Selling t-shirts at events and conferences is a great way to grow your brand and build relationships. If you’re unprepared, you might not get the most out of the events you attend.

After partnering with conferences of various sizes over the years, we’ve learned quite a bit about what it takes to make conferences and events well worth the investment. 

We’re here to help you achieve your conference goals and sell as many custom t-shirts as possible, so here are our best practices for selling t-shirts at events and conferences.

If you spend money showcasing your clothing line at an event, you must choose suitable events for your brand. Costs of exhibiting, booth setup, flights, shipping, hotel stays, and food can add up, so make sure the value in return is worth your investment.

If you’re just starting to sell t-shirts, attending local events while you grow your brand and learn what works is a great place to start. Make sure you focus on your niche or target audience. For example, if you’re selling running shirts, attend local running events. Finding people that can connect with your brand and your t-shirts is critical.

When you sign up as a vendor, you will receive important information from the event organizers. 

Please slow down and take the time to read through it all. The exhibitor manual will become your vendor lifeline. It will include setup, breakdown, space requirements, electricity, carpet, internet, advance shipping, and more information. 

Crazy enough, we’ve encountered certain events where fliers were prohibited. If this is something you didn’t know in advance, and you spent time designing, printing, and paying for fliers specifically for that event (like us), you’d be out a lot of money, not to mention how much valuable time was lost in the process.

It could be worth reaching out to past vendors to learn from their experiences about what worked and what didn’t if they are willing to share. Any insight you can gain is valuable to your business.

When setting up your booth, take advantage of all the time allotted for setup. Even with a packing list, it’s easy to miss something. If you’re not making at least one run to the store to pick up odds and ends, you’re a packing master, and we need to hire you ASAP. 

For everyone else, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to prep and order your booth needs, especially for must-have items like pens, business cards, tape, hangers, and the t-shirts you’ll be promoting and selling at the event.

If you are ever in a bind and need custom event t-shirts fast, our Lightning Service will ensure you have your t-shirts in 2 days! We’ve always got your back.

It also might be worth setting up a dry run of your booth to ensure it’s precisely what you want it to be. Before any events, we create a digital mockup of how we want our booth space to work. It helps us decide what to bring and shortens our setup time because we know what we’re doing once we get there.

Your booth is your sales pitch! When people visit your booth, what do you want them to remember? Booth branding includes your logo, colors, messaging, and customer experience. 

Even if your booth’s primary purpose is to sell t-shirts, you can still create a memorable or interactive experience that they can walk away with. We’ve seen booths draw tattoos on people with permanent markers, give haircuts, or even set up a giant ball pit— and guess whose lines were full of excited people? We’re sure you know the answer to that question. *wink*

Booth experiences are becoming a standard requirement to attend an event as a vendor. In the past, while viewing the vendor requirements for a more significant conference in Chicago, they asked for more information on your booth experience and what interactive elements would be brought to the show. In short: booth experience is becoming less of a bonus and more of a requirement. Make sure you’re keeping up.

Another critical factor to discuss is the payment options available to your customers. How are you checking people out? Is the process easy? What’s the cost of your shirts in comparison to your competition?

Creating a sense of urgency can move products faster when selling something to someone. Consider language like “Limited Conference Designs!” or “Shirts only available at this event!” 

And if you run out of t-shirts to sell, have a backup plan. Be prepared to take orders immediately so you don’t lose customers. Ensure you’re keeping inventory of all your purchases at the event so you can know how much money you made and how many shirts to order next time.

The placement of your booth is another factor that could affect your sales, which is why we nested these two together. It’s essential to be near heavy foot traffic. Sometimes, especially if you’re new, choosing your booth location isn’t an option, but if there’s an option to be near walkways, entrances, or even next to other large attractive booths, take it.

For more marketing help, check out: Pricing Pro-Tips: A Guide to Pricing Your T-Shirts for Retail.

Yes, invest in your booth space, but make sure you’re investing your time at the conference too. Events like after-parties, happy hours, or welcome parties are clutch for building relationships. People have their guards down, and they are ready to make friends. Spend time developing genuine connections with people at conferences. 

This might not immediately turn into sales, but some of your most prominent fans/friends will be your biggest and best promoters, so be genuine.

Being fully prepared by researching events, knowing your options as an exhibitor, and creating an engaging space is step one in setting your booth up for success. Your audience will be excited to visit your space, and t-shirts will fly off the shelves.

You learned about best practices; now what?

We taught you some best practices for selling custom t-shirts at events. Are you feeling inspired?

Our team of printing professionals and product specialists is here to help you figure out what garments might best fit your demographic, literally AND figuratively speaking.

We encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns; in the meantime, check out our T-Shirt Buyers Guide- a free resource to help you learn everything you ever needed to know about ordering custom t-shirts. 

Originally Published 01-24-2018 | Updated 05/18/2023

Check out the best advice on what to do, and what not to do, when selling t-shirts at events. 

Best Practices for Selling T-Shirts at Events

To get you started, we want to answer a few questions that you might have and need to share with the rest of your team that will help you come up with your best strategy for marketing t shirts yet.

It’s going to have a fun, creative and simple design sharing the story of your company, product, etc. 

It’s will be inline with your company’s brand, mission or values 

It will relay a message to your audience that you want heard.

It’s going to be printed with incredibly soft inks on a super soft t-shirt. 

What are the benefits of a branded t-shirt?

It can help you acquire new leads that are qualified and ready to engage with your brand.

They can allow for an affordable marketing strategy if you narrow in your efforts. 

If done well, they can be a promotional product that will actually get used, not tossed. 

You will stand out. People will start to see your shirts everywhere and wonder what they are for and wonder how they can get one since everyone else seems to have one. 

Your customers or new leads can easily become loyal brand evangelist that proudly represent a company they believe in, one that makes their life better. They will share how your company solved a problem they had. 

They can establish stronger brand recognition. The more people that have and wear them, the more eyes that see and learn about you.

Pens, stickers and notebooks are great (we have them too!), but t-shirts can tie your brand collateral package and presentation together. 

How can you grow and nurture new and existing customers using t-shirts?

Have them sign up for a free trial and receive a free t-shirt.

Host a social media contest. The winner gets a free t-shirt.

Send out your t-shirts as a gift to individuals you really want to work with. 

Give away a t-shirt as a thank you gift to your best customers. 

Give a handful of t-shirts to friends that you know will wear them all the time. 

Your team is apart of your marketing strategy too. Heres why it’s important to invest in them with t-shirts:

They unite company culture and create camaraderie, so they’re likely to share positive words with their surrounding community.

They inspire unity which ultimately equals more productivity. This could help your business run more efficiently. 

Their friends will probably want one too. This sought after tool will keep spreading like wild fire (we promise)! 

If you’re looking for additional resources, to build your best marketing strategy yet, there are tons of FREE templates and educational blog post to that can help guide you in the process. Here are 3 we highly recommend reading now: 

How to use Giveaways as an Opportunity to Gain More Customers

3 Ways to use T-shirts for Customer Acquisition 

If you need help getting stared, give us a shout! We\'re available to you in multiple ways and extended hours now. 

Discover why t-shirts will be your best marketing strategy! 

Why Shirts Will Be Your Best Marketing Strategy

As conscious consumers, we can counteract harmful shopping habits with ones that cultivate a more sustainable lifestyle. With the fashion industry being one of the most environmentally "unfriendly" industries, looking for ethical clothing brands that use sustainable practices to create quality, timeless pieces while reducing waste and energy is essential.

Many brands understand the need for a healthier and safer environment and are doing their part to help reduce environmental impact and move towards a better future. These brands focus on creating stylish, fashionable designs that use sustainable materials and practices. 

We've been in the apparel industry for over a decade, and we see and understand the environmental value that being a sustainable clothing brand holds.  We compiled a list of 5 *stand out* eco-friendly apparel brands that are helping to change the world by creating stylish, fashionable clothing with sustainable materials and responsible production processes. Choosing to shop from sustainable brands will not only help to support their mission but will reduce your environmental impact as well.

SIDENOTE: If you're a clothing brand looking to change your mission, get a pen and paper ready – you will want to take some notes.

Patagonia is one of the most well-known eco-friendly clothing brands. They are "in business to save our home planet" with a mission to choose purpose over profit. Patagonia is transforming how they make products and are committed to using recycled materials and responsible production processes to create stylish and sustainable clothing. 

Patagonia is also a leader in the fight for environmental protection and works with many environmental initiatives. They launched their Take-Back Program in 2021, intending to help create a circular clothing system to upcycle waste into new clothing so the fabric can be used repeatedly. 

98% of their line uses recycled materials

They turn discarded fishing nets into gear and have kept 935 tons of plastic waste out of the world's oceans

2,500+ farmers are part of their Regenerative Organic Certified Cotton Program 

Everlane uses eco-friendly materials and production processes. They are also dedicated to transparency, even revealing the exact cost of every product. They partner with factories to ensure the workers are paid fairly and have a good work environment and reasonable work hours. 

As a company, Everlane prides itself on ensuring its customers know exactly where and how their clothes are made. 

Everlane is an excellent option for those looking for products that last, as well as what they call "Cleaner Fashion," which is a collection that consists of 10 factors dedicated to helping clean up the industry. Some of these efforts include cleaner cotton, renewed materials, reduced water usage, and animal welfare.

66%+ of their cotton use is certified organic through the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Organic Content Standard (OCS)

Styles marked with a particular icon use at least 50% recycled content.

97% of the polyester and nylon Everlane uses comes from certified recycled sources

Reformation is a sustainable brand committed to bringing sustainable fashion to everyone. They are working towards this by focusing on four primary areas of sustainability: People, Products, Planet, and Progress. While most business report quarterly earnings, they believe in sharing much more than that. 

The proof is in the pudding, which you can read in their extensive and transparent Sustainability Report. Reformation is knocking it out of the park with its effort and dedication to using eco-friendly, recycled materials and responsible production processes to ensure a positive impact. 

They are also an official Climate Neutral Certified company. They measure the company's carbon emissions yearly to offset 100% of their footprint and aim to remove more emissions than they produce by 2025! 

73% of their fabrics are from recycled, regenerative, or renewable materials

85% of their dyers and printers have a clean chemical certification

5,300+ people have joined their circularity revolution, helping divert 570 lbs of their product from the landfill

Tentree is an eco-friendly clothing brand that uses sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled materials. While some companies are all talk, Tentree believes in open conversation about how they are protecting the planet to keep them accountable and make it happen. 

They've invested in technology, such as blockchain-based software, to keep track of the materials they use. They take an "Earth-first" approach to using sustainable and soft fabrics like blends of organic cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester, which typically use less water, harmful chemicals, and other damaging processes to make.

Tentree also plants ten trees for every item purchased. Their website says they have planted over 85 million trees, thanks to their passionate and dedicated community.

Tentree has been carbon neutral since 2020

While Nisolo isn't technically a clothing brand (they focus primarily on shoes and accessories), we'd still count it as an eco-friendly apparel brand since its goal is to push the fast-fashion industry more sustainably. The effort they put into their sustainability framework is extensive and a good resource for brands looking to change their processes for sustainability. 

Nisolo is a Certified B Corporation, which has met the highest social and environmental responsibility standard. To meet B-Corp certification standards, a company goes through a grilling and rigorous 3rd party evaluation that scrapes through a company's impact across Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.

While many apply, only about 7% have qualified. This honor is worth sharing with customers and other brands to inspire everyone to take steps toward a better future. 

Nisolo has been B Corp Certified since 2017, ranked #1 among all leather goods companies and top 3 in footwear.

100% of our leather is a byproduct of the meat industry, which means no cow will ever be killed for the sole purpose of creating leather 

While they have yet to reach their goal, they are fully committed to reducing and offsetting 100% of their carbon emissions as a brand through various partnerships.

Nisolo is launching its first products with recycled post-consumer waste.

By shopping with eco-friendly clothing brands, you are helping to spread the message of sustainability and supporting a company committed to using sustainable materials and production processes. 

Now that you know about some of the most notable eco-friendly apparel brands changing the world, are you thinking, "Hmmm, how can I become a part of that?

Aside from being an eco-conscious consumer, you can be an eco-superhero by getting your hands on sustainable custom apparel for your next event, company merch, or clothing line. 

We offer various sustainable garments for you, whether you want a tote bag embroidered with your company's logo or a super soft t-shirt with your designs screen printed on it.

Our customer success team is here to help you take your designs to the next level and feel good about your impact on the planet.

Hit us up; we've been doing this custom apparel thing since 2009.

5 eco-friendly clothing brands helping to change the world by creating fashionable clothing with sustainable materials and responsible production processes.

5 Eco-Friendly Clothing Brands Changing The World

SUPIMA® cotton is a type of long-staple cotton grown in the United States, particularly in the American Southwest. Roughly 93% of Supima is grown in California, while the remaining 7% is split between Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Not all cotton is created equal. While it represents less than 1% of cotton grown worldwide, Supima cotton is valued for its superior quality. This high-quality variety of cotton is known for its long fibers, softness, and vibrancy, making it ideal for clothing like t-shirts, underwear, socks, and bed sheets. 

‍Supima.com states that Supima cotton is twice as durable as regular cotton, resulting in fashion and home products that are exceptionally resilient. The longer fiber resists pilling, breaking, and tearing, allowing the products to maintain their form for extended periods. 

Supima-made clothes are durable and can outlast other fabrics, such as polyester blends, making them reliable. Although the cost per unit might be higher up front, the longevity and durability of Supima prove these items to be a luxury, which your brand can market and build a pricing strategy around. 

If you come across the SUPIMA® trademark on a textile product, such as a t-shirt, you can rest assured it's crafted with Pima Cotton grown in the United States. 

This trademark cannot be transferred, which indicates that SUPIMA® can supervise its utilization throughout the supply chain to guarantee the quality and integrity of all items that carry their name. (Source: Original Favorites)

Knowing this information can help brands educate their customers on the actual quality of their products, enabling them to make better purchasing decisions with their brand and others.

Where to Buy Supima Cotton T-Shirt Blanks

Original Favorites is a standout wholesale blank garment manufacturer that offers high-quality and sustainable SUPIMA® cotton blank tees. They are certified by credible third-party organizations for meeting global sustainability standards.  

“Our mission is to combine verified luxury raw materials with sustainable farming methods that include socially responsible harvesting and manufacturing practices resulting in the world's finest wholesale blank clothing.”

Their American Grown Supima® 100% Cotton 6oz T-Shirt and American Grown Supima® 100% Cotton 6oz Long Sleeve T-Shirt come in more than ten colors with sizes ranging from XS to 2XL. Although their neutral colors are in stock, their colored options may be harder to find in bulk quantities. Additionally, they offer tearaway neck labels that can save money on custom tag printing.

Printing Results with Water-Based Ink on Supima Cotton

Our water-based inks, SuperSoft and Bold, are excellent options for printing on Supima cotton. You can choose which ink style you prefer, as there is no right or wrong answer. 

If you opt for SuperSoft inks, the outcome will depend on your garment and ink color. You can expect a lightweight, soft, pliable print that lasts without flaking or cracking. The clarity of details in print is exceptional, but the colors may not be as intense as in Bold printing.

On the other hand, choosing Bold ink on Supima cotton will result in a more vibrant print regardless of the shirt and ink color combination. It's ideal for those who want vibrant colors that pop off the shirt. However, Bold ink is slightly thicker in feel than SuperSoft and not as pliable. It works on any fabric blend, ensuring consistent results, and matches the Pantone you've picked for your design.

Pricing on a Supima Cotton Printed T-shirt 

Here's a quick pricing chart for 50 printed Original Favorite 6oz Supima Cotton t-shirts with tearaway tags.

<html>
<table style="border: 5px solid #e5e7eb; width: 75%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10%;">
<th style="border: 1px solid ##e5e7eb; padding:10px;">Number of ink colors</th>
<th style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">Cost per unit</th>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">1 color front / 0 color back</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">$22.93 / unit</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">1 color front / 1 color back</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">$26.01 / unit</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">2 color front / 0 color back</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">$24.69 / unit</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">2 color front / 1 color back</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; padding:10px;">$27.77 / unit</td>
</tr>
</table>
</html>

It is common for clothing brands to aim for a profit margin of 50-60%. For instance, by adding a 60% profit margin to a 1-color front design priced at $22.93, the retail cost would be approximately $58.00. You can use online resources to help you calculate your pricing strategy.

Understanding your target audience and their purchasing habits is crucial when determining the right pricing strategy for your premium products. Remember to price your products based on perceived value and use effective marketing to boost sales.

We have provided you with information about SUPIMA® cotton t-shirts, one of the top choices available in the market regarding sustainable blanks. Now what?

Whether you are planning to start a t-shirt clothing brand or already have a running company, we hope the information we have shared is helpful to you.

If you feel inspired to print on an Original Favorite Supima Cotton shirt, let us know. We're here to support your sustainable efforts!

Learn about SUPIMA® cotton, printing on Supima shirts, and where to find quality blanks. 

About a month ago, we posted The Best Household Materials to Make Your Own DIY Face Mask not knowing where things were headed. As some time has progressed, it\'s seemingly safe to say face masks and coverings are not going away any time soon.

According to the CDC, wearing a face mask in public settings where it’s difficult to maintain social distancing, like the grocery store, is highly recommended. The CDC has advised that using simple cloth face coverings can slow the spread of the virus as well as prevent transmitting it to others.

As mentioned in our previous article, the mixture of fit, filtration, and breathability led the Cambridge University study to conclude the 100% cotton t-shirt and the pillowcase to be the top two at-home protective mask materials. With that said, we put together a No Sew Face Mask Template to use with the recommended basic cotton t-shirt from your drawer. Following this simple step-by-step guide, learn how to make your own mask with materials right from your house.

Gather your materials: 100% cotton t-shirt, scissors and straight or safety pins. 

Print out the second page of this No-Sew Face Mask Template on a standard piece of 8.5” x 11” paper.


Cut out your pattern along the dotted lines, then pin your pattern to your shirt to hold it in place. 

After the pins are secure, trace around the outside of the template. At this point, use your pins or a marker to note where you will place the ear slits. After you’ve finished tracing, remove the paper template.

Carefully cut the shirt along the drawn pattern. Trim two small slits on both ends of the mask fabric where you’ve marked your ear placement. Keep in mind that these slits do not need to be large. Since the fabric is slightly stretchy, you’ll be able to pull them over your ears. 

To wear, pull your finished mask in place by tucking the ends over each ear!

If you’re wondering if your newly made mask is properly fitted, here’s a list from the CDC outlining how to wear a cloth face covering:

fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape”

There have been suggestions regarding whether or not to add filters and what types work best.  Per this article, The Best Materials For DIY Face Masks And Filters from The Huffington Post, Yang Wang, assistant professor of environmental engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, told The New York Times that the use of filters helps promote safe breathing and ensures that particles are removed properly. The article goes on to discuss which types of filters work effectively and which ones do not. Make sure to check this out before you pop in any additional household items into your masks!

Looking to purchase face masks to keep yourself, your team, and those around you safe? We have you (and your face) covered. 😷We now offer blank masks in bulk or custom branded masks. Upload your artwork to get started or email team@realthread.com with any questions. 

A step-by-step guide on how to make a DIY no-sew face mask from home using our free mask template. 

How To Make A DIY No-Sew Face Mask At Home

The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken many industries, including bars and nightlife establishments across the country. With very little notice to prepare, many of the workers maintaining these venues and servicing customers, were either laid off or furloughed. With no known return date, many companies are stepping up to help employees as much as possible during this difficult time.

Hanson's Shoe Repair, a popular cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe located in downtown Orlando, FL, was one of many establishments required to shut down during the state government mandate. During this time they looked to Campaigns, Real Thread’s t-shirt fundraising platform, to raise money for their furloughed employees by selling t-shirts to supportive customers! 

Within 24 hours, they sold well over 200 shirts and continued to sell shirts until the very last minute! As the campaign wrapped up, they sold a little over 400 shirts and raised $5,000+ achieving exactly what they set out to do -- help support their staff in this time of need.

Here’s an interview with Hanson’s Owner Rene Nguyen and Shirt Designer Sean Jones (also known as Humidaze), the two driving forces behind this successful campaign. We learn how they promoted their shirt plus a little behind the legendary cat Ripley, a prominent piece of the design 😺

Industry: Cocktail Bar
Campaign Length: 14 Days
Number of Shirts sold: 402
Total Raised: $5,000+

Interview with Rene Nguyen, Hanson’s Owner: 

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected Hanson’s?

Like many other nightlife establishments throughout the country the pandemic has forced us to temporarily shutter. With that being said we understand the need to tough it out in the short term as opposed to dealing with the long term ramifications if the situation were to get worse.

How many days has it been since you’ve served a cocktail? What’s the first cocktail you want to make for your customers upon returning?

Our bar has been closed since Monday, March 16th. And for me personally, I last served a cocktail on Saturday, March 14th. Whichever they desire. Hopefully it won't be too labor intensive since the nature of our work relies so much on muscle memory and I'm sure I'll be at least a little rusty. Kidding aside, we can't wait to be serving again. 

Is the recipe on the back of the shirt for the Cat & Canary a cocktail you often served? Do you think you’ll still want to serve it when this is all over?

The Cat & Canary is one of our more popular cocktails for sure and based on the success of the shirt I'm sure it'll continue to be. 

You all sold over 400 shirts! How did you promote your Campaign?

We promoted our campaign strictly through our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. Our staff also promoted using their personal platforms throughout the duration of the campaign. We were surprised and thrilled that so many friends, family, and customers wanted to support us.

What was the deciding factor in Hanson’s choice to raise money selling shirts?

With the bar being shuttered and income coming to a halt we wanted to raise funds for our staff but still provide a product to those who wanted to help. Our friend and shirt designer, Sean had recommended we look into your Campaigns program and I'm glad we did.

Who will the proceeds from your successful Campaign benefit?

All proceeds will go directly to our furloughed staff to help them manage during this time. Again we couldn't thank Sean and Real Thread enough.

“We hope to see and raise a glass to all of you soon. - Renee”

Interview with Sean Jones (Humidaze), the shirt designer:

You were the designer behind the successful Hanson’s Campaign shirt! What inspired this color palette and design? 

The palette is inspired by old school Florida. I love the colors of the prints being done in the early 1920s for Florida. The design is inspired by Rene’s love of cats and the amazing work they do at Hanson’s. The big idea behind this shirt was to turn a menu item into a shirt design. Hopefully we do more :)

Who is Ripley and how does he play a part in the design? 

Ripley is my cat. How I got him is a crazy story actually. The short and sweet version is, he got stuck in the engine of my car as a kitten. I literally had to take pieces of my engine apart to get him out. Rene pushed me to keep him and has loved him ever since haha. So it seemed fitting he would be the model for the illustration.

Speaking of, Rene left a comment on your Instagram that said “RIP” in regards to an image of Ripley. We all want to know, is Ripley still alive? 😳

He is alive and well! Rip is just a short version of his name.

Have you made or sipped on the cocktail recipe listed on the shirt? Tell us about it.

Well this is kind of embarrassing…but no I haven’t even tried it. I’m gonna blame that on quarantine haha. I’m sure it's amazing!

Why do you think this campaign was so successful? As the designer behind the shirt, did you promote it as well? If so, how did you go about it?

I mean I would love to say it was the illustration, or the color, or even the typography. But honestly the success comes from people just love Hanson’s and the people that work there. I totally promoted the shirt, it’s really the only way to get traction with your campaign. I used instagram posts and I did stories to direct people to their page as well. I also did a follow up post near the end of the campaign.

I was a bar back for about 3 months at Hanson’s in 2014. I moved to Orlando for my wife’s job and my freelance had dried up because I didn’t have any connections here. A friend introduced me to Rene and he took me in, haha. I owe the team at that time so much. They changed my whole perspective on drinks and what they could be. The rest is history, Rene has been one of my great friends ever since :)

As a designer, how has the Covid-19 pandemic affected you and your work?

The studio I work for in town has been so lucky, and the pandemic hasn’t affected our work load. But I had so many friends in different industries that were taking a big hit. So I took this time to take on as many jobs as I could to help. For the most part they gave me almost no rules for what I was making. Creatively it's been loads of fun, but helping out my crew has been the best part.

If you’re looking for a way to raise money for your business or employees during this difficult time, check out Campaigns. It’s an easy, risk-free way for you to profit from selling t-shirts online, giving your customers and community a way to support you and/or your business amid the chaos of the Coronavirus. Get started by filling out the form or reaching out to team@realthread.com.

How a cocktail bar raised money to support their furloughed staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

How Hanson's Used Custom Shirts to Support Furloughed Staff

How a cocktail bar raised money to support their furloughed staff during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Churches are known for the gathering of crowds. Most churches meet weekly if not more for services on Sunday, bible studies, and even community service projects. With state mandates going into effect, how does a church continue to function? How do they still connect with each other? With their community? Better yet, how do they serve people during these times?

We connected with Kelly Adkins from Grace Church to gain insight on how they are handling these uncharted waters and why they turned to Campaigns, Real Thread’s t-shirt fundraising platform, to give back to the community. Learn how they successfully raised over $5,000 fundraising with t-shirts and how they used the profit to spread joy.

Industry: Church
Campaign Length: 14 Days
Number of Shirts sold: 363
Profit: $5,000+

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected Grace Church?

In practical terms, it would be much easier to list the ways this has not affected us! It transformed almost every single way we engage our teams and serve our people overnight. Grace didn’t even livestream services before this, so we went from expecting to have our normal seven weekend services in three locations at noon on a Friday, to writing, producing, editing, and promoting an online experience that premiered at 10am that Sunday. We’ve re-written every ministry strategy from the ground up to serve people in any way we can.

In the truest sense, though, it hasn’t affected us. Grace is still who we are and will be. We have hope because of our faith, we still have the same mission, and we still live out the same House Rules that guide our church (https://discovergrace.com/about/). It just looks and feels very different in the everyday right now.

What is it like to connect as a church family during this time? What ways are you making it possible for people to connect?

It’s the nature of the Church to gather, so it was a huge challenge from the start: how can we serve our people and our city without coming together physically? The answer was to continue to gather around the same purpose but in different ways — online content, communities, and service. 

We host our online weekend experience, and hundreds of families watch this at the time of the premiere and participate in the live chat. We also have moved many classes and groups online, and we provide daily teaching, encouragement, and fun for the whole church through social media. We developed new strategies, too, like online meet-ups after the messages and 15-minute prayer and counseling calls.

We also immediately started calling every single person in our database — thousands and thousands of people — to check on and encourage them. We flung open the virtual doors and said “we’re here if you need us.”

What inspired Grace Church to start a t-shirt fundraising Campaign?

One of the important ways Grace has gathered in this time is through service. We committed right away not only to help families in financial need, but also to serve our city. One of the ways we’ve done this is caring for health care workers. We’ve been regularly sending dinners and donuts (and soon we’ll be creating break room baskets) to ICUs, ERs, and support staff. When Real Thread launched campaigns, it seemed like a natural fit to help support that kind of initiative.

How will you all use the profit raised from selling shirts to serve the community?

The money is already at work! It covers only a portion of what Grace has been privileged to do so far during this crisis — helping hurting families with groceries and gas, making sure people get their medicine, even repairing a car for a single mom. And of course, sending lots of hot food to health care workers, as mentioned above. 

How have the funds impacted the local community? 

We’ve seen a ton of gratefulness from the ICU units — just thankfulness at being seen and cared for in a practical way during an anxious time. We serve one unit in particular that specializes in a last-chance level of life support; they send us updates on how many patients they’ve helped to save and discharge from care. So encouraging!

Good Is Ahead has become sort of a rallying cry for our church. It’s something our Senior Pastor, Mike Adkins, had been teaching us for about a year before this crisis started: because we have hope in God, good is always ahead for us, no matter what. He actually closes every service with it, and we’re actually in the process of trademarking this phrase as a ministry umbrella for us.

Why do you think this message resonates so well with your congregation and supporters alike? 

I think it resonates with everyone, honestly! Everyone wants to believe that good is ahead, and everyone wants to tell people that good is ahead. More than anything, we need hope right now.

How did you share your t-shirt Campaign with your members and other supporters? ‍

We promoted the Campaign several times during the 14 days through Instagram, Facebook, and targeted email.

Can you talk us through the process of creating and using a URL redirect from your website to your t-shirt Campaign page?

We created a redirect from our website (discovergrace.com/good) to send people to the Real Thread campaign page. It gave people an easier way to remember how to get to the page, since they’re already familiar with our URL. We have a Wordpress site, and it’s super easy to create them with a free plugin called Quick Redirects.

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