know event dates. A helpful approach is to break the project into planning, design/approval, size collection, production, and delivery phases. For a first-time order with a new design, allow more time for design approval and size confirmation; reorders or previously approved designs move faster. Kick Print’s team is known for accommodating tight schedules when needed, but building in buffer time reduces stress and helps avoid rushed decisions.
Designs, proofs, and the advantage of free mockups
Gather the artwork and brand colors you want to use, and communicate any placement or sizing preferences. Take advantage of Kick Print’s free mockups and graphic design help so you can see how the final shirt will look before production. Ask for a digital proof and review details like ink color, logo placement, and shirt color contrast. Approving a clear proof the first time avoids rework later and keeps your timeline on track.
Collecting sizes and payments with less hassle
Collecting sizes and money is often the most time-consuming part of group orders. Consider using an online store to collect orders, sizes, and payments—Kick Print offers online fundraising/store options that let participants place and pay for items directly. This reduces manual tracking, eliminates cash collection headaches, and creates a single place to review order totals and sizes. If you prefer offline collection, use a simple spreadsheet or form that lists each participant, preferred shirt model, and size, and set a single, firm deadline for submissions.
Sizing tips and handling mistakes
Sizing can vary between brands and styles. Encourage families to check the apparel brand’s size chart before ordering and to note who will wear youth versus adult sizes. It’s a good idea to order a small sample or two if you’re unsure about fit. If issues arise, communicate them promptly—local customers report that Kick Print responds quickly and works to resolve size or production problems, including reprints when necessary. Keep a plan for extras (a few spare shirts in common sizes) to cover last-minute swaps.
Other options: embroidery and promotional products
Beyond screen-printed shirts, consider embroidered polos for coaches or leaders and promotional products for events or giveaways. Kick Print lists embroidery and promotional products among its services, so you can create a consistent look across different items. For fundraisers, combining a custom order with an online store can help you sell items in advance and track fundraising progress without inventory hassles.
Final checklist and next steps
Before you submit an order, confirm the following: event date and delivery window, final artwork and approved proofs, the size list and payment status for each participant, and any extras (coaches’ shirts, spare sizes). Note setup needs—Kick Print provides free setup and free shipping on orders—which can simplify budgeting. If you’d like help getting started, reach out to Kick Print with your event details and timeline; their team can walk you through mockups, store setup, and production scheduling so your first group order goes smoothly.
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Kick Print
We offer the easiest and most streamlined T-Shirt Printing and Ordering in the STL Area. Order without the headaches and get quality custom apparel at a price you can afford. You also get, Free Shipping, Free Setup, Free Graphic Design Help. Get in touch with us today and lets get started on your project.