Factory & Production Timelines Overview

• Access to AthleTech (to see which factory an order is routed to)
• The live Product Pricing List
• The Rush Fee SOP

1. Factory Quick Reference

All on-demand orders route through MakeMine.

Note: A factory-exclusive product column is being added to the Pricing Sheet. Until then, ask Kelcy if you're unsure whether a product can only be made at one factory.

2. On-Demand: On-Menu Items

• Standard timeline: ~21 days.
• The factory does not change the timeline. It only changes how you describe where the order is:

• CS / MakeMine-routed: "Your order is en route to our distribution center. Once it arrives, it ships out with 2-day shipping. Tracking will be available then."
• GE: Ships direct from the factory, so you can share tracking as soon as it ships.

Tip: In discovery calls, a new program's factory isn't known yet, so lead with the standard timeline. Factory routing only matters once the order is in production.

3. On-Demand: Off-Menu (Fulfillment Engine)

• Fulfillment Engine (FE) items are DTF or embroidery only.
• FE item with no SKU: 7–10 calendar days to deliver to the client.
• Screen print goes through the POP process and requires a SKU.

Trigger check: If the item is low stock, dropship only, or has customization, it needs to go through production and is not an FE product.

4. Off-Menu Decoration (Embroidery, Screen Print, DTF)

• The clock starts only once both are true: blanks have arrived at the decorator (Art Department or U.S. Color Works) and art is approved.
• Blanks usually arrive within a day. Unusual stock locations (e.g., the only stock is in another state) can add a few days.
• Timelines match what's posted on the Signature website — that is the source of truth.
• Posted timelines assume standard quantities. Large runs (e.g., 500+ screen print) will take longer — check with production.

5. Rush Orders

• Under 10 days: 50% rush fee. See the Rush Fee SOP for the full fee schedule.
• Always get production approval before confirming a rush with the client. Production will give verbal confirmation.
• Charge express shipping in addition to the rush fee.
• 14 days is almost always achievable. Anything under 14 depends on piece count and dates.
• Sub-10-day rushes are not product-specific — it depends on factory capacity. These are best for programs that only need a jersey that closely matches, not an exact match.

No rush on net-new custom colors. A custom color that has never been printed must follow the standard timeline. Custom colors from the conversion sheet that have been printed before do not count as new custom colors.

6. Products Outside the 21-Day Standard

Coming Soon

Production is compiling a full list of non-21-day products and scenarios. Bring these up when building the client's package so expectations are set early. Sampling is underway (backpacks in Pakistan; warmups with CS and the new facility) to move these toward 21 days — expected to take several months.

Backpack Batching

• The factory works best with batches — the more backpacks sent together, the better the timeline.
• For long store windows, send an initial batch, then batch weekly (e.g., every Friday), tapering to every two weeks as orders slow.

7. MOQs

• DTF has an MOQ of 1 — including custom numbers.
• MOQs apply to blanks bought from outside vendors (SanMar, S&S, Gildan, etc.) offered in POP stores, because shipping single blanks to the decorator isn't cost-effective.
• Products from our own facilities printed directly (including Peaks) have no MOQ.

8. Peaks

• Technically on-menu — no MOQ.
• Black and navy are colored (dyed) spandex, not sublimated.
• Custom-color Peaks are expected to be sublimated (starting from white). Production is confirming this.
• Existing inventory carries SMACK branding. If an order exceeds inventory, new pieces are produced in 21 days — make sure the SMACK branding is placed correctly on the artwork.

9. Graphic Empire Offboarding

• Signature is moving programs off GE (cost reasons — we can now go factory direct).
• When a GE client requests a new design, that's the opportunity to move them to another factory.
• Programs with uniforms and pro styles will be split: uniforms to CS (or another facility), pro styles to GE.
• Once complete, everything will ship through the warehouse — except OEM bulk orders shipping direct.

Extensive color matching at GE? Send those programs to Lex. One piece per team will be ordered on a single bulk sheet so Kelcy can color match from the physical uniform.

10. LACROSSE EQUIPMENT (Shipping Timelines)

Transit times: East Coast 1–2 days · Midwest 2–3 days · West Coast 3–5 days. Faster delivery requires expedited shipping at the client's cost.

Tip: Carrier pickup is around 3 PM ET, so orders often go out same day even after noon — but quoting noon keeps you safe.

Best Practices

• Lead with the 21-day standard, then flag any non-21-day items while building the package — not after the order is placed.
• Never confirm a rush until production approves it.
• Use the website for off-menu decoration timelines.
• Check Athlete Tech for the factory so you can describe order status accurately.
• When in doubt about a specific product, ask Kelcy with a clear yes/no question.

LINKS

• Sales Classroom Recording – September 11
• Rush Fee SOP
• Live Pricing Sheet
• Signature Website – Off-Menu Timelines