Buying polo shirts in bulk is a great, cost-effective way to outfit your group for work, an event or even stock your retail apparel store. However, it can be challenging to know where to start. The key to buying cheap polo shirts is to do your research first to ensure you get the right items exactly how you want them. So, to help you get started, here is a guide to bulk buying cheap polo shirts.

Understand Your Needs

Bulk buying apparel requires a large investment of time and money, so you need to be certain the items you order are right for your needs. Polo shirts are ideal for uniforms, large corporate events, family functions or team shirts. So, whether you are organizing one of these events yourself, or you are a retailer, determining what you need the polos for will help you to choose the right style and materials.

Know Your Styles

The term “polo” simply refers to the short button-down collared style of athletic shirt made popular by Ralph Lauren, but polo shirts are made in a variety of knits and fabrics. So, when it comes to bulk buying cheap polo shirts, it is important to know the varieties offered to ensure you are getting the exact items you order.

There are two types of knits: pique and jersey. Pique knit is the traditional knit for polo shirts, and it’s popular due to its flexibility and breathability. Jersey is a more contemporary style of knit, but the tightness of the knit gives the shirts softness and a good drape. Jersey is also cheaper than pique.

Choose the Right Material

Polo shirts are also available in a range of material types. The one you select should depend on what you intend to use the shirts for, whether you are ordering for a corporate event or a uniform, or if you are planning on reselling them.

For sports teams, the best choice of material would be performance blend polo shirts, which are designed to wick away moisture and often have odor-resistant properties and offer sun protection. Linen polo shirts are lightweight, breathable and ideal for summer. However, they wrinkle easily and don’t look as polished as other styles.

Pure cotton is another lightweight fabric option; however, depending on the kind of cotton used, they can be prone to fading and piling after multiple washes. Polyester is durable, stain-resistant and wrinkle-free, making them perfect for work environments, although they are not as comfortable as other materials. Cotton blends are a great option if you want the breathability and weight of cotton, but also with the color-fastness and durability of a synthetic material.

Choosing Your Supplier

Once you have decided on the size, style and material of the polo shirts you need, you should find a trustworthy supplier.

Although you may be tempted to buy directly from the manufacturer, this can often end up costing you more in the long term, as the minimum order quantity is usually larger than most individuals and companies require. This could leave you with hundreds of unused shirts taking up space in your storage area.

The better option for bulk buying polo shirts is to go through a reliable apparel wholesaler who won’t have a minimum order size, and who carries a larger range of brands, sizes and styles.

Sample the Products

Another benefit to buying from a wholesaler is that you can order a few different sizes, styles and brands in a range of popular polo colors before placing  a larger order, so you can actually try before you buy. Feeling the material and checking whether the sizes run true to size will give you peace of mind when placing the final bulk order.

Shipping and Delivery Costs

One of the biggest factors to consider when bulk buying your polo shirts is the shipping costs and delivery time. Shipping costs vary from supplier to supplier and depend on your location, along with the number of shirts ordered.

Many customers require polos for a specific event, so you should always make sure you factor in the delivery time (as well as any time needed for printing or embroidery) to ensure you have your polos ready to wear for the event. Take your event date and add at least two weeks, and this will give you enough time to make any exchanges or alterations as needed.

Final Thoughts

Polo shirts are an ideal option for outfitting a group, but to make sure the bulk buying process is cost-effective and goes smoothly, you need to do a little research. Use this simple guide when you buy cheap polo shirts, so you can make the most of bulk buying from your wholesaler.

The post Bargain Buys: A Guide to Buying Cheap Polo Shirts in Bulk first appeared on The Adair Group.

No matter what shirt line you choose, you’re going to get a fantastic product — but there’s something special about Gildan shirts. From durability and quality to customization and much more, Gildan is a great shirt that can be worn for any occasion. Here are a few reasons why we at The Adair Group, absolutely love Gildan shirts.

A Brief History of Gildan

Founded in 1984 by the Chamandy brothers in Canada, Gildan has always been known as a leader in the tee shirt manufacturing business, and it easy to see why. The high-quality cotton, along with the wide assortment of choices, makes Gildan a top choice at The Adair Group. Widely known as the most versatile shirt choice available, you can find the color, style and comfort you’re looking for with a Gildan shirt.

By implementing state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, Gildan has dramatically reduced its manufacturing costs. The good news is that we partner directly with Gildan to pass along those savings to you.

The Best Feel

Gildan shirts are known for their soft texture and comfort, which is why we choose Gildan as one of our top shirt options. Featuring 6 oz. of 100% preshrunk cotton, you’re getting a comfortable, breathable shirt that you can wear anywhere and anytime. The 6 oz. cotton weight is heavy enough to feel like a high-quality fabric, while being light enough to still breathe and feel comfortable.

The seamless rib at the neck provides an added layer of comfort, while tag less options eliminate the annoying itch you may find with other shirts. If 6 oz. cotton isn’t the best choice for you, we carry Gildan shirts in multiple cotton weights, including 4.5 oz. ringspun cotton.

These cotton weights allow you to have Gildan shirts for any type of weather. From hot summer days to cool autumn nights, the varying cotton weights provide the comfort and breathability that you need to stay comfortable all day long.

We know how important comfort is, and buying Gildan shirts wholesale through The Adair Group is the perfect way to provide comfort for your whole group, whether it be for your family members, a sports team or for your screen printing business.

Top Uses for Gildan Shirts

Gildan shirts are extremely versatile — they’re great for men, women and children. With an industry-leading selection of styles and comfort, a Gildan shirt is an excellent option for any occasion.

You can wear them dressed up or down, part of uniforms or costumes, or use them to promote  charity events.

Customizable

If you’re thinking about buying wholesale, chances are you probably need something customized. The durable and soft cotton allows you to easily screen print or embroider your shirts to customize them for your specific group. We aren’t the only ones who think Gildan shirts are the best for customization – see what professional screen printers are saying!

The high-quality dyes provide a wide range of colors. We carry options that will fit every group, from summer camps to school outings. The dyes are also fade resistant, allowing your Gildan shirts to last.

The careful design and manufacturing ensure that Gildan shirts can withstand even the toughest washing machines.

The Sustainable Choice

When you purchase Gildan shirts from The Adair Group, you’re making the environmentally friendly choice. Gildan is widely recognized as an industry leader in using sustainable business and manufacturing processes.

Gildan has been named in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for two years in a row, hallmarking their commitment to sustainability. Gildan factories in Honduras and the Dominican Republic use a biological water management system that naturally pulls harsh chemicals and dyes from the water, so chemicals and dyes don’t end up where they don’t belong. Gildan has a commitment to keeping local water sources safe for everyone.

Gildan is also known as a prominent philanthropist organization, donating countless profits to charities, ranging from environmental organizations to youth groups. Part of the profits from your purchases is set aside and donated to these charities. Gildan looks out for the planet and humanity, and we support those initiatives.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to wholesale shirts, you’re not going to get much better than Gildan. They are one of the highest selling and best blank shirts available. They are ideal for casual wear and screen printing.

Additionally, the assortment of colors, styles and weights make them perfect for giveaways, sporting events and uniforms. We stock the best variety of Gildan shirts at the best prices, so you know we have exactly what you’re looking for.

The post Why We Love Gildan Shirts first appeared on The Adair Group.

Jerzees is a trusted, well-designed brand of activewear that is the perfect platform for imprints and embellishment. Whether you are looking for comfortable, durable team wear or a colorfast crafting project, Jerzees has got you covered.

Experts in active wear

Jerzees is owned by parent company and activewear experts, Russell Athletic. Known as the Russell Manufacturing Company when founded in 1902, today the Russell brand is the well-known logo on every college sports team’s jersey.

Popular from the beginning

As a young man starting out, Benjamin Russell decided he was more of a businessman than a lawyer. He started a new business making women’s undergarments with just six knitting machines that ran off steam power. The shirts the company produced were so popular that the machines and employees ran at full capacity during their first year, and they made 150 shirts per day.

Sign of the times

In the 1930s, the company acquired Southern Manufacturing Company, which gave them access to team apparel and athletic garment manufacturing facilities. The athletic apparel orders in the 1940s came primarily from the Army and Navy. The 1960s brought another change in focus when the company became the largest marketer and manufacturer of athletic apparel and uniforms in the country.

Jerzees becomes its own brand

Russell Corporation expanded in the early 1980s and decided to create specialty brands within the company to focus on specific attributes. The workhorse of the line, Jerzees got its own label and focus.

We know Jerzees shirts today as the leader in comfortable active wear, customized by you. Whether it is a company logo, crafty holiday project or a commemorative event t-shirt, Jerzees is the canvas for your design.

Choose your Jerzees fit

Jerzees makes shirts to fit everyone. Choose different cuts, including a trendy juniors-cut, with v-necks and crewnecks. Pockets are available in many styles.

Jerzees also offers polo, long sleeve, sleeveless and ringer t-shirts. Polo shirts allow for a sharper, more professional look, while a long-sleeve t-shirt will keep the wearer warm without sacrificing comfort on cold days.

There’s one for everyone

Jerzees t shirts are crowd pleasers. It can be hard to make everyone happy with a single shirt, but Jerzees has such a wide selection of fits, colors, materials and sizes, that you can outfit everyone. When it comes time to outfit a team, a classroom of students or a large family gathering, there’s no better choice than a Jerzees t-shirt.

Colors to match your occasion

The classic t-shirts come in short sleeve and long, in every color of the rainbow. From good, old-fashioned white to camouflage, you’ll be able to find just the right color for your occasion.

Materials blends suit different projects

Jerzees has different blends of materials for their t-shirts to meet every need. Different cotton/poly mixes are available, so you can choose just the right style for your activity or project.

Preshrunk tri-blend of polyester, cotton and rayon are available, so you don’t have to worry about shrinkage after you’ve applied your imprint or design. The 100% polyester shirts that wick away moisture are popular among sports teams and everyday athletes because they keep moisture and odor to a minimum.

Make it your own

The wide range of colors and material blends makes Jerzees the right choice for your design. Depending on the material, some personalization methods are better than others. Screen printing turns out crisp and bold on the 50/50 shirts, while Sublimation printing is ideal and looks sharp on the full polyester blend.

If you need a professional look for your employees, try a Jerzees polo embroidered with your company logo. For sports teams, imprinted team and player names will make your team look professional on the field. There’s even a perfect shirt for crafters who love making DIY project t-shirts for school events or parties.

Quality with a reasonable price

Jerzees shirts are known for their durability, consistent fit and colorfast materials. Jerzees high-quality, modern looks, combined with reasonable pricing, make it the right shirt for every occasion, especially when purchased in bulk. The entire line of shirts is excellent for screen printing, sublimation printing and embroidery.

Just for you

The company has been producing the country’s most popular activewear for more than 100 years. From wicking blends for sports enthusiasts to traditional baseball sleeves for a fun, but sporty look, you can find just the right shirt for your organization. Large families can have matching shirts printed for pictures or a reunion, while companies can present a professional, uniform look with embroidered shirts.

Jerzees t-shirts are well-made, classic t-shirts that are available with options to make them the right choice for your event, group or team. The shirts are perfect for printing, decorating, embellishing and creating a unique wearable.

The post Jerzees T-Shirts – Classic Quality T-Shirt Brand first appeared on The Adair Group.

Here we will discuss this most basic part of your wardrobe, and why you should buy these items in bulk when you find a style and fit that suits you for a great price. Bulk t-shirts can reduce costs for your family or your business, while still ensuring that everyone is dressed appropriately.

You will always need plain t-shirts

Plain t-shirts are just that, they are plain. The simplicity means they do not go out of style and if you know the colors and fit that suit you, they will always be a staple of your wardrobe.

They are good for layering when it is cold and for wearing over shorts in the summer. They can be worn to the beach or under a jacket when you go out for dinner. Plain t-shirts are always necessary, and therefore you should always have a store of them in your closet.

Plain t-shirts do not go out of style

When buying clothes, you must take so much into account. Fashions change season by season, and if you want to look current, you need to constantly update your wardrobe. This updating means most of your clothes will quickly look outdated and be relegated to the back of your wardrobe as new colors, styles and fits come into fashion.

Fortunately, this fashion reality does not apply to plain t-shirts.

Because they are plain, t-shirts do not conform to fashion trends in the first place. They are used as accent pieces, a flash of color under more fashion-conscious items, and so don’t go out of style.

This lasting style means you can buy t-shirts in bulk without worrying you are going to look outdated. Simply buy a variety of colors and you will be able to fit with any trend or mood.

Buying in bulk is a great idea if you have children

Children are always ruining their clothes. Whether they are getting food stains on them, growing out of them or destroying them by playing sports or other rough games, children tend to need new clothes more often than adults do.

Therefore, buying bulk t-shirts is such a good idea if you have a large family, or just don’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes when they will be too small within a month or so. This bulk will give you a steady supply of clothes for the more destructive members of your family.

Buying in bulk is cheaper

It can be costly buying clothes. Whether you have a big family or if it is just you, a lot of money can be saved through smart clothes shopping. Buying at least part of your wardrobe in bulk will leave you more money to spend on other things. You could even put the money you save towards some treat for your family or save it for a rainy day.

Back to school

When it is time for your children to go back to school, the costs can be astronomical. There are stationary supplies to buy, transportation to organize and budget for, in addition to new clothes and footwear. Buying t-shirts in bulk for your children can be a wallet saver. Plus, not only does bulk buying mean you save some money, but it will also ensure this part of the back-to- school chaos will be simple, straightforward and easy to complete.

Special events at work

Whether you are changing your company’s dress code or hosting a public event, buying bulk t-shirts can reduce your costs and promote a cohesiveness in your team that promotes your business and encourages co-operation amongst your employees.

With plain t-shirts, you can add your company logo or brand quickly and cheaply and choose the right colors for your business branding or environment. With the wide range of plain t-shirts available, you can  find a style and fit that will look professional and save money and time by bulk buying.

Whatever fashion styles you follow, t-shirts will be an essential part of your everyday wardrobe. Buying them in bulk allows you to cut costs in this essential section of your wardrobe, while still ensuring you get a quality and fit that works for you and your family.

Buying t-shirts in bulk can also be useful for your business as well, giving you a cost-effective option while still maintaining the professional and coherent company look you want.

The post Plain T-Shirts – Why You Should Buy in Bulk first appeared on The Adair Group.

As the owner of a small business, you have a lot of operating expenses to consider, which is why uniforms can become an afterthought. Whether you’re running a small coffee shop or a full restaurant, a hotel or a quaint bed and breakfast, your uniforms matter. They bring your team together and give them a sense of purpose and belonging, as well as assure your customers that they’re in the presence of professionals who know what needs to be done.

You may be tempted to skip uniforms altogether—it’s a great way to save money, right? Do not be tempted to forgo uniforms. This sends a very distinct message to your customers and leaves you with a lot fewer opportunities to brand and advertise.

For example, if you have a delivery service, you want your delivery workers in at least a company t-shirt if not a jacket and hat as well. Why? Well, it helps the people waiting for him or her know who is coming to their door. Beyond that, when neighbors or potential customers see your delivery person, they can at least get a name to search online when they need a home dog-washing service or emergency desserts.

As to brick and mortar stores, it is essential to put your employees and maybe even yourself in at least a basic uniform because it gives your workers a sense of responsibility as well as purpose. Also, there is no confusion for your customers about who works in your restaurant or bed and breakfast, and they won’t be whispering “Is she a waitress? Are you sure?” while their stomachs grumble.

Uniforms Set the Scene

So, uniforms are the way to go. They can change our mentalities, set us up for success, and keep us together as a team. Have you ever felt the shift in your demeanor as you dress for work or slip into a pair of shoes you never wear unless you are headed out to work a shift? Then you know how much they can change things.

However, they can be a burden. Choosing a design that helps your employees look good and feel comfortable can be a challenge and then, of course, they have to be paid for. What is a sterling new boss like yourself to do?

There are plenty of cheap, basic uniforms available to buy from either brick and mortar stores or online, but how can you make your employee’s outfits stand out? There are some great ways to personalize your uniforms without spending a lot of money. You can add a personal touch without a lot of stress or strain to your new budget.

The standard uniform isn’t just expensive, it’s boring. Far too often they’re also highly uncomfortable, thanks to the synthetic, easy-to-clean fabrics they’re made from. Consider a more casual, easy to wear option. Your staff will have an easier time running to serve your customers, and you will feel your wallet breathe a sigh of relief.

Here are some great ways to approach uniform design for your new and soon-to-be-thriving business:

A Logo Design Contest

You can always hire an artist, do the designing yourself, or just ask a creative friend to help you out with this part, but why not have a contest? It doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking—just something to help your employees and maybe even a few potential customers take part in the first steps of your new business.

Logos encompass the spirit and mission of a business and a lot of people have great ideas for how to make those ideas into emblems. Take advantage! Not only will you get a ton of ideas at little to no cost to you, you generate interest in your business, help involve the surrounding community, or just give your employees a chance to win something.

Whether you keep your efforts to find a winning logo in-house or reach out to the people you hope will be stopping in at your new store or cafe, this is a great chance to connect with your new hires, learn more about your potential shoppers, and have a great time.

Be sure to offer some kind of incentive—a bonus to the winning employee, a free meal, free coffee for a month—anything that fits your business. This will help your image as a boss and show that you appreciate creative problem-solving and that you aren’t afraid to show it. Any employee will appreciate that.

You can even take advantage of high-level artists looking to get some more experience by posting on Design Contest, a site where artists compete to give you the best design possible. Just post your business name, some details about who you are and what you want to convey, and offer a prize. You will also need to draw up a copyrights transfer, but the site will help you with this step.

After your contest is posted, you can sit back and let the entries come in. Many contests are completed in a matter of hours or just a couple of days, so you are all set without much of a time investment on your part.

Once you have your logo, you can try this next fun activity:

Try Screen Printing

Screen printing, once the bastion of giant printing houses full of industry secrets, has returned to the hands of the public, and you can design and print your own logo and image onto low-priced, wholesale tshirts relatively quickly and easily. It takes a little time to set up, and it requires some very unique materials such as a liquid sensitizer, photo emulsion, and a squeegee.

If you know someone who already has some experience printing t-shirts, ask if you can borrow a screen for the prints, as this can be the most labor-intensive thing to make.

Again, ask your friends, relatives, or new employees if anyone is up for designing a logo. Or, you can hire an artist through several freelance websites—whatever option works best for you. If you’re artistically inclined or have experience with logos, you can always do it yourself.

Here’s the fun part: Get together all the wonderful people who helped you start your business and do the printing as a team. Be sure to let everyone do a couple of practice runs on paper or old shirts that you don’t wear anymore; then, once you’ve got the workflow down, go for it.

The great thing about screen printing is that one screen can print hundreds of shirts. You can even make a design for your customers to buy at your big opening. Here is a video that breaks down the process of screen printing step by step, and which will inspire you to run and print your own screen right away.

If done correctly, screen printing will be able to stand up to plenty of washes and lots of wear and tear. While it might feel like you’re putting a photo on a shirt, it’s more like a photo. And, speaking of photos:

Put Your Photoshop Expertise to the Test

Have a photo that truly encompasses the heart and soul of your business? You can make it part of your uniform! First, make sure you have the rights to any image you may want to use; it’s best if you or an employee capture the image so there are no issues. Then, you can easily upload that picture to your computer and use a more modern, tech-savvy process to make it into a t-shirt design.

You’ll start with a digital photo or digital scan of a photo to get started. You need it on your personal computer as well as a photo-editing software such as Photoshop to make it look the way you want. Consider making your design either with a grayscale color pattern or just in one single, solid color. This will make copying the image onto fabric much simpler.

Once you’ve got your image cropped, centered, and colored correctly, you need to print it out on a transparency sheet, (you can get these at any office supply store or website), and then use that printed image to do a transfer to an emulsion sheet. The process goes on from there and is very similar to the old-fashioned style of screen printing; it’s just a bit cleaner and sharper.

Again, here is a great chance to recruit your employees, friends, and family for help. Why not have a photography contest and give a prize or bonus to the winner? You’re starting a new business; you want morale to be high. By giving your team the opportunity to do some creative work, you are helping them take ownership in the business and creating an emotional investment. Now, they’ll see the business as an important part of their lives and work harder to see it succeed.

Consider Tie-Dye

Is your business more along the lines of a hot dog stand or ice cream store? Do not discount the possibility of a successful uniform with basic tie dye t shirts.

Tie-dye sends a very clear message to your customers: This is a place where it is okay to relax, to be yourself and take a moment away from your normal corporate atmosphere. When you see a product packed in a tie-dye design, you know you are buying something very different than the more expensive, glittery font with a name you can barely pronounce.

The same goes for a tie-dye uniform. Employees dressed in this colorful style will appear much more approachable, fun, kid-friendly, and ready to bring on the smiles. They are a wonderful option for businesses centered on families and kids.

There are lots of different ways to dye your shirts. You can do it with bleach, with basic fabric dyes, and create a some truly unique designs that are a far cry from the typical, seventies heart made of rainbows.

If you want a smoother, more saturated look you want to soak the fabric of the shirt with water before you start. A dry shirt will also work, but you will get a more splattered, splotchy look. Choose a color palette, get on your plastic gloves, find some rubber bands, and you are ready to go.

Before you start, here is a tip: Wear gloves any time you work with fabric dye. The paints meant for fabric are designed to saturated into porous material and will happily make their home deep in your skin. Unless you want muddy, purple hands for the next few days, take a moment to get on your gloves.

To tie-dye, a shirt is just twisted up and held together with the bands. Then, dye is squeezed directly onto the fabric to give it a colorful, explosive look. The shirt is left to set in a plastic bag for several hours, and then rinsed to finish. The final product is a fun and unique burst of color that your employees and customers will love.

You can see more about exactly how to tie-dye, here, in this video.

Stand Out by Fading Away: The Beautiful Ombre Effect

An ombre is just a very pared down tie-dye shirt. Instead of exploding into an array of colors, it tones it down a bit with one hue that gradually gets darker as it approaches the hem or the top of the shirt.

Ombres are a wonderful option if you are opening a spa, a nice café, or just a more laid-back, more quiet space for your customers. Are you dedicated to professional cuddling? An ombre shirt accents that perfectly.

Just like a tie-dye job, you will need some fabric dye but only in one color. You will also need a hanger and some clips to make sure that the shirt you are decorating is spread out completely. Then you will dye the water instead of the shirt directly. An ombre is a labor of love, so do not take this on unless you have the time and energy, as you will be dipping a shirt, then adding more dye to the water and dipping it again, putting in less and less of the fabric for about five or six rounds.

While this is an intense project, the finished product is a unique and lovely one. This basic yet elegant choice can give your business an extra special touch. Also, this is another project that could easily be done with the help of new employees and friends. Everyone can do their own shirt; just make sure to have plenty of materials on hand.

While uniforms can be a handful, they can also be an additional, fun touch and a chance to release your inner artist or crafter in the midst of starting up your dream project. Do not pass up the chance to make the creation of your uniforms fun and inclusive, as this is a great opportunity to bring your team together and promote yourself to people outside of your efforts.

Whatever your business, you can make it shine with a lot of personal touches. Here is hoping that you see yourself in the black before long.

The post Tips and Tricks for Making Cheap Uniforms first appeared on The Adair Group.

From the youngest of athletes to seniors hoping to stay active, one immovable fact spans the life cycle—things are more fun when you get a free t-shirt. Road races, volunteer opportunities, team sports—you name it, the t-shirt makes it. Softball leagues are no exception. The uniform, however informal, inspires a sense of unity, pride in athletic ability, and serves as a beacon to all: “I’ve earned free pizza after the game I’ve played.”

If you’re hoping to create this opportunity for bonding and athleticism for others, there are a great many things you’ll need to know before getting started. But, fear not: we’ve collected our best tips for getting your league off the ground. Trust us. T-shirts are only the beginning.

Benefits of Starting a Softball League

Few Americans, whether they are knowledge workers or physical laborers, would tell you they have an abundance of free time. Life is busy, full to the brim with obligations and activities, and adding a commitment to a softball league might seem like one more thing added to their long to-do lists. As you seek to recruit interested players, which is the first big hurdle in creating a successful league, you’ll want to be able to share what their time and energy will give them in the long run. Here are a few suggestions for ways to “sell” friends and colleagues on this grand experiment.

Morale

The Gallup organization reported in 2016 that just 32% of employees nationwide reported feeling engaged and connected to their work in their polling data from the prior year. This means that, in a given group of 10 friends or colleagues, just over three feel they’re making a meaningful contribution with their work. With as much time as we spend in the office, that’s a sad statistic. While some may seek to combat this feeling of disengagement by switching jobs or even career paths, others might seek to find diversions in their non-working hours that help their lives feel rewarding. A softball league could create such an environment.

Especially if the imagined league is one designed to bring colleagues together (either in one organization or across an industry), these out-of-office opportunities help players show sides of one another that may not present themselves at work. Further, the orientation toward a common goal can help players cultivate a team mindset and uncover hidden skills and talents—hidden, perhaps, even from the individual themselves! Tap into this skill discovery by letting members pick official post-game hangouts, or design team shirts or even some of the more contentious rules.

Healthy Competition

While competition sometimes has an outlet in the workplace, it tends to be looked down upon there. Most of us really only see the competitive nature at work when it evolves into a hyper-competitive spirit, more closely resembling ruthlessness. This type of competitive nature can be toxic in large doses, no matter where it arises. By providing an outlet where a competitive spirit is valued and even necessary, team members can channel that “get ahead” energy into a new endeavor.

Exercise

For those seeking to build an exercise routine into a busy lifestyle, the dedicated schedule of team practices and games could be an enticing alternative to group fitness classes or hours toiling away in the gym. It’s true that softball isn’t the most strenuous of sports, but it could be a good start for someone needing a social and structured entry into a fitness regimen. Most of us sit all day. Why not take the time to bat, field, and run when we can?

Scouting and Recruiting Players

Once you’ve settled on the idea of creating a softball league, your first task will be to answer the big question: Who else is in for a journey through the season with you? It can be hard to drum up numbers at first, but sharing the benefits of participation listed above, as well as others that you could tailor as needed, can help make the case for others to join your cause.

As you’re scouting your surroundings, keep in mind that levels of ability could—and should—vary widely. Do you want to build a league that favors more skilled and competitive players? Or is it designed more for fun and camaraderie, leaving space for less practiced but highly enthusiastic individuals?

As you gain steam and popularity, you can consider dividing the league up based on the level of play. But, at the outset, seek to balance the needs of many different types of players for your best chance at success and robust participation.

Solidifying Rules and Challenge Processes

Will you be playing fast-pitch or slow-pitch? What will be the gender makeup of teams? How many players must be present for a game to proceed? All of these questions, and more, will need to be answered as you outline the rules of your league. Rules can be informed by the age and skill level of players, the confines of facilities available, availability or non-availability of referees/umpires, or even the familiarity of players with the game.

Again, it will be crucial to set and uphold rules in relation to the level of skill your league caters to. Too-strict or obscure rules will alienate players seeking only to have fun; too lax or abstract rules could cause more skilled players to pull away. As with recruitment, balance is the name of the game, here. Playpass puts it simply when they advise to use rules “that are clearly stated and consistently applied.”

Hand in hand with creating a rule structure for your league is creating a formal means to challenge those rules. If someone feels they were wrongfully called “out,” what are their options to challenge the ruling? If a ball flies out of a discernible “foul/fair” area, how do you decide which is the right call?

Although this process can be helped by employing referees or umpires, their judgment can’t be the only way that these challenges are resolved; provide them with a written reference to share in the event of particularly close calls. Find a uniform method, again clearly stated and consistently applied, to resolve these disputes, and do so before they become necessary.

Determining a Fee Structure

Starting a sports league has more costs to consider than one might think. In addition to the cost of uniforms, there are also space rental fees, shared equipment costs, payment for referees or umpires who keep your games fair and consistent, and any processing fees that might come from collecting money (think services like PayPal or Venmo).

Check in with other local leagues on how much these costs might run, and check in with your players to see how much they’re willing to spend on participation. Mutual consideration of these costs can help you set a price that is fair and accessible no matter who’s playing in the league. Don’t forget to include costs of a season-end celebration for all who helped you make the league a success!

A route you may want to consider when calculating fees: pursuing a corporate sponsor. If your team is affiliated with a company or industry, you can ask your employer or other employers that players might work for to contribute to league costs. What are some of the benefits to them of sponsorship? Visibility in the community (via apparel, signage, and in-league correspondence), favor in the eye of their employees and the community, and the knowledge that their staff is staying fit and creating bonds that could positively affect their bottom line.

You can also pursue unaffiliated sponsors; think about local businesses that may benefit from a little time in the spotlight. As you prepare to approach these organizations, do research on who they are and what they care about, and provide multiple options for them to contribute.

In addition to providing cash, they can also provide equipment, space for practice or games (this particular benefit often comes at a premium, so take it if it is offered!), or even trophies or prizes for teams at the end of league play. The more creative you can get with prospective donors, the easier it will be to gain their support. With that said, be firm about what you need; if you truly cannot benefit from what an organization is offering, it’s better to part ways respectfully.

Designing, Producing and Distributing Shirts

Here’s the part that so many of us get excited about: the development and wearing of the team shirt! Anyone who has stood giddy as a coach or volunteer wrestled with that telltale brown cardboard box knows that it’s an excitement that doesn’t flag even when you’re older. In order to ensure that the payoff is big, we have a few reminders for you and the rest of your planning members.

First, take orders in advance and note player sizes before making your order. To spend a season with an ill-fitting shirt, too big or too small, can make a bigger impact than one might expect. Protect from any embarrassment that a notably larger or smaller player might have by allowing them to ensure they have their size when the box opens. Include questions about it in registration paperwork, just in case players want a semblance of privacy around their size choice.

Second, consider building team pride by allowing players or teams in the league to submit designs. Given that players will likely be coming from different walks of life, why not harness the potential creative energy of such a large pool? You’ll have more options than a smaller group of contributors would provide, and it presents the opportunity to honor one of those “hidden talents” we mentioned earlier.

Consider offering additional apparel options, such as hats or sweatshirts, to recognize team captains or managers. This incentive and recognition of the hard work they do beyond just playing will help keep them interested and feeling appreciated. If you want the league to endure for years to come, garnering the support of the hardest workers will make a world of difference when it comes time to decide on another yearlong commitment to the league.

Play Ball!

At long last, it’s time for the season to begin! What can you do to ensure that the league you’ve worked so hard to build runs smoothly and without incident?

First and foremost, promote sportsmanship. Ensuring that teams can play peacefully, no matter how controversial a game’s stats might yet, will affect the quality of the experience for those on and off the field. Cracking down on things like taunting, referee disrespect, and shady behaviors like cheating or faking injury are important; just as with procedural rules, these incidents should be addressed promptly and consistently across the board.

Make sure you create a plan to address injuries that may occur during play. When players sign up, prompt them to include an emergency contact, as well as insurance information. This way, if a serious incident does happen, you’re able to get them help quickly and notify their designated contact so they’re further comforted in their time of need. Do your best to prevent injury by requiring the use of helmets when at bat and base running, regulating or banning metal cleats, and encouraging mouth guards.

And, last: Have fun! Yes, it is a tremendous amount of work to put together a league like this but make sure to enjoy the season ahead. If you’ve spent time recruiting willing and ready players, set rules that they can trust to be enforced, ensured that there’s space for play and ample equipment, and reinforced that play will be sportsmanlike, the hardest work is already done. Enjoy the fruits of your labor this season, and be sure to spend some time on the field in the rotation, too. You’ve earned it!

The post How to Start a Softball League Together first appeared on The Adair Group.

Teamwork is an important part of any organization. Team-building events have to be carefully crafted so they generate excitement, creativity, and participation; even a little good-natured competition will help teams bond and work together. Enhance the teamwork dynamic in your company by designing an event that promotes both creativity and teamwork, like a t-shirt design contest.

Teams are essential in the workplace. They’re organized around job tasks, projects, decision-making, event planning, and more, so you would think most employees would be expert team members. However, do not confuse the word team with teamwork. Unfortunately, staff who work on teams often operate as individuals that contribute a portion of work to the whole and wait until everyone has added their part to completion. Teamwork, on the other hand, encourages people to work together to achieve one goal, and it is a skill that should be cultivated in the workplace.

Put Teamwork to the Test

Go ahead. See what your employees can do on their teams. When they are not on a project, see how well they work together by unleashing their creative and organizational skills. Ask your employees to create a powerful, wearable message to focus on your organization, and its shared values and goals, by providing plain t-shirts for each participant. With a blank canvas, teams need to develop a design that promotes their team, their company, or the company’s products and services.

Each team must design a common t-shirt that showcases their ideas with humor, artistic skill, or memorable motifs. Time is of the essence in this exercise, and teams must work with one another to collaborate and generate an idea that can be designed with all the skills and strengths on their team.

Why Teamwork?

Effective teamwork creates a positive work environment for employees, and benefits the company as a whole in the following ways:

• Better Problem-Solving

When people work together in an atmosphere that promotes accountability and teamwork, they put aside personal grievances and politics in favor of focusing on the task at hand.

• Greater Productivity

Good teams are productive teams. These types of groups commit to a common purpose where each member stays respectfully and attentively involved until the objective is complete.

• More Effective Performance

The author of The Wisdom of Teams, Jon Katzenbach, said, “There is virtually no environment in which teams—if done right—can’t have a measurable impact on the performance of an organization.”

• Openness and Candor

When people are reluctant to express their feeling and be honest, it breeds suspicion and distrust on a team. Encouraging open discourse and the ability to share with one another allows ideas to flow more freely and teams to become more effective.

• Builds Trust

Despite occasional conflict, on a healthy team members trust one another. This leads to consistent cooperation and participation, which is fundamental to working on a team.

• No One Is Left Out

It is easy to get bogged down in a project at the expense of interaction with others. However, people enjoy working together, and teamwork satisfies a need for socialization.

• Faces Challenges

Working together helps people grow as they learn from each other and develop important skills. When people are exposed to and cultivate skills that they do not naturally possess, they become better equipped to face new challenges and assignments in the future.

• Creates a Sense of Fulfillment

A team needs to have goals in order to accomplish a task. By working together toward a common goal, members of a team are provided with a sense of purpose that is motivating and fulfilling.

In fact, being able to work as a team has been shown to improve problem solving, heighten creativity, and maximize the use of resources. With all these benefits to teamwork, why not make it a regular practice in your organization to encourage this skill? In fact, don’t just promote this skill. Make it a living, breathing mission within your organization by hosting workshops where teams get to design and wear t-shirts that identify them as a team.

Once you have designed these shirts, don’t forget to use them! Create regular events where teams are encouraged to wear their self-designed shirts and participate in competitions. Foster an atmosphere where members of a team really feel like they are contributing and are a part of something. Encouraging this attitude will not only help the individuals within the workplace, but it will also help your company as a whole grow and become a better place to work.

The post 8 Benefits of Team-Designed Event T-Shirts first appeared on The Adair Group.