If your club has never ordered custom gear before, the process can feel like a black box. It isn’t. Here’s exactly what happens, what you need to prepare, and where orders go wrong.
Step 1: Request a quote (day 1)
You need four things: your sport, how many players, which garments (playing kit, training gear, off-field polos), and your deadline. If you have a logo, send it. If you don’t, a good supplier can help create one. A proper supplier quotes within a day or two.
Step 2: Design concept (week 1)
The supplier’s designer turns your colours, logo and ideas into a mockup you can show the committee. At SACUL, design concepts are free and revisions are part of the process. Push back until it’s right. You’ll wear this for years.
Step 3: Sizing and final numbers (week 1 to 2)
This is where most orders go wrong. Get every player to check the size chart against a garment they own, not against what size they “usually” are. Cuts differ between brands. If the supplier offers a sizing kit, use it. Collect names and numbers in a spreadsheet at the same time, checked twice.
Step 4: Approval and deposit (week 2)
You’ll sign off on the final artwork showing exact colours, logo placement and sponsor positions. Read it carefully. What you approve is what gets made. Production starts once the deposit clears.
Step 5: Production and delivery (weeks 3 to 8)
Sublimated custom gear typically takes four to six weeks from artwork approval to your door. SACUL designs everything in Australia and delivers direct, with tracking the whole way.
The timing rule every club should follow
Work backwards from round one and add two weeks of buffer. Winter codes should order by January. Summer codes by August. Late orders can sometimes be rushed, but rush fees are real and stress is guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Eight weeks minimum before your first game. That covers design, sizing, production and shipping with a buffer for the inevitable late player registration.
Top-up orders are normal. Because sublimation artwork is digital, reprinting one or two extra jerseys in the same design is straightforward, though small runs cost more per unit.
No. Suppliers like SACUL include design as part of the service. Bring your colours, logo and any ideas, and the design team does the rest.