Edition Three: Everything you need to start a decorated apparel business with tees and polos

Ralawise • 12 March 2026

It’s true! Every big business started small. Most successful clothing decorators didn’t start with a warehouse, didn’t start with a fleet of machines and didn’t start with a team of twenty.

The ‘start’ may be as simple as a single heat press on a kitchen table. A box of blank tees. A client who needed something printed. And the ambition to figure it out.

At Ralawise, we know this better than anyone. It’s our story.

Joint CEOs Jon and Jeff Batson started this very business as t-shirt printers, working from their family kitchen. That was back in the 1980s. Today, we’re 500+ people strong and the UK’s leading blank apparel distributor.

So if you’re thinking about launching a decoration business – or you’ve just taken your first steps – here are two words of advice.

Tees.

Polos.

Your perfect launch pad. The ideal place to begin.

Tees and polos: your perfect launch pad for a decoration business

Tees and polos are the best starting point for new decorated apparel businesses because they’re forgiving, accessible and forever in demand.

Who needs tees and polos? – target markets and customers

Everyone wants tees and polos. Schools, sports clubs, local businesses, bands, events, charities, hen parties, stag dos, family reunions. You name it, the list is never-ending.

Why tees and polos are easiest for new decorators to master

Tees and polos are the easiest garments to decorate. Flat surfaces. Predictable fabrics. Straightforward positioning. You can use tees and polos to learn the fundamentals, without having to worry about seams, zips or tricky technical fabrics getting in the way.

Master these first – then everything else becomes easier.

What you need to get started: essential tools and equipment

You don’t need a factory. You don’t even need a dedicated workspace (a kitchen table will do!). Here’s what you do need:

A heat press. The cornerstone of most small decoration businesses. Reliable, relatively affordable, and versatile enough to handle transfers, vinyl and DTF prints. Start with a good-quality press and you’re already up and running.
A decoration method. Choose your weapon!
- Vinyl/HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl) – cut designs from coloured vinyl, then press them onto your garments. Great for names, numbers and simple graphics. The start-up costs are low and the results immediate.
- DTF (Direct to Film) – print designs onto special film, apply powder adhesive, cure, and then heat press onto your garments for vibrant, detailed, full-colour prints. Get up and running fast with a desktop DTF printer.
- Heat transfers – ready-made or custom-printed ‘press-on’ transfers. Check out TheMagicTouch’s WoW transfers that let you produce professional results with just a heat press.
- Screen printing – the traditional method for volume work. The set-up costs and learning curve are steeper, but screen printing is unbeatable for large runs.
- Embroidery – you’ll need a dedicated embroidery machine, but the prices you can charge will be premium. Works brilliantly on polos.
Reliable blank garments. Consistent quality means fewer reprints, fewer complaints, and customers who come back again and again. When the blank performs, your decoration looks great – and your reputation grows with every job.
A supplier who truly understands your product. Your supplier matters – not just for availability and pricing, but for deep product knowledge. Someone who understands fabrics, fits and decoration; who’ll find out about your client’s needs before pointing you to a product code. A supplier who doesn’t just save you time and money, but makes you look good to your customers. A genuine partner.

Start simple, think smart

Here’s the approach that works:

Finding your first clients. It’s what you know AND who you know. Got connections to a local sports club? Start there. Know someone who runs events? Perfect. Your first clients are often closer than you think.
Pick one decoration method and master it. Don’t try to be all things to all people from the get-go. Do one thing – do it well.
Choose versatile products for maximum profitability. Quality tees like the AWDis AT001 (150gsm) or AT002 (180gsm) work for almost anything – events, workwear, merchandise, promotional giveaways. For polos, the ProRTX’s Pro polo (RX101) is a great starting point – durable, easy to rebrand and available in an extended size range. Two product ranges, endless applications.
Invest in samples. Before you pitch to clients, make sure you have decorated samples to show them. Get tactile – when people can see and touch your products… they buy.

Price for profit, not just survival. Your time has value. Your skills have value. Don’t get involved in a race to the bottom on pricing – you’ll struggle to ever climb back up.

The Ralawise advantage: expert support, resources and marketing assets

Starting out can feel overwhelming. We understand that. It’s exactly why we exist and why we do everything possible to make your life as simple and profitable as possible.

Every product on our website comes with detailed specifications – fabric composition, weight, decoration suitability, care instructions – so you have all the important product information at your fingertips.

Our Resource Hub has been specially created to share free marketing assets, so your business looks ‘A-grade professional’ from day one. We’re talking:

Professional product photography. High-resolution product shots. Lifestyle imagery. Studio photography. On-model shots. All ready to download, all ready to use in your marketing. Badge it. Put it on your website. Use it in your pitches.
Social media templates ready-made content. Professionally designed templates you can customise with your branding. Product showcases. Seasonal campaigns. Trend highlights. Just add your logo and post.
Email campaign templates. Professional emails that actually get opened. Pre-written email campaigns for different sectors and seasons. Product launches. Seasonal promotions. Trend updates. Customise the content. Add your branding.
Web banners. Graphics for your website. Seasonal banners. Product category headers. Promo graphics. All professionally designed, all ready to upload. Make your website look as good as your service.

Essential Edit is our classy, printed brochure that includes striking visuals, colour groupings and styled combinations – your sales edge in every meeting.

Want a simple, effective way to sell online? YourWebShop.com lets you launch a professionally branded online store pre-populated with thousands of Ralawise products and real-time stock levels. Easy life.

Be sure to also check out Visionnaire – our window on the world of emerging trends. We’ve looked ahead, studied what’s emerging, understood what real people actually want to wear – the ultimate future-facing product guide.

And remember, you can always talk to us in person. As genuine product experts, our team is skilled, experienced and massively invested in helping you make the right choices.

Everything you need to help grow a successful and profitable business.

Your next steps: how to grow your tee and polo business

Take a look at tees and polos – the original apparel classics – to understand why they’re the foundation of this industry.

Explore tees and polos – let Ralawise guide your way to see how we can help you navigate the overwhelming array of choices to build confidence.

Check out Understanding Fabrics to learn which fabrics work best for different decoration methods.

Then pick up the phone, send us an email or pop into the showroom. Tell us what you’re trying to achieve. We’ll do our level best to help you get there.

And remember – every decorator started small. It’s true!

But the most important thing?

They started.

👉 Explore tees and polos at Ralawise