Our Merchant Processor (the company that processes our credit card transactions) requires us to describe our Privacy, Shipping and Sales Policies.
So here they are, plus answers to frequently asked questions:
How do you protect client privacy?
We do not sell or share client contact information with anyone. We don’t even have a newsletter or an email list, nor does our web site use cookies. We want you to contact us directly because it’s your idea. We require your written consent to discuss your project or your transaction with anyone else besides you. You also need to give us your consent if someone else (besides you) is coming to see or pick up your custom order.
Will you sign my non-disclosure agreement?
We will gladly sign your NDA (non-disclosure agreement). We do this all the time because we build items for many high-profile clients including tv shows, films, celebrities, etc, whose projects must be kept out of the press and off of social media until their producer, director or owner decides it’s ok. When we sign your NDA, it means we are giving our legal oath to keep our mouths shut about your project or product development. Every person in our shop, from managers to staff to interns, is legally obligated to protect your privacy and the privacy of your project in progress. We take this obligation seriously. Once your event, performance or press goes public, McGrews reserves the right to use photos of the work we’ve done for you, for our own internal training and in some cases, for promotion. We will clear these questions with you first.
How do you handle shipping?
We will generally ship a finished custom costume to you only if we have already seen you, or your actor or performer in person for measurements and fittings during its design and build process. Too many things can go wrong when designing and tailoring for a body we’ve never measured or seen or have done fittings on in person. Think of it this way; If you need a haircut, you take your head and your whole body to see your barber or hair stylist in person.
We always prefer to do a final fitting for any costume, so we can check all its details. Once we’ve done a final fitting, we can generally ship with any carrier (such as FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, etc.) that will get your item to you fastest. Shipping may or may not be included in our design/build contract with you. We need to discuss these logistics when we first meet to talk about your project. Any costume shipping we do always includes insurance and tracking numbers.
What items can be shipped without me needing to come see you for measurements and fittings?
We can frequently ship capes, cloaks, mascot costumes and other wardrobe pieces in which the measurements are a bit more generalized. Feel welcome to ask us!
We will also ship finished costume and prop items to remote or out-of-state producers with whom we already have good relationships. It means we know them well and trust them when they send us completed measurement forms for their actors or performers. It means we have a good understanding of what functional features the costumes need to have, how the costumes should fit these actors, and who is taking the actor’s measurements. Generally, the person taking these measurements remotely is also another skilled tailor or designer. We also need to know who may be doing any needed alterations if we are shipping items to California or anywhere else.
What are your sales policies?
Your agreement to commission McGrews for our custom design services is not a retail transaction. Payment schedules and terms are clearly stated in our forms. When you sign them, you are agreeing to pay in full for our custom design and fabrication services, even if your event gets cancelled or your grandmother doesn’t approve of your taste in wedding dresses. Additionally, we will only contract with adults over 18 years of age. If we’re building for a minor, someone under the age of 18, we must contract with their parents or legal guardian. All custom work commissions, deposits and balances are final. We don’t do returns, refunds, or exchanges. We work as hard as we can in good faith to make you happy, and we want you to show off our best work. We want you to own a magical, one-of-a-kind item. We take great pride in our work and our reputation is famous, as is our client list. We make quality items with great attention to function, fit and details, as you have already seen in our portfolio.
What sort of deposits are required?
Deposits are required at the beginning of any contract. This is generally 50% of your total and a deposit is required for the shop to start working on your project. Frequently, however, we can split up your total amount into several installments, rather like a layaway, as your new costumes may take several months to build. Your deposit confirms that you are serious about seeing the project through to its completion. Deposits are not refundable nor are final payments refundable.
What forms of payment can I use?
You can use cash, check, money order, credit cards, debit cards, Paypal or Venmo in any transaction with us.
How are final payments handled?
Final payments are due on the agreed date in our contract with you. Payment of your remaining balance can also be paid in advance, if you wish. Items never leave the shop without being fully paid for. We submit any outstanding balances to our collections agency.
What if my event, performance, film or wedding gets cancelled or postponed?
If your film, event, photoshoot or wedding gets cancelled or postponed, or if you can’t or won’t attend it for some reason, you are still legally responsible for the balance of your custom order. All custom work must be paid for in full and picked up by the agreed date. We submit any outstanding balances to our collections agency. Any custom item not picked up by the agreed date becomes the property of McGrews and we get to decide what to do with it.
What is a release of liability agreement?
For some projects, we will ask you to agree to hold McGrews harmless and release all liability for any accident or injury that you or your actor might experience while wearing or using your new custom costume or prop. This applies to mascots generally, because a wearer’s vision and sometimes mobility will be limited or different while wearing these sorts of costumes. You also agree to hold McGrews harmless and release all liability for any property damage that you might cause while wearing or using this costume or item. You agree to hold McGrews harmless and release all liability for any legal or punitive actions taken against you for your behavior while you are wearing or using your costume or prop item.
If we are making something custom for your film or event, or renting an item to you, sometimes we will stipulate that one or more of our technicians must accompany it during your shoot to oversee the safety of your actors plus the integrity of the item. A technician’s day rates can be calculated into the costs to build your custom costume, set piece or prop.
How do you handle costume alterations and repairs?
When you pick up a new custom item we’ve made for you, it will be beautifully finished and made to last. You will be given instructions for its general care and cleaning, and you bear the responsibility of following these instructions. With regular wear and use, your item may need future repairs or alterations. These are additional charges and are not included in your originating contract. There’s a big list of alterations and their rates listed here: If you already own costumes that need some alterations or repairs- let us know! We do that, too.
What are charges for changes to my design?
Any changes in your custom costume, prop, or set piece must be made before your second fitting. Changes may increase your total cost. Any additional changes we agree to are in writing and must be included in your final payment. Sketches and pre-viz help us all understand the expectations of your new costume’s form, fit and functionality. It’s why we generally do any sketches first. Read more about sketches and pre-viz here!
Do you create sketches?
Yes, however, if we are replicating or duplicating a known, iconic costume or clothing item that can be found in a film, comic book, video game, magazine, manga, etc, we typically do not create a sketch or rendering. We ask that you provide these visual references for us. We’ll provide a sketch or two if your goal is to adapt, mash up or hybridize your costume with other themes or elements. See some examples of these kinds of sketches here. If your costume is historically themed, we will usually create a thumbnail sketch which is included in the price of your overall contract. Any additional sketches that may be needed are provided at $65 per sketch. Once we’ve created a rendering or sketch and you agree with its overall style lines, colors and details, we will ask your signature on it so the work can begin.
Can you create custom costumes like the ones I see in movies and comic books?
Yes. If we are making a single costume for a single individual, we are generally and legally allowed to replicate or copy someone else’s intellectual property such as DC, Marvel, LucasFilm, etc. However, we never mass produce these sorts of costumes or props.
How many fittings are needed for my custom costume?
A custom gown, period costumes and other highly fitted or high-concept clothing will generally require one to three fittings. Stretchy dancewear, unitards and leotards, capes, cloaks, tunics, mascots and other items generally only need one in-person fitting.
What do I need to bring or wear to a costume fitting?
We require all clients and all actors to wear underwear for all fittings. We reserve the right to refuse a fitting if a client or actor isn’t showered and/or isn’t wearing underwear. Please bring the shoes you plan to wear with your final costume, or even shoes with heels which have the same height as the ones you’ll wear for your event, film or production. If we are creating historic period costumes for you, and you already own corsets, girdles, bras or other foundation garments you plan on wearing under your costume, please bring those as well. If we are building a custom corset for you to wear under your new costume, you’ll be trying that on as well during your fitting. Read more about custom corsets, boned bodices and period bodices here.
What are fitting notes?
When we do custom fittings, we take notes about steps we will take to complete your new costume. These notes are chiefly reminders for us as we finish and fine-tune a new costume in production for you. As a client, you’ll sign off on these before you leave the shop.
Any major changes you request incur additional cost. Examples of these might include changing the fabric, the color, the silhouette, the cut, the shape or size of a cuff, or a lapel, etc.
Three fittings (if needed) are included in the total cost of your custom order.
How do you use photographs?
Naturally, McGrews wants to have professional, fun photographs of all our clients in their new costumes and with their new props! We even offer professional photography services in-studio for our clients and visitors alike. We reserve the right to photograph your project and fittings for our own records, internal training, marketing and promotional materials, without any compensation to you. For our own reference, we take snapshots of work in progress. However, if we have signed your NDA (nondisclosure agreement), we will never publicly post photos or display them without your permission.
We are super empathetic to individuals’ rights and needs for personal privacy. An example of this would be when we’re creating something so outrageous, sexy or intimate for someone, we will never post pictures of it where you can see the identity of that person or their name. If we post pictures at all in our gallery or any social media (and we really don’t do much social media anyway), the costume item is likely to be photographed on a mannequin or dress dummy.
What is an Acknowledgement of Actual Costs?
In some circumstances, we may not charge our actual rates because we want to work within your budget. But we still want you to understand and honor the value of skilled design and labor. In these cases, we will ask you to acknowledge in writing that the project you are signing for and taking home with you is valued at far more than what we may have charged you. We are interested here in promoting the value of artisanship plus cultivating a long-term relationship with you as a client.
How do we decide which projects to work on?
We will agree to undertake your project because (1)it interests us, (2)because you’re serious and committed to the process, (3)your budgets are realistic, and (4)because we’ve all planned with enough lead-time prior to your event or performance. Our schedule varies constantly because we frequently work on commercial, corporate and film projects. If time and resources are too short, we might refer you to another costume designer. We will never undertake a new project that we don’t have enough time or resources to complete your project beautifully and we never take design or fabrication shortcuts.
Do you design for weddings?
Yes. But we are holdouts for the weird, cool ones. We are rather enthusiastic about sci-fi, fantasy, historical and steampunk weddings. Hit us up! There are plenty of other vendors in Utah who cater to the more traditional weddings.
What’s the price of an average costume, prop, set piece or video shoot?
Well, there is no such thing as an “average” cost for a custom costume, prop, product prototype or video shoot. Each is unique to its purpose, its budget, its event and its audience. Yours will be unique as well. There’s a huge difference between a $600 dollar superhero costume and one that’s film-quality, with a budget of $6,000.00 to $10,000.00 or more. That said, we don’t require minimum orders. We just need to know what your budget is. If we agree to it, then we do our best possible design and fabrication for the amount you’re spending. That said, there’s some ballpark pricing info here. Much of it is a few years old, but we will honor these prices until we get all these forms updated!
Custom Costumes and Accessories: Here’s a short, several-year-old list of things we tend to make all the time. It has lots of starting/ballpark figures. Depending on the fabrics you’re seeking, we can often include them in your labor total:)
Videography, Music Videos, Drone Shoots, Editing, Animation and Effects: Several ‘packages’ listed here, plus an a la carte menu of extra items we can offer you on days we’re shooting your commercials and videos.
Our team’s day-rates: Our experienced team can work on pre-production as well as in post for your film or event, plus we can come work on your set.
Tailoring, Alterations and Repairs: Comprehensive list, covering all those clothing items that cover you (including costumes you may already own).
Custom Slipcovers and Home Dec: Labor rates for most of your furniture, window coverings and home dec projects. We can calculate how much fabric you’ll need, then you can shop for the fabric of your dreams.
Custom Corsets and Cinchers: Period corsets and corseted bodices with sleeves, too! We’ll get the prices in here updated soon.
Misc Production Services:
Coming soon- Rates for us to do your script evals and project bids, to do line producing, to create your production’s IMDB page, to do your accounting, purchasing, etc. Many types of network connections and skilled tasks we’re really experienced at can be involved in shepherding your project from an idea into completion:)