General Question Answers

Do I have to represent a company or an organization to buy from you?
No, Wick's Sports Lettering is happy to do business with customers and consumers of all types. Whether you're looking to purchase for personal use or you're a business, school, little league, church, or other organization, we have apparel options to meet your needs.

Do you sell blank garments?
Yes! Almost all of the products listed in our catalog may be purchased without having them decorated. Simply request undecorated items when placing your order with one of our sales representatives.

Is there a minimum quantity per order?
Screen Printing and Embroidery: On embroidered hats (baseball caps) we require a minimum of 12 hats per order. For screen printed goods we require a minimum of 12 pieces per order.  On Embroidered goods (excluding hats) there is no minimum order.  For blanks there are no minimums, but price breaks are extended at various quantity levels.
Promotional Products: All promotional products are subject to minimum quantities. Your salesperson can provide you with the minimum quantities for the product you are interested in.

What methods of payment are available?
We accept Cash, Check, Visa , Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Travelers Checks, and company POs (pending pre-approval) for all transactions.  In addition we also except electronic payments via Paypal. To send your payment via Paypal, please call first for payment email address.

Can I get a sample?
We recognize the importance of being able to actually see products in person. For this reason we carry a selection of our most popular styles in stock that you can examine at our retail store location in Alexandria, Virginia. Other item samples may be ordered at regular blank piece pricing. While we will work with you to provide samples to help in the decision process, please note that not all samples may be returnable. Rejected sample orders will be subject to a 25% re-stocking fee, unless they are non-returnable in which case returns will not be accepted. For Embroidery orders we will gladly prepare a sew out swatch for your review. Screen Printed samples are subject to full production charges to prepare the sample and must be custom quoted by your salesperson.

How do I order?
Orders can be placed via phone at 703-360-2224 (Toll Free: 866-263-2661), via fax at 703-360-6513, or in person at our retail store at 8766 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, VA. 22309, between the hours of 9am and 6pm, Monday - Friday, EDT. You can also submit orders or quote requests via email anytime to moreinfo@wickssports.com

How long will my order take?
In most cases, orders for blank apparel will arrive at our store in 2-5 business days. Some orders may take longer depending upon availability and shipping origination. If your order is going to be delayed, we will let you know. Screen Print and Embroidery production orders normally take 10 business days to complete. Promotional products vary in production time by product and therefore will be calculated by your salesperson at the time of order entry.

Can my order be shipped, or must I pick it up at your store?
You have the option of picking your order up at our store or having it shipped to you. Our standard shipping is via UPS Ground (1 to 6 days) delivery. Other shipping methods are available by request including, US Mail, FedEx, DHL, and other UPS shipping options. All applicable shipping charges will be added to your invoice.

What if I order the wrong size?
Sizing can be challenging on some items which is why we offer to order you samples prior to decorating your order. However, in the event you order the wrong size, Wick's can not be responsible for this mistake.  Further, Wick's is unable to accept any decorated goods back due to sizing errors as decorated goods can not be returned to our suppliers for exchange.  Wick's will gladly order additional pieces in the correct size and decorate these for you, but you will be responsible for costs associated with preparing these additional pieces.

What if I don't like my order?
We will make every effort to ensure your order is done correctly. This is why we require signatures on your order prior to production and a signature on your art proof prior to production. These signature approvals help us confirm that we have ordered your items to your specification and enable us to verify that the decoration being applied to your goods is exactly as you ordered.  In the event you are not happy with the finished product, we will work with you to identify the cause of the problem and attempt to negotiate a reasonable solution and/or settlement to the problem.  Wick's values your business and if you're not happy we're not happy.

Is Rush service available?
Yes, Wick's does offer a rush service option. Your order can be completed in 5 days or less for a 25% rush service charge on the total amount of your order. Our acceptance of your rush service request is dependent on our ability to accomodate the rush service and contingent on our ability to acquire your goods from the supplier within the rush time line. The 25% rush fee is applied to the gross total of your order for standard production. Why 25%? Because it offsets our expense to produce your order outside of our normal production hours which costs us overtime and offsets rush shipping expenses to acquire your goods.

Garment Question Answers

Banded Cuffs
A piece of single-ply material, usually ribbed, which is added to the ends of sleeves to form a cuff.

Center Line
The line is called a compactor line. When the fabric is processed at our textile facilities, it is compacted (fed through rollers). Since our garments are tubular, the sides that are folded over are pressed down when going through the compactor, causing the line. This centerline is also helpful in centering artwork. The line washes out after 1 wash.

Collarette
A crewneck collar shaped as a single piece with no vertical seam.

Combed Cotton
Raking a comb-like device over cotton fibers captures only the longest, strongest fibers, which are then spun into a very durable thread.

Flash
Flashing is necessary when screen printing a light color over dark fabric. A layer of white must be laid down first and "flashed" or dried before adding secondary colors.

Garment Washed
A process applied to a garment after manufacturing to impact a weathered, or "washed", look.

Hand
Describes the relative softness of a fabric.

Jacquard
Any number of a myriad of patterns that appear in polo shirt fabrics. Collars can have a jacquard pattern also.

Ottoman Knit
Also known as "cool knit" or "cool weave", this start-of-the-art fabric has a miniscule box-like pattern and certain wicking properties to keep moisture away from the skin.

PFD
Prepared For Dye. PFD shirts are not "bleached" to the color we know as "white". Instead, the fabric is left in it's natural state, better for absorbing dye. Also, PFD shirts are cut slightly larger to allow for shrinkage incurred during the overdye process, and will be sewn together with cotton thread.

Placket
The material at the front of a polo or golf shirt that contains buttons on one side, and button holes on the other.

Pre-shrunk
Does NOT mean "pre-washed". Instead, the term refers to a manufacturing process (called compaction) whereby the fabric is compressed before a garment is sewn from it. Cotton is a natural fiber and will shrink. However, the fabric de-compresses during washing, compensating for any natural shrinkage. The net result is very low shrinkage.

Print Platform
The outer weave of a garment which provides the platform for inks.

Reinforced Placket
Stitching in the shape of a rectangle at the bottom of a placket, for reinforcement.

Resort Cuff
Also known as a "logo cuff", describes a cuff that has a small blank space in the pattern to provide a spot for embroidering.

Ringspun Yarn (Cotton)
Ring-spun yarn is a superior cotton yarn that results in a softer, more durable fabric than open-end yarn. The time-honored process of ring spinning requires two more processing steps than open-end yarn production and ring-spun yarn takes five times longer to produce.The additional steps involve continuously twisting and narrowing the rope of cotton fibers. This continuous fiber “helix” or twist gives ring-spun yarn extra softness and strength. Soft fibers extending from helix provide softness and the fibers don’t wash away. The resulting garments feel softer initially and wash after wash. Found in more expensive tees and polos.

Ringer
A t-shirts with collar and sleeve cuffs of a different color than the body of the tee.

Single Needle
Found in better polos, a single stitch provides a more comfortable seam for the wearer.

Singles
A gauge used in fabric descriptions to denote the size of the yarn used to make the fabric. Expressed as "18/1" or "16/1", the smaller the number, the denser (generally) the fabric.

Taping
Additional pieces of fabric sewn over a finished seam, adding comfort and durability to a garment.

Welts Cuffs
Additional pieces of fabric, usually ribbed then folded and sewn to create a 2-ply cuff.