Avoid the mistakes that slow down orders, waste money, and delay delivery. Here’s what to watch out for — and how to fix it fast.

“No one is perfect, that’s why pencils have erasers.” – Wolfgang Riebe

Are you familiar with that quote? It’s a good one. And while we totally agree that no one is perfect – when it comes to ordering custom curling gear, perfection is the goal. Mistakes can add up quickly, costing you both extra time and money.

Fortunately, over the years we have worked with thousands of teams across Canada, United States, Europe and beyond and while every team is different, we’ve noticed the same common mistakes popping up again and again.

So whether you’re ordering your first set of jerseys or your fifteenth here are the Top 5 Mistakes we see each season — and how to avoid them.

❌ 1. Waiting Too Long to Start The Process

We get it — life gets busy, players change, events sneak up. But curling gear isn’t a rush-order project. Between designing, approvals, production, and shipping, the process takes 5–6 weeks from final approval/payment submitted to delivery — and that’s outside of busy season. Within busy season (July through October), you can almost guarantee the full 6 week turnaround.

Avoid it:

Start earlier than you think! Even if you don’t have all the details confirmed, we can begin your design and keep things moving.

❌ 2. Submitting Non-Vector Logos

This one is a classic and not for the right reasons. Our designers will tell you that incorrect logos are consistently the #1 holdup throughout the design process.

An image logo saved from a website or pasted into a Word doc isn’t a vector. Printing anything that is not a vector will result in fuzzy, pixelated graphics on your gear. Louder for the folks in the back – We WILL NOT print any logos that aren’t proper vectors.

Avoid it:

Check out our blog post about Vectors or send us what you’ve got. We’ll let you know if it’s usable — and offer a cleanup option if needed.

❌ 3. Waiting Too Long to Ask Questions

“Let’s just wait until we have everything figured out.” Sound familiar? We get it — you want to be prepared. But when teams hold off on asking questions, things get messy fast. Logo issues, tight timelines, or sizing confusion often surface after it’s too late to adjust.

Avoid it:

Reach out early — even if you’re not ready to order. We’ll help you avoid the pitfalls we see all the time. Whether it’s through our detailed FAQ or our 24/7 virtual assistant H.A.C.K., the answers are there when you need them. And if you’re stuck? Just ask. That’s what we’re here for.

❌ 4. Sending Us a Spreadsheet Instead of Using the Order Form

We know spreadsheets feel easier because we have used them for years. The problem is that our form is custom built to reduce errors, typos, and missing info. It also keeps the backend systems moving smoothly and gets your order to the right people faster.

Avoid it:

Use the official Runback Order Now form sent out after your proof is approved. It will save you time and mistakes.

❌ 5. Not Triple-Checking Names, Numbers, and Sizes

We’ve seen it all before:

  • Two players with the same number
  • Names spelled wrong
  • Someone orders a youth small instead of an adult small
  • A Mc who should be a Mac

Avoid it:

Before and after submitting your form, have everyone on the team review it — especially names and numbers. Make sure each player has confirmed their size, name and number is EXACTLY as requested.

Bonus Tip: Limit Communication to One Team Rep

This keeps both information and confusion to a minimum. We urge teams to elect one person per team to do the proofing, confirmations and emails. This ensures our team is getting the most up-to-date and most accurate information, reducing mistakes overall.