Compressed T-Shirts- A Lasting Marketing Tool

Everyone wears t-shirts. We have all collected stacks of t-shirts over the years.
Some of my favorites include a bright green tee from a Modest Mouse concert, a Pacific Life tee from the 2006 Holiday Bowl, a Kane Gardens Surfboard tee, a Hall of Fame Walter "Sweetness" Payton tee. To the supplier who created these shirts, they were an economical promotion. To me, these t-shirts represent comfort, an era, a celebration, a trip, a fond memory. I am connected to these t-shirts and I just can't seem to give them up.

I love them not only because they are a souvenir but also because of the fabric, the print, the purpose of the tee. Take for instance this UMIYAC shirt, it was printed on a Gildan Texas Orange 6.1oz Ultra Cotton tee. The weight of the shirt and the color were specifically chosen by the purchaser for the superior feel and pop of color. She knew that the intertribal coalition of traditional healers that wear these in South America prefer this type and color of shirt. By using it, she is guaranteeing these will actually be worn.

When selecting a t-shirt for your promotion consider the type of t-shirt your target audience would wear. If you are looking for a trendy retail type shirt try an Alternative Apparel, or maybe you want soft- go for a ring spun option. If it's just a basic unisex tee you need then try brand names like Gildan, Fruit of the Loom or Hanes. They offer heavy weight and ultra cotton that are great for the masses.
What ever you decide, the t-shirt should fit the clientele you are giving it to, after all you want them to wear it.

Consider the t-shirts that you have collected, now imagine that the same t-shirt came as a Compressed T-Shirt. The Power of a Compressed T-Shirt goes beyond just the simple screen printed tee. When you take a screen printed t-shirt, add a digitally printed full color insert card, and shrink wrap it into a shape of your choice you have the ultimate wow factor and a brand message that will not be soon forgotten.

The packaging of a Compressed T-Shirt starts with the insert card.
The insert card is the first visual that the recipient sees. It is the attention grabber. The insert card typically displays logos, product images, company information, and QR Codes.

This printed Milk Chocolate wrapper was given away for Jamie's Bat-Mitzah. The theme was candy, so the shirt was compressed and then wrapped in custom printed packaging that replicated a candy bar. Thus making the take home gift for the guests a real treat!

The Compressed T-Shirt in it's complete packaging works to brand your promotion. The recipient is sure to remember your compressed t-shirt giveaway. Once the shirt is open, it is then a walking billboard for years to come.

Encinitas Foreign and Domestic Auto (EFADAR) created a 3D custom Compressed T-Shirt shape. The 3D custom shape that was created came from photos of their classic Corvair signature surf van. The EFADAR surfboard Corvair truck is a well known icon in the little surf town of Encinitas, so when these 3D Compressed T-Shirt shapes hit the shelves, they were a huge hit. The custom designed insert card included a new cutout promotional coupon for their customers. Recipients were also directed towards the company website to enter to win a free auto detail by simply submitting their email address (email addresses are a great tool for marketing campaigns). The order was also split between 3 different t-shirt colors to give the recipient a choice of shirt (the more the recipient likes the shirt, the more often it will be worn).
Every step was custom to EFADAR and their clientele. They branded their promotion with their custom shape, created trackable ROI with the coupon, and by printing their classic logo and imagery on a shirt in a variety of colors it ensured that their tees would be worn for a long time in the community.

Compressed T-Shirt are a perfect giveaway at trade shows, product launches, sporting events, birthdays and as a customer appreciation gift. By selecting a shape that fits your marketing message and tying it into your theme your recipient is sure to remember you for a long time.

DevExpress used Compressed T-Shirts as a giveaway at a trade show. Clients were driven to the DevExpress booth for a challenging coding duel. One of the prizes given was a custom t-shirt compressed into the guitar shape that mirrored the theme of the trade show booth.

Tripwire passes out Compressed T-Shirt regularly at their trade shows. They understand the impact and ease of handing out a uniquely packaged t-shirt. The insert cards are printed with a size indicator, making it a cinch to find the right size quickly. The recipient can pop it in their bag/suitcase and get it home without scuffing it up or taking up too much space.

Recently, Tripwire came up with 3 QR Codes that expressed a statement supporting the need for customers to buy and use their service. Their order of Compressed T-Shirt was split between these QR Codes which were printed on the back of the t-shirts and insert cards. The Tripwire logo was printed on the front of the shirt. The QR Codes could then be instantly scanned by the recipient.

Your business, no matter how small or large, could use QR codes in a number of ways. You might generate one that leads to a special web page introducing a new product, entering to win a prize, or answering a survey. You can print one on the insert card that contains all your company information which makes it easy for the person who scans it to save you as a contact. Anyway you use it, you win with trackable ROI and instant client satisfaction.

Clients come in to my office and I hand them a Compressed Tee. Every time, and I mean it- every time- the look is amazement and disbelief that there is a shirt inside. This always makes me smile! If you want to really have an effect on people, and have fun giving away a promotional product then order Compressed Tees now for your next promotion.