Kappy FAQs

Q: What is Kappy Co.?
Kappy Co. is an Austin-based company that creates custom hat bar and patch bar activations for events, sells custom hats and apparel, and offers business starter kits for people who want to launch a hat bar of their own. Our studio is at 3000 E Cesar Chavez St, Suite 100, Austin, TX. Learn more about our mission and values.

Q: What is a hat bar?
A hat bar is a pop-up station where guests design their own hats and accessories using curated patches, pins, and trims. Kappy Co. brings the products, equipment, signage, and a trained team, and every guest leaves with something they made. See how the experience works.

Q: Is Kappy Co. just a trucker hat patch bar?
Not at all. Patch bars are one of our most popular setups because they move quickly at high-volume events and are budget-friendly per guest, but they’re just the start. We carry trucker hats, dad caps, western felt hats, bandanas, totes, purses, jewelry, and more, plus live branding, custom embroidery, and DTF heat press. Browse our collections.

Q: What’s the difference between a hat bar and a patch bar?
A felt hat bar centers on western hats with live branding, while a patch bar focuses on trucker hats customized with patches. Kappy Co. does both, along with accessories and apparel.

Q: Where is Kappy Co. located?
Our studio and event space is in East Austin at 3000 E Cesar Chavez St, Suite 100. We travel throughout Texas and nationwide.

Q: Who owns Kappy Co.?
Kappy Co. is a Find Your Thrill company, founded in Austin, Texas.

Q: What products can guests customize?
Trucker hats, dad caps, western felt hats, bandanas, totes, purses, fanny packs, jewelry, hoodies, and other apparel. See our custom creations collection.

Q: How can guests personalize their items?
With patches, pins, and trims at a patch bar; with heat-pressed designs at a DTF bar; and with live branding on felt hats. We can also embroider pieces before the event so guests customize from there.

Q: What is a DTF bar?
A DTF (direct to film) bar is a heat press station where guests apply custom designs, including your logo, onto totes, hoodies, and apparel on site. It pairs well with a patch bar when you want a wider product range or a higher-value takeaway.

Q: Can you add our company or school logo?
Yes, in several ways. We create custom logo patches that guests mix with our curated collection, embroider your logo onto hats and accessories before the event, and heat press your logo onto totes and apparel at a DTF bar. Request a custom quote.

Q: How long do custom patches and embroidery take?
About four weeks from design approval.

Q: Can we match our event colors or theme?
Yes. We curate products, patches, and accessories to fit your brand palette, school colors, or event aesthetic.

Q: Do you have kids’ sizes?
We offer youth sizes in many of our hats.

Q: What types of events do you do?
Corporate events and brand activations, conferences and trade shows, festivals, weddings, bachelorette parties, birthdays, graduations, school and booster club fundraisers, team building, singles and social events, and retail pop-ups.

Q: What’s included in a booking?
Products, patches and accessories, all equipment, custom signage, booth setup, a trained team to guide guests, and breakdown. Fully branded booth build-outs are available. Book your event.

Q: Is the activation customizable?
Yes, on every level, from the product lineup and patch designs to custom signage and a fully branded booth build-out.

Q: How many guests can you serve?
We serve up to hundreds of guests per hour depending on staffing, and we scale the team for larger events.

Q: Is there a minimum guest count or booking size?
There’s no minimum guest count. We’ve run activations for two people at an office, intimate retreats of 10 guests, and conferences of over 1,000. Every activation does have a minimum investment that covers staffing and setup, so smaller groups still get the full experience. For custom orders without a live bar, there’s no minimum order quantity, which sets us apart from most embroidery shops.

Q: How long does a hat bar run?
Most hat bars run 2 to 4 hours, and we staff full-day activations for conferences and trade shows. Setup and breakdown add about an hour on each end and aren’t counted in your event time. Larger groups may need more time or additional staff to keep the line moving, and we’ll recommend the right fit in your proposal.

Q: How far in advance should we book?
It depends on your event, and if your date is coming up soon, reach out anyway. We’ve booked activations with as little as 48 hours’ notice when our calendar allows.

For planning purposes, we recommend booking corporate events at least six weeks ahead, plus about four weeks of lead time if you want custom logo patches or embroidery. For bachelorette parties, birthdays, and smaller private events, two to four weeks is usually enough.

Weekends book out furthest in advance, especially in spring, fall, and the holiday season. Peak periods in Austin include SXSW, ACL, and football season.

Q: Can you set up outdoors?
Yes. We regularly set up outdoors at festivals, patios, tailgates, and rooftops. Capacity and timing are the same as indoors when the setup is covered.

Outdoor activations need shade or a tent, a level surface, and access to power or a generator. We also ask for a weather backup plan, since patches, heat presses, and embroidery need protection from rain and wind. Because weather isn’t grounds for cancellation under our standard terms, having a covered or indoor backup protects your investment.

Q: How much does a hat bar cost?
Corporate activations typically range from $2,500 to $20,000 or more, quoted per event based on guest count, event length, products, custom branding, and travel. Private events like bachelorette parties and birthdays start at $500. Individual hats range from about $25 to $95 depending on style, volume, and customization, plus on-site setup and staffing.

Request a quote with your date and guest count for exact pricing.

Q: What affects the price?
Guest count, event length, product selection, custom patches, embroidery or live branding, booth build-out and signage, staffing, and travel.

Q: Do you require a deposit?
Yes. A non-refundable deposit of 50% secures your date and allows us to begin production, with the remaining balance due 7 calendar days before your event.

We accept ACH, wire, check, and Zelle at no additional cost. Credit card and Venmo payments include a 4% processing fee.

Q: What’s your cancellation policy?
Deposits are non-refundable, because we reserve your date and begin sourcing and producing custom items once you book. Beyond the deposit:

• 30 or more days before your event: We retain the deposit plus any non-recoverable costs, such as approved custom patches and materials. Any excess prepayment is refunded.
• 8 to 29 days before: 75% of the total fee is due.
• 7 days or fewer before: 100% of the total fee is due.

You may reschedule once with at least 14 days’ written notice, to a new date within six months, subject to availability. Peak and blackout dates may not be eligible for the same rate.

For outdoor events, weather alone is not grounds for cancellation or refund, which is why we ask for a covered or indoor backup plan.

Full terms are included in your event contract.

Q: Do you travel outside of Austin?
Yes. We regularly travel throughout Texas, including Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, and Fort Worth, and we book events nationwide. We’ve also done events in Miami.

Q: How much does travel cost?
Travel is quoted per event based on distance, team size, and equipment.

Q: What corporate events is this good for?
Conferences and trade shows, brand launches, festivals, team building and offsites, client appreciation and holiday parties, onboarding, and company milestones. See our corporate events page.

Q: Is a hat bar a good alternative to traditional corporate swag?
Yes. Traditional swag is often thrown away, while guests design their own piece and are far more likely to keep and wear it. It also works as the event activity, not just a giveaway.

Q: Can you brand the booth itself?
Yes. We offer custom signage and fully branded booth build-outs.

Q: Can you handle high-volume events like festivals?
Yes. We’ve run activations at events like ACL, where throughput, outdoor setup, and multi-day staffing matter.

Q: Do you work with agencies, DMCs, and event planners?
Yes. Get in touch with your event details.

Q: How does a hat bar fundraiser work?
We bring a pop-up station to your game, tailgate, auction, or school event, where guests buy a hat and customize it with patches, including custom patches with your school logo or mascot. There are three ways to structure the fundraising. See our fundraiser page for full details.

Q: What are the ways to fundraise with Kappy Co.?
There are three. First, your club pays a set fee for us to run the bar and a portion of every sale goes to your fundraiser. Second, your club pre-buys custom inventory and guests pay to personalize it on site. Third, we set up as an add-on attraction at your auction or gala, where we keep our sales and your guests stay longer and keep bidding.

Q: Is there an upfront cost?
It depends on the model. See the full breakdown. 

Q: Can we use custom merch for auction baskets?
Yes. Clubs pre-order custom embroidered hats, bandanas, and accessories with their logo or mascot for auction items and raffle baskets, and we can build a complete custom merch basket with you. You pre-buy, we produce and ship, and the clubs we’ve worked with have raised strong money this way.

Q: Do you ship auction merch outside of Texas?
Yes, nationwide. No on-site event required.

Q: Can we do both a hat bar and auction merch for the same event?
Yes, and many clubs do.

Q: Do you work with booster clubs, PTAs, and nonprofits?
Yes, including athletic booster clubs, band and spirit programs, PTAs and PTOs, and nonprofit organizations.

Q: Can you make patches with our school logo and mascot?
Yes, with about four weeks of lead time. Many schools require approval to use their logo, so confirm with your athletic director first.

Q: Do you do weddings?
Yes. A hat bar works well as a welcome party activity, rehearsal dinner entertainment, reception station, or a favor guests keep and wear.

Q: Can you host a bachelorette party at your studio?
Yes. We host bachelorette parties at our East Austin studio where your group designs custom pieces together.

Q: Can you ship bachelorette hats if we’re not in Austin?
Yes, anywhere in the US. Shop bachelorette hats or request a custom order.

Q: What private events do you do?
Birthday parties for kids and adults, graduation parties, holiday parties, retirement celebrations, team banquets, family gatherings, and singles and social events.

Q: Can we host at your studio?
Yes. Our East Austin event space hosts private parties.

Q: Do you sell hats online?
Yes. Shop the full collection, including Kappy Favorites, Texas Vibes, Game Day, and New Arrivals.

Q: Do you offer bulk orders?
Yes, for events, teams, companies, schools, and parties. Request a quote.

Q: How long does a custom order take?
About four weeks for custom embroidery or patches, plus shipping.

Q: How much is shipping?
Shipping is free on US orders over $500. Other rates are calculated at checkout. See our shipping policy.

Q: What’s your return policy?
See our return policy.

Q: An item is sold out. Will it come back?
Yes unless otherwise specified on the product page.

Q: What is a Kappy Kit?
A Kappy Kit is a business starter kit for launching your own hat bar. 

Q: Do I need experience to start a hat bar business?
No. The kit is built for first-time business owners.

Q: Can I rent your event space?
Yes. Our East Austin event space is available for private events.

Q: Can I rent your podcast studio?
Yes. See our podcast studio page.

Q: How do I get a quote?
Fill out our booking form with your event date, location, guest count, and goals.

Q: How quickly will I hear back?
Typically within two business days.

Q: Who can I contact?
Email shop@kappywearhappy.com or use our contact form.

Q: Do you hire event staff?
Yes. See our careers page.