Welcome!
This Guide is the shared playbook for contract partners working with Townsend through Mesh.
It covers the basics: how we work together, what to expect, and how to keep jobs moving.
If you are not a contract partner yet, start here: Apply for a contract account
What this is (and what it is not)
This Guide is:
- A simple set of expectations that makes production boring (in a good way)
- A reference for common questions
- The default answer when someone says, "Wait, how do you want this done?"
This Guide is not:
- A legal document
- A comprehensive directory of all policies
- A promise that every edge case will be handled perfectly
- A replacement for talking to us when something is unclear
Policies (rush, pricing, reprints, color matching) live on separate pages and may change over time. This Guide links to the current versions.
Who this is for
Mesh works best for shops and teams who:
- Have recurring work (repeat programs, repeat clients, ongoing orders)
- Can submit print-ready art + a customer approved proof
- Care more about consistent quality than bargain pricing
If you are doing one-off, last-minute, constantly-changing jobs, we might not be the right fit. That is ok. Better to know early than fight the process every week.
The deal (short version)
You run sales and client relationships. We run production.
You send:
- Print-ready art -- or art ready to be separated / digitized
- A clear, customer-approved proof (what to print, where, and how)
- Blank garments from a distributor with an associated PO#.
- Realistic print / in hands date.
We send:
- Consistent production
- Clear statuses inside Mesh
- Photos (post production) for archival / historical purposes.
- Blind shipping by default (white-label)
How work flows here
- You create an order in Mesh
- We review it for completeness
- If something is missing or unclear, we put it on hold and message you
- When everything is ready, it moves through production
- It ships (blind) and tracking is saved to the job
The goal is not "speed at all costs". The goal is "repeatable, predictable, correct".
What we need for a smooth job
1) Print-ready art + your proof
Assume: what you send is what we print.
If the proof is wrong, the job is wrong. If the art is incorrect or missing, (and we catch it) the job stops.
If you are unsure, ask before you submit. Holds are normal. Surprises are expensive.
2) Clear specs
At minimum, your order should make these answers obvious:
- What is being decorated?
- Which method (screen print, embroidery, etc.)?
- What goes on the garment (art files)?
- Where does it go (placement)?
- What are the colors / threads / inks?
- What is the ship date and the in-hands date?
3) Blanks + PO
Garments should ship from a major industry supplier (SanMar, S&S Activewear, ACC, Carolina Made, etc.).
We match receiving to the PO number you give us. If the PO is missing or doesn’t match what arrives, your order will be delayed.
Rule of thumb:
- Create a PO with your supplier
- Put that PO in Mesh
- Make sure the cartons/packing slip include the PO
4) Real dates
If you need "3 days from now", say that up front. Do not hide urgency until the last second. Rush applies when they choose a ship date faster than Standard. See Rush policy
Where to click in Mesh
- Orders: your submitted work and live status
- Drafts: work you are still building (safe to leave unfinished)
- New Order: start a new job
- ⚙️ Settings: access, profile, company settings, team members, custom products, reports and more
If you are new: build the order as a draft first. Submit when it is actually ready.
How to communicate (so nothing gets lost)
Use job messages when an order is on hold for job-specific questions:
- "Here is updated art file"
- "Replacement shirt incoming on #PO 1234 from Sanmar"
- "Change ship-to address"
Use support tickets for account/system issues:
- problems with previously completed orders
- billing/reporting questions
- bugs you find in mesh
If it belongs to one job, keep it on the job. If it belongs to your account, make a support ticket.
Team access
Owners can invite teammates so ordering does not depend on one person.
Use team access for:
- sales reps submitting orders
- project managers handling approvals
- ops people tracking shipping and receiving
Do not share passwords. Invite people instead.
A few terms we use
- WO: Work Order (our internal job number)
- PO: Purchase Order (your reference, if you use one)
- Ship date: when it leaves us
- In-hands: when you need it to arrive
- Hold: job is paused because something is missing/unclear
- Blind shipping: your brand on the label, not ours
Next step
If you are already approved: Log in to Mesh
If you are not approved yet: Apply for a contract account