Spirit Wear FAQ — School and Team Apparel Questions Answered

Spirit Wear FAQ — School and Team Spirit Apparel Questions Answered

Spirit wear is a core part of what Main Street Shirt Company does. We manage dedicated online storefronts for schools and athletic programs across Central Illinois, and we produce all apparel in-house. Here’s what schools, booster clubs, and families need to know.

About Spirit Stores

What is a spirit store?

A spirit store is a dedicated online shop built specifically for a school, athletic program, or organization. Instead of collecting paper order forms and money, fans and families shop online, choose their items and sizes, and pay directly through the store. Orders are collected over a set window, then produced and fulfilled by Main Street Shirt Company. Schools can also run stores year-round with items always available.

Does my school need to set up a spirit store?

If your school or program regularly sells spirit wear, a dedicated online store eliminates the administrative burden of paper order forms, collecting money, tracking sizes, and managing fulfillment. Main Street Shirt Company builds and manages the store — the school or booster club simply promotes it. Contact us to discuss setting up a store for your program.

How does a spirit store work for families?

Families visit the school’s dedicated store URL, browse available items, select sizes and styles, and check out online. Items are either shipped directly to the buyer or made available for school pickup, depending on how the store is configured.

What schools does Main Street Shirt Company serve?

We serve schools and athletic programs throughout Central Illinois, including communities such as Arcola, Unity, Tuscola, Tri-County, Rantoul, Mahomet, Champaign, and surrounding areas. Contact us if your school isn’t currently on the platform — we can discuss building a store for your program.

Products and Apparel

What spirit wear items are available?

Standard spirit store offerings include:

  • T-shirts (short sleeve)
  • Long sleeve t-shirts
  • Hooded sweatshirts (pullover and zip)
  • Crewneck sweatshirts
  • Performance / athletic tees
  • Polos
  • Caps and beanies
  • Tank tops
  • Youth sizes alongside adult sizes

What is the best shirt brand for school spirit wear?

For most spirit store t-shirts, Gildan Softstyle (64000) offers an excellent combination of comfort, printability, and price. It’s soft for a Gildan, prints cleanly, and is affordable enough that families can order multiple pieces. For premium spirit wear with a more fashion-forward fit, Bella Canvas 3001c and Comfort Colors 1717 are popular upgrades. Comfort Colors in particular has become very popular for school spirit wear because of its washed-soft feel and vintage-inspired colors.

What is the best hoodie for spirit wear?

The Gildan Heavy Blend hoodie (18500) is the most popular spirit wear hoodie because of its combination of weight, warmth, and price. For a premium option, the Comfort Colors 1567 hooded sweatshirt and the Bella Canvas 3719 sponge fleece hoodie offer a softer hand feel at a higher price point.

What print method is used for spirit wear?

Most spirit wear is screen printed. Screen printing on larger runs produces durable, vibrant prints at an efficient cost per piece. For items with individual names, numbers, or smaller runs, DTF printing is used. For caps and beanies, embroidery is the standard method.

Can I get my name or number on a spirit wear item?

Yes. Individual player names and numbers, as well as personalized fan gear, can be added using DTF printing. DTF allows each piece to be unique without screen setup costs. Personalized items may have a slightly longer production time.

Do spirit stores have youth sizes?

Yes. Spirit stores include both adult and youth sizing to accommodate families with younger students and fans of all ages.

Ordering and Fulfillment

How long does spirit wear take to arrive?

Turnaround time from store order to fulfillment is typically 2 weeks or less. Year-round stores fulfill orders on a rolling production schedule. Seasonal or limited-window stores fulfill all orders together after the order window closes.

Can I return or exchange spirit wear items?

Because spirit wear is custom-produced specifically for each order, returns and exchanges are generally not available for sizing issues. We strongly encourage ordering based on the size chart provided. If there is a production error on our end, we will make it right. Contact us at info@mainstreetshirtcompany.com with any issues.

What if I miss the order window?

For year-round stores, orders are accepted continuously. For limited-window stores (where orders are collected and then produced in a batch), you’ll need to wait for the next ordering period. Contact the school or booster club to ask about the next open window.

For Schools and Booster Clubs

Is there a cost to set up a spirit store?

Main Street Shirt Company builds and manages spirit stores as part of our apparel partnership with schools and athletic programs. Contact us at info@mainstreetshirtcompany.com to discuss the specifics for your program.

Can the school or booster club make money from a spirit store?

Yes. Fundraiser apparel programs can be structured so that a portion of each sale benefits the school or organization. This eliminates the need for traditional paper-order fundraisers while still generating income for programs. Contact us to discuss fundraiser store options.

Can spirit stores run as fundraisers?

Yes. A spirit store can be configured as a fundraiser where the markup on each item goes to the school or booster club. This is a cleaner, more modern alternative to traditional paper-form apparel fundraisers.

Find your school’s spirit store or contact us to set up a store for your program: info@mainstreetshirtcompany.com