C&E Specialties
absolutely committed to excellence
The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity."
- Ayn Rand
It's not easy being green."
- Kermit the Frog
Lost time is never found again."
- Benjamin Franklin
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever."
- Chinese Proverbs
Company Info
C&E Specialties is a supplier and custom decorator of corporate apparel and premium incentives and Giclee printing located in Rockford, IL since 1981. Our in-house silk screen printing and direct embroidery departments enable us to offer prompt service for substantial as well as modest order requirements for all types of custom imprinted apparel. We have continually upgraded and expanded all aspects of custom decorating, drop-shipment, fulfillment services and especially our art department capabilities.
During our 29 plus years in the extremely competitive corporate promotional merchandise market, we have prospered because of an uncompromising dedication to customer service and a “whatever it takes” attitude relative to successful programs.
We have now developed our art department's staff and equipment to facilitate Giclee printing. We are excited about the opportunities of partnering with fine artists. We want to enable you to expand the number of collectors who purchase your art.
Being green
At C&E we are committed to going green. We offer a variety of apparel and ad specialty green products and we work to recycle, reuse and reduce waste at our company. Take a look at some our environmentally friendly strategies.
Recycle
- As we have for years, we continue to recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, ink cartridges, computer equipment.
- All chemicals used in cleaning screens are biodegradable and safe for the environment.
Reduce
- C&E has reduced its energy consumption by replacing our standard hot water heater with a energy efficient tankless water heater.
- We have reduced our energy consumption by replacing all lighting throughout the company with energy efficient fluorescent fixtures and bulbs.
- Paper usage has been redused. For example: quotes, proofs, etc. are all stored digitally.
- C&E has invested in energy-saving computers that are in energy-saving mode when not in use and turned off after hours.
Reuse
- C&E donates discontinued or unsaleable clothing items to our local not-for-profit homeless shelter.
- No paper or plastic here! Our office kitchen is stocked with reusable plates, mugs, and silverware. Bottled water has given way to a water cooler.
- Being in the promotional business, we hand out our own promotional items imprinted with our logo. No throwaways here—C&E items are all meant to be used and re-used: i.e., mugs, pens, paper clips, rulers, and post-it® notes, to name just a few.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few frequently asked questions. We will be glad to answer any question you might have. Please call or send us your question via email below.
Please look at our Artwork Requirements in .pdf format.
Because we offer a large variety of products, we have a variety of catalogs. Once we determine your needs, we can forward catalogs, recommendations and samples if needed.
We stand behind all of our products. If you are not satisfied, we will work with you to resolve the issue.
Embroidery can capture very fine detail, as small as the thickness of a thread. However, there are some limitations. Color shading is generally not possible and embroidery looks best when done in blocks of solid color. Tiny lettering is hard to read. Letters should not be smaller than 3/16” high, and must be done in upper case if smaller than 3/8” high.
- Embroidery - 12 pieces.
- Printing - 12 pieces per color per location (ie. 2 color Full Back and 1 color Left Chest. = 36 pieces) Some colored and most dark shirts require an underlay which is considered an additional color.
- Ad Specialties - refer to manufactures specifications.
Prices are based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the following:
- total quantity
- color and brand of the selected item
- for screen printed garments, the number of colors and number of locations
- for embroidered garments, the number of stitches
- additional charges including screen charges, embroidery disk charges, art charges, and setup charges may apply and will be quoted separately.
Most samples can be returned within 15 days without being charged.
We will work with you if an urgent order is needed. We offer a standard 14 business day turnover, assuming availability, on most products. Some products can take four to six weeks. All time sensitive orders will be followed closely.
Have a look at our Web Site Questionnaire in PDF format to help plan your web site.
Microsoft Office, Microsoft Publisher, or web graphics are not capable of producing art files of a quality necessary for imprinting purposes. They will not provide adequate separation options needed.
Artwork is considered “ready” when it can be used for prepress and printing without the need for modifications that might incur extra charges or cause delays.