...
Method | Cost Estimation | Options |
|---|---|---|
Bulk Purchase | Regular T-shirt cost (~$12(>100) or $24) |
|
On Demand + International + Managed Fulfillment | Tshirt Cost (~21) | https://www.printful.com/ - Wifes company uses |
BulkPurchase | Subscription cost $200/mo Actual cost for 75 shirts = $2550 +$200subs | https://try.kotisdesign.com/get-started/platform - Docker uses this and I loved the UX probs cant afford this |
Conclusions
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Overview
LiteFarm has shared that based on the above analysis: “I liked Ethical Swag. Drop shipping seems like a better option for our volume and having a partner that aligns with our values is important. I'm OK with paying a slight premium for those two qualities”
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Website | Score with note | Cost For 1 White T-shirt with logo & shipping OR MOQ | Cost For 25 White T-shirt with logo & shipping | Cost For 50 White T-shirt with logo & shipping | Cost For 100 White T-shirt with logo & shipping | Color Options | Other swag options available | Eco-friendlyness link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
**emailed about mailer cost on bulk orders
| MOQ 13 | CAD Total per: ~50 | CAD Total per: ~48 | CAD Total per: ~45 |    | Yes - Notably Plants, Plantable paper | ||||
| CAD Total per: ~36 | CAD Total per: ~36 | CAD Total: ~1767 Total per: ~36 | CAD Total: ~3534 Total per: ~36 |  | Yes | https://www.bellacanvas.com/eco_friendly - product specific | |||
| MOQ 24 | CAD Total per: ~51 | CAD Total: ~2243 Total per: ~45 | CAD Total: ~3766 Total per: ~38 |  | Yes, notably plants | https://ascolour.com/social-responsibility - product specific | |||
**emailed about store |
| NA | CAD Total per: ~86 | CAD Total: ~4003 Total per: ~80 | CAD Total: ~7406 Total per: ~74 |  | Yes, notably a plant | https://www.cloveandtwine.com/blogs/blog/sustainability-corporate-gifting - this company | ||
| CAD -14 markup of own store | CAD -350 markup of own store Total per: ~33 | CAD -700 markup of own store Total: ~1654 Total per: ~33 | CAD -1400 markup of own store Total: ~3308 Total per: ~33 |  | Yes | https://www.bellacanvas.com/eco_friendly - product specific | |||
See printify | see ^^ | |||||||||
See printify | see ^^ | |||||||||
See printify | see ^^ |
Other companies considered
https://www.dnaswag.ca/ - No online ordering
https://promoleaf.com/theme/eco-friendly - Only USA delivery
https://fairware.com/ - No online ordering
https://www.madmonkeyapparel.ca/ECO-Friendly--Bamboo-Swag__001.htm - no online ordering
https://swagprintfactory.com/cart/ - Only ships to Canada, no multiple addresses, 10% non profit discount
https://go.kotisdesign.com/blog/swaglab-best-sustainable-t-shirts/ - Expensive but good great product $1500/qtr platform fee, amazing UI (I received a mug once from Docker).
https://mountaindiva.ca/ - multiple address not offered online manual process
https://www.4imprint.ca/checkout - multiple address not supported
https://roody.co/pages/contact-us - no online ordering
https://www.teehatch.com/ - integration for shopify or other store
https://customcat.com/ - integration for shopify or other store
https://jetprintapp.com/ - integration for shopify or other store
https://aop.plus/ - integration for shopify or other store
Quick Analysis
Multiple addresses
Multiple addresses seem to be difficult for many of these businesses, especially with international orders. Ethical Swag, for example, ships to multiple addresses only if less than 20% are international shipments.
Eco-friendliness
Most company's use similar suppliers and so the maker of the t-shirt typically has their own Environment & Sustainability goals(ESG) or Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) goals. If this is an important consideration than we can prioritise products/manufacturers that have ESG -- or resellers that have good CSR – or both.
Price
The estimates above are highly dependent on what is needed, tax rates, and shipping address. Take the estimations above with a big lump of salt. Generally speaking what you can see in the table above is:
single price or bulk price models.
base cost for a comparable product (keep in mind it is not necessarily the cheapest offered that would meet our requirements)
The max price you can expect to pay for this product (its a fairly safe upper bound I think)
What this does not show:
Possible non-profit discount
CAD vs USD
Accurate shipping and tax
Suggestion
I would suggest we move forward with Printful as the first choice to get a sample. Swag would be my second choice. Keep in mind they are very different on how they operate.
Printful
Consistent pricing
Single order quantities
Bulk orders to multiple addresses : See https://help.printful.com/hc/en-us/articles/4402035227922-How-does-the-CSV-Order-Import-Tool-work- + https://help.printful.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021468480-How-do-I-prepare-my-data-file-to-import-orders-in-bulk-
Ability to create a “store”
Comes recommended from my spouses company who uses it regularly
Swag
Bulk pricing available
Minimum order quantity of 24 – but can be stored for 1 cent per product per day and shipped from their warehouse.
Ability to create a “Store”
Seems like a big brand name
I would suggest we do the following:
Pick a few product options from keeping in mind Employee items vs Contributor/Appreciation items
Unisex T
Some other apparel option (one or more of)
Collared work shirt
Shaped “womens” T
Hat
1-3 Non apparel items for contributors to feel valued
Plant or seed option if available
Coffee mug
?
Design session with Caro and Kevin
Request non-profit discount
Get samples of sizes (for ability to give common sense size suggestions)
Review sample and re-evaluate
Make a list of receivers and make an email with size recommendations
Create future task to evaluate value of a LiteFarm store
References
UBC List of Approved Suppliers - https://finance.ubc.ca/buy/list-ubc-approved-suppliers
Notes: No tshirt companies visible on list
UBC Sustainable Purchasing Guide - https://finance.ubc.ca/procure-pay/sustainable-purchasing-guide
Notes: No tshirt companies visible on list