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Zero Risk Production Guarantee

See your real hat before we make the rest.

Every new design on an order of 20 or more hats gets a real sample stitched on the exact hat you picked, at no extra cost. Not a screen mockup. We photograph the actual hat with your actual logo and send it to you. Nothing goes into full production until you approve it.

  • Free sample on 20+ units
  • Sample photos in 2 to 3 business days
  • You approve before production
✓ Real sample photo, as sent for approval

4.9 ★

from 166 customer reviews

750,000+

hats supplied since 2005

15,000+

Australian customers

Since 1934

embroidery by our partner Doree, Brisbane's embellishment specialists

The problem with a screen proof

A PDF can't show you how thread behaves.

Most suppliers ask you to sign off a digital mockup, then press go on the whole run. That's fine until 200 caps turn up and the navy looks black, the fine text has filled in, or the logo sits too high. By then it's a reprint, a delay, and an awkward conversation with whoever signed the purchase order.

01

Colour on screen isn't colour in thread

Every monitor shows colour differently, and thread has sheen that no mockup can show. Your brand colours need to be seen in daylight, on the real fabric.

02

Fine detail can stitch differently

Small text, thin lines and tight gaps behave differently once they're stitched. You only really know how your logo reads when you see it on the hat.

03

Flat mockups hide placement issues

A logo that looks right on a flat render can sit too high or look too small on a curved crown. See it on your actual hat style before you commit.

Why it matters

A proof shows you a picture. A sample shows you the product.

What you get before production Typical online supplier HatsOnline Zero Risk
Digital mockup of your logo on the hat ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
A real sample stitched on your chosen hat, photographed for you ✕ Rarely, or at extra cost ✓ Free on 20+ units
See real thread colours and stitch detail, not a render ✕ Screen render only ✓ Yes
Check logo size and position on the actual hat style ✕ Guesswork ✓ Yes
Show your boss or client the real result before you commit ✕ A mockup ✓ Photos of the actual hat
Catch a production issue before the full run is made ✕ After it arrives ✓ Before bulk production commences

How it works

Four steps. You sign off twice.

1

Send your logo and quantity

Pick your hat style, tell us how many and when you need them. We come back with a quote.

2

Approve your digital artwork

We send a mockup showing size, placement and thread colours. This is the stage to make any design changes.

3

We stitch your real sample

One real hat, stitched with your logo on the exact style and colour you chose. Done within 2 to 3 business days of artwork approval. It comes from your own order, so it ships with the rest.

4

Approve the photos, then we make the lot

We send you clear photos of your finished sample. Say go and full production starts on our 2 week turnaround.

Built for buyers who can't afford a mistake

When your name is on the order, see it first.

Corporate and uniforms

Brand managers get the colours signed off properly before hats go to every staff member.

Events and launches

Fixed dates leave no room for a reprint. Approve the sample and lock in the run.

Clubs and schools

Show the committee a photo of the actual hat, not a mockup, and get a quick yes.

Agencies and resellers

Send your client photos of their real hat before they commit. It closes the deal and protects your margin.

Our promise: nothing gets made until you've approved the real thing.

On every new design of 20 or more hats, we stitch a real sample on the hat you chose and send you photos, at no extra cost. Nothing goes into full production until you say go. If the sample doesn't match your approved artwork, we fix it and re-sample free. Your approved sample becomes the standard your whole order is made to.

  • Free on new designs of 20+ units, and the sample hat ships with your order
  • Doesn't match your approved artwork? We fix it and re-sample at no extra charge
  • Covers embroidery and digital transfer (not screen printing)
  • Under 20 units? A sample is available for a $60 embroidery charge
  • Reorders of an approved design go straight to production

Please note: embroidery is made with fabric, thread and needle, so a very minor variation between your approved sample and your production hats is possible. This can include slight differences in stitch placement, thread sheen or fabric shade between batches. It is a natural part of the craft and not a defect.

Questions

Sample approval, answered.

Still unsure? Call us on 1300 428 766.

What is a pre-production sample?

It's one real hat stitched with your logo, on the exact style and colour you ordered, before we make the rest. We photograph it and send you the photos to approve. Only then does full production start.

Does the physical sample cost extra?

No. On new designs of 20 or more units, the sample is included at no extra cost.

How long does the sample add to my order?

Your sample is stitched within 2 to 3 business days of you approving the digital artwork. Once you approve the sample photos, full production runs on our standard 2 week turnaround. Tight deadline? Tell us when you quote and we'll plan around it.

Do I receive the physical sample?

We send you clear photos of the real sample on your chosen hat, so you're not waiting on the post. The sample is taken from your own order stock, so once you approve it, it's delivered with the rest of your hats. You get every hat you paid for.

Can I make design changes after seeing the sample?

Design changes are made at the digital artwork stage, before the sample is stitched, so take your time there. The sample then shows you exactly how your approved artwork comes out on the real hat. If the stitched sample doesn't match your approved artwork, we fix it and re-sample at no extra charge before production starts.

Which decoration methods are covered?

Embroidery and digital transfer. Screen printing is not covered by the guarantee.

Can I get a sample on orders under 20 hats?

Yes. Orders under 20 units can get a sample for a $60 embroidery charge.

Will my production hats match the sample exactly?

As close as the craft allows. Your approved sample is the standard we work to. Because embroidery uses fabric, thread and needle, a very minor variation in stitch placement, thread sheen or fabric shade is possible between the sample and the full run.

Zero Risk Production Guarantee

See your real hat before we make the rest.

Tell us your hat style, how many and when you need them. We'll come back with a quote, and a real sample before production.

Guarantee terms

  • Free sample on new designs of 20+ units, stitched on the client's chosen product.
  • Sample produced within 2 to 3 business days of digital artwork approval.
  • Client receives photos of the sample, not the sample in the post.
  • The sample hat comes from the client's ordered stock and ships with the rest of the order.
  • All design changes are made at the digital artwork approval stage.
  • If the sample does not match the approved artwork, it is fixed and re-sampled at no extra charge.
  • Orders under 20 units: sample available for a $60 embroidery charge.
  • Covers embroidery and digital transfer. Not screen printing.
  • Due to the nature of fabric and the use of thread and needle, a very minor variation from the approved sample is possible in production.
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