Ordering uniforms for a growing team sounds straightforward until you're actually doing it. There are more decisions than you expect — garment types, decoration methods, sizing, timelines, and what happens when someone new joins in six months. This guide walks you through it.

Start with a uniform policy

Before you order anything, define what "uniform" means for your company. Are you outfitting everyone in identical shirts, or giving employees a color/style they can choose from? Is this for customer-facing staff only, or the whole company? Do you want seasonal variations?

Getting these questions answered upfront prevents expensive mistakes. The clearer your brief, the smoother the order process.

Choose the right garments for the role

Different roles need different gear. A few common setups:

Office and customer-facing staff

Embroidered polos or button-downs are the standard. They look professional without being stuffy and hold up well through regular washing. A cotton-poly blend works for most offices; a moisture-wicking polo is better for staff who are on their feet all day.

Field and service crews

T-shirts and long sleeves with a screen print or DTF logo are practical and cost-effective. For crews in harsh conditions, consider heavier-weight shirts (6+ oz) or performance fabrics. Carhartt and similar workwear brands can be custom-embroidered for a premium feel.

Management and sales

Embroidered polos or quarter-zips strike the right balance between professional and approachable. For client-facing teams, a branded jacket or fleece can be a strong investment — people notice it.

Plan for turnover

One of the biggest mistakes growing companies make is ordering exactly as many shirts as they have employees today. Order a buffer — typically 10–15% more than your current headcount — and keep a small inventory for new hires. It's almost always cheaper to order extra now than to reorder small quantities later.

💡 If you're growing fast, ask about setting up a team store. Employees can order their own sizes on demand, which eliminates the sizing headache entirely.

Gather sizes efficiently

A simple Google Form or a quick message in your company Slack channel is the fastest way to collect sizes. Give employees a deadline and a gentle reminder — people are slow to respond to sizing requests.

For companies with mixed workforces, keep in mind that women's sizing and men's sizing are different, and many people prefer unisex styles. Offering both a standard unisex and a women's cut is standard practice for most uniform programs.

Get your artwork right

The most common source of delays in uniform orders is artwork. If your company logo isn't in a print-ready format — vector file (.ai, .eps, .svg) or high-resolution PNG at 300 DPI — it needs to be prepared before production can begin. For embroidery, it also needs to be digitized.

Send your logo to us early and we'll tell you if there are any issues before the order is placed.

Timeline planning

Standard turnaround is 10–15 business days from artwork approval. If you're onboarding a new team or have a launch date in mind, build in extra time — proofing, approval cycles, and shipping can add days you didn't plan for. For critical deadlines, always tell us upfront. We'll confirm the timeline before we take the order.

What happens when someone new joins

Have a plan before it comes up. Options include keeping a small inventory of common sizes, setting up a team store for on-demand ordering, or placing a small reorder quarterly. The worst option is scrambling to rush-order one shirt for a new hire their first week — it's expensive and stressful.

Call us at 855-TSHIRT-5 and we'll help you build a uniform program that scales with your company.