Another year of Google Doodle shirts has come and gone. The talent out there is incredible and its hard to imagine young kids creating these images by hand. I get to see artwork created each and every day here, but it takes a lot of imagination and talent to create these doodles. I'll have to save some of these names for future use here at Graphic Sportswear.
It was quite a couple of weeks for this project. Let's see, it's starts off with 5,000 shirts with the Doodle logo being shipped to 40 different schools within 2 days, followed by 40 individual shirts with 40 different images being overnighted to each winner. Sounds easy enough as I type it out, but a lot preparation and work go into a project like that on a short time table. I give a lot of credit to a supportive staff here.
When you flick on the TV and see one of your shirts on the Today Show, it becomes all the thanks you need. Congratulations to our local winner, Matteo Lopez with his doodle being featured on Google's home page today.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Rainy days and T-Shirts
I don't know about the rest of you living in the Bay Area, but I'm SICK of the rain. Need to get out, need some sun to re-energize. A little sun seems to improve everyone's mood and makes like easier for all of us. The rain presents a challenge for us working folks trying to make deliveries and load up trucks.
We just got through one of our larger, singular orders (at least ones with a very short production window). A JC Penney order for 90,000 t-shirts of assorted classic rock t's. The list of bands include Metallica, Led Zepplin, Gun N Roses, Pantera, Disturbed and a couple of other bands I never heard of. A lot goes into each of these orders. Starts with design work, band approval, art separation, film output, screen shooting, sampling, band approval and then you're ready to begin the real work of printing and processing. After each shirt is printed and cured, they need to be individually folded, size stickered, hang tagged and put in an individual plastic bag. Not done yet, the shirts then need to be separated out to individual stores and separated by distribution centers. As we're ready to load up a couple of semi's with 50 pallets of shirts, along come the pouring rains and of course our we have no indoor loading docks! It amazes me that we can get this done in a few weeks. Of course I shouldn't be too amazed after seeing us print up 30K World Series Champ shirts overnight, including stickering and distributing.
Speaking of the Giants, spring training went extremely well. Opening Day shirts look very good and is going to be a must buy for those of you attending the game. They'll only be available at the park.
Right now I've been avoiding the rain and staying indoors writing up this blog, but it's time to go out and visit some customers. Until I write again, stay dry!
We just got through one of our larger, singular orders (at least ones with a very short production window). A JC Penney order for 90,000 t-shirts of assorted classic rock t's. The list of bands include Metallica, Led Zepplin, Gun N Roses, Pantera, Disturbed and a couple of other bands I never heard of. A lot goes into each of these orders. Starts with design work, band approval, art separation, film output, screen shooting, sampling, band approval and then you're ready to begin the real work of printing and processing. After each shirt is printed and cured, they need to be individually folded, size stickered, hang tagged and put in an individual plastic bag. Not done yet, the shirts then need to be separated out to individual stores and separated by distribution centers. As we're ready to load up a couple of semi's with 50 pallets of shirts, along come the pouring rains and of course our we have no indoor loading docks! It amazes me that we can get this done in a few weeks. Of course I shouldn't be too amazed after seeing us print up 30K World Series Champ shirts overnight, including stickering and distributing.
Speaking of the Giants, spring training went extremely well. Opening Day shirts look very good and is going to be a must buy for those of you attending the game. They'll only be available at the park.
Right now I've been avoiding the rain and staying indoors writing up this blog, but it's time to go out and visit some customers. Until I write again, stay dry!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Business in February
February is typically the slowest month in this industry and this year is no exception, although we're coming off our best January ever in 32 years which makes it feel slower than it really is.
Right now its still Justin Bieber, all day, every day. From tour shirts to Christmas stock and now movie shirts. Unbelievable! We printed close to 1 million shirts last year with his image on it. Luckily Spring Training is starting up and I'll get to stare at lizards and scorpions instead. This month we've had our typical share of Google, Zynga, Twitter, Metallica and Thrasher to keep us going. Printed a few different 'hardwood classics' shirts for the Warriors, featuring their one and only championship logo.
March is the month where thinks start picking up beginning with the World Champion (never get tired of saying that) Giants' merchandise. Look for new championship apparel to come out for opening day in the Dugout Stores and at the stadium. Working now on a very cool, must have Opening Day shirt featuring the WS trophy. I love baseball season!
Trying to build a good following, feel free to share with your friends this blog :)
Right now its still Justin Bieber, all day, every day. From tour shirts to Christmas stock and now movie shirts. Unbelievable! We printed close to 1 million shirts last year with his image on it. Luckily Spring Training is starting up and I'll get to stare at lizards and scorpions instead. This month we've had our typical share of Google, Zynga, Twitter, Metallica and Thrasher to keep us going. Printed a few different 'hardwood classics' shirts for the Warriors, featuring their one and only championship logo.
March is the month where thinks start picking up beginning with the World Champion (never get tired of saying that) Giants' merchandise. Look for new championship apparel to come out for opening day in the Dugout Stores and at the stadium. Working now on a very cool, must have Opening Day shirt featuring the WS trophy. I love baseball season!
Trying to build a good following, feel free to share with your friends this blog :)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Introduction to Blogger & Google
As a long time apparel provider for Google, I figured its time to start using some of their great technology. I'm new at blogging, but Blogger seems to be easy to use and I'm forever loyal to Google.
We started printing t-shirts and embroidering polos for Google back in 1999. When we first started with them they had a total of 24 employees in their Bayshore Parkway building in MTV. Their very first order was for 10,000 boxer shorts with their infamous tagline "I'm Feeling Lucky", which was fitting for a pair of boxer shorts. I had found their name in a list of upcoming Bay Area companies and decided to give them a call. Wouldn't have thought they'd be where they are today. 12 years later our relationship is as strong as ever.
Tomorrow we have KTVU coming by to do a story on us, looking forward to it.
We started printing t-shirts and embroidering polos for Google back in 1999. When we first started with them they had a total of 24 employees in their Bayshore Parkway building in MTV. Their very first order was for 10,000 boxer shorts with their infamous tagline "I'm Feeling Lucky", which was fitting for a pair of boxer shorts. I had found their name in a list of upcoming Bay Area companies and decided to give them a call. Wouldn't have thought they'd be where they are today. 12 years later our relationship is as strong as ever.
Tomorrow we have KTVU coming by to do a story on us, looking forward to it.
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