Beginners Guide to Sourcing Promotional Merchandise

As part of my job, I regularly get asked by my clients to source promotional merchandise, whether it's for an internal conference or an event.  But for anyone new to purchasing their own branded pens, pads and paraphernalia the choice available and how to order can be a bit overwhelming. So, here's my top tips on how to choose and buy your items wisely:

1) Shop around

Don't go with the first supplier you come across. From experience I've noticed that the majority of suppliers will stock exactly the same product because they'll be buying these from a central source, usually from overseas, so shop around. Yes, searching around is a pain, but think about it, any saving, no matter how small, isn't to be sniffed at.

2) Drive a hard bargain

I always find speaking to the supplier directly rather than emailing or going through their website gives you more bargaining power. If you've seen the same product cheaper somewhere else, let them know and see what they can offer you. If you plan to order more than one item from them, can they offer you any sort of discount?

3) Check all the costs

The prices you see in a brochure or on a website often isn't the complete price. Most suppliers will charge an 'origination fee' (the cost to set up each colour) plus delivery so always ask for the total cost. Some suppliers, depending on the item, may offer free origination or delivery over a certain quantity or order value, so again, shop around. 

4) Don't get carried away

When it comes to printing, the more colours you want, the more expensive your order is going to be. The reason is the printer has to print one colour, wait for the ink to dry, then get the product lined up correctly before printing the next colour in its position, and so on, which takes time. Really, for small items like pens, a one colour print is usually more than enough and you'll often get your order a lot quicker.  

Position is another one to be careful of. If you want your item to be printed on in more than one place (for example on a pen's barrel and clip) you'll be charged extra for each additional position.

5) Check lead times

Suppliers usually give approximate timing on orders but if you need your order quickly then tell them and ensure they can meet your deadline. Also, if you want to place a large order, get them to check their stock levels first. Small suppliers won't have the storage space to hold large item quantities so they may need to order extra. As the majority of this stock is likely to come from as far as China and India, the shipping times could add as much as 4-6 weeks on your order or they may charge extra to have the items delivered by air freight.  

6) Proof your design

Before you assign your item off the print, make sure you ask for a proof. This is your guarantee that your artwork has been set up correctly, in the right position, in the right colour and all the wording and contact details are correct. Remember to check and check again or ask someone else because the printer won't be held responsible for any errors noticed after the items have been printed. 

Alison Pickersgill is an account handler at Sauce Marketing. For more information on Sauce and the services we provide, please contact Amelia Vaughan on 0151 2316258 or email Amelia@saucemarketing.co.uk