I've driven past the strip mall on Louise where Custom One sits at least a dozen times before I actually pulled in — one of those places you register but don't really *see* until you need it. Then suddenly you need 50 T-shirts for a company retreat or family reunion and you're standing in their showroom holding fabric swatches like you're shopping for drapes.
The setup is straightforward. You walk in, you talk through what you want, they show you samples of screen printing versus embroidery versus heat transfer. The staff knows the difference between a 50/50 blend and 100% cotton, and they'll tell you honestly which one will hold up after twenty washes. I appreciate that — no upselling to the premium option when the mid-tier will do the job.
What struck me was the turnaround. I've worked with print shops that operate on "maybe next month" timelines, but Custom One moves. Rush orders actually happen. They've got the equipment in-house on South Louise, so you're not waiting on a third party in Omaha or Minneapolis to fulfill your order. You can pick up off 41st Street and have your shirts by Thursday.
The online design tool is clunky if I'm honest — it works, but it feels like it was built in 2012 and nobody's touched it since. I ended up calling and talking through my design with someone on the phone, which was faster anyway. Sometimes the old way is just better.
They do corporate work, school spirit wear, event merch, all the usual suspects. I've seen their shirts around town at 5Ks and fundraisers, which tells me something about repeat business. The quality holds — no cracking, no fading after a few runs through the dryer in my apartment off Cliff Avenue.
It's the kind of place Sioux Falls needs more of. Local capability without the inflated pricing.
— Grace
I appreciate that — no upselling to the premium option when the mid-tier will do the job.