Contract Screen Printing
Wholesale screen printing for print shops, promotional products distributors, and apparel brands. Three automatic presses, blind shipping under your name, and free inbound freight on your blanks through SanMar PSST.
A Contract Screen Printer That Works Behind Your Brand
Contract screen printing is production-only work: you own the customer, the artwork, and the sale, and we do the printing. Sportswear Express has been screen printing in Mesa, Arizona since 1991, and our contract department runs jobs for other screen printers, embroidery shops, promotional products distributors, ad specialty companies, and apparel brands.
Shops send us the work they can't or don't want to run in-house — the overflow during peak season, the 5,000-piece order that would tie up a manual press for a week, the 10-color job that needs an automatic. Distributors and brands use us as their full-time production floor. Either way your customer never sees our name: orders blind ship with your packing slip, or go back to your shop for final delivery.
We are a contract screen printer for the Phoenix area, Arizona, and the Southwest, and we ship finished orders nationwide. Local shops can drop off blanks and pick up finished goods at our Mesa facility.
Screen Printing Capacity
Built for volume, with the press time to take your large runs without pushing your deadline.
Three automatic screen print presses running side by side, so a large contract order doesn't wait in line behind another one.
Spot color and simulated process work up to 12 colors, with a white underbase on dark garments for bright, opaque prints.
From a few dozen pieces to runs of 10,000 and up, with consistent color and registration from the first shirt to the last.
Getting Your Blanks to Us
Print on the garments you choose. Send them however is cheapest for you.
SanMar PSST: Free Freight
We are a SanMar PSST (Pack Separately, Ship Together) decorator. Order blanks on your own SanMar account, select Sportswear Express as the PSST decorator, and SanMar delivers them to our dock with free freight.
Each purchase order is packed separately, so your goods arrive sorted by job and go straight into production.
Ship or Drop Off Your Own
Customer-supplied garments are welcome from any wholesaler or from your own inventory. Ship to 624 W. Broadway Ste 220, Mesa, AZ 85210, or drop off Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Mark each carton with your company name and PO number so we can match the goods to your order.
Or Let Us Supply Them
Rather not handle blanks at all? Pick styles from our apparel catalog and we bring the garments in with your order, ready to print.
How Contract Screen Printing Works
One application, then ordering is as simple as sending a PO.
Apply for an Account
Fill out the contract application. We verify your reseller credentials and set up your wholesale account.
Get Your Price List
Approved accounts receive our contract screen printing price list, with pricing by quantity and number of colors.
Send Art & Blanks
Email your PO and artwork, and ship your garments to us — free through SanMar PSST.
We Print & Blind Ship
We print, check, and pack the order, then ship to your customer with your packing slip or hold it for pickup.
Artwork, Separations and Film In-House
Send print-ready vector art or separated files and we go straight to screens. If a job needs work first, our art department handles it here: screen print separations for spot color, simulated process, and CMYK jobs, film output if you burn your own screens, and artwork creation and vector conversion when all your customer has is a business card.
We print with plastisol inks on t-shirts, hoodies, polos, tank tops, and more, on light and dark garments. For short runs or full-color photographic designs, ask about contract DTF transfers from our digital department instead — no screens and no color limit.
Contract Screen Printing FAQ
What shops and distributors ask before sending their first job.
What is contract screen printing?
Contract screen printing is wholesale, production-only printing for businesses that resell decorated apparel. You sell the job and supply the artwork and garments; we print it and ship it under your name. It lets a shop or distributor take on more work, bigger runs, or higher color counts without buying presses or adding staff.
Who qualifies for contract pricing?
Contract accounts are for businesses that resell decorated apparel: screen printers, embroidery shops, promotional products distributors, ad specialty companies, apparel brands, and fulfillment companies. Apply online and we verify your reseller credentials before opening the account. There are no signup fees or monthly minimums.
How do I get your contract screen printing price list?
Our contract price list is sent once your account is approved. It covers pricing by quantity and number of print colors. Submit the contract application and our contract team will be in touch within 1 business day.
Can I supply my own garments?
Yes. Customer-supplied garments are welcome. Ship blanks from any wholesaler, send them from your own stock, or drop them off at our Mesa facility. If you buy from SanMar, use PSST and the freight to us is free.
What is SanMar PSST and how do I use it?
PSST stands for Pack Separately, Ship Together. It is SanMar's program for shipping blanks directly to a contract decorator. Place the order on your SanMar account, choose Sportswear Express as the PSST decorator, and SanMar consolidates it with that day's other shipments to our dock. Each PO is packed separately, and you pay no freight to get the goods to us.
Do you blind ship to my customers?
Yes. Finished orders ship directly to your customer with your packing slip, not ours. We can also ship to your shop, deliver locally, or hold the order for pickup.
How many colors can you print, and on what?
We screen print up to 12 colors per design with plastisol inks, on both light and dark garments. Dark garments get a white underbase so the colors stay bright and opaque.
What is the turnaround on contract screen printing?
Standard production is 7 business days once artwork is approved and your garments are in house. Rush production in 2 to 5 days is available; ask about rush availability when you send the PO.
Do you work with shops outside Arizona?
Yes. We are based in Mesa and serve the Phoenix area, Arizona, and the Southwest, and we print and ship for shops and distributors nationwide. PSST keeps inbound freight free wherever you are.