Top 10 Promotional products 2024

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Buying Guide for Promotional Products

If there is one thing nobody ever turns down, it is something free. Everyone loves free stuff, and the thriving $19.6 billion promotional products industry is proof of that.Whether it is free handouts at conference booths, freebies distributed during sales calls, free gifts with purchase or free incentives to boost employee performance, promotional products can be worth their weight and then some to sweeten any deal you wish to make.

There is one caveat, however, and that is the critical importance of matching the right freebie for the right price with the right setting. Vendors who specialize in selling promotional products are always happy to help with this, but here again, it is important you choose the right vendor to work with.If you are considering a purchase of promotional products for ongoing or single event use, this Buying Guide can give you the information you need to select the right products and the right vendor to work with.

Pros & Cons

First it can be helpful to understand the benefits and drawbacks to the use of promotional products. However, with careful planning, you can resolve most of the cons and capitalize on all of the pros.

The Pros

The price is nearly always right. Many promotional products will run you less than a dollar or two wholesale prices.By branding these products with your logo and website, you receive what is essentially free advertising along with the happiness generated by your freebies.

Choosing the right products is important but it is not rocket science - in general, as long as it is free, you can count on a warm reception.Promotional items are proven to help you achieve your marketing and advertising goals. It is not a theory - it is a fact.

The Cons

Without a plan in place, just handing out cool freebies is unlikely to net you any more than a few smiles.Some promotional products come with rather significant branding limitations due to size, color, printing and other issues.

Since you will be using branded promotional items, you have to plan ahead - last minute ordering will leave you without the products you need to achieve your goals.Tracking campaign progress and measuring success can be challenging, especially if your campaign is broad.

Distributors

With 3,500+ manufacturers and over 20,000+ authorized resellers in the United States alone, you certainly won't suffer from a lack of vendors competing for your business. As well, with such variety right at hand, you are not likely to experience any difficulty finding and branding the precise products you want at a price that works for your budget.

So when you are choosing a distributor for your promotional products, what you will need to focus most on is the reliability and customer service of that particular vendor. This part of the process can and should take some time, since more than likely you will want to set up a longer-term relationship with a vendor who has the types of products you need and can meet your needs on an ongoing basis.

Here are some helpful questions to ask any vendor you are considering:

• What is your turnaround time? (From the time of ordering to the time of delivery)
• Can I see samples of products in advance?
• Do you guarantee the high quality of each product you sell?
• How can I reach customer service? (By phone, email, text, online form, et al)
• Do you have local reps?
• What happens if an order doesn't arrive on time or to spec?
• Do you have references I can contact?
• What kind of a discount can I get for ordering in bulk?

These questions will give your insight into how that vendor does business and how likely they will be to go the extra mile for your company.

Pricing

The price you pay per item will depend on which vendor you use, what the item is and how many you order. For example, you might pay $1 each for 10 coffee mugs, but you will only pay $0.50 for 50 coffee mugs, and Vendor A might give you a 5 percent discount while Vendor B offers you a 10 percent discount.

Most vendors offer preset tiers for bulk orders. Often bulk to a vendor begins around 1,000 items. As well, most vendors will charge a one-time setup fee for each order. The setup fee is to cover the cost of branding your logo on the items. The setup fee can range anywhere from $20 to $100 or more depending on the complexity of your order and whether or not your artwork meets the distributor's specifications. If it does not, you may pay an extra fee to have your art converted into the necessary format.

How vendors collect payment can vary greatly from one to the next. Some will invoice and some require half up front while others want the full balance paid before shipping. Be sure to ask this question in advance if you need a specific type of billing.

Buying Tips

These buying tips will help you successfully schedule your first order of promotional products and use them effectively.If at all possible, make product selection a group effort - this can give you valuable intel into what your clients really want.

Allow 3 to 4 weeks between the time you order and the time you need the items.Be sure to distribute the new items to your staff first - you don't want them to be the last to know (i.e., when a client asks them for one of those cool new pens).Plan your campaign first and then select your promotional items to achieve the best results from product distribution.