Think about the last branded item your organization ordered. Not the design meeting, not the invoice — the item itself. Where is it right now?
For most of us the honest answer is a drawer, a closet, or a landfill. The corporate gifting industry moves billions of dollars a year and a large share of it produces objects nobody wanted. Not because the logos were bad. Because the logos were printed on things that didn't solve a problem.
DOES THE RECIPIENT HAVE A REASON TO PICK THIS UP TOMORROW?
A mug doesn't pass. There are already mugs. A tote bag doesn't pass. A pair of gloves passes in December and fails in April — unless the gloves happen to be useful the rest of the year too.
This guide covers how to order custom Flipmits — what they are, who orders them, what you can print on them, what it costs, how long it takes, and the exact steps from sending a logo to opening a box.
WHAT FLIPMITS ARE
Flipmits are patented convertible handwear. One pair, three positions:
OPEN
Fingers free — for a phone, a clipboard, a whistle, a camera.
MINI-MITTEN
Fingers fully covered. This is the warm setting.
BAND
Push it down to the wrist — works as a sweatband.
The mechanism is the product. Plenty of gloves have a flip-top; what makes these different is that all three positions are usable states rather than one real state and two compromises. The cut is fitted rather than loose, so the mitten follows the shape of the hand instead of hanging off the end of it.
That matters for branded gear more than it might seem. Loose, oversized promotional gloves get worn once out of politeness. A fitted pair that solves the phone problem gets worn because the alternative is cold hands.
WHY THEY WORK AS BRANDED GEAR
Three reasons, in order of how much they matter.
THEY GET WORN REPEATEDLY
Branded apparel has a visibility problem: a logo t-shirt is seen by the people in the room, which is usually a garage. Handwear is different. Hands are in front of the body, in public, at eye level, for the entire time they're on.
THEY WORK INDOORS AND OUTDOORS
A sideline in November is the obvious use. The less obvious ones are the cold office in July, the warehouse, the early dog walk in March, the desk of someone who is always cold. Gear that only works in deep winter gets put away in April. Gear that works year-round doesn't.
THEY'RE SMALL
For anyone shipping gifts, handing out at an event, or stuffing into a holiday package, size and weight are real logistics. Flipmits fit in a coat pocket, a gift box, or a stocking without creating a shipping problem.
WHO ORDERS THEM
SPORTS TEAMS & BOOSTER CLUBS
Everyone on a cold sideline — parents, scorekeepers, assistant coaches — gets left out of uniform orders. Team-branded handwear fills that gap. At higher tiers, the margin supports resale as a fundraiser.
COMPANIES
Employee gifting: a useful gift reads as more thoughtful than an expensive useless one. Client gifting: something worn in public keeps your name visible for years.
EVENTS, RACES & RALLIES
Anything held outdoors in cold weather: handwear at a 40-degree start line gets put on immediately and stays on for the duration.
HOLIDAY & QUANTITY BUYERS
One decision that covers twenty small gifts is worth something on its own. The stocking-stuffer size is a practical fact.
WHAT YOU CAN PRINT
Logos, wordmarks, mascots, team names, event names, sponsor marks, or any combination. Running a fundraiser with a sponsor? A team mark on one hand and a sponsor mark on the other is a common setup.
ARTWORK SPECS
Vector files are ideal — .ai, .eps, or .svg — because they scale cleanly. A high-resolution PNG with a transparent background is usually workable. A photo of a patch or a screenshot from a website is a starting point, not a final file, but send it anyway.
WHAT REPRODUCES WELL
Bold shapes, clear type, and solid color. The print area is small, so detail that reads fine on a banner can close up here. Mascots with very thin linework, small text, and fine gradients sometimes need adjusting.
NO ART FEE — EVER, AT ANY QUANTITY. Matt, our co-founder, sets up the artwork personally. If something won't reproduce well, he'll tell you before you spend anything.
HOW ORDERING WORKS
SIX STEPS, TWO APPROVALS
Most custom orders ask you to commit money before you see anything real. This process is built the other way around.
SEND YOUR ARTWORK
Whatever you have. Vector if it exists; if not, send the best version you've got. Tell us roughly how many pairs and when you need them.
WE SEND A DIGITAL MOCKUP, FREE
Your logo on a Flipmit, in the colors you're considering. No cost, no obligation. Available for orders of 20 pairs or more.
PLACE THE ORDER WITH A $75 DEPOSIT
The deposit isn't a fee — it credits toward your balance. It schedules sample production for people who actually intend to order.
WE PRINT A REAL SAMPLE
An actual pair, with your actual artwork, in your hands. This separates our process from most custom ordering.
YOU APPROVE THE SAMPLE
Hold it. Show your board, your AD, your boss, the committee. If something needs to change, it changes here — before production, not after.
PRODUCTION & DELIVERY
The full run is produced, the balance comes due, and it ships.
MINIMUMS, TIERS & DEPOSIT
20
PAIR MINIMUM
$0
ART FEE
$75
DEPOSIT (CREDITED)
Twenty pairs is deliberately low. Much of the promotional industry sets minimums at 36, 144, or higher, which prices out a single team, a small department, or a client list.
Volume tiers: Price drops at 50, 100, and 250 pairs. The savings at volume are real — the artwork setup is the same work whether you order 20 or 200. Above 250, tell us the quantity and we'll quote it.
SIZING
Sizes run XS through XL, and the fit is forgiving. You do not need to collect measurements from forty people. An approximate split across the range is enough, and if you're not sure how to break it down, we'll help.
LEAD TIMES
4–5 WEEKS
IN-STOCK COLORS
~1 week for sample + your approval time, ~2 weeks production, + shipping. Most orders take this path.
+6–8 WEEKS
CUSTOM COLORWAY
Manufacturing a custom color happens before printing. If a specific team color is non-negotiable, start considerably earlier than you'd expect.
PLANNING FOR A HOLIDAY DEADLINE?
Work backward from when the gift needs to be in hand. December 15 → subtract shipping, 2 weeks production, ~1 week sample + approval → first week of November for in-stock colors. Custom color? Late September.
FAQ
What's the minimum order?
20 pairs.
Is there a setup or art fee?
No. There's no art fee at any quantity or for any number of colors.
Can I see a sample before I commit?
Yes — it's a required step. After a $75 deposit we print a physical sample with your artwork. The balance isn't due until you've approved it.
How much does a mockup cost?
Nothing. Send a logo and we'll send back a digital mockup for orders of 20+ pairs, no obligation.
What file format for my logo?
Vector is ideal (.ai, .eps, .svg). A high-resolution PNG usually works. Send whatever you have and we'll tell you honestly whether it will reproduce well.
What sizes are available?
XS through XL. The fit is forgiving, so an approximate size split is enough for a bulk order.
How long does a custom order take?
About 4–5 weeks for in-stock colors. A custom color adds 6–8 weeks.
Can a booster club resell these as a fundraiser?
Yes. At the higher volume tiers the margin generally supports resale.
HOW TO START
Send your logo and roughly how many pairs you're thinking about. You'll get a digital mockup back at no cost.
REQUEST A FREE MOCKUPFor orders of 20 pairs or more.
