FIRST, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIGH COTTON

High Cotton manufacturing facilities in Millboro, VA

By definition, we're gift manufacturers. Most of our products are screenprinted in our facilities in Hardeeville, South Carolina. They include t-shirts, sweatshirts, doormats, aprons and pet feeding mats. But we're constantly seeking new opportunities in gift products (not necessarily screenprinted) ... several are already in the works. Our company was founded in 1989 and enjoys a prestigious position in the national gift industry. We have well over one hundred sales reps, thousands of retail accounts in all 50 states and Canada, and our products regularly appear in more than two dozen national gift catalogues, such as WIRELESS, SIGNALS, THE PARAGON and POTPOURRI.

OUR STOCK AND TRADE IS HUMOR

Original. Fresh. Thought-provoking. Short and to the point. 95% of our concepts are word-driven, so we should be right up your alley. But there are gospel truths that must be followed religiously if we're to connect. If you disregard the "no no's" you won't get any "yes! yes!'s."

PLEASE DON'T SEND US ...

• Negative or self-deprecating concepts.
• Hostile or offensive concepts.
• Concepts using trademarked names or full names of famous people.
• Ideas that have been around before - we've already seen most of them.
• Lofty or erudite concepts that will escape the masses (put the thesaurus away).
• ".Com"-ified copy ... the practice of "Webifying" any word or phrase by adding .com to the end of it (i.e., getalife.com).
• Topical subjects (i.e., Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton, Viagra, Saddam Hussein, Christmas and other holidays). The windows are just too small. Think "timeless."
• Jokes you've picked up on the Net.

BY ALL MEANS, SEND US ...

• Your best thinking. EDIT YOURSELF. Don't overwhelm us with a barrage of stuff. It takes too long to wade through and impedes the process of getting back in touch with you.
• Concepts APPROPRIATE TO THE PRODUCT. Think them through. Don't use "Spray and Pray" technology, hoping that if you spit out enough stuff, something will hit the mark.

HUMOR IS SUBJECTIVE...BOY, IS IT SUBJECTIVE!

It's not enough just to be funny. Putting a joke line on a t-shirt, for example, won't work unless it relates to the wearer. That's why there are stand-up comics and greeting cards. You have to ask yourself "WHO WOULD BUY THIS?", not "WHO WOULD THINK THIS IS FUNNY?" Your copy needs to say something about the end-user. Could be a passion. Could be a sport. Could be a hobby. Could be a circumstance, like a birthday, anniversary or wedding. Could be a foible of everyday living. Could be a profession. Could be anything as long as the subject matter isn't too narrow (like spelunkers or meat processors). We're not asking you to be cutesy or saccharine ... that's not our style. We're looking for people who can turn a phrase, put a unique spin on a thought and come off the line fast and clean.

IF YOU'RE STILL WITH US, LET'S TALK T-SHIRTS

At this point, it's a depressed market. Your best chances are to focus on age-related, retirement, sports, professions and hobby themes. If you can spin your idea into a series, all the better. T-shirts are the most taxing, creatively. You have to give a person something he or she wants to wear. And try to think "unisex" whenever possible.

OTHER PRODUCTS

Doormats for homes, kid's rooms. Aprons for kitchens and backyard barbecues. (Keep the copy short and positive.) Got ideas for any other products? Have at it. Don't limit yourself to standard palates. But check with us first before you invest too much time. We need to make sure we can produce it and that it fits our market niche. We're ALWAYS open to new ideas. Be an innovative thinker beyond wordsmithing. That's what gets our juices going ... and YOUR PAYOUTS into the bigger numbers.

TRIED AND TRUE THEMES

Age-Related. Golf. Fishing. Parenting. Lawyers. Dogs. Cats. Active Sports. Music. Chocolate. Work. School. Beer. Clubs. Summer homes. Gardening. Computers. Retirement. Cooking. Self-Esteem. Love. Bride & Groom/Weddings. Children. Grandparents. Moms. Dads. Cars. Awards. Achievements. Winning.

WILD CARDS

Sometimes you come across an idea that has no rhyme or reason, but takes off like a rocket. A few examples of some of ours: DOORMAT: Copy reads, "DID YOU REMEMBER TO WIPE?" T-SHIRT: Copy reads, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME" followed by a small logo of the Federal Witness Protection Program. APRON: Copy reads, "MAY I SUGGEST A BOTTLE OF OUR HOUSE RED?" followed by a graphic of a ketchup bottle.

E-SUBMISSIONS (PREFERRED)

For concepts only: Within body of e-mail template, enter submissions. Use standard type (no enhancements). Be sure both your mailing address and e-mail address are included. Since we use the "reply to" feature, our reply will be returned to the e-mail address in the "from" portion of your e-mail template. In the SUBJECT area of your e-mail template, just Write: "SUBMISSIONS." For concepts and designs: Attach image(s) to e-mail. Image(s) should be saved as a 500 x 500 pixel(@ 72 dpi) RGB jpeg file. Upon acceptance, image must be submitted digitally as a vector image (preferred), raster image or hi-res *tiff file. E-mail submissions get the quickest response!

CONTACT US WITH YOUR IDEAS / QUESTIONS / OR COMMENTS

If you would like to contact us, please take a few moments to fill out our contact form. If you are submitting ideas, please read this entire page first - you'll thank us later, when robots take over the world. Fields that are in bold are required. If you would like to stay updated with all of the happenings at High Cotton, Inc. click here.

EMAIL ADDRESS

sales@highcotton.com

MAIL SUBMISSIONS

Concepts must be typed on 8-1/2 x 11 paper and be clearly identified. Designs submitted for intial consideration should be color printed on 8-1/2 x 11 paper(white) or, if in digital form, be a 500 x 500 pixel RGB jpeg file on either zip disk or CD. No floppies please. Accepted designs must be supplied in digital form using either Freehand v9.0, Illustrator v8.0 or PhotoShop v.6.0 ONLY(PC or Mac). Any files submitted for production in other software formats will be processed as concept submissions. All submissions must be accompanied by a SASE.

MAIL ADDRESS

High Cotton, Inc.,
9 Commercial Place
Bluffton, SC  29910

No faxes or phone calls, please.

ACCEPTANCES/COMPENSATION

There are three levels of review. The first cut is made by our creative staff. The second is conducted by focus groups made up of our customers. If the concept or concept/design is approved by the focus groups, it goes into final art for a graphic review by the focus groups. Notification of acceptance may take up to two months. Compensation for each copy concept selected for our catalogue is $125.00. Concept & design is either purchased outright or is based on a royalty arrangement.

PROTECTING YOUR IDEAS

Your concepts and images are your intellectual property, unless we buy them. If we get concepts that are similar to ours or to other submissions (and we do get them), we will let you know. Your submissions are under the same copyright laws governing submissions to any publisher you submit work to. (Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, title VI of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-650, 104 Stat. 5089, 5128, enacted December 1, 1990.)

We look forward to your submissions.

- The High Cotton Staff

High Cotton corporate headquarters in Hardeeville, SC