Churches often seek ways to engage their communities, encourage fellowship, and create a sense of belonging. Custom church merch can be a powerful tool in these efforts, offering an easy and effective way to spread the word about your church, raise funds, or provide practical items for members. 

Whether for a special event, a youth retreat, or everyday use, church merch helps create unity and provides lasting keepsakes.

Below is a detailed look at some easy church merch ideas, including custom apparel options from Real Thread to help you get started. 

Custom t-shirts are a popular choice for church merchandise. They’re versatile and easy to customize with screen printing or embroidery methods. Whether you’re designing tees for a youth group, a mission trip, or simply as a gift for members, the possibilities are endless.

Bella + Canvas 3001 Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee

The Bella + Canvas 3001 is a soft, lightweight tee perfect for church events. Available in a wide range of colors, it features a comfortable fit and smooth printing surface, making it ideal for custom designs featuring your church’s logo or a Bible verse.

Simple Logo Tees: Feature your church logo prominently on the front or back. Choose colors that align with your church branding. 

Event Tees: Create custom t-shirts for events like mission trips, youth group outings, or VBS.

Faith-Based Graphics: Incorporate Bible verses, Christian symbols, or inspirational quotes to resonate with church members. 

Custom Hoodies and Sweatshirts: Perfect for Cooler Weather

As the seasons change, hoodies and sweatshirts are a great way to keep your congregation warm while promoting your church. These trendy items are also great for youth groups and fall or winter events. 

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Midweight Pullover Hoodie

This midweight hoodie is a cozy option for cooler days, offering comfort and durability. Its high-quality cotton-poly blend comes in multiple colors and ensures your custom designs will last wash after wash.

Minimalist Designs: Opt for a small church logo or message on the chest or sleeve.

Youth Group Hoodies: Bold, colorful designs for your youth group will resonate with a younger audience and help create a sense of unity during events.

Custom hats and beanies are functional, stylish, and suitable for all seasons. They are ideal for church outings, fundraisers, or as gifts for volunteers. 

This cap is perfect for casual church events. It can be embroidered with your church’s logo or a meaningful Bible verse. 

Snapback Hats: For a more structured look, snapbacks can feature bold logos or artwork.

Beanies for Winter: Keep your congregation warm during winter events with custom beanies that feature the church name or an inspirational message.

Tote bags are practical and offer a large canvas for your church’s designs. They’re perfect for carrying bibles, notebooks, or groceries, making them a favorite for church members.

This sturdy, 100% cotton canvas tote is a durable option for everyday use. Its larger size and clean design make it an ideal canvas for custom prints. 

Bible Verse Totes: Feature an inspirational verse or uplifting message that will resonate with your congregation. 

Event or Retreat Totes: Customize tote bags for church events, making them a memorable keepsake for participants. 

Blankets are unique and cozy merch items used at outdoor church events, picnics, youth group lock-ins, or for comfort at home. A custom church-branded blanket will be a cherished item for many.

Made from sustainable materials, this cozy, eco-friendly blanket is soft and durable, a perfect canvas for custom embroidery. 

Pet Bandanas: For Your Four-Legged Friends

Consider offering custom pet bandanas to pet owners in your congregation. They’re a fun and unique way to involve pets in church events or fundraisers. 

This US-made bandana is the perfect accessory for your furry friends! It's also perfect for your pups (we’re not sure how happy your kitties would be if you tried to wrangle them into a bandana… haha!).

Match with your mini-me! Children’s apparel, such as onesies or toddler shirts, makes adorable church merchandise. These items are perfect for church nurseries, gifts to young families, Sunday school, or VBS groups. 

Bella + Canvas 100B Infant Jersey Short Sleeve One-Piece

This soft, comfortable onesie is a great custom youth apparel choice when ordering church merchandise. It is designed with 100% Airlume combed and ringspun cotton, creating a perfectly printable surface that’s soft to the touch. 

Bella + Canvas 3001Y Youth Short Sleeve Tee

This youth tee fits like a well-loved favorite. It features a crew neck, short sleeves, and superior Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton that acts as a blank canvas for printing. 

Creating custom church merch is an excellent way to foster community, raise funds, and spread the word about your church. With a range of items like custom tees, hoodies, hats, and more, you can tailor your merchandise to suit your needs. 

Using high-quality garments from Real Thread, your church merch order will not only look great but also last for years. Connect with one of our experienced printing pros to bring your vision to life.

Check out these easy church merch ideas, perfect for your community!

Easy Church Merch Ideas: Simple and Impactful Custom Apparel for Your Congregation

There’s a huge difference between retail quality t-shirts and standard t-shirts. Retail quality shirts are some of your favorites - the ones you might find at places like Urban Outfitters, J.Crew, etc. They fit well and they’re super soft. (Pssst… retail quality shirts are our specialty and we can guide you in getting started!). Standard shirts are usually something more basic. They tend to be boxy and fit really loose. These are the shirts that some companies will hand out for free that you don’t really want because you know you will never wear. They are typically not comfortable or stylish. (Let us just note, there might be a time and place to use a standard shirt depending on it’s purpose.)

There’s a clear difference between the two shirt styles, so it’s important to determine how much value you want to give and get. We understand there are budgets (we have one!), but it’s important to not just look at the final cost of the t-shirt, as the value can extend well beyond that point.


Here are two examples showing the value of choosing a retail quality shirt over a standard shirt

We would argue all day long that quality is a key component to creating a great shirt that will actually get worn. As tempting as using one shirt over another, from a cost standpoint, it might not pay off long term.

It’s important to look at your investment from a cost per impression (CPI) standpoint. Think of impressions as the number of times your shirt is worn and how many people have the opportunity to see it. Now, the more someone wears your shirt, the less your CPI is. Basically, you’re getting more for your money. Let\'s take a look this example:

SHIRT A (standard t-shirt)  = $4.80 per shirt 
SHIRT B (retail quality t-shirt) = $5.39 per shirt

Let’s say someone only wears the "lower quality" $4.80 shirt 2 times because it’s not all that comfortable. Each time, 20 people took note of the shirt. Therefore, 40 total impressions were served. The cost per impression is then $0.12 ($4.80/40).

$4.80/40 impressions = $0.12/per impression

Now, take the $5.39 shirt. Let\'s say these people love their shirt and it’s so soft they wear it all the time. They wear it 5 times (and this is probably very conservative). Each time, 20 people take note of the shirt, so you now you have 100 total impressions. The cost per impression is now just $0.05 ($5.39/(5 * 20). The cost per impression is now less than half that of the “cheaper” shirt.

$5.39/100 impressions (5 * 20) = $0.05/per impression

Although, there was initially a $0.59 difference between shirt cost, it was a well spent $0.59 in marketing. You could almost look at it as that extra $0.59 got you an extra 60 impressions and you’re really only paying $0.01/per impression on the next 60 after the first 40. From a marketing approach, this is a really, really inexpensive way to grow the impressions on your brand for years to come!

Here’s a quick outline of the benefits of choosing better quality t shirt brands:

Give your customers quality shirts they are going to love to wear

Pay less for more impressions after a certain threshold

This might seem like it only applies to “marketing experts”, but if you are trying to promote, grow, expand, get your name out there, or just have people excited about getting another one of your shirts, this is for you. You are the marketing expert of your own brand.

Using shirts as a tool to promote your business

Selling shirts and want to have confidence in your product and your customers experience

Organizing a race or tournament and want that participants to walk away with a memorable t-shirt they will be proud wearing

Run a business and want employees to have branded shirts that they will love to wear

Trying to get new leads and need a tool to get email addresses

And so many more! Here’s a list of 20 Ways You Can Use Custom T-shirts

Which high quality clothing brands you should consider investing in:

You’re probably wondering which t-shirts are considered “better quality”. Here are some of our favorites:

All of these shirts come in a number of styles and colors and some styles have tear away tags that can easily be pulled out and replaced with custom labels. Next Level and Canvas offer great alternatives to the more expensive American Apparel blanks, but if you’re looking for American made, AA is the way to go!  

If you’re interested in learning more about why t-shirts will be your best marketing strategy yet, check out this article. It will help continue to guide you and your brand in the best way on your path to making great t-shirts.

Ready to get started? Experience a great product and excellent customer service by easily choosing your shirt, uploading your artwork and submitting a quote! 


Learn the difference between retail quality and standard shirts here at Real Thread. 

Is It Worth It to Pay More For a Retail Quality Shirt?

Using discharge ink  for discharge printing on polyester shirts actually produces very unique results. The color of the polyester will determine the finished look, but if you are aware of the results you can achieve, you can use discharge printing on polyester to your advantage to get the look you love!

Here’s a photo of the same red discharge ink on 3 different shirts. You can see that even though we used the exact same ink on all the garments, the fabric played a huge role in the outcome.

Top left: red discharge on a black AA2001 (100% cotton) - there is no polyester in this shirt, thus producing a bright red! This is typically the case with most 100% cotton shirts. There are a few colors that do not discharge well like red and royal blue.

Top right: red discharge on a black AABB401 (poly/cotton blend) - there is polyester in this shirt and it happens to be black, so that’s why it’s producing a more worn look. This is a GREAT option if you are wanting a vintage looking shirt without the bright colors. 

Bottom: red discharge on a heather black AABB401 (poly/cotton blend) - there is polyester in this shirt and it happens to be white, so it’s producing a pretty solid bright red with a slight heathered look.

These are actually 3 of the 11 fabrics going into our new sample booklets coming out soon! Make sure to request a sample, so you can see and feel the fabrics before placing your next order! 

To learn more about discharge ink on polyester and to see other examples, check these out:


Discover 3 different ways of discharge printing on cotton and polyester fabrics. 

Discharge Printing 3 Ways: Same Ink, 3 Unique Looks

We talked to a few individuals and asked “What makes a good shirt?” to find out what people really want in the perfect custom printed t-shirt. Here’s a summary of what we heard back:

An abstract message. A creative way to express the message of the company without using a logo. Using logos are cool if they’re a part of the overall design that include other elements, but they shouldn’t be the main focus. Simple designs resonate with me more, but a cool graphic is fun if it’s done well or by a really awesome designer. 

How it fits and feels. A shirt that is light and has breathable fabric is the best. It’s nice if they are super soft but have good structure - the cut of it, the neck line and the sleeves are important. Long is good. Something that is fashion friendly and up with the trends, but not clingy and not too loose. Most blends are great because you don’t have to iron them! 

It goes with everything. Neutral colors are my go to. Black, white, and grey are the best colors. They go with everything. Other colors are cool too especially if it’s for a good cause or representing my favorite sports team.  I don’t mind wearing bright colors for something like that.

Get rid of the tags. No tags, please! They are super itchy and irritating if they are constantly scratching the back of my neck. If a tag is super super soft, then that’s fine and I don’t notice it. 

Now that you know what it takes to make a good shirt, choose from over 25+ products and colors and start building your new shirt! 

Discover tips for designing t-shirts that you will love wearing over and over again. 

Be it weather, trends, or gas prices, change is all around us. Despite these shifts, however, one thing remains consistent: the dominance of the t-shirt. As a promotional vessel, as a go-to garment, or as an adornment for runway models, the t-shirt reigns supreme even as (or especially as) everything else seems to wax and wane. 

A change that seems to be at the center of all change — the toddler-tantrum-temperamental supply chain *eyeroll*— has impacted even the seemingly untouchable t-shirt. But even after being doused by supply chain issues, the power of the t-shirt is a flame that can’t be extinguished. Trust us, the t-shirt isn’t going anywhere! With that said, the printing pros at Real Thread are feeling the effects of the supply chain just like everyone else, and have some tips for mitigating the sting of supply chain issues. But first: a love letter to the humble t-shirt. 

Yeah, we know what you’re thinking: “You’re a company that uses sustainable inks to print on high-quality blank t-shirts! Of course you love the t-shirt!” And yeah, maybe we’re a little biased! But the fact remains: t-shirts are unbeatable in their practical comfort, versatility, and timelessness. That last one is key, as you can look at the perfect white t-shirts that Marlon Brando and James Dean wore and see few differences from the iterations that exist today. It’s an extremely simple, humble garment, but when you get something so right the first time — why change it? 

Now that you know why we’re so in love with the t-shirt, here are some tips for getting your custom t-shirt fix in this ~uncertain~ time. 

No, we aren’t suggesting you start hitting the gym at 6AM or take your dinner at 4:30 — though if you are currently doing those things, good for you! What we’re saying is that, in order to get your delivery of super sick custom t-shirts in time, being proactive can pay off in a big way. If, in previous years, April Fools’ Day has doubled as order-team-shirts-for-Star-Wars-day day, consider moving that date up a week or two to make sure that the force (or at least your order of custom t-shirts) is with you and your team come May 4th. While adjusting this timeline may be a pain, the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your team will be covered (no pun intended!) is worth it. 

While upgraded shipping may not feel like the same splurge as, say, upgraded seats on a flight or upgraded parking, it is still a worthwhile investment which can effectively combat supply chain woes. The New York Times says that a “normal” supply chain is “unlikely” in 2022, and the Wall Street Journal reports average shipping delays of six days across the board. Whereas standard shipping may have cut it in the past, those in search of custom t-shirts that don’t take the proactive approach (see above) will be left with two options: cross your fingers and toes and hope for an on-time delivery, or shell out some extra cash for the peace of mind. Our vote? Treat. Yo’. Self. The splurge might sting, but when those sweet, sweet t-shirts touch down: it’ll all be worth it. 

For those looking to navigate the treachery of the supply chain like a pirate on the high seas, there is an advanced tactic you can try: calling on the experts at Real Thread. Our team in particular has felt the impact of the supply chain debacle, and we’ve gathered quite a few tips throughout our time spent wading through shipping delays and extended production timelines. With that said, our experience has allowed us to be a better partner to those dealing with the same headaches in their pursuit of perfect custom t-shirts — and we’re happy to jump through the supply chain hoops so you don’t have to! 

Plus, we’re hardcore t-shirt fans, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the coziest, most versatile t-shirts around. And that’s just the shirts themselves! Our easy-to-use design tools allow you to bring your creation to life in real time, and our environmentally conscious inks are more durable than the plastic inks other printers use. Should you get hung up at any point during the design process, the printing pros at Real Thread are more than happy to give you a hand. 

Don’t let the supply chain keep you from the custom t-shirts of your dreams! Contact us (and our team of t-shirt lovers) to get started on some perfect custom tees. 

Supply chain issues are the name of the game lately — but the t-shirt still reigns supreme.

Amidst Supply Chain Issues, the T-Shirt (Still) Reigns Supreme

Knowing that, you can achieve some amazing results with discharge screen printing just by playing around with different fabric composition of the shirt you select. There are no limits to the kind of looks you can achieve when you pick the right combination!

So, what do we mean by that? A white discharge ink printed on a black 100% cotton t-shirt will have a significantly different result than on a black blended t-shirt (with white polyester & rayon fibers).

With the right color and fabric composition, you can go bright and bold or vintage and tonal. A white discharge ink printed on a black 100% cotton t-shirt will have a completely different result than on a royal blue 100% cotton t-shirt. Although both of these shirts are 100% cotton, the royal blue t-shirt will result in a vintage tonal color effect (see example below). Royal blue, kelly green and red tend to have similar vintage tonal results when using discharge inks. So, whether you’re looking for a brighter “pop” of color or a more subtle vintage color, we can help you achieve the look with discharge screen printing!

Just as important as it is in the creating a design, fully understanding that discharge inks affect different shirts will be an asset in how great your shirt turns out; selecting the right fabric and color composition will only strengthen your design and brand.

Here are some visuals to help you achieve some great results when discharge screen p; whether it’s a bright look or more of a vintage (subtle) look. On each of these, we used the exact same white discharge ink.

Canvas 3001 in Black (100% Cotton)-print result is brighter

American Apparel 2001 in Royal Blue (100% Cotton)-print result is a tonal look

Next Level 6210 CVC Crew in Charcoal (60% Cotton/40% Polyester in white)-with white polyester, print will be brighter

American Apparel TR301 in Tri Black (60% Cotton/40% Polyester in black)-with black polyester, print will be subtle

Next Level 6210 in Black (60% Cotton/40% Polyester in black)-with black polyester, print will be subtle

Next Level 6040 in Premium Heather (Tri-Blend)-print will always be subtle

*Don’t worry, if a more opaque look on any of these shirts is your desired look, we can still achieve that using our High Opacity Bold ink.

These are not the end all be all–there are so many more fantastic results that can be achieved with discharge screen printing. Our AE’s are pros at helping you determine which fabric and color composition would best fit the look that you want to achieve to strengthen your design or brand, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll help you make it happen. 

You can feel some discharge samples with your own two hands, we’ve got an awesome Sample for you to compare the looks and feels of discharge inks and water based inks on different garments with different fabric compositions.

There are no limits to the kind of looks you can achieve with discharge screen printing. 

The Amazing Results You can Expect from Discharge Inks

When the pandemic hit, the world went (almost) completely virtual. "Clocking in" no longer meant long commutes (unless you call the walk from your bed to your home office long), and "getting ready" no longer meant business slacks or heels. Instead, workers opted for sweatpants, pajamas, and slippers: skipping out on traditional and bland work attire. 

Some opted for what we like to call the "mullet" approach to work-wear: business on the top, ultra-casual on the bottom. Others went all-in in taking the "business" out of "business-casual." 

As a custom t-shirt company, it's probably no surprise that we've always leaned on the side of casual — but for some, this change in dress code has been a bit of a culture shock. 

Even as life returns to normal post-pandemic, worker’s attire has not. With almost 25% of all professional jobs projected to be remote by the end of this year, casual and comfy clothes are here to stay. Remote jobs allow employees more freedom; whether that be in their overall time management or in their clothing choices.

As workers grow accustomed to freedom in their work attire, companies' corporate apparel must reflect these changes. Apparel needs to fit into an existing company identity, while keeping up with the demands of a new workspace. It’s time for work attire that is bold, comfortable, and fun. Simple designs are out. Bold and creative apparel is in. 

When making new attire options, think outside the box! Corporate attire can mean more than it ever has before, so here are some tips for pushing the limits with your designs.

Expand your color palette. Presenting apparel that is bold and exciting will help your apparel stand out amongst conventional business looks. A unique color palette can perfectly match and communicate the vibe of your company.  

Use different design techniques. Screen printing, embroidery, patches, and more can be added to whatever products you want to create. Combine textures (like foil, puff, or embossing) to take your designs to the next level. 

Play with your fabrics. Choosing comfortable fabrics that people want to wear can be a huge selling point. Work apparel no longer needs to be stiff and structured; cottons and polyblends are a better option to make clothes that feel cozy enough to sleep in.

Create new items. Instead of making company polos or dress shirts, display your logo on athleisure items like sweatpants or joggers. Switch ties and vests for casual t-shirts and hoodies that employees can wear both in and out of work. If needed, even add a company facemask or tote bag for the occasional trip into the office (or just for repping your company in public).

Remote work has created a unique opportunity for companies to push their apparel past the traditional business space. As remote work becomes more common, companies need to make their designs fit the new freedoms and trends that remote work creates. Get started designing apparel that won’t leave your company behind as the workspace goes virtual.

Corporate attire is changing directions - and if you prefer to dress comfortably - you’re gonna like where it's headed.

As warmer weather approaches, sleeveless tops will return to the wardrobe rotation sooner than later.

If you found this article, you’re likely in the market for some tanks to be screen-printed on.

You might be thinking, “there are so many sleeveless tops out there. How do I know which is the BEST one?”  

We understand that picking out the right sleeveless top for your project is essential, so we wanted to provide you with some of our favorite tank tops for screen printing.

We’ve been inking up some swanky sleeveless tops for almost 15 years, and we’d wanna say we have a lot of info up our SLEEVES, but we are talking about sleeveless tops, so… yeah.

Anyway! You didn’t come here for corny jokes; you came here to learn (I’m assuming), so let’s get to it, shall we?

When choosing a sleeveless top for screen printing, it's essential to consider the fabric and the shirt's design. Here are a few options that may work well:

100% cotton tanks are popular for screen printing because they have a smooth surface that works well with designs. They are also lightweight and breathable, which makes them perfect for warm weather.  

One of our favorite cotton tanks is the Bella + Canvas Unisex Jersey Tank. 

Tri-blend tanks are made from cotton, polyester, and rayon. They are soft, comfortable, and have a heathered look that can add texture to a design. Tri-blend tanks also tend to be more durable than 100% cotton tanks.

One of our favorite tri-blend tanks is the Bella + Canvas Triblend Racerback Tank.

Made with 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% rayon

Consider a performance tank if you are looking for a sleeveless, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying top. These tops are made from materials such as polyester and spandex and are designed for athletic activities. They have a smooth surface that is ideal for screenprinting.

One of our favorite performance tanks is the Sport-Tek PosiCharge Competitor Tank.

Racerback tanks have a unique design that can make a screen printed design stand out. They have a narrow back that allows for more movement and comfort. They are often made from cotton or a cotton blend and have a smooth surface that works well with designs.

One of our favorite racerback tanks is the Bella + Canvas Triblend Racerback Tank.

Made with 50% cotton, 25% polyester, and 25% rayon

The world is your sleeveless oyster, ya know?

Sorry to use a strange metaphor; we truly couldn’t resist. What we mean by this is that you have so many options in the world regarding picking out the best sleeveless tops for your screen printing projects. 

Ultimately, the best sleeveless top for screen printing will depend on the wearer's specific design and preferences. It's a good idea to order samples and test the print quality on different fabrics before making a final decision.

We’ve shared some of our favorites, but there’s more where that comes from- what’s next?

Whether you choose to screen print your designs on one of the above-mentioned sleeveless tops or any other tank/muscle tee- our team is here to help you figure out what is best for you and your people.

Contact one of our printing pros to learn more about screen printing some sick shirts- whether they have long, short, or no sleeves. Whatever your prerogative may be. *winks*

Good luck out there, and always feel free to contact our team to answer any queries! We’re REAL people with REAL expertise- we gotcha. 

Sleeveless tops are a great canvas for screen printing. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best for you to choose from.

Take a look at five different styles of sleeveless shirts for screen printing.

Remote companies continue to grow and work from home jobs are highly sought after in this post-pandemic world. 

If you’re up for getting out of the house and turning your remote role into a work from coffee shop job, you’re going to want to stick around.

Today, we’re bringing you the crucial rules of thumb to keep in mind when working from a coffee shop. We have six pieces of advice you absolutely cannot forget when you pack up your mobile office and take it on the road for a cup of joe and a change of scenery in your workday. 

We will also share some of our favorite coffee shops across the U.S. to give you some fun places to add to your coffee shop bucket list! How do we know which ones are the best? Well, we make their coffee shop t-shirts, of course! And if they’re choosing us for our quality custom tees, you already know their brews will be top-notch as well. 

Get ready to screenshot and share with that one co-worker who’s always at Starbucks during your Zoom meetings…

The most important rule to follow, and hopefully the most obvious. If you’re going to be hanging out at the coffee shop all day or most of the day, you have to pay for your seat. Well, not literally of course. But the wifi you’re using, the table you’re sitting at, and the smells you’re enjoying all cost the shop something. So you need to keep ordering throughout the day.

We know you’re saying, “Hang on—that’s a lot of coffee,” and shaking your head to yourself right now. And you’re right. If you have a new cup of coffee every few hours, you’re not going to be feeling too great by the end of the day. That’s too much caffeine for most people! So space it out, and don’t order coffee every time.

Order a coffee when you arrive. Remember to tip. Grab a snack later. Stay there for lunch if there are more food options at your coffee shop of choice. Get a refill for an afternoon pick-me-up or ask if they have any good herbal teas (naturally caffeine-free!) Just make sure you’re going back and ordering different things throughout the day. It doesn’t always have to be coffee. Think of it as an opportunity to explore the menu and find the hidden gem items you didn’t know they offered!

Bring. Your. Headphones! No excuses. If you forget, run by the store and grab a $10 backup pair to keep in your car. Headphones are an absolute must for working remotely anywhere in public, especially in a coffee shop.

It’s just common courtesy to use headphones for music, videos, and virtual meetings. It’s extra important in a coffee shop because most folks come there to focus or relax. They don’t need to hear your annoying co-worker on Zoom at full volume going on and on about numbers and spreadsheets. (Arguably, you don’t need to hear that either. That meeting probably could have been an email.)

In the same vein, if you need to speak over the phone or in a virtual meeting, just pay attention to your volume. If possible, step outside. If not that’s not possible, don’t stress. People talk in coffee shops, so it’s OK for you to as well. But it’s courteous to be mindful. If it’s a small area and you feel comfortable doing so, let the people around you know how long the meeting will last. If you must speak up a lot, apologize to those around you afterward too.

What makes up your mobile office? It can probably fit in a backpack, correct? Then you shouldn’t need to take up the largest table at the coffee shop. If you’re working there by yourself, don’t take a table multiple people could use.

If you need a little extra space or a bigger table here and there, feel free to move tables throughout the day. Sketch and plan your project at the four-seater, then move to the barstools for email time, and out to the patio for afternoon meetings.

It’s also helpful to plan your work from home versus work from coffee shop days around your workload. If you have a lot of emails to catch up on, you won’t take up much space at the coffee shop and it will be nice to get a change of scenery for those tedious tasks. If you are in brainstorm mode and need to try a card sorting or physical mind map exercise, it could be better to do so from your own home.

After you double-check to make sure you have your headphones, be sure to grab your laptop charger too! The last thing you want to deal with is a dead laptop right before a weekly standup meeting.

However, don’t be annoying about your charging cord. Sometimes coffee shops have limited outlets available, and they’re in high demand from other customers like you. Depending on the outlet available, make sure your cord isn’t a tripping hazard!

Our best advice: Charge your laptop the night before your work-from-coffee-shop day trip. That way, you’ll be all set for a few hours of working before you need to ask another customer to trade seats with you so you can plug in your machine. This is also a good way to measure your time if you don’t plan on staying in the coffee shop all day—just work until your laptop dies!

Even if you don’t think you need one. You’re welcome. This one may not be "etiquette," necessarily, but it's just one of those things you probably need to be reminded of. 

6. Be Nice — to Baristas and Fellow Customers

Another hopefully-obvious rule of thumb. Be a nice person! Especially if you’re working at the coffee shop all day. Whether or not you think about it this way, you are representing your company. If you’re being rude and obnoxious to everyone around you and someone glances at your screen to see your company logo by your email inbox, they will get a bad taste in their mouth about this company.

You are probably a super nice person. We like to think most people are! But even the nicest people can have off days, especially during work. It can be easy to get tunnel vision and forget some basic human interaction things when you work remote all the time too. “Please” and “thank you” really do go a long way. So does leaving a good tip.

Compliment your barista’s latte art skill. Thank them for clearing your dishes if they do so. If you ask a fellow customer to keep an eye on your stuff while you run to the restroom, thank them when they get back and make a little friendly small talk about what they’re up to. When you leave at the end of your workday, clean up after yourself. Push your chair back in and thank your baristas one last time. 

These may all seem super obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many times we don’t see these decent interactions happen. Let’s not lose complete faith in humanity! 

So now that you know the six crucial rules of thumb to remember when working from a coffee shop, as promised, here are our favorites. (We also make t-shirts for them!)

Some of Our Favorite Coffee Shops to Work From

We have the opportunity to print shirts for some really lovely coffee shops all across the country — and we figured this would be the perfect time to shout them out! So whether you're in Orlando like most of our team, or in one of these other cities, we encourage you to check out these spots — for both your daily dose of coffee and the awesome coffee shop swag. 😜

Lineage - https://www.lineageroasting.com
The quintessential Orlando coffee experience! If you’re a coffee fiend and you’ve been to Orlando, you either love these guys or live under a rock.

Craft & Common - https://craftandcommon.com
The cutest and most picturesque shop in walkable downtown! Get ready to ‘gram your visit and pick up some cool cards and local goods here too.

The Salty Donut - https://www.saltydonut.com/ - Orlando, FL + multiple locations in the US
Newer to the Orlando coffee scene—come for the coffee and stay for the donuts! Visit here on a nice day and sit outside on their patio. 

Harken Café & Bakery - https://www.harkencafe.com/ - Charleston, SC 
Rustic charm meets quaint beauty at this perfect spot for a chill day.

Sibling Coffee Roasters - https://www.siblingcoffeeroasters.com/ - Charles Town, WV 
Dedicated to helping you appreciate the fine coffee in life.

Looking Glass Coffee - https://www.lookingglasscoffee.com/ - Snohomish, WA
Come for coffee and a remote workday, stay for their events and live music.

Three Tree Coffee Roasters - https://threetreecoffee.com/ - GA (Multiple locations)
Coffee with a cause—their specialty coffee helps empower farmers, works toward ending human trafficking, and engages the community.

Are you a coffee shop in need of a double-shot of swag? We're here to help. Reach out to us or browse products to get started! 

Working from coffee shops is a fun way to get your daily dose of caffeine while knocking out your daily tasks. Here, we break down some etiquette guidelines and a few of our favorite shops!

How to Work from a Coffee Shop: Some Etiquette Tips AND Some of Our Favorite Spots

Working from coffee shops is a fun way to get your daily dose of caffeine while knocking out your daily tasks — here, we break down some etiquette guidelines and a few of our favorite shops!

According to industry statistics, there are over 3 million construction companies in the U.S. as of 2021 - a number that is increasing steadily each year. With such market saturation, making sure your construction company stands out from the competition has never been more important. Starting (or growing) your construction company can be simple with effective marketing; and that’s where Real Thread comes in. Custom t-shirts are a creative and cost-effective way to show-off your brand’s unique logo or slogan. 

Think of Real Thread’s t-shirts as a blank blueprint. Construction company shirts can be bold and eye-catching or minimalist and professional. The company logo can be front and center for all potential-customers to see, or simply backdrop for your recognizable slogan. Whatever individual company message you want to convey to customers, construction shirt designs from Real Thread are the communication you need.

Marketing is valuable: meaning a construction company shirt is only as effective as the branding it displays. When analyzing how effectively your logo and slogan are communicating your construction company’s purpose and identity, it can help to take a look at other companies who have mastered it.

Before we get started, check out some t-shirts Real Thread has printed for construction companies like yours: 

Ok, with that: check out Real Thread’s list of construction companies that are absolutely nailing their designs and get inspired to create your own construction shirt ideas that represent your brand well!

Everyone loves a play on words and Rise Construction Group did not disappoint with their slogan. Specializing in home elevation and raising, they promise to both literally and figuratively take your home to the next level. With a primarily purple logo, the company shows that they value dignity and stability. Customers can trust that Rise Construction Group’s work will reflect this integrity. Not to mention the three pillars and arc logo would look especially professional as a construction t-shirt design.


‍‍Slogan: Your vision. Our expertise.

The triangle, a shape known for its structural integrity, is the center of the Pyramid Builders’ company logo. In color and visuals, the construction logo tells the story of dependability and timelessness, just like the ancient pyramids. Customers know with the slogan promise that their construction dreams are achievable and that they can depend on Pyramid Homes to create them. This logo matches perfectly with the company's core values and would be the perfect company construction shirt idea.

With shades of blue and perpendicular lines inspired by blueprints, SkyBuilders USA tells customers immediately that they are all about design-build and planning. The reaching rectangles in the logo and the slogan reinforce the company’s dedication to pushing boundaries and going above customer expectations. In the competitive market, knowing that customers can count on SkyBuilders USA to rise above other companies can prove to be beneficial at bringing in business.

This roofing company is all about giving customers sustainable roofing options without sacrificing their budget or level of expertise. The promise of quality roofing is made to customers directly in their slogan, making the company’s qualifications obvious. With their modern logo design, the Energy Roofing company shows their commitment to progress by highlighting their focus on ‘green’ and eco-friendly construction. All of this is within a shape that is easily-recognizable as a roof, so customers know exactly what service specialty the company offers.

Slogan: Keeping Our Finger On the Pulse of Your Project 

Talk about punny marketing. Pulse Constructions has the perfect logo and slogan to match their company name, while still showing clear relevance to construction work. The imagery in the logo combines pulse lines with a skyline of buildings, which lets customers know that their work comes from the heart. It’s almost as if this was made to be worn and displayed as a construction logo for shirts.

‍Lay the Foundation (😜) for Excellent Branding with Real Thread

You handle the technical building, let Real Thread handle building your construction company t-shirts. Whether you want to display your eye-catching logo or clever company slogan, custom Real Thread products are the next step for bringing your construction t-shirt designs to life. Now that you have branding-inspo, talk to a Real Thread employee about your construction t-shirt design ideas.

Brand is everything. Find out how custom t-shirts can make a difference for your construction company's brand recognition.

5 Construction Companies That Are Taking Branding to the Next Level—and How You Can Do the Same

A solid brand = a solid business. Time to take your construction company to the next level. 

1. A message that doesn’t connect with your market, employees, fans and users.
More than likely, you have a following of people wearing your shirts because they are particularly interested in what you do. They might be employees or customers, but either way, they believe in what you’re doing. Make sure the message you intend to get across, gets across. We’ve seen more times than you can imagine off the wall designs that are not congruent with the brands message, lifestyle or values. Don’t find this out when it’s too late. Seek honest feedback and take it graciously. 
2. A design that is not consistent with the brand or other designs. 
Just because you’re a designer doesn’t mean you should design everything - especially if it’s not consistent with your brand. We’re not saying don’t go outside the box and get creative, but if you typically design rocket t-shirts and this time you’re trying to throw in a monkey, just don’t do it. Stick to your rockets or things that are parallel. This is not to say don’t experiment with different trends or other styles of printing like tonal, sim process or foil. If you’re ready to try something new, check out these 20 ideas to try on your next custom screen-printed shirt. 
3. A low quality art file that could produce a distorted image. 
There are plenty of resources available to produce high resolution files that are good for printing and leave you with a quality t shirt design. There are also plenty of to-scale templates that will help you visualize what your design will look like once printed. Set your proportions accurately and visually create what you want to see in the end. Real Thread has an art team that can provide assistance. If you need help in this area, we would be happy to help. 

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