If you are launching a clothing brand or running an established one, wholesale printing is where you make the margin. Retail prices only work if production cost per unit is controlled. Here is how we structure wholesale orders for London brands.
What counts as wholesale
We treat any order over 50 units of the same garment and design as wholesale. Beyond 100 units, pricing drops further. The typical wholesale brand we work with orders 100 to 500 units per design per drop.
Cost structure
Three cost components matter:
- Garment cost: the blank T-shirt before printing
- Print cost: method, ink, labour
- Margin: your markup
On a Gildan Heavy Cotton with a one-colour screen print, 100 units, full-front design:
- Garment: £2.50 per unit
- Print: £2.50 per unit (screen setup amortised)
- Total cost: £5 per unit
- Retail at £20: 75% gross margin
On a Stanley/Stella organic with a DTG print, 100 units:
- Garment: £8 per unit
- Print: £6 per unit
- Total cost: £14 per unit
- Retail at £35: 60% gross margin
Which method for wholesale
Depends on design and garment:
- Screen printing: cheapest for bulk, limited to simple designs with defined colours
- DTG: higher per-unit cost but no setup, unlimited colours
- DTF: reliable on all fabrics, good for mixed garment runs
See our method comparison for full detail.
Minimums
- Screen printing: 50 units per design per colour combination
- DTG: no minimum (but wholesale pricing from 50+)
- DTF: no minimum, wholesale pricing from 50+
- Embroidery: 25+ for wholesale rates
Turnaround
- 50 to 100 units: 7 to 10 working days
- 100 to 300 units: 10 to 14 working days
- 300+ units: 14 to 21 working days
- Rush possible with premium (10 to 15% of order value)
Supplying your own garments
Some brands work with specific premium manufacturers or have their own cut-and-sew line. We print onto customer-supplied garments regularly. Print-only pricing applies; typically 30 to 40% of our normal wholesale quote because the garment cost is excluded.
When supplying your own:
- Include 3 to 5% extra for setup tests and damage margin
- Ensure garments arrive labelled by size
- Provide the exact print spec in writing
Blank garment recommendations
Most brands we work with use one of:
- Gildan Heavy Cotton: budget tier, £2 to £3 per unit
- AWDis Just Ts: mid tier, £3.50 to £4.50
- Stanley/Stella Creator: premium organic, £7 to £10
- Anthem Heavyweight: 220gsm streetwear, £8 to £12
For more detail see choosing the right blank T-shirt.
Relabelling and finishing
Wholesale brands usually remove or replace the blank manufacturer’s neck label. We offer:
- Label removal and replacement: £0.48 to £0.84 per unit (see garment finishing)
- Heat-pressed inner neck print: £0.48 per unit
- Hang tags: we can attach tags supplied by you
- Individual poly bag packing: £0.15 to £0.30 per unit
Running a drop
A typical brand drop structure:
- Pre-order confirmation: 2 weeks before production
- Artwork finalisation: 1 week before
- Production: 10 to 14 working days
- Finishing, packing: 2 to 3 working days
- Delivery or collection: ready for your launch date
Plan backwards from launch. Our production slots book up; 4 to 6 weeks’ lead time is safest.
Payment and first order
- First wholesale order: 50% deposit, 50% on completion
- Established accounts: agreed terms (30 day invoice typical)
- Production does not start until deposit cleared
Next step
If you are planning a brand launch or first production run, email [email protected] with a rough volume and artwork concept. We will schedule a call to work out method, blanks, and timeline.
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