Six to ten weeks for most dates. Our shop is in Fullerton, 1,813 straight-line miles away, so the presses travel by freight and the crew flies in the day before load-in. Freight and your venue's move-in schedule set the clock more than press time does.
What those weeks pay for
- Freight: presses, dryers, blanks and tables get crated in Fullerton and delivered to your dock ahead of the crew.
- Art: final about a week out, so screens get burned and DTF transfers printed before anything ships.
- Blanks: the garment order locks around the same point, sized XS to 4XL to your headcount. A headcount that keeps moving delays a Louisville job more often than press availability does.
- Show weeks: when the Kentucky International Convention Center has a major show on, hotels, drayage and labor tighten at once. Planning around that week is the cheapest decision you can make.
Short on time? Ask anyway. Simple art and standard blanks make a close date possible, and the travel line is kinder with notice. If you're planning a KICC booth months out, we'll hold the date. Send the date and headcount and we'll confirm availability within 24 hours.
Derby week runs on its own clock
From Thunder Over Louisville to Derby Saturday, crews, tent rentals, generators and hotel rooms across the metro get committed early. For the Thursday-to-Saturday peak, book three to four months out and lock art about ten business days before the party. Monday and Tuesday of Derby week are easier to get. Date changes at any time of year go smoothest with two weeks' notice, because the freight is booked by then. The full countdown is in our Derby week guide.