When it comes to running a successful online store through Chipply, your product selection plays a huge role in your success. That's why we're proud to partner with some of the best vendors in the wholesale apparel industry — and why we love taking the time to spotlight what makes each of them special. In this edition of our Vendor Spotlight series, we're turning the focus to one of the most trusted names in the business: SanMar.
About SanMar
Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, SanMar has grown into one of the largest wholesale apparel and accessories distributors in the United States. With a catalog spanning dozens of top brands and hundreds of thousands of products — from everyday tees and polos to performance wear, outerwear, bags, and headwear — SanMar is a one-stop shop for decorators and distributors of all sizes.
What sets SanMar apart isn't just the scale of their catalog. It's their commitment to quality, consistency, and service. They work with nationally recognized brands alongside their own private label lines, giving store owners access to a wide range of price points and styles to suit virtually any customer base.
Why SanMar + Chipply Is a Winning Combination
For Chipply users, SanMar is more than just a supplier — they're a strategic partner that makes building and running your online store easier and more profitable.
Here's why so many Chipply store owners rely on SanMar:
Seamless Integration. SanMar's product data flows directly into the Chipply platform, making it easy to browse and add products to your store as well as keep things up to date without a lot of manual work.
Massive Selection. With thousands of styles across a huge range of categories, you'll rarely find yourself unable to source what a customer is looking for. Whether you're outfitting a youth sports league, a corporate team, or a school spirit store, SanMar likely has what you need.
Reliable Fulfillment. SanMar operates a network of distribution centers across the country, which means faster shipping times and better in-stock reliability — two things that matter enormously when you're running a store with a deadline.
Decoration-Friendly Products. SanMar's product lines are designed with decorators in mind. Many of their styles are tested and trusted across embroidery, screen printing, heat transfer, and direct-to-garment applications, so you can feel confident the products you're selling will perform well through the decoration process.
Competitive Pricing. SanMar's pricing structure allows store owners to build healthy margins while still offering their customers a great value — an important balance for any successful online store.
Q&A with SanMar's Mendy McMurtry & Rachelle Manning
We sat down with Mendy McMurtry, Strategic Account Manager, and Rachelle Manning, Senior Channel Manager – Sporting Goods, to get their take on what Chipply users should know about making the most of SanMar right now.
What styles or product categories should Chipply users be adding to their stores right now?
Spring 2026 is bringing a lot of exciting new product to SanMar's lineup, and there's truly something for every type of store. One of the biggest additions is the arrival of Richardson headwear — 31 stock headwear styles, including 112 colorways of their iconic 112 cap. Because SanMar ships Richardson headwear in single units with no minimums, it's a no-brainer to add these to your team stores.
On the apparel side, Sport-Tek has some compelling new releases: the ST445 Club Short Sleeve Hoodie comes in five colorways, and the new Phenom Collection (ST840/ST841) offers retail-inspired full-zip and quarter-zip hoodies. There are also new Sport-Tek Track Stock Uniforms — tanks and shorts in adult, women's, and youth sizing — that are a great way to outfit an entire track club through a single store.
District is bringing fresh style with the DT6117 VIT Fleece Open Bottom Pant, which pairs with their full VIT Fleece Collection and is very on-trend right now. And for women's, the new Transcend Pant (LST864) rounds out a full collection with matching tops.
For coaches and staff, the new Mercer+Mettle Coaches Pants (MM4000 for men, MM4001 for women) have a lifestyle-inspired feel and even come in unhemmed at 37" with hemming services available. Pair them with a matching blazer for an elevated look. A Port Authority poly/spandex quarter-zip vest alongside the K700 dress polo has also become a fan favorite combo among coaches.
With such a vast catalog, how do you recommend Chipply users approach narrowing down what to carry?
It can feel overwhelming, but SanMar has built out some great resources to make this easier. A good starting point is sanmarsports.com, an end-user-friendly site designed around sports and school apparel (though it works great for corporate stores too). Customers can even browse it themselves and check inventory availability.
The Resources tab on that site is particularly valuable. The Playbook is a curated Good-Better-Best guide covering 35 pages of categories — tees, fleece, warmups, jackets, accessories, and more — personally picked by SanMar's sports reps. It's also available as a printed catalog. You'll also find sport- and school-specific flyers already built out with product suggestions that map perfectly to Chipply stores.
For corporate-leaning stores, sanmar.com has e-catalogs and PDFs covering retail brands like TravisMathew, Carhartt, Brooks Brothers, and The North Face, along with curated guides for working wardrobes and destination fashion.
What's something about SanMar that a typical Chipply user might not know?
Two things stand out. First, now that Richardson headwear is part of SanMar's lineup and ships in single units, there's really no barrier to adding top-selling hats to your webstores. It's an easy win that a lot of store owners may not have explored yet.
Second, hemming services are available on the new Mercer+Mettle Coaches Pant — a small detail that can make a big difference when you're outfitting coaches or staff who need a polished, tailored fit.
What decoration and style trends should store owners be paying attention to heading into next season?
Quite a few trends are worth noting right now:
- Tonal decoration is really having a moment — think decoration that blends with the garment rather than contrasting sharply.
- Natural and cream tones continue to be popular across both men's and women's styles, not just as a "women's color" anymore.
- Chenille patches and appliqués are elevating perceived garment value and feel premium to customers.
- Camo is making a comeback, but in new ways — in headwear, as colorblocking, and with prints layered right on top of camo base fabrics. The color palette around it (greens, beiges, browns) is showing up broadly too.
- White in team apparel is still going strong — beyond just tees, you're seeing white vests, white warmups, and more.
- Matching sets for women's in non-traditional, desert-warm color palettes are trending — coordinated tops and bottoms in those earthy, muted tones.
Any final thoughts for Chipply users?
If you're looking for affordable options for giveaways or bid programs, SanMar's new Easy Collection is worth a look. The Easy Cotton T-Shirt (PC43/PC43Y) is a 4.3 oz., 100% cotton tee with a surprisingly soft hand — available in 52 colors in adult and youth, with a long-sleeve version (PC43LS) as well. The Easy Fleece Hoodie (PC68H/PC68YH) rounds it out with 30 color options in adult and youth. Both are lightweight, value-priced, and ready to perform when margins and volume matter.
Ready to Make the Most of SanMar in Your Chipply Store?
SanMar's depth of catalog and commitment to quality make them one of the best resources available to Chipply users — whether you're just getting started or looking to expand what you offer. If you haven't already explored everything they bring to the table, now is a great time to dive in.
Browse SanMar templates directly within Chipply and start adding products to your store today. And if you have questions about how to get the most out of the integration, our support team is always here to help.