7 ways to get better service from your Promotional Products, Supplier

No Promotional Products distributor is perfect. There are just too many things that can and do go wrong with the sheer volume of products flowing through our industry. Here are a few ways we’ve found to make the overall experience as perfect as possible:

Know your Supplier – We’re not talking about the distributor who you’ve been dealing with for 20 years, we’re talking about the people who actually commission the products and manufacture them. Going with a familiar company pays off, and if you look closely you will see the majority of great product comes from a handful of top notch suppliers.
Get a Sample – Photoshop, Photography, and other colour touchups can do great things for the stars, just think about how much they can do for that mug you just ordered! If you have the time, get a sample, it’s almost always worth the expense.
Use Several Sources – This is especially crucial when it comes to 3rd party decorating techniques. A Hanes or Fruit of the Loom shirt is the same, but how your logo looks on it can be quite different. Make sure you know your distributor has an idea what a red background can do to a logo and what a ‘flash’ is.
Double Check your Proofs – Make sure your distributor insists on proofs, and then check them carefully. You probably have 4 or 5 variations of your logo, and your distributor partner has 100x that in their art files so insist you get a proof.
Insure and Inspect your Goods – Make sure you open that box that arrives at your door when you get it, not 2 hours before your event. What if UPS smashed something, or they got moldy on the boat while on-route from the orient? Make sure you get what you want!
Look for Little Extras – There are tons of supplier initiated promotions that happen at different times of the year. Some examples are straight discounts or 10% free goods, no charge shipping, free setups, etc. Just ask, you never know what you’ll get.
Don’t treat your distributor partner as a doormat – There is a lot of competition out there, and we’re all aware of it. But if you truly value your company’s brand, reputation, and market presence, be wary of who you select and how you treat them. Like any industry there is the good, the bad, and the only in business for 10 days. Ask for references, check their website for testimonials and follow up! A good promotional products salesperson is a brand consultant, value them as such.

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