FAQ's

  • Our standard turnaround time is 7–10 working days from proof sign-off and payment for custom screen printing, embroidery, and heat transfer orders.

    If you need your merch faster, we offer a rush service on selected in-stock items, including black and white AS Colour Staple and Maple tees, Print Room tote bags, and tea towels. With this option, your order can be ready in as little as 3 working days.

    For offshore or fully custom made-to-order products such as headwear, socks, or uniforms, lead times are longer—typically 4–6 weeks by air freight or 7–10 weeks by sea freight. Your account manager will confirm exact timings when you place an enquiry.

    We deliver across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and throughout New Zealand and Australia, so you can count on reliable turnaround times no matter where you’re based. If you have a specific deadline, let us know and we’ll recommend the best option to make it happen.

  • In most cases, we don’t accept customer-supplied garments for screen printing, embroidery, or heat press decoration. This policy helps us maintain consistent quality and avoid production risks.

    Why we recommend ordering garments through us:

    • Better pricing – We work directly with trusted New Zealand and international suppliers and can often source the same brands at lower rates, passing those savings on to you.
    • Peace of mind – Occasionally, garments are damaged during production. If we supply them, we can replace items quickly at our cost, rather than you having to source replacements.
    • Quality assurance – Every garment we supply is tested to ensure prints wash well, embroidery sits correctly, and heat transfers adhere properly. With customer-supplied garments, we can’t guarantee results or durability.

    What this means for you:

    By sourcing through us, you’ll have access to a wide range of reliable brands across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia. You’ll also benefit from:

    • Confidence that your custom merch will meet our quality standards
    • Fewer risks, faster turnaround times, and better overall value

    If there’s a specific brand or garment you’d like decorated, let us know. In many cases we can source it directly from our suppliers, ensuring the best result for your project.

  • Our minimum order quantities (MOQs) vary depending on the decoration method:

    • Screen printing – 24 garments (e.g. T-shirts or hoodies), 50 tote bags, or 100 tea towels.
    • Embroidery – 12 units for outerwear like jackets, and 24 units for T-shirts, polos, caps, and other apparel.
    • Heat transfers – 24 garments or 50 tote bags.

    For bespoke or offshore-made products (like custom headwear, socks, or tea towels), MOQs usually start from 50–100 units, with lead times of 4–6 weeks (air freight) or 8–10 weeks (sea freight).

  • The maximum decoration size depends on the method you choose. Here are our in-house limits:

    Screen printing

    • Standard print: 340mm wide x 400mm high
    • Oversized print: 340mm wide x 470mm high
    • Tote bags and kids’ garments: 300mm wide x 300mm high
    • Sleeves and pant legs: 85mm wide x 470mm high

    Embroidery and appliqué

    • Garments: 240mm wide x 300mm high
    • Socks: 45mm wide x 45mm high
    • Caps (front): 160mm wide x 70mm high
    • Caps (side): 60mm wide x 30mm high

    Heat press transfers (DTF and Supacolour)

    • Maximum size: 360mm wide x 470mm high

    These limits cover almost every project we produce in-house at our Dunedin facility, from large screen-printed hoodies to detailed embroidered caps. If you’re unsure which decoration method is best for your artwork, garment, or budget, our team can advise you.

  • Free Shipping on all orders within New Zealand when sent to a single address!

  • The number of colours you can use depends on the decoration method:

    Screen printing

    • We can print up to 10 colours on light or dark garments using our premium water-based inks.
    • The more colours in your design, the higher the setup cost, which increases the price per unit.
    • Want gradients, fades, or shading? We can create these effects using halftones, which reduce the number of colours needed while still achieving depth and detail.

    Embroidery

    • Our Tajima embroidery machines can stitch up to 12 thread colours in a single design.
    • Unlike screen printing, the number of colours doesn’t affect price — embroidery costs are based on the stitch count (larger or more detailed designs cost more).
    • We stock a wide range of Madeira thread colours, allowing us to match closely to your brand colours and keep consistency across repeat orders.

    Heat press transfers (Supacolour and DTF)

    • Both methods allow full-colour printing with no limits.
    • Pricing is based on the size of the design rather than the number of colours, making them ideal for detailed or multi-colour artwork.

    We provide colour-matched screen printing, embroidery, and heat press solutions for businesses and events across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia. Whether you need a bold one-colour print, a premium 12-colour embroidery, or a vibrant full-colour transfer, our team can recommend the best method for your project.

    For a comparison table, click here.

  • For the best results with custom screen printing, embroidery, and heat transfers, we recommend supplying your artwork in a vector file format such as AI, EPS, or PDF with editable outlines. Vector files ensure your design prints sharp and clean at any size.

    We also accept high-resolution Photoshop files (minimum 300 DPI at print size or larger), ideally with separated layers for easy setup.

    For embroidery, we can usually work from most file types (JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc.), but a vector file will still give the cleanest finish.

    If you’re unsure what type of file you have, just send it through and we’ll check it for you. If it’s not production-ready, our design team can redraw your artwork for $30–$100 + GST. Once redrawn, you’ll own the file and can use it for future orders with us or anywhere else.

  • For bespoke or made-to-order products (such as custom headwear, tote bags, socks, or offshore-manufactured items), we can provide a physical pre-production sample or a detailed photo for your approval before bulk production begins.

    For local screen printing, embroidery, or heat transfer orders, we don’t usually produce physical pre-production samples because of the high setup costs and production time required. Instead, we supply:

    • A digital proof/mockup for you to approve before printing.
    • For orders over 100 units, we can send a pre-production photo during the production run for your sign-off.
    • For embroidery, we can also provide a sample stitch-out photo so you can see the quality and colours before full production.

    We work with clients across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia, so no matter where you’re based, we’ll ensure you’re confident in your design before we go ahead with the full order. If you’d like to discuss sample options for your job, get in touch and we’ll recommend the best approach.

  • Screen printing
    Each color in your artwork requires a separate silk screen. Our pricing includes the screen setup fee in the per-unit cost, so there's no separate charge. Screens remain the property of The Print Room.

    Embroidery
    The quality of embroidery depends on digitising, which converts your artwork into a stitch-ready file. The setup fee is a one-time cost, and your file can be reused indefinitely—though edits may incur a small fee. Digitised files remain the property of The Print Room.

    Supacolour
    Our pricing includes the setup fee in the per-unit cost.

  • We’re proud to offer some of the most environmentally responsible decoration options in New Zealand.

    • Screen printing – We use MagnaColours water-based inks instead of standard plastisol inks, which means softer prints, no harsh chemicals, and a much lower environmental impact.
    • Heat transfers – Our transfer methods, including Supacolour and DTF, are produced using water-based inks for a more eco-friendly finish.
    • Garment choices – We supply a wide range of GOTS-certified organic cotton and ethically produced apparel, alongside sustainable fabrics like hemp and recycled blends.

    We service clients across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia, helping businesses, schools, and organisations create custom merchandise that looks great and aligns with their sustainability values. If eco-friendly printing is a priority for your brand, let us know—we’ll guide you to the best responsible options for your project.

  • We colour match using the Pantone Solid Coated system, which gives the most consistent results across our printing and embroidery processes. If you don’t know your Pantone references, our team can colour match your artwork as closely as possible.

    Here’s how colour matching works for each decoration method:

    • Screen printing – We use a MagnaColours mixing system to achieve accurate Pantone Coated matches. Every mix is checked under specialist lighting to ensure consistency. We can also create specialty inks such as metallics, fluorescents, and puff effects.
    • Embroidery – Threads are matched using the Madeira embroidery thread system, aligned as closely as possible to your Pantone Coated references. We keep your thread colours on file for repeat orders, and can provide a photo or sew-out sample for approval against your brand guidelines.
    • Heat press transfers –

      • Supacolour transfers use Pantone Coated references for close colour matching.

      • DTF (Direct-to-Film) transfers are printed in CMYK, so slight variation from Pantone Coated colours may occur.

    Important: We only match to Pantone Coated, not Pantone Uncoated, as the two systems look different. Please supply Pantone Coated references for the most accurate results.

  • Yes, absolutely! We have access to thousands of retail and wholesale products, but only showcase a small selection on our website to keep things simple. From high-end retail brands to specialist wholesale garments, we can source what you need. Plus, we buy at wholesale rates and pass the savings on to you!

  • The right decoration method depends on your design, garment choice, and how the item will be used. Here’s a quick guide:

    • Screen printing – Best for larger runs and bold designs on T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and tea towels. Great for bigger print areas and solid colours. Specialty inks (like puff, metallic, and high-density) can create unique effects. Pricing is based on the number of colours in your artwork.
    • Embroidery – Ideal for a premium, long-lasting finish on caps, polos, jackets, and outerwear. We can embroider up to 12 thread colours. Pricing is based on the number of stitches, so larger or more detailed designs cost more. Puff embroidery can also add extra dimension.
    • Heat press transfers – Perfect for sharp detail, gradients, full colour, and fast turnaround. Options like Supacolour and DTF work especially well for technical fabrics and activewear. Pricing is based on the size of the print (100mm x 100mm, A5, A4, A3).

    We help businesses, schools, events, and brands across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia choose the right method every day. If you’re unsure which decoration type will give you the best result, send us your design and garment choice and we’ll recommend the most cost-effective and high-quality option.

    You can also compare methods in our decoration comparison table.

  • Yes. In many cases you can apply the same design to different garment types and colours while still benefiting from volume pricing. Here’s how it works:

    When it’s possible to combine garments into one run:

    • The decoration method is the same (all screen print, all embroidery, or all heat press).
    • The placement is the same (e.g. all left chest, sleeve, or centre back).
    • The garment type is similar, such as adult tops (T-shirts, hoodies, crews, singlets).

    When it’s not possible:

    • The decoration method changes (e.g. screen print vs embroidery).
    • The placement changes (front chest vs sleeve).
    • The garment type changes significantly, such as adult tees vs kids’ tees (if the design doesn’t resize well), or T-shirts vs jackets.

    Example:

    If you have a large 2-colour screen print for the front of crew neck sweaters and T-shirts, you could order 25 T-shirts and 25 crew neck sweaters and qualify for the 50–99 unit price tier.

    Considerations:

    • Hoodies have a print height limitation (max 250mm) on the front due to the kangaroo pocket.
    • You can choose multiple garment colours under the same rules. Up to 6 colour/garment variants are included in your order. Additional variants incur a $15 per variant surcharge for handling. For example, you could have 3 T-shirt colours and 3 hoodie colours, or 6 hoodie colours.

  • Looking after your custom apparel properly will keep it looking sharp for longer. Whether your garments are decorated with screen printing, embroidery, or heat press transfers, following these care instructions will protect the fabric and design.

    General care (all garment types):

    • Wash cold, inside out, on a gentle cycle.
    • Use mild detergent and avoid bleach or harsh stain removers.
    • Air dry where possible; if tumble drying, choose a low heat setting.
    • Never iron directly on prints, embroidery, or transfers.

    Screen printed garments

    Our water-based screen prints, produced in our Dunedin facility, are soft and breathable. To get the best life from them:

    • Avoid bleach and heavy stain removers.
    • Wash with similar colours to prevent transfer.
    • Prints may soften slightly over time — this is normal with water-based inks.

    Embroidered garments

    Embroidery is hard-wearing but benefits from extra care:

    • Turn items inside out before washing.
    • Limit washing of heavy embroidered garments (caps, jackets) where possible.
    • If a thread lifts, trim gently with scissors rather than pulling.

    Heat transfer garments (Supacolour, DTF, vinyl)

    Heat press decorations are strong and detailed, but heat-sensitive:

    • Wash cold and inside out to prevent peeling or cracking.
    • Avoid high heat in the dryer; air dry or use low tumble.
    • Don’t iron directly on the transfer — use a pressing cloth if ironing is needed.

    Why this matters

    By following these steps, your screen printed T-shirts, embroidered jackets, or heat transfer hoodies will look better for longer, keeping your brand consistent and reducing the need for replacements — good for your budget and better for the planet.

  • Yes. You can swap colours within the same design across screen printing, embroidery, and heat transfers, which is a great way to add variety while keeping your brand identity consistent. For example, you could order 50 custom printed T-shirts with the same design — 25 printed white on black tees and 25 printed black on white tees.

    Here’s how it works by decoration method:

    • Screen printing – Ink colours can be changed between garment runs. A small fee applies for each colour change.
    • Embroidery – Thread colours can be changed, and we don’t charge for simple black/white swaps. More complex colour changes incur a small setup fee.
    • Heat transfers –

      • Supacolour transfers cannot be altered once printed. Any change requires a new setup.

      • DTF and vinyl transfers can be colour-adjusted at the print stage, depending on your artwork.

    Important to know:

    • Colour swaps only apply when the design itself stays the same.
    • If artwork details are altered (e.g. changing elements in an illustration), this counts as a new design and is charged separately.

      See a table with more information here.

  • Yes. We offer volume discounts on bulk orders — the more you order, the lower the price per unit. This is because setup and production costs are spread across more garments, and we pass those savings directly on to you.

    Whether you’re after custom screen printed T-shirts, embroidered uniforms, tote bags, or heat-pressed merch, bulk ordering is the most cost-effective way to get high-quality branded apparel.

    Our standard price tiers:

    • 12–23 units (embroidery on outerwear only)
    • 24–49 units (minimum 50 for tote bags and tea towels)
    • 50–99 units
    • 100–249 units
    • 250–499 units
    • 500–999 units
    • 1000–2499 units
    • 2500+ units

    Important details:

    • Discounts apply per design. If your design changes, the volume tier resets.
    • You can mix garment styles and colours within the same design to reach higher price breaks.

      Example: 60 hoodies + 40 matching T-shirts with the same print = 100+ unit price tier.

  • We take quality seriously and every order leaves our Dunedin production facility only after being carefully checked. However, in custom screen printing, embroidery, and heat press work, issues can occasionally occur. If that happens, here’s how we handle it:

    What to do if something’s not right

    • Contact your account manager within 7 working days of receiving your order.
    • Send us clear photos or a detailed description of the issue so we can assess it quickly.
    • If needed, we’ll arrange a courier collection so the products can be returned to us for inspection.

    How we resolve issues

    • If the garments are still usable, we may offer a partial refund or discount — this helps reduce waste and keeps products out of landfill.
    • If the order cannot be used, we’ll replace it at no additional cost.
    • Every issue is reviewed internally so we can improve processes and prevent repeat problems.

  • Yes, we can apply the same design to both kids’ and adults’ garments so your branding, event merch, or family T-shirts stay consistent. As long as the artwork size, placement, and colours remain the same, we can combine both into a single order.

    Key considerations:

    • Decoration size – The artwork needs to scale well across both adults’ and kids’ garments.
    • Screen printing setup – Our machines are fitted with adult platens, so the smallest size we can screen print is a kids’ size 8.
    • Fit and proportion – We’ll double-check that your design looks balanced on smaller garments compared to larger adult sizes.

    Options for smaller sizes:

    For garments under size 8, we recommend embroidery or heat press transfers. These decoration methods work well across a wider size range and maintain quality on smaller garments.

  • Q: When do I have to pay for my order?

    Payment terms depend on the type of order and your account status with us:

    • New customers (not on account) – We require 100% payment upfront once your proof is approved, before we begin production.
    • Custom or made-to-order products (bespoke merch) – A 50% deposit is required to start production, with the remaining 50% due on delivery.
    • Approved account customers – We offer credit terms of payment on the 20th of the month following. If you’d like to apply for an account, click here.

    These terms help us keep production running smoothly and ensure your order is delivered on time. We work with clients across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia, and our team will confirm the exact payment requirements for your order when you receive your quote.

  • We make ordering custom merch simple and flexible, with options to suit schools, charities, businesses, and events across Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Australia. Here are the three main ways you can place an order with us:

    1. Pre-order store (best for fundraisers, schools, clubs, and events)

    • No upfront costs — you don’t need to pre-purchase stock.
    • No leftover merch — we only produce what’s ordered.
    • We create an online store with your approved products, and you share the link.
    • Supporters choose their size, colour, and personalisation (like names or initials) and order directly online.
    • Once the store closes (usually after 2 weeks), we produce and ship orders either individually or in bulk.
    • Perfect for fundraisers, school leavers’ gear, sports clubs, events, and charities. We can also add a donation feature.

    2. Spreadsheet orders (best for one-off group orders)

    • We set up a formatted Google Sheet for you.
    • You share it with your group, team, or staff to fill in their details.
    • Once it’s complete, we create proofs, confirm your order, and send your invoice.
    • Works well for businesses, schools, small groups, and sports teams who want a simple, centralised way to collect orders.

    3. myPR ordering portal (best for ongoing uniforms and repeat merch orders)

    • Our custom-built online portal designed for corporates, franchises, and SMEs.
    • We can pre-print and hold stock so your team can order on demand, or set up a custom catalogue for bulk orders.
    • Your dashboard gives you live order tracking, order history, and visibility across multiple delivery locations.
    • This is the most streamlined option if you want less admin and more control over company merchandise.

    Which method is right for you?

    • Fundraising, leavers’ gear, or events → Pre-order store
    • One-off group order → Spreadsheet
    • Ongoing uniforms or repeat merch → myPR portal

  • Print Room’s production facility is located in Ōtepoti, Dunedin, where our in-house team manages all screen printing, embroidery, and heat transfer decoration. While we’re proudly Dunedin-owned, we supply custom merchandise to clients right across New Zealand and Australia.

    We offer free nationwide shipping on orders, with a standard turnaround of 7–10 working days from proof approval and payment. If you need your order sooner, a rush service is available on selected in-stock items.

    Whether you’re in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, or anywhere in between, we can deliver high-quality custom T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and uniforms directly to your door — on time and to the highest standard.

  • Yes. All of our decoration is carried out in-house at our Dunedin production facility, giving us full control over quality, turnaround, and consistency. This means you can trust every order — whether it’s screen printing, embroidery, or heat transfers — to meet the highest standard.

    Screen printing

    • Award-winning water-based screen printing with a soft, sustainable finish.
    • Winners of more than 24 gold medals at the national Pride in Print Awards.
    • Two automated carousels capable of producing up to 5,000 impressions per day, making us one of New Zealand’s most capable print shops.

    Embroidery

    • Three Tajima machines with 20 embroidery heads for precision stitching.
    • Suitable for everything from small runs to large-scale corporate or uniform orders.
    • Full colour accuracy, including up to 12 thread colours per design.

    Heat press transfers

    • Six professional heat press machines.
    • Specialists in Supacolour and Direct-to-Film (DTF) transfers, perfect for vibrant, full-colour decoration.
    • Flexibility to decorate garments, caps, tote bags, and even custom neck tags.

    Finishing services

    • In-house relabelling, custom woven pips, embroidered patches, woven patches, and chenille patches.
    • Adds a retail-ready, premium finish to your merchandise.

    Laser engraving

    • Custom engraving on drink bottles, coffee cups, pens, and wooden products.
    • Expands your branding options beyond garments.

    By keeping everything under one roof, we ensure faster turnaround times and tighter quality control for clients. From start to finish, your merch is produced and finished in-house by our expert team.

  • We supply and decorate a wide range of trusted apparel and merchandise brands available in New Zealand and internationally. From everyday basics through to premium activewear, durable workwear, uniforms, headwear, and eco-friendly apparel, we can source the right blanks to suit your project and budget.

    Popular brands we supply:

    • AS Colour – premium blanks ideal for screen printing and embroidery.
    • Cloke – high-quality fleece and outerwear.
    • Stanley/Stella – sustainable organic cotton apparel.
    • Earth Positive – eco-friendly garments made with renewable energy.
    • Gildan – reliable basics for large-volume orders.
    • Uflex – quality headwear for branding.
    • Richardson – premium caps.
    • Biz Collection – corporate and team uniforms.
    • Syzmik – workwear built for NZ conditions.
    • Bisley – professional uniforms and industrial wear.
    • Rab – technical outdoor gear.
    • Under Armour – performance activewear.
    • Swanndri – iconic New Zealand outdoor wear.
    • Stoney Creek – rural and hunting apparel.
    • Flexfit – classic fitted and snapback caps.

    If you’re not sure which brand is the best fit for your design or budget, our team can provide guidance and samples to help you choose with confidence.

We hope you found the answer to your question. If not, our team is here to help!

Speak to one of the team