- \n
- Store shirts somewhere clean, dry and away from direct sunlight to maintain their quality and condition when not in use.<\/li>\n
- Separate stock by design, color and size before you travel. This will make it easier to unpack, organize and distribute on the day.<\/li>\n
- Use sturdy, clearly labeled containers that fit your vehicle and booth.<\/li>\n
- Keep display samples separate from the stock you plan to sell or distribute; count leftover shirts promptly, so they can be reused, sold, donated or recycled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n\n Preparing branded apparel for your next event? <\/div>\n\n\n Explore VistaPrint\u2019s custom T-shirts, choose your sizes and styles and bring your design to life. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n\n Get started<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prepare and protect your shirts before the event <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Safeguarding your merchandise begins long before the first attendee walks through the venue doors. As soon as your order arrives, check it against your packing list. Confirm the quantities, sizes, colors and designs and inspect a selection of shirts for printing issues or transit damage. Keeping an accurate count at this stage makes trade show inventory tracking much easier later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve confirmed your order, prepare it for storage. If you\u2019re keeping merch on-hand for any amount of time before the event, you should protect the items from possible damage. When storing promotional shirts before events, keep them from damp conditions, direct sunlight, dust and strong odors.<\/strong> Choose a clean, dry indoor space away from direct sunlight, radiators, leaking pipes and strong odors. Avoid garages, sheds and basements unless you know they remain consistently dry, as changes in temperature and humidity can encourage musty smells or mildew.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Shelves](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_683,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1786530408\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/Shelves-and-boxes-with-branded-tote-bags-beanie-hats-and-T-shirts\/Shelves-and-boxes-with-branded-tote-bags-beanie-hats-and-T-shirts.png?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prevent odors during long-term storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To keep stored T-shirts from smelling stale, make sure every garment is completely dry before packing it and never mix clean stock with damp booth materials or worn staff clothing. If the shirts will be stored for several months, check the containers periodically rather than leaving them sealed and forgotten. Moisture-absorbing packets may help in humid conditions, but they aren\u2019t a substitute for a dry storage area.
Moisture absorbing packets have another benefit: they keep chemical stink to a minimum. The compounds used in screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) and embroidery backing, release trace amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over time. When shirts are tightly packed into unventilated boxes, these compounds become trapped, react with ambient humidity and create a distinct chemical odor. Nix the stink with industrial-grade silica gel desiccant packets inside every bin and, when possible, gentle air circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKeep fabrics dust-free<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting your inventory from dust means keeping them covered in suitable containers. Cardboard boxes and plastic totes are the most common choices. While cardboard is useful for delivery, these boxes are less suitable for repeated storage and travel because they can crush, tear or become damp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n Tip <\/div>\n\nFor stock that will attend several events, consider sturdy, stackable totes with secure lids<\/strong>. Clear containers make it easier to identify the contents, although opaque containers are also suitable when they\u2019re labeled clearly.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rotate stock between events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cycling through stock reduces the chance of older shirts sitting under the same heavy pile for months. It also helps you identify dated designs, incomplete size runs and slow-selling styles before you order more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you attend several events each year, use a simple first-in, first-out (FIFO) fabric rotation system, so older shirts are selected before newly ordered stock.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1200,h_800,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1721633938\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/placeholder\/placeholder.png?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nChoose the right containers and transport plan <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to moving your products to the venue, you don\u2019t just want to wing it. Take some time to consider: What is the <\/em>best way to transport my clothing to this event?<\/em> Having suitable T-shirt storage bins for travel can help with transporting bulk T-shirts safely, without crushing the garments or creating confusion during load-in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n Tip <\/div>\n\nThe right storage choice for you depends on the number of shirts you have, how far you need to take them and how much storage space you\u2019ll have at the venue.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavy-duty, clear, plastic latching totes<\/strong> are a favorite because: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- They move easily between long-term storage and your venue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They resist damage and moisture at all times..\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They allow you to view contents without opening them.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Cardboard boxes<\/strong> may still be sufficient for a small, local event, provided they\u2019re kept dry and aren\u2019t overloaded. Garment rails or wardrobe boxes<\/strong> can be useful for button-down shirts, jackets or display pieces that crease easily, but they take up more room and may not suit a compact booth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whichever container you choose:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Check that it fits through venue doors and can be lifted safely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Avoid filling deep totes so heavily that the bottom garments are compressed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep shirts separate from tools, liquids and metal display hardware.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Secure containers so they can\u2019t slide or topple during the journey.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Number each tote and record its contents on your inventory sheet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_1024,c_fill,g_auto\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1786530416\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/A-stack-of-folded-T-shirts-with-a-custom-logo\/A-stack-of-folded-T-shirts-with-a-custom-logo.png?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estimate how much space your apparel will need <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Garment thickness, fabric weight and folding method all affect how many items fit in a tote. The following ranges can provide a starting point for a standard 27-gallon container, but test-pack one tote before finalizing your transport plan. To get an accurate count, don\u2019t force the lid shut or compress decorated areas unnecessarily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is a rough guide to help get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apparel type<\/th> Approx. fabric weight<\/th> Max units per standard 27-gallon tote<\/th> Wrinkle risk level<\/th> Stacking method<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Standard T-shirt<\/td> 160 GSM<\/td> 80 – 100 <\/td> Moderate<\/td> Folded or loosely rolled <\/td><\/tr> Heavyweight T-shirt<\/td> 240 GSM<\/td> 55 – 65 <\/td> Low to moderate<\/td> Loosely rolled or file-folded<\/td><\/tr> Hoodie or sweatshirt<\/td> 280 GSM or more<\/td> 20 – 25 <\/td> Higher<\/td> Flat-folded in shallow layers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n For example, 180 standard T-shirts may require two or three totes depending on their sizes and how tightly they\u2019re packed. The same number of hoodies would need considerably more space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When calculating your storage space, measure the internal dimensions of your containers. To plan for travel, check the available trunk or cargo space you have. Then, use external dimensions to be sure your transportation method will fit your totes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"Black](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_711,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1786530424\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/Black-and-white-T-shirts-with-multicolored-print\/Black-and-white-T-shirts-with-multicolored-print.png?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/vistaprint\/images\/w_1024,h_1024,c_fill,g_auto\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1786530431\/ideas-and-advice-prod\/blogadmin\/A-rail-with-black-and-pink-T-shirts-and-hoodies\/A-rail-with-black-and-pink-T-shirts-and-hoodies.png?_i=AA\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n