A great way to unify a team is by buying unique embroidered logo polo shirts. Whether everyone wears these polos at trade shows and conferences, as uniforms, or they are given away as gifts and giveaways, having clothing with your company name and logo will not only make your company look good to current clients, but it will serve as a great advertising vehicle as well. It is important to get polos that everyone will enjoy though. There is no use spending your advertising dollars on custom clothing that no one will wear.

The first step in finding great custom polo shirts is to pick embroidered polos that everyone will feel comfortable in. Consider these ideas when you are deciding:

1. Pick kid’s promotional polo shirts in bright, fun colors.

2. Get the ladies’ attention with polos in pretty, feminine styles.

3. Give the guys what they want with basic, everyday promo polo shirts.

Action Steps for Creating Embroidered Polo Shirts
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cater to the little ones with promo polo shirts in youth sizes

Get the whole family involved in your company's marketing and stock up on some kid's embroidered polo shirts with your company name and logo on them. They will love the fun colors that these custom polos come in and you will love the exposure your company will get because of them. These make great prizes during holiday parties and picnics.

I recommend: Polosonsale.com has some great looking embroidered polos for sale on their website including this Silk Touch Pique Polo. Check out CheapesTees.com for custom polos in a rainbow of colors.

Impress the ladies and get them monogrammed polo shirts

The ladies on your team love custom polo shirts too. The polos made especially for women come in the special fits and colors that women like. Show them that you had their tastes in mind and pick up some promotional polo shirts in feminine colors and styles.

I recommend: Look no further than Epolos.com for a wide selection of embroidered polos in every style and color. Shirtwholesaler.com is your one-stop-shop for custom women’s polos.

Consider customized polo shirts for the hard-working guys on your team

Great-looking monogrammed polo shirts are the type of shirt that guy likes. Whether they are playing a few rounds of golf on the green or going a few rounds around the conference table, embroidered polos with your name and logo on them will show your current and prospective customers that your company has every little detail covered.

I recommend: Namifiers has many years of experience in creating beautiful, custom polos for your team members. Visit Buy Golf Shirts for a great selection of today’s latest styles of custom embroidered polos.

Tips & Tactics for Selecting Embroidered Polos

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure you are making the most of embroidered polos by stocking up on more than one style for the whole family. You never know when a special event might crop up that calls for even the little ones to sport your company name and logo with pride.

With the trend to a more casual workplace spreading from Fridays to nearly every day of the work week in many parts of the country, the importance of the polo shirt as a stock wardrobe item for both men and women has grown too. This presents a great opportunity for business owners to spread their corporate message.

Not only do good quality embroidered polo shirts make fine corporate uniforms in almost every industry from restaurants to banking, they are also excellent client gifts and corporate giveaways that will carry your message far beyond your home base. The key is to select shirts in popular colors and quality fabrics and to design a logo that is colorful, sharp, crisp and at-a-glance legible.

To create a custom polo shirt that everyone wants to wear, you should:

1. Align with a top-notch promotions company.
2. Select popular (but not too trendy) colors.
3. Choose styles and fabrics that work with the seasons.
4. Make sure your logo art meets production requirements.
5. Go for a higher embroidery stitch-count to ensure durability.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Go to the pros for your embroidered polo shirts

There are plenty of companies out there that will sell you embroidered polos, but the key is finding a company that will deliver a quality product on time, on budget and with top-notch customer service.

I recommend: Several members of the Promotional Products Association International are certified as a Master Advertising Specialist (MAS) or Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS). Look for 2006 MAS and CAS designees here. For a directory of companies that can help you create promotional polo shirts, visit Business.com.

Make your custom polo shirts a popular standout

If you want your shirts to be worn (and why wouldn’t you?) choose a fabric color that will get attention in a positive way, portray an image of professionalism, and hold up well after several launderings. Make sure that the color of your embroidered logo works well with the shirt color you select too.

I recommend: Check out the wide variety of business embroidered polo shirts available from Custom Ink, Berda, Superior Promos, SweetPromos, L.L. Bean and Uber Prints. Find more corporate apparel suppliers at Business.com. If you already have a logo in specific Pantone (or PMS) colors, be sure you make this known when ordering. (This is also a handy reference chart if you are color-challenged).

Choose quality embroidered polo shirts

Because you want your custom polos to positively reflect your company’s image, aim for quality fabric and shirt construction whenever possible. Essentials to look for: a heavier weight, top-stitched seams and blended fabrics (for better color retention and easier care).

I recommend: Review this glossary of fabric terms for custom apparel from Ace-Companyshirts.com, which offers a wide variety of custom embroidered polo shirts. The vendor also offers a sizing chart to help you choose the best sizes.

Know what your logo will look like on an embroidered polo shirt

The logo that works just fine on your letterhead and business cards will probably look different as an embroidered logo on your polo shirt, because embroidered logos are three-dimensional. Make sure you know in advance what your logo will look like, and whether adjustments to the artwork are necessary. Ask too about extra charges if your logo design requires more than a specified number of stitches.

I recommend: Custom Ink will look over your artwork and suggest alterations to adapt it to embroidery. L.L. Bean will send you a sample of your embroidered logo for approval before you purchase. The Queensboro Shirt Company offers a Free Logo Evaluation to confirm that your logo qualifies for their no-set-up-charge conversion of your standard logo to an embroidered logo. For more custom shirt suppliers, visit Business.com.

Design a polo shirt online

It’s easy to design custom polos online. All you have to do is choose a shirt, add text and add a logo if desired. Some suppliers even offer free embroidered stock logos you can use.

I recommend: Check out the design features offered by DesignAShirt, LogoSoftWear (you can upload your own logo), Customized Embroidery, and Uber Prints.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You might have to agree to some changes to the look of your two-dimensional logo for it to work as an embroidered logo.
• •  Letter sizes on an embroidered logo are determined by thread and needle thickness. Very small lettering will probably have to be made larger in order to successfully convert to an embroidered logo.
• •  An extremely complex logo requiring tens of thousands of stitches might be too heavy for the shirt fabric. Larger more complex embroidered logos take time too, adding to the overall cost.

Using embroidered polos for promoting your company at trade shows, conferences or even company events is a great way to use your advertising funds. Everyone loves polo shirts. This means that whoever is lucky enough to get one of your custom polos will be sure to wear them all of the time. This translates into advertising for your company long after you make the initial purchase investment.

It is important to know ahead of time the type of logo embroidered polos you want to hand out. Consider these ideas when making your decision:

1. Take advantage of the versatility of long-sleeved monogrammed polo shirts.

2. Increase your purchase power with these everyday custom polos.

3. Impress the fashion conscience with striped polo shirts in today’s hottest styles.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get year-round exposure with long-sleeved promo polo shirts

Advertise all year round with stylish long-sleeved monogrammed polo shirts. Not only will these custom shirts be a hit during the colder months of the year, but they will also be perfect for those 'casual Fridays,' where a short-sleeved shirt sometimes isn't appropriate. The good news is that these long-sleeved custom polo shirts cost just about the same as their short-sleeved counterpart, so they won't break the bank any more than the 'typical' polo.

I recommend: The prices for these Polo shirts by All Star Logo range from around $30.00 for 12 to 23 pieces down to $18.00 for quantities of 576 or more. Minimum order is 12 shirts. Corporate Casuals has this long-sleeved polo for prices that range from $15.00 for quantities of 100 or more up to $24.00 for quantities of 1 to 11. There is no minimum purchase required.

Enjoy more bang for your buck with short-sleeved embroidered polos in solid colors

These embroidered polo shirts are the everyday shirt. These shirts tend to look good on everyone, so employees or clients who receive these promotional polo shirts are sure to wear them all of the time -- advertising your company and products every step of the way. Because this type of shirt is so common, they tend to have a wider range of prices and styles available, ensuring that there is an embroidered polo shirt for every budget. This is a great shirt to stock up on.

I recommend: Crooked Brook has this Cotton Pique Knit Polo ranges in price from around $13.00 up to $18.00 depending on the size and quantity. The Queensboro Shirt Company has a large selection of embroidered polo shirts to choose from in prices ranging from about $60.00 down to $8.00. There is a minimum quantity of 4 shirts on every order.

Stand out of the crowd in striped embroidered logo polo shirts

One of the newest styles to hit the mainstream are striped monogrammed polo shirts. These custom shirts come in many colors and styles and will please even the most stylish dresser. Striped, customized polo shirts are less common so they cost a little bit more than your average, run-of-the-mill solid color polo. The extra cost is worth it though; your company name and logo is sure to get the attention it deserves.

I recommend: This striped polo from the Corporate Shirts Direct website ranges in price from $39.00 per shirt for quantities of 50 to 99 of the same style to $38.00 for quantities of 100 or more of the same style. Prices for this striped polo on the Aviva Design website range from $40.00 for quantities of 145 or more up to $45.00 for quantities of 13 or more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking into the pricing and costs of embroidered polos, check to see if getting more than one type and style will fit into your budget. That is an easy way to quickly refresh your company's image.

Polo shirts embroidered with a business logo can be a great move for your business. With a classic style and utilitarian quality, a polo shirt can be a great way to instill company pride and advertise at the same time. Whether buying polos for an employee uniform, promotional handout, or gift for favorite customers or valuable employees, knowing the essential embroidered polo key terms will get you the biggest bang for your buck that recipients of the polo will be proud to wear.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pantone Matching System

The Pantone Matching System, otherwise referred to simply as the abbreviation PMS, is the commonly accepted color matching system that is the industry standard in apparel and embroidery.

I recommend: See a complete Pantone Matching System guide at LogoSportswear.com.

Embroidery stitch count

Embroidery stitch count refers to the quantity of thread stitches required to embroider a logo; intricate designs, multiple colors, logo size and curved lines versus straight lines all will increase thread count.

I recommend: See photo examples of embroidered logos with various embroidery stitch counts at TradeshowExhibitor.com.

Fabric weight

Fabric weight refers to the density or amount of fibers woven in a square yard or meter of fabric, and in regards to polos, the heavier the fabric weight the better quality. Fabric weight might be referred to as light, medium, heavy, top, bottom, suiting or coating weight.

I recommend: Learn more about fabrics weight, how it is determined and what it means at Fashiondex.com.

Top stitch seams

Top stitching is a common way of finishing edges of cotton knit fabrics like those used for polos to make edges more durable and quality, done by stitching a seam then repeating the stitch about 1/4 inch below it.

I recommend: See an example of top-stitching along the collar, shoulder seams and center front of the shirt at BurdaStyle.com.

50/50

A 50/50 polo means that the fabric of which the polo is made is blended fabric of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, which will minimize fading, misshaping and wrinkles.

I recommend: See an example of what a 50/50 blended polo looks like at Branders.com.

Cotton pique

Cotton pique is a medium weight type of cotton fabric used commonly for quality-made polos that has a unique weave that results in geometric shapes like squares and rectangles.

I recommend: Read more about cotton pique fabric and its advantages at PrintTShirtUSA.