- How can I get a quote?
It's easy, just fill out our Quick Quote form and a representative will contact you shortly. For a more accurate quote, please have artwork ready to upload and let us know what sort of products you want.
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- What kind of guarantee do you offer?
All products are guaranteed to satisfy and meet your needs. In order to accomplish this we offer a virtual pre-production sample, or in some cases, an actual sample. Your prior approval is necessary in order to begin production.
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- Do you charge a set up fee?
In most cases, yes, we do. However as a special offer to our online clientele, we are including a one color, one location imprint, at no charge on all garment screenprinted orders. Other screen printing companies may say that they don't charge a set up fee but -- trust us - they do. It's incorporated into their price just like when the cost of fuel rises the prices go up in the grocery store. You get the same can of soup but someone has to absorb the high fuel costs and it's always the consumer; but enough about grocery shopping…
When you request a quote, we will explain it in detail and there could be a price break based on volume. By the way, the going rate for set up charges in the screen printing industry is from $25 to $45 per color, our price is $30.
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- Is there sales tax?
Yes. Sales tax is 8.25% for Los Angeles County; 7.75% for Orange and San Bernardino counties. Sales shipped out of California are exempt from paying tax.
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- How long does an order take?
Production time depends on the type and quantity of custom apparel or items ordered. Most screened or embroidered items ship in about 10 working days from artwork approval. If you have a special date or your order is a rush, please let us know so we can make it happen. We have emergency rush service on selected items, and have produced and shipped orders within 24 hours!
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- Are there shipping charges?
Yes, in most cases. Occasionally we have free freight specials on selected products. Shipping is usually handled by Fedex, USPS, or UPS.
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- What are your payment terms?
With new clients, we require a 50 percent deposit upon order approval. Ongoing corporate accounts may submit purchase orders. We accept checks, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
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- We have a budget; what are some of the cost considerations to keep us within our budget?
Costs are influenced by volume, process, and deadlines.
- How many shirts do you want? The unit price will be lower with greater volume.
- Will you want custom imprinted apparel or custom embroidered apparel? This will most likely determine if you use a t-shirt or polo shirt and if you want 100 percent cotton or fabric blend.
- Then when do you want it…in two days or two weeks? A faster turnaround will increase your final payment.
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- Does the unit price get lower depending on the volume? For instance is there some incentive to do 250 shirts or hats vs. 500?
Absolutely, there are price breaks; the first break is at the minimum of usually one dozen. After that we have breaks at 24, 48, 72, 144, 288, 576, and upward.
Price breaks vary from product to product so check the price break table listed on every product page's description.
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- Do you offer products for resale?
Yes. When you show us a valid California resale card, you do not have to pay any sales tax.
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- How do I reorder?
We keep your logo on file for fast and future reordering. If you can't remember the color or style you ordered last time just ask, as the answers are at our fingertips. There are no set up fees if you don't change anything when you reorder.
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- What is your return policy?
All blank or unimprinted products may be returned for credit or refund within 30 days of receipt. Please contact us for a return authorization number.
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- I don't have any artwork, can CAT Specialties help with art production?
Yes we can! We have immense pride in our artistic creations as well as the quality with which our products are embellished. Learn more about our art department.
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- Can my club get embroidered patches?
Yes. Your garment or patch is expertly hooped and the area to be embroidered is stabilized with a backing. After the embroidery is done, the patch or garment goes to the finishing department which cleans up the design, trims any extraneous pieces of thread, and rigorously checks for quality control. Your garment is folded and then prepared for shipping.
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- Do you have any tips for a successful campaign using promotional products?
- Be sure the promotional products relate to the advertiser, its products or services and the theme of the promotion.
- Promotional programs run the gamut from simple with single products distributed once to a small audience to a comprehensive multi-product campaign directed to large targeted audience that run for an extended time period.
- Don't skimp on promotional items; they should be keepers or sold on ebay and perceived as valuable instead of tossed into the trash or stashed in the closet for perpetuity.
Further reading: How Promotional Products Can Expand Your Brand
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- I'm planning an event, what cool promotional products do you suggest?
Aside from shirts, shirts, and more shirts there many other cool products to promote your event like:
After dinner mints, backpacks, balloons, can coolers, canvas bags, coffee and cocoa, classic pen in case, clocks, coins, compact chairs, flashlights, fleece blankets, golf balls and golf towels, gym bags, hats, key tags, lapel pins, letter openers, memo cubes, money clips, mouse pads, paper weights, pens, picture frames, screwdrivers, tote bags, travel mugs, watches, and many more items too numerous to mention.
If you'd like to receive a catalog contact us.
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- Why should my employees wear corporate apparel?
If you want to raise and improve the perception of a company by customers, employees and the public, don’t overlook corporate apparel’s value. Custom logos embroidered onto a fashionable shirt or company jacket stick in the mind of the beholder, help distinguish you and set you apart from the competition.
Futher Reading: 5 reasons Why Your Business Should be Using Branded Corporate Apparel
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- How can promotional products help my business?
- Promote branch openings
- Introduce new products
- Motivate sale staff and sales promotions
- Stimulate sales meetings
- Develop trade show traffic
- Activate inactive accounts
- Change names of products or companies
- Use as sales aids for door openers
- Motivate consumers
- Move products at dealer level
- Give as corporate gifts
- Introduce brands and logos
Further Reading: 5 Ways Promotional Products can Expand your Brand
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- Do you do fabrication?
CAT Specialties works with the "A" list and frequently provides promotional collectibles when a film is released in DVD. Our savvy marketing staff provides input from concept to creation. Check out the fabricated coins of titanic proportions that we created for DVD anniversary release.
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- Is silk screening different than screen printing?
It is the same process; however the description "silk screening" is antiquated. Formerly silk was used as the fabric that was tightly stretched over the frame but now it's a synthetic fabric usually polyester.
Further Reading: Screen Printing 101
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- What is embossing and what can be embossed?
Embossing utilizes an electronic sealing machine to press a die into the surface of the material, leaving a raised (embossed) imprint of the design, logo, or title. We can emboss leather, vinyl, and cotton blends.
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- Are you products made in the U.S.A?
The fabric for Hanes t-shirts is made in the USA but usually assembled offshore. However, all the art work, screen printing, embroidery, and embossing is done at our San Gabriel Valley, Calif. location. Some of our promotional products are produced at partner companies and fabrication for one-of-a-kind promotions are generally, but not always, done overseas.
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- Do you offer discounts to non-profit organizations?
This is done on a case by case basis. Please inquire
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- Returns for customized items?
Due to the fact that items, once customized, cannot be resold, only merchandise that is defective in workmanship or material may be returned for credit or replacement.
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- What's your turnaround time?
Production time depends on the type and quantity of custom apparel or items ordered. Most screened or embroidered items ship in about 10 working days from artwork approval. If you have a special date or your order is a rush, please let us know so we can make it happen. We have emergency rush service on selected items, and have produced and shipped orders within 24 hours!
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