Blog about the great Hoodie Showdown between Pullover Hoodies and Zipper Hoodies

At HTG, we don't just print shirts. We obsess over what works, what breaks, and how to run smarter every single day. Earlier this year, we ran an internal audit of 100 recent contract jobs across screen printing, embroidery, and DTF. We wanted to know: Where do jobs go sideways? What slows things down? And what’s quietly killing profit margins without anyone noticing? The results were eye-opening. Some of it we expected. Some of it caught us off guard. All of it can help you run a cleaner, faster, more profitable business. 1. 47% of Orders Had PO or Art Issues That Delayed Production Nearly half the orders we reviewed had incomplete or unclear purchase orders and artwork files. Missing PMS codes Vague notes like "center chest" with no dimensions Raster files instead of vector Job names that didn’t match the art files These aren’t small errors. They stall production, trigger email threads, and knock your order out of the press queue. What no one talks about: These problems don’t just affect your job, they create bottlenecks for everyone behind you. 2. 22% of Client-Supplied Garments Arrived Incorrect or Late Client-supplied garments are common—but they’re also one of the top sources of chaos. Wrong styles or colors Incomplete quantities Late arrivals No packing slips or communication What no one talks about: Every time we have to sort, track, or delay a job due to garment issues, it adds labor cost. That eats your margin, even if you don’t see it directly. 3. 35% of Rush Orders Could Have Been Avoided We get it—sometimes the client needs it yesterday. But in over a third of rush jobs, the PO was submitted late even though the art and inventory were ready to go. The rush was self-inflicted. What no one talks about: Rush fees are real, but so is the strain on production. If you’re not charging your customer for that urgency, it’s coming out of your profit. 4. 61% of POs Included Add-Ons Without Pricing Clarity We saw all kinds of value-adds on these orders: Polybagging Sleeve prints Neck relabels Patches Special effect inks or threads But in over half the POs, these were listed with no clear breakdown of how they were priced—or even if they were priced. What no one talks about: If your PO is vague, you're likely absorbing the cost. That’s death by a thousand cuts. 5. The Clients with the Fewest Mistakes Sent the Clearest POs The cleanest jobs had one thing in common—crystal-clear paperwork. Those clients: Used structured PO templates Attached mockups with detailed specs Sent vector artwork with PMS codes Listed every finishing detail upfront They weren’t always our biggest clients, just the most organized. What no one talks about: You don’t need to print more shirts. You need to print smarter ones. Final Takeaway: Your Margin Lives or Dies in the Details These weren’t flukes. They’re patterns. And they’re costing time, money, and client trust every day. Want: Faster turnarounds? Fewer mistakes? Better margins? It all starts before your job hits the press. We’re not here to point fingers, we’re here to help you win.

When you send a job to a contract decorator, you expect one thing above all else: to be the priority. But if your decorator is playing both sides—offering “contract” services while also running a retail brand or selling direct to consumers—you’re not actually the priority. You’re just one of many revenue streams. And that’s a problem. What Is a Hybrid Decorator? A hybrid decorator is a shop that claims to offer contract printing, embroidery, or DTF services while also operating a retail brand, selling direct-to-consumer, or running e-commerce storefronts on platforms like Etsy, Amazon, or their own website. To be clear: this isn’t about capability—it’s about focus. Hybrid shops often market themselves as contract-friendly and may even have wholesale pricing, but behind the scenes, they’re constantly juggling priorities. Your job is competing for press time with local walk-ins, retail campaigns, and internal brand orders. Why It Hurts Distributors When your orders are squeezed between a decorator’s own projects and their contract work, you lose control—and so do your clients. Here’s how working with a hybrid decorator can quietly erode your business: Missed Turnarounds – Their in-house or retail jobs often consume the best press times before your PO is even touched. Inconsistent Pricing & Focus – Their retail sales often receive quicker turnaround or more attention, especially when order volume spikes. Damaged Credibility – You promise a delivery date to your customer based on the decorator’s lead time, only to find out your job was delayed for a local school or influencer brand. Channel Conflict – Some hybrid decorators even sell direct to end-users—competing with you in the same industries or verticals. “We Only Do Contract” — Or Do They? Many decorators will claim to be contract-only or contract-first, but the reality often tells a different story. You’ll hear: “We mostly do contract work.” “We only take retail when things are slow.” “Our contract side is totally separate from our retail business.” The truth? When the production schedule gets tight, priorities shift—and those “house” jobs often get fast-tracked. The separation blurs quickly, and your orders end up waiting. This is why it’s critical to know who you’re working with. Ask the hard questions. Don’t settle for vague reassurances. Your clients count on you, and you need a decorator who treats your orders like they matter—every time. The Bottom Line If you’ve been frustrated by missed deadlines, shifting priorities, or inconsistent communication from your decorator, the issue may not be with production—it’s often a matter of where you rank in their business model. And when you're working with a hybrid decorator, you're rarely at the top. At Hightech Grafix , we’ve removed that uncertainty entirely. As a 100% contract-only decorator, we don’t juggle priorities between retail and wholesale, and we don’t split focus between consumer sales and distributor relationships. Our entire operation—from scheduling and pricing to staffing and production—is built with one goal in mind: to serve distributors like you. You’ll never have to wonder if your order is being bumped for a retail job or sidelined for an in-house brand drop. Your purchase orders drive our schedule. Your deadlines define our production flow. And your growth is what fuels ours. If you're ready to stop chasing availability and start building with a partner who puts your business first, every time, Hightech Grafix is here to deliver.

Let’s face it—being a distributor isn’t always easy. One minute you’re answering emails about hoodies, the next you’re scrambling to get a quote together, and somewhere in between, you’re trying to explain to your customer why embroidery costs more than printing (again). Wouldn’t it be nice if something could help you do all that… faster? Enter AI. No, you don’t need to be a computer genius or wear a lab coat. These tools are simple, smart, and can actually help you save time and sell more. Think of them like your silent business partner—minus the bad coffee and loud typing. 💬 1. ChatGPT: Your New Email Assistant You’ve probably heard about ChatGPT. It’s like a super helpful intern that never sleeps. Need to write an email to a customer asking for their artwork? Or explain why rush orders cost more? Or respond to a tricky question about minimums? Just tell ChatGPT what you want to say, and it’ll help you write it in a clear, friendly way. You can even use it to: Create custom quote templates Write order follow-ups Draft social media captions for your newest tee drop “No more staring at a blinking cursor. This thing writes better than most of us after two cups of coffee.” 🧢 2. Placeit & MockupMark: Quick Mockups, No Design Needed Clients love seeing their logo on a shirt or hat before they order. The problem? You don’t have time to Photoshop every logo they send you. That’s where Placeit and MockupMark come in. These tools let you upload a logo and instantly create mockups on real products—tees, hoodies, hats, bags, you name it. You don’t need Photoshop, design skills, or endless YouTube tutorials. Just pick your template, upload the artwork, and send it off to your client looking like a pro. “No design team? No problem.” ✍️ 3. Jasper or Copy.ai: Write Proposals Like a Pro If you send quotes with a little pitch or explanation, these tools can help you sound polished (even when you’re working from the back of your car between meetings). Type a few key points—like what you’re quoting, the product, the decoration method—and let it whip up a short, sweet explanation your client will actually read. Bonus: It’ll help avoid the dreaded typo that turns “DTF Print” into... well, something else. 📋 4. Trello or Notion + AI: Stay Organized Without Losing Your Mind Let’s be honest: between customers, follow-ups, and remembering which job is screen print and which is embroidery, it’s easy to lose track. Trello and Notion are tools that help you organize orders visually—like digital sticky notes. And now, they even include AI features to help you: Set reminders Prioritize your follow-ups Create simple task lists for your week “It’s like having a planner who never forgets... even when you do.” 📱 5. Lately.ai or Hootsuite AI Writer: Social Media Without the Headache You know you should post on Instagram or LinkedIn... but what do you say? These tools take your product photos or updates and turn them into captions. Want to announce a new puff embroidery sample? Upload the pic, and boom—your caption’s ready. Schedule posts, reuse ideas, and spend more time selling instead of caption-writing. 🚀 Bonus Tools for the Extra-Ambitious If you’re ready to go full genius mode: Zapier + Google Sheets + ChatGPT: Automate sending reorder reminders after 6 months Descript: Turn your client shout-outs into polished videos Crystal: Learn how your clients like to communicate—yes, really 🎯 Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be a Tech Wizard You don’t have to use all of these tools. Even picking one or two can save you serious time and make you look like a rockstar to your clients. Here at Hightech Grafix, we see our top distributors using tools like ChatGPT for email help, and both Placeit and MockupMark for mockups—and it’s helping them sell faster, with less stress. “Less time quoting. More time selling. And maybe, just maybe, a weekend off.” 📞 Want help with your next decorated order? Reach out to our team—we’ll make the process easy, efficient, and maybe even a little fun.

Let’s cut to the chase. You’re a reseller. You hustle to win business, nurture client relationships, and deliver high-quality decorated apparel on time, every time. You rely on your decorator to help you execute. So why does it sometimes feel like they’re not entirely on your team? If your decorator is splitting their time—and priorities—between resellers and retail clients, you might be caught in a silent tug-of-war. And guess what? You’re probably losing.

Did you know that 80% of businesses cite supplier issues as a major operational challenge? From missed deadlines to inconsistent quality, supplier-related problems can disrupt operations and impact the bottom line. The root of the problem? Too many businesses treat their suppliers as transactional vendors rather than strategic partners. Instead of building long-term relationships, they simply place orders and expect results—missing out on the benefits of true collaboration.  In this article, we’ll break down the biggest mistake businesses make when working with suppliers, why it’s costing them, and how to fix it.

At Hightech Grafix, we believe that every great print starts with a foundation of precision and care. One of the key steps in delivering the vibrant, high-quality prints we’re known for is our screen-burning process. While our resellers don’t need to worry about the technical side of things, we’re proud to give you a peek behind the curtain at how we transform simple mesh into masterpieces that help your business shine. 

In a world where technology is embedded in almost every aspect of our lives, it’s no surprise that our clothing is the next frontier. Imagine a T-Shirt that does more than just look good—one that can interact with your smartphone, provide you with exclusive content, or verify its own authenticity with a simple tap. Welcome to the era of NFC-enabled T-Shirts, where fashion meets futuristic tech in ways you never imagined. So, what exactly are NFC tags, and how are they revolutionizing the world of apparel? Let’s dive in and explore the game-changing potential of this cutting-edge technology.

When it comes to choosing a screen printing and embroidery partner, price often seems like the most important factor. After all, who doesn’t love a good deal? But in the world of apparel decoration, the saying “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be more true. While competitive pricing is essential, it’s not the only thing you should consider. In fact, customer service can play a far more critical role in your overall satisfaction and the success of your projects. In this post, we’ll dive into why exceptional customer service should be at the top of your list when selecting a screen printing partner, and how it can make a bigger difference than you might think.

Direct To Film (DTF) printing is revolutionizing the world of apparel decoration with its versatility and ability to produce vibrant, detailed prints on a variety of materials. To help our resellers achieve the best possible results, we've compiled our top 10 Hacks for preparing artwork specifically for DTF printing. By following these 10 tips, you can ensure your designs are optimized for quality and durability.

Picture This: It’s a sunny Monday morning. You’re feeling good, coffee in hand, ready to tackle the week. You get a call from a big client—they want 500 custom t-shirts for an upcoming corporate event. You’ve got the perfect shade of blue in mind, the one that matches their logo perfectly. Or so you thought. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and the t-shirts arrive—only, that perfect blue looks more like a dismal gray under the sunlight. The client is not happy. Now, you’re staring down the barrel of a $5,000 reprint. Ouch!

EXPOSED! How Your Current Decorator Might Be Stealing Your Clients! Imagine this: You’ve spent months, even years, building a solid relationship with your clients, only to have them snatched away right under your nose. This nightmare scenario happens more often than you think in the world of promotional product reselling, especially when your apparel decorator plays both sides of the field. But what if the culprit behind your vanishing clients is, in fact, your current decorator?

INDUSTRY REVOLUTION! New Tools Set to Revolutionize Apparel Decoration In the ever-evolving world of apparel decoration, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage; it's a necessity. Today, we're thrilled to unveil a suite of groundbreaking tools designed to transform the way you experience apparel decoration - a true game-changer in the industry.

The End of an Era: Why Top Decorators Are Ditching DTG! In the ever-evolving world of apparel decoration, methods and technologies constantly compete for the top spot. For years, Direct to Garment (DTG) printing has been a go-to for many decorators. However, there's a seismic shift happening - a large number of top decorators are moving away from DTG. But why is this happening now? Let's dive into the reasons behind this significant industry change.