Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use Great Atlantic instead of one of the online companies where I can make my own shirt?  

Those websites certainly fit the needs of many buyers but we appreciate the opportunity to work hand in hand with our clients to provide a totally custom product at a more competitive price.  You also can feel proud that you have directly contributed to a small business that employs real people to do your order rather than a website that serves as a “middle man” between you and the manufacturer.

Why don’t you have pricing on your website?

Since every order we do is custom tailored to fit your needs, it is impossible to provide “one size fits all” pricing.  The cost of blank goods also fluctuates so we price shop each job to insure you get the lowest cost.

How do I get a price quote?

We are available via phone, e-mail, and fax to help with your project. To provide accurate pricing we need to know the shirt brand/style/color, get a copy of your logo, and get your size breakdown.  Our knowledgeable and friendly staff is on hand to guide you through the process to make sure you get the highest quality product for the lowest price possible. Contact Us Today!

How many do I have to order?  

Our standard order starts at 24 units for screenprinted items and 6 units for embroidered goods.  Quantity discounts apply for higher volume jobs.

How quickly can I get my order?  

Our standard turnaround time is 7-10 business days (Monday – Friday) after we receive logo approval.  Let us know if you have a special event and will work to meet your deadline.

Are rush services available?  

Yes, please contact us to check availability and pricing.

What is the best way to choose the right item for my job?  

Take advantage of our staff – we will help guide you based on our historical experience and knowledge of current industry trends.  We have several online catalogs you can browse and also have a showroom with samples of our most popular sellers.  Having your budget in mind will help us determine the right fit for your project.

Can you print or embroider on items I supply?  

We sometime can but prefer to use items we provide because they are guaranteed to work with our processes.

Do you have inventory on site for my job?  

No – since every job we do is custom tailored to fit your needs we order from our network of wholesalers to get exactly what you want at the lowest price.

Can you create a logo for me?

Yes – we have artists on staff and also use several freelance designers who have a variety of different styles to cover all the bases.  Charges are billed on hourly basis so provide as much detail as possible about your idea to keep costs down.

I already have my logo, what file formats do you accept?  

The best file format is a vector based .eps file which was created in Adobe Illustrator.  We also have good results using high resolution Photoshop (.psd), .tiff, or .jpeg files – they must be submitted 300 ppi at the actual print size.

Can I see a sample of the logo before production?  

Certainly – we encourage you to be a part of the process so we meet your expectations.  We send digital proofs throughout each phase of the design process via e-mail and you are also invited to do press approvals when the job is ready to run.

Do you do 4 color process printing?  

Yes!  We can blend the standard primary colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (cmyk) on press to make virtually any color in the spectrum.  This is the prevalent method of printing on paper or digitally but for textiles it is difficult to control and not a preferred production method.  We typically use process printing when reproducing photographic images and for best results it is done on white shirts.  Due to the extra diligence needed to achieve a good print, there is a higher charge than normal.

Do you offer discharge printing?  

Yes. Discharge ink is a reactive product that in effect removes the dye from the shirt fabric and adds pigment.  Its advantage is that it provides the softest feeling print.  Disadvantages are high cost, it only works on 100% cotton shirts (some colors better than others), and we can’t guarantee your logo’s color consistency throughout a print run because we have little control over the chemical reaction.  Please contact us to see if your job would be successfully done using discharge ink.

Do you use any other “specialty inks”?

We do!  A specialty ink is anything other than the standard plastisol inks we use and they have a higher charge than normal.  Metallic, discharge, and waterbased inks are some of the most common specialty inks we use along with ink additives which allow us to print dri-fit, nylon, polyester, and lycra fabrics.

What are your standard logo sizes?  

We typically run 3”- 4” on left chest/pocket location, 4”-5” for a hat front, 7”-9” for a youth shirt, 9”-11” for full adult front location, and 12”-14” for full adult back location.  We also offer jumbo sized prints up to 15.5” wide x 20” tall – contact us to see if your job qualifies for this service.

Why is there a setup/digitizing charge?

To produce a screenprint we must take your digital file from computer to press.  We first create a film positive for each color in your logo which transfers to the physical screen that actually goes on the press.  For embroidery, we have to have your logo converted to a language the machine will read. The setup/digitizing charge covers the cost of those processes.  We keep your setup on file for future orders so this is a one-time fee.

Can you do custom numbers for teams?

Absolutely! We stock 4” and 8” standard block numbers in black or white and charge $1.50 per digit to apply them.  If you require a specific type of number or need a roster with name and number we can special order it a set from our vendor and will pass along that charge plus a $1.00/digit application fee.  Please allow extra production time for custom names and numbers.

How do I receive my order?

Local clients can come by our shop for pickup or we can ship via a courier service or UPS.

How do I pay for my order?

We accept cash, checks, money orders, VISA, American Express, and Mastercard.  Payment in full is required prior to pick-up/delivery and in certain cases a 50% deposit may be required to begin production.