[melissaw]

So, you're looking to buy some giveaways with your company logo printed on them but you've never done it before. No worries! Our advertising guru lets you in on a few trade secrets as she walks you through the process step-by-step. Take a look...

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[Coverbay]

Before I comment please let me first be very clear, I own a promotional products business but and in no way am I trying to sell something or promote my business just offering some insider tips if you are in the market for promo products

While all the advice in this article is correct and sound there are some other issues to consider:

Preparation ~ Being prepaired means (Aside from having a clear idea of what you want and your budget) try to have what is known is camera ready art. This is the logo to be applied to the items in a color separated vector based format. Vector based means image resolution is not lost when the image is blown up or shrunk tp fit the item receiving the logo. This is acheived through the use of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Quark Express. Or at least those software suites are the industry standards that I commonly use. If you dont bring us this format we have to re-draw the art for you in a useable format and that can get VERY expensive depending on the detail of the logo not to mention slow down production and take away from your budget for actual items.

Saving money - here is the ugly truth of my industry - THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER DEAL OUT THERE IN TERMS OF PRICE!!! My whole marketing nitch for my company is based on more for less so here is what I suggest you do with your supplier as this is what I do with mine. I go to my suppliers (at least 5 of them) and tell them I have client ABC corp. that is interested in their product and I need their ABSOLUTE best price for say 250 units. Its amazing how they come off their catalog price for me and how I can reduce my clients costs. Makes me look like a winner to them and aggravates my competition to no end! (which I really love). My point is that you can do the same thing with your supplier to. There are several of us out here so they need to know that you dont mind them making a living off them but you in no uncertain terms plan on funding their childs college education with your next purchase and you want there best price as you have budgets to consider. They WILL come down off their initial pricing or there is always the next guy that will!

Depending on what you need get as close to the manufacturer as possible! - In my industry no one absolutely NO ONE makes everything. In other words your t-shirt guy does not make engraved roller ball pens in his "other" shop. If you go to your t-shirt guy for pens he simply takes your order then calls his "pen guy" places the order with him, the pens come in and (if you are lucky) drop them off to you and collects a big ol' middle man charge for making a phone call. The moral of the story, try and deal with people that are only once removed from the manufacturer or are willing to go to multiple suppliers to get YOU the best price not just get themselves the best price to improve their margins.

If anyone has questions about this industry I am glad to offer any information you may need!

Thanks

Chris

[melissaw]

Thanks for your comments, Chris. You are correct in your observations as well...glad to know we're on the same page! :-) I hope you'll read my follow-up blog when it gets posted (part 2 of buying promo products) and let me know what you think.

And I especially loved your comments about the artwork...that's a problem we deal with on daily basis too. I mention it briefly in my next column, so maybe we'll gradually educate the world about what "camera-ready artwork" really means!

Good luck in all your endeavors! :-) MW