I look out of my window at the festival summer that is hopefully soon approaching again and ask myself:

What should you consider when ordering printed rain ponchos?

The timing of using your rain ponchos is the most important thing – is there an event for which the rain ponchos should be used? Once this has been determined, it is best to plan on creating the rain ponchos straight away.

7 tips for printed rain ponchos:

1. Tell us the date for the use of the ponchos
2. Choose simple, large motifs to print on the poncho,
3. The maximum print area on the poncho is 30 x 30 cm
4. It can be printed on the back or chest
5. Rain ponchos are printed using a screen printing process
6. Intricate details or photographic elements can be printed on the packaging
7. We will be happy to support you in creating the designs for the poncho and the packaging
8. A PDF is required as a print file

The most common reason why printed rain ponchos are not offered at outdoor events is too little lead time in the planning phase. Some organizers seem to wait for the weather report or hope for good weather and on the day of the event it is usually too late. Printed rain ponchos are one of the best advertising materials you can imagine because they serve a real purpose! I’m always happy when the organizer or a sponsoring company thinks of me and protects me from getting wet and cold. With a rain poncho you can continue to enjoy the concert, regardless of the weather.

Here you will find the top 7 tips that you need to consider in order to have rain ponchos printed in the best and most economical way.

When should I have rain ponchos printed?

Every event needs good planning: the design for the printed rain poncho should be developed at least 2 months before the date of the event so that appropriate offers can be obtained. Experience shows that events require a lot of preparation and there is a lot to think about. It is all the more understandable that the topic of “weather” is sometimes not even considered until a few days before the event. It is therefore best to think about the topic of rain ponchos and get them started before the stressful final phase, shortly before the actual event. To date, printed rain ponchos have only been manufactured in Asia and therefore have to travel a long way to be used in Europe. There are two options for delivering printed rain ponchos: Express delivery by air, which takes around 1 week in total. Or economy delivery by train, which is a little slower with a processing time of around 3 weeks and is significantly more ecological and economical. In addition to production, there are total delivery times for printed rain ponchos, which take between 3 – 4 (Express) or 8 – 10 weeks (Economy) from the time of printing approval. My research has shown that some large companies have significantly longer delivery times because they deliver by ship and take around 3 months.

How many rain ponchos should I have printed?

Most manufacturers print rain ponchos in quantities of 5,000 or more. There is only one manufacturer on the German market that offers to print rain ponchos starting at 500 pieces. Rain ponchos are also called giveaways in the advertising industry, which indicates that they are given away as giveaways either cheaply or for free. The best way to calculate the right amount for the event in question is to consider about a third of the expected guests wearing a rain poncho. What is crucial for the budget is that rain ponchos with your own motif print follow a steep price scale, which means it is significantly cheaper to order more because the initial costs for printed rain ponchos are comparatively high. A separate sieve is created for the motif and the color of the ponchos is also mixed. These are work steps that are expensive and pay for themselves with larger print runs. Experience shows that, at least with conventional plastic rain ponchos, it makes sense to order more and keep them in stock, because the ponchos don’t go bad. For example, instead of ordering annually, ordering for 3 years can be a cost-effective option. This does not apply to the bioPoncho due to its material durability.

How should I have rain ponchos printed?

Just like on a football player’s jersey, a clear motif is always recommended. Clear elements and clear differences in color stand out best, even at a distance. Since most disposable rain ponchos are slightly transparent and the clothing underneath is more often dark than light, a print in black is usually not as visible. Experience and numerous photos show that a white or light print stands out best.

How large can I have the rain poncho printed?

Most people in Northern Europe are between 165 and 190 cm tall and have an average shoulder width of 40 to 50 cm.  In order to be able to clearly see the motif print on the back or chest of the rain poncho, the print should be within shoulder width. If the pressure extends beyond shoulder width, the sides will be covered by the folds of the poncho and are therefore no longer clearly visible. As with the football player’s jersey, a clear print is most noticeable directly on the chest or shoulders. Most manufacturers therefore offer printing in 30 x 30 cm. It is possible to print larger upon request, but I would not recommend it due to the description above.

Which file format do I need to have rain ponchos printed?

The file for printing must be a vector file. Vector files can be PDF or EPS files. This file contains the colors for printing, which are mixed by the printer according to the international Pantone code. In contrast to pixels, vectors can be enlarged infinitely and can always be seen cleanly and sharply. ->How do I get a vector file of my motif to print on rain ponchos?

What printing process is used to print rain ponchos?

Rain ponchos are generally screen printed. The logo is printed as a template in negative on a stencil that covers the areas where there should be no color. The film is then stretched onto a portafilter and the color is applied using the so-called through-printing process using a so-called squeegee. All printed rain ponchos are handmade products!

Where can I have rain ponchos printed?

There are many different suppliers, all of which manufacture in Asia. Most are large advertising material manufacturers who have high minimum quantities for purchase (5000 pieces and upwards). Few manufacturers can offer small quantities of 500 with printing, so it’s worth taking a closer look.