Growing Our Roots with Printful

Since the inception of Gateway Football Group, and then the subsequent launch of Forest Park Rangers FC, our mission has been to get the club’s crest and colors into the hands of our community as authentically and locally as possible. For months, we’ve managed everything in-house on our website via WooCommerce—hand-packing every shirt or hat  in our Vice President’s basement. While we’ve loved that personal touch, the Forest Park Rangers family has grown faster than Stephen’s basement can handle. To ensure every supporter gets the quality they deserve without the wait, we are officially moving our manufacturing and fulfillment operations to Printful, and our online shop to Shopify.

What This Means for You

By transitioning to a Print on Demand (POD) model, we’re removing the “Out of Stock” and fulfillment barriers that have plagued our most popular items (looking at you, ‘47 Brand Dad Hat). This move allows us to expand our offerings significantly, while maintaining a high degree of quality and sustainability.

Feature	Benefit
Global Reach	Faster shipping for supporters outside our immediate zip code.
Sustainability	Items are made only when ordered, reducing textile waste and our carbon footprint.
Consistency	Professional-grade printing and embroidery standards on every single piece.
Expanded Catalog	More colors, more sizes, and more unique items (like our new Drinkware line).

Same Quality, More Efficiency

We know what you’re thinking: Will it still feel like FPRFC gear? Rest assured, we’ve spent months vetting samples to ensure the Primary Crest and Sunrise Alternates look as sharp as ever. While Stephen will miss the ritual of the post-packing-post-office run, this shift allows us to meaningfully focus on what we do best—designing world-class gear and supporting the club on the pitch.

Starting today, when you place an order, Printful’s team of experts will craft your gear and ship it directly to your door. It’s the same Forest Park pride, just with a much more efficient engine under the hood.

Forest Park Rangers FC Shop FAQ

Here are some common answers to questions you may have about the new store. Eventually, we’ll move this content into a new document and host it on both the Shopify website (shop.forestparkrangersfc.com) and here.

1. How much does shipping cost?

Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on the weight of your items and your delivery location. We offer flat-rate shipping for most standard apparel items. Detailed rates are as follows:

Item Category	First Item	Each Additional Item
Shirts & Tees	$4.99	$2.50
Hoodies & Sweatshirts	$8.50	$3.00
Drinkware (Mugs/Pints)	$6.99	$4.00
Hats & Headwear	$4.50	$2.00

2. Why did my items ship in separate packages?

If you ordered multiple items—such as a t-shirt and a pint glass—they will likely arrive in separate packages. This happens for two main reasons:

• Specialized Packaging: Apparel can be shipped in soft mailers, while drinkware requires reinforced, protective boxes to prevent breakage. Mixing these items in one box increases the risk of damage.
• Fulfillment Centers: Printful operates multiple facilities. A hat might be embroidered in one location, while a shirt is printed in another. To get your items to you as fast as possible, each facility ships its part of your order as soon as it is ready.

3. Why use Printful for fulfillment?

Moving to Printful allows us to focus on the club while they handle the logistics. This “Print-on-Demand” model means:

• No Waste: We only produce what is ordered, making us more environmentally friendly.
• Always in Stock: We no longer run out of specific sizes or colors.
• Reliability: Professional-grade quality control and global shipping infrastructure.

4. How long will it take to get my gear?

It typically takes 2–5 business days to create your custom product, plus shipping time. You will receive a tracking number for every package that ships out so you can follow its journey to your door.

5. Can I return or exchange an item?

Since each item is made specifically for you when you order it, we generally only accept returns for damaged goods or manufacturing errors. Please consult our full return policy on the website for details.