Category: Bulk Orders

Understanding Tariffs: How Global Trade Changes May Affect Your Kwindie Orders

Posted on by Trini

With shifting global trade policies and the implementation of tariffs between the U.S. and foreign countries, uncertainty has grown. At Kwindie, we believe in transparency and keeping our customers informed about how these changes might impact their orders. This post will provide an overview of tariffs, their potential effects on our process, and what you can expect moving forward.

What is a Tariff and Who Pays for It?

A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on imported goods. It is designed to either generate revenue or protect domestic industries by making foreign goods more expensive. Tariffs are applied to imports, which may affect directly imported products, as well as products made primarily in the U.S. with some imported components. 

When an international order is shipped, tariffs must be paid before the goods are delivered. The responsibility for paying these tariffs depends on the shipping agreement:

  • Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): The supplier pays all tariff costs before shipping, preventing additional charges upon delivery.
  • Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) or Delivered at Place (DAP): The recipient (you, the customer) is responsible for paying tariffs upon delivery.

How Will Tariffs Influence Pricing?

We have coordinated with all suppliers to ship orders with tariffs pre-paid (DDP) whenever possible. This means that, in most cases, there will be no unexpected fees upon delivery. However, due to the fluid nature of tariff regulations and enforcement, there may be instances where additional charges arise after your order is placed.

  • If customs imposes an unexpected charge upon delivery, please pay the charge first to avoid shipping delays.
  • Then, contact Kwindie so we can address the issue with our suppliers and make any necessary adjustments moving forward.

At Kwindie, we prioritize simplicity for our customers. Our pricing model consolidates setup fees, shipping, artwork, and other costs into a straightforward per-item price. Our goal is to absorb increased tariff costs within this model, but some additional charges may be unavoidable as policies evolve.

How U.S.-Made Goods May Be Affected

U.S.-made goods are generally less impacted by tariffs—but only if they are 100% domestically sourced, including materials grown and processed within the United States. Many products labeled “Made in the USA” still rely on imported raw materials or components, which could be subject to tariffs.

Additionally, tariffs on general-use materials (such as oil and other raw materials) can indirectly impact U.S. manufacturing costs as factories pay for things not directly related to the manufacture of goods, such as electricity.

How Will Tariffs Influence Kwindie Operations?

The only operational change at Kwindie due to tariff fluctuations is our quote validity period. Previously, quotes were locked in for 30 days; now, they will be valid for 7 days to ensure pricing remains accurate in a rapidly changing environment.

How Will Tariffs Influence Turn Time?

Production and shipping times are not expected to change. However, it is advisable to allow for potential delays at customs or border clearance. While we are working with our suppliers to minimize these issues, unforeseen slowdowns could occur.

Conclusion

We appreciate your patience as we navigate these changes. Our commitment to transparency means we will update our customers on any significant developments. For ongoing updates, please subscribe to our blog and stay informed about how these policies may impact your orders. Thank you for your continued support!

Why USA-Made Products Matter: A Sustainability and Economic Perspective

Posted on by Trini

The more we can buy and make locally, the better it is for both the planet and our economy. Here’s why local and USA-made products are so important for sustainability and economic growth.

Keeping Money in Our Economy

When we buy products made in the USA, we are directly contributing to our own economy. Money spent on local products stays within the community, circulating through local businesses, and creating jobs. This helps boost our workforce and strengthens our economic foundation. By choosing USA-made items, consumers encourage businesses to continue producing locally, which ultimately leads to more employment opportunities and better wages.

Supporting Local Jobs

Every product made in the USA means someone’s job—whether it’s in manufacturing, design, distribution, or logistics. By supporting local production, we create more jobs for our workforce, offering economic security and improving overall living standards.

Reducing Fossil Fuel Consumption

When products are made overseas, they often need to be shipped across vast distances to reach consumers, resulting in large carbon footprints. Air and sea freight require significant amounts of fossil fuels, contributing to climate change. By producing locally, we reduce the distance that products need to travel, which cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions and helps protect the planet. At Kwindie, we always consider transportation distances and their environmental impact when making sourcing decisions.

A Cyclical Relationship Between Sustainability and the Economy

One of the most exciting aspects of supporting USA-made and locally produced products is the way it creates a positive feedback loop between the economy and sustainability. As our economy grows and thrives, there is more money available to invest in sustainable initiatives—such as green energy, eco-friendly technologies, and more efficient manufacturing processes. This investment helps us transition toward a more sustainable future.

At the same time, as sustainable practices increase, they create more job opportunities in green technologies, renewable energy, and eco-conscious industries. This shift not only contributes to environmental health but also stimulates the economy by creating new sectors of work and reducing dependency on non-renewable resources. It’s a cycle where a stronger economy leads to more investments in sustainability, and more sustainable practices, in turn, boost the economy through job creation and technological advancements.

A Bonus: More Control Over Quality and Sustainability Standards

When products are made in the USA, we have more direct control over their sustainability and quality. As U.S. environmental standards continue to improve, manufacturing in the USA is increasingly held to higher sustainability standards, often surpassing those of overseas production. This also means that consumers can trust the quality and ethical practices behind the products they buy, knowing that the manufacturers must comply with U.S. environmental laws and regulations. As our economy strengthens, these standards will only get better, creating a positive cycle where economic growth drives greater environmental responsibility.

Striking a Balance Between Local and Global Manufacturing

At Kwindie, we believe that buying locally and supporting USA-made products are steps toward a more sustainable and economically prosperous future. While we understand that there are times when overseas production is necessary due to local limitations or customer budget constraints, we are committed to finding the best balance between local and global manufacturing to keep our economy strong and our planet safe. By making mindful choices and supporting USA-made products, we can all play a role in building a brighter future for our economy and the environment.

Get in touch to see how your next merch or website project can more positively impact the world around you!

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Setting up a custom store for ongoing order fulfilment

Posted on by Trini

This post is geared toward ordering systems which involve individual orders taken over time and fulfilled on-demand. If your group is placing an order altogether and being shipped to a single location all at the same time, please click here.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to set up an online store where your group, audience, or customers can select and pay for merch, input their address to ship to, and have their order produced on demand and shipped the them quickly? It is possible! These shops are easy to set up and manage, and can be left open ongoingly to allow for long-term ordering as needed.

There are several ecommerce platforms to choose from depending on the specifics of your project. Some charge a monthly fee while others charge a commission on each item sold. There is even an option that charges next to nothing in exchange for a banner ad at the top of your store. We will work together to choose the right one for your specific project.

These print-on-demand shops can be set up only for DTG printing and embroidery.

The process is simple. Choose the items you want to offer from options I will send to you. Send over or have me create your artwork. Set up your shop (I will do this part) on the platform we select together. Send your store link to your group or audience. Watch the orders come in.

If you need any help with promotional materials to get the word out about your store, I am happy to create those as well. Please let me know!

Stress free solutions to taking order details from individuals in a large group

Posted on by Trini

Throughout my years project managing large group orders, one of the most frustrating things for my customers can be tracking down the individuals in your group and getting them to choose which size they want to order (and any other relevant details). Fortunately, there are some things we can do to make it much less stressful. I will produce any required order-taking materials at no additional charge unless specified otherwise below.

First, make sure you have your garments selected and artwork finalized. For more details on that, click here.

All orders will be shipped to a single shipping address, and that point person will distribute the individual items to the group members. If you would like to set up a fulfilment situation (each person will have their selections shipped to a separate address), please see this post.

Set a deadline

Choose a deadline for taking orders, even if you don’t have an event date.
Some guidelines:

  • Try to allow at least a week for people to place their orders. Two weeks is better.
  • If your group has meetings, try to allow for two meetings before the deadline.
  • If you have an event date, be sure to set the deadline for at least a week before your order needs to be finalized to meet your timeline.

The above guidelines have been set assuming some people will still miss the deadline, and so allows for a few days or a week for last minute changes or procrastination.

Select order-taking tools

There are a lot of different ways to take and organize orders, depending on how technological you want to get, how large your group is, and how complicated your order is. With all of these options, you can select prices that are higher than the cost of your order and any remainder can be kept or refunded as a fundraiser for your group.

Shopify Store

Setting up a Shopify store allows each group member to place and pay for their individual order online. The batch of orders will then be accessible so we can see the data and place the order according to the group’s selections.

Shopify does charge a fee, depending on the complexity of the store. Please enquire for a custom quote.

Google Forms

Google Forms allows for a survey page to be sent to each member of your group for free. Each person can send in their responses to questions we set up for them according to your project. The answers are accessible as a Google Sheets spreadsheet we can use to place the order with the decorator.

Individual payments will need to be taken by one person (you or another volunteer) who will then deposit them into an account, and pay for the cost of the order in a single payment (via check or online invoice).

Paper Forms

The paper form method works especially well for groups that have in person meetings regularly. I can create a custom form which can be printed out in your required quantity and filled out quickly during a meeting, or taken home at one meeting, filled out, and returned at the next meeting along with payment.

Individual payments will need to be taken by one person (you or another volunteer) who will then deposit them into an account, and pay for the cost of the order in a single payment (via check or online invoice).

Make several loud announcements

The only step remaining is to make sure everyone in the group knows about the deadline and order process! Write clear emails and send them out. If your group has meetings, combine this with announcements at as many meetings leading up to the deadline as possible. For schools or other groups involving children, send home a printed flyer with any details necessary (even if using a digital method of taking orders).

That’s it!

Wait for the orders to come in, and hold true to your deadlines. Check once the order deadline passes to make sure all group members are accounted for and follow up with any stragglers.

How to choose merch for your group without pulling your hair out

Posted on by Trini

Choosing which merch to use for a group can be overwhelming. Over my years helping people with bulk projects like this, I’ve found ways to make it far less so! Check out the tips below to make the process go more smoothly, with much less stress for you.

Going with the default

There is always the “default” option, which is the standard, most cost effective, black tees or hoodies with a white screen print.

Another way to do the default is to give me any information you already have and let me do all of the work for you. Have one conversation with me (or a chat or a few emails) and I’ll come up with what I think would work best for your group without any extra effort from you.

If you’re looking for something more hands-on, or want a more detailed narrowing down of products manually, check out the tips below!

Allow enough time (don’t procrastinate)

It may go without saying, but starting early can save you a lot of hair pulling. If possible, allow two months for your project (one month to sort out product selection, finalize artwork, get the group’s opinion, make changes, order samples, etc., then one month for production). Things don’t always take that long but it’s better to get your order early than to run out of time and rush at the end!

Don’t ask your group’s opinion… yet.

I can’t tell you how many times there has been a “too many cooks” situation when ordering group apparel. Step number one should be to hold off on seeing what people want. Follow the steps below to narrow down the choices first, then ask them to help with the final decision, and potentially some smaller steps along the way. I promise this will save you a lot of stress.

Take note of prior experiences

If your group has ever had merch made before, take stock of the experience(s). Gather any information you can about what kinds of things the group got before, the more information the better. If the experience was a good one and the merch was well received, we can match the same products or find equivalents. If the experience was a bad one, we can steer clear of those products and use the feedback about them to go in a different direction.

Avoid looking through a catalog

There’s a concept called the “paradox of choice”. It’s the idea that while having a lot of choices allows you the potential to get exactly what you want, too many choices can actually make the decision process exhausting, to the point of decision fatigue and “analysis paralysis”.

The fix for this is to narrow down your options first, to get a good idea of what kind of thing you’re looking for.

Start with your group’s needs

This is the step that will narrow down the bulk of your choices. What will your group be doing with the merch? If they’ll be selling it, you’ll want something very different than if they plan to wear it while playing a sport. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Who are your group members? Are they kids, adults, or both? What kinds of sizes will you need? There is no “standard” bell curve as every demographic and activity group has a different size range.
  • What activities will be done in (or with) the merch? Sports games, standing for long periods of time at events, going out dancing, sitting in meetings, or going to the beach will all demand different things from the items you choose.
  • What will the weather be like (or will they be worn primarily inside)?

Take into account your group’s values

If your group has any values, those can often be factored in as well. A good example of this is sustainability. Recycled and organic fabrics can be more expensive than traditional options, but for groups who find limiting their environmental impact important, it may be worth the increased cost. Consider if your group values being “weird” or “out there”. In this case, you may want to look at items outside the usual tee shirts or hoodies, and find something uniquely “them” to offer.

Consider the question of color

A lot of groups have specific brand colors they need to follow. For example, schools often have “brand guidelines” to follow which specify colors and fonts, as well as logo structure and placement. All of this can be important to keep in mind, not only for the print color, but the garment color as well. If your design is required to go on a white or navy background, it wouldn’t be good to select a garment that only comes in black and cream!

Choosing the right decoration method

Certain decoration methods can only work with specific kinds of artwork. Be sure to have me look it over to see if any methods are automatically ruled out. For example if your design won’t work with embroidery, we can rule out beanies and certain hats from the beginning.

Ordering samples

With all of that done, your choices should be significantly narrowed down. Look through the options and choose your top 2-4 to order samples of. This is where you should ask your group for their opinion! Find more details about the sample ordering process here.

Next steps

Once you’ve chosen your blank items, you’ll want to look at your decoration method, artwork, and taking orders from your group members. Check out those links for more details!

Ordering Decorated Samples for your Group Project

Posted on by Trini

Sometimes ordering blank samples isn’t enough for your group, and they want to see a decorated sample, or even a few! Checking the decoration quality can be an important step, especially for some products or decoration methods.

In some cases I may suggest ordering a sample if I’m unsure of how the decoration will look or hold up on a certain material or fabric texture. Ordering decorated samples is always your choice, and if you choose not to, I may recommend switching to a more common method/fabric combination to be safe. Quality and customer satisfaction are my top priorities!

This post only refers to decorated samples. If you want to check the quality of the blank garments, check out the post here.

Stock samples to check decorator quality

If you would like to see the decoration quality of the decorator(s) I use, they have many stock samples available. These are test prints of designs they’re already running, sew outs of embroidered designs they’ve done in the past, and presses of vinyl onto scrap fabric. These are usually free and can be mailed to you directly within a couple of business days.

Custom samples

Ordering custom decorated samples is not common, and is usually only done if there is a question about how a specific decoration method/fabric combination will turn out, or if your design is on the edge of what may not look good when embroidered. In some cases though, specific groups will want to see a full sample of their design on their selected garment.

Turn time

The time it takes to produce a custom sample depends on the decoration method, but is usually the same amount of time that it takes to produce a full order (because the decorator has to process, set up, and produce the single item the same way they would a full order). Typically this is 2-3 weeks (quicker turns are available for additional “rush” fees).

Cost

The cost to produce custom samples varies according to your specific project and will need to be quoted. They are usually very expensive however. The most expensive would be multi-color screen printed designs, because of the massive amount of set up cost attributed to a single item.

Custom embroidery sew-outs

Embroidery sew-outs are a kind of middle ground option if you want to see how your design will look embroidered. Your design would be embroidered on a scrap of fabric. This can be twill (similar to a hat), cotton (tee shirt scrap), or fleece (hoodie scrap). They cost ~$20-$30 depending on your design and shipping is free via USPS. Turn time is usually around one week from payment to delivery, depending on the decorator’s availability.

Ordering Blank Garment Samples for your Group Project

Posted on by Trini

Samples are an important step to make sure your bulk order is exactly as you want it to be.

With so many variables in play like fit, fabric texture, and fabric weight, it’s difficult to know exactly what to choose from pictures and manufacturer blurbs alone. Ordering a sample or two can help make sure your chosen garment is just right.

Ordering samples does take time, but is worth it! Please allow enough time to receive your samples (1-6 business days once paid for), with some additional time to try them out thoroughly. The entire process can add a few days to a few weeks to your turn time, depending on a lot of factors. If you have an event date, be sure to let me know as soon as possible so we can take that into account.

This post tackles only blank product samples; for information on decorated samples click here.

Step 1: narrow down your options

First, you’ll need to narrow down the options to what you like the best. See the full blog post here on how we will tackle that together.

I recommend selecting a few options to choose from so you don’t have to wait for additional items to ship if your first choice isn’t perfect.

Step 2: specify the details

Please provide a single shipping address for all samples to be sent to.

For each style you want a sample of, provide the following:

  • Size(s)
  • Color(s)

Step 3: approve and pay for your samples

I will email an order summary for you to approve which includes all of the samples you plan to order, the color and size for each, your shipping address, and pricing. Please look over this thoroughly to make sure everything is correct!

Along with your order summary I will send an invoice. I charge only what is required to cover the cost of the items and shipping them to you (nothing is marked up).

If everything on your order summary and invoice look correct, please pay the invoice and I will order your samples. Payment acts as your approval and no changes can be made after that point (I usually order the samples immediately upon receiving your payment in order to get them to you at the soonest possible time).

Step 4: wait for the samples to arrive

Samples will be received in 1-6 business days (unless there are shipping delays which are out of our control).

Step 5: try out your samples

Once received, put your samples through a test! Try them on, show them to your group members, wash them, and wear them doing whatever activities you’ll be using them for. Here are some ideas of what to pay attention to:

  • Fit: does the item run smaller or larger than expected for the size you ordered? Does everyone in your group like how loose or tight it fits?
  • Fabric: is the fabric as soft as you would like? Is it thick enough? Is it too heavy?
  • Washability: does the fabric change texture when washed? Does the item shrink in the dryer?
  • Wearability: how does the item look and feel while worn during your group activity? If ordering for a sports or summer event, is it breathable? Does it ride up while running? Does it turn see-through when wet?

Ultimately only you and your group will know what is most important to them in their apparel. Make sure to test all of those things before making your choice.

Step 6: make your selection(s)

Once your tests are done, select which item(s) you like the best. I suggest ruling out any you specifically dislike, and putting the rest in order of preference. That way if your first choice is out of stock when you place your order, you already have a plan B.

That’s it!

Relay what you find to me and we can move forward with your group order. You get to keep all of the samples. If you have any you don’t want, please give them away or donate them.