Are you getting the best price for your promotional products?
We hear you. You want to know why you’re paying so much more for a product that you’ve seen on eBay or at the store for cheap. You want to know that when you buy through Impact, you’re getting the best price.
It’s great to browse physical shelves and get a feel for the product you want. Window shopping through actual windows is a fun part of the purchasing experience. Scrolling through the wild and whacky world of eBay is an awesome way to draw inspiration and find things you didn’t think possible or practical. At these places, while they can be cheaper, is the price actually better?
You get what you pay (or don’t pay) for
In most things in life, you can ask for a better price. However, the result might not be what you actually want. Think bargaining down on other things in life for example: building your new home, wedding, education, major surgery. In every case, if the investment is downgraded it is almost guaranteed the end result will be inferior.
The same applies in corporate gifts and branded merchandise. That is, if you drive down the price, you can watch the quality drop. This means the print scratches off, fades or doesn’t cover properly. Additionally, the service delivery may disappear as soon as the order is placed.
What you're missing out on
The cost of an item on eBay or in a store does not include:
- Any customised decoration.
- Artwork and production proofs that guarantee the look and feel you want.
- Tried and tested quality from factories that we trust.
- An account manager who will walk you through the order process and deal with any issues before, during or after production.
- Any creative input from an experienced team who feel passionately about presenting your brand on the right promotional product.
Consultants with years of experience are the best people to partner with when you’re creating your promotional product marketing strategies. A consultant will consider the whole scope of your market, including target demographic, size of the market, outcomes required and successful past items in the industry and/or location. The impersonal nature of online shopping means that you won’t get this level of client care and industry knowledge with eBay or other virtual marketplaces.
When items are in store they are a part of the entire company’s stock that was purchased in bulk (we’re talking millions of units). The sheer amount of product purchased by stores means they actually paid very little per unit. Unless you’re looking for a similar number of products, a comparable cost per item just isn’t possible. Also, when you buy from the store, you very rarely get the best price they can offer until the product goes on sale. Until then you pay the unit cost plus a substantial markup.
Best quality > best price
It’s important to remember that promotional products represent your brand. Their quality and longevity makes an impression on your prospective clients and customers.
While quality merchandise may not fit what you consider as inexpensive, it is an investment in your brand. Choosing the cheapest promotional product may give the impression that your brand is cheap or doesn’t value quality. This can impact how customers perceive your brand and affect their willingness to engage with your products or services.
Finally, promotional products have the longest lifespan of any advertising strategies. Consumers will keep a promotional product for years if it has value. On the other hand, merchandise that you got for the “best price” may not last long, resulting in a shorter lifespan for your brand message. Investing in higher-quality products can ensure that your brand stays visible for a longer period.
While eBay and in-store pricing looks appealing, it’s not indicative of the price of a product used as promotional merchandise. The best price for your promotional products may be higher but it gets you so much more than just the product. When we quote, we’re factoring in industry applicable markup as well as shipping, decoration costs and the cost of the product. Put all of these things together and you to get the best promotional products for the best price.
