Community events — street fairs, festivals, block parties, charity walks — are a natural opportunity to sell custom shirts. Done right, it's a meaningful fundraiser and a way to give attendees something they'll actually wear. Done wrong, you end up with boxes of shirts in sizes nobody wanted. Here's how to do it right.
Pre-sell vs. sell at the event
This is the most important decision you'll make. Two models:
Pre-sell (recommended)
Open a team store 2-3 weeks before the event. Attendees order online, choose their size, pay in advance, and pick up their shirt at the event (or have it shipped). You only print what's ordered — zero inventory risk, zero unsold shirts. Read how this works in our guide on team store vs bulk order.
Sell at the event
Order a range of sizes in advance and sell from a booth. Higher per-shirt revenue potential but you're guessing on sizes and risk having leftovers. Use a standard size distribution (10% S, 20% M, 30% L, 25% XL, 15% 2XL) and order 20-30% more than your expected sales to avoid running out of popular sizes.
Pricing your shirts
Event shirts typically sell for $20-30 for a t-shirt and $35-50 for a hoodie. Buyers at community events expect to pay a premium for a custom item. Don't undercut yourself — price with confidence. Read our guide on how much you can make on a fundraiser for margin calculations.
Design for an event shirt
Community event shirts should capture the moment — include the event name, date, and location. A clean graphic or illustration that references the event theme is more memorable than a simple logo. Read our guide on how to design a great event t-shirt for design tips.
Timeline
Order event shirts at least 4-6 weeks before the event. That gives you time for artwork approval, production, and shipping — plus buffer if anything needs to be adjusted. For rush situations, ask about DTF rush production. See our guide on rush orders for what's possible.
Booth setup tips
- Display a size chart prominently — people hesitate when they can't visualize sizing
- Have sample shirts in multiple sizes to try on
- Accept cards — cash-only events lose sales
- Have a QR code linking to your team store for people who want to order later or in a different size
💡 The best community event shirt sells itself. If it looks good, people will ask where they can get one. Always have a reorder link ready — a QR code to your team store works perfectly.
Ready to order your event shirts? Call 855-TSHIRT-5 or request a quote online.