PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT PROBLEMS: 3 things you can do to stop your promo becoming an “OH NO!”
At Impact we’ve found that our clients most fear their products will arrive and be nothing like what they envisioned. Thankfully there are steps we, and you, can take along the production journey to minimise the possibility of issues that require a dramatic fix.
As a part of the production process, we supply artwork proofs. These documents come from our factories and give you a visual of what your merchandise will look like with branding, including the size and position of the logo. Our factories sometimes have a disclaimer about the colours or print placement not being consistent to exactness from product to product. These inconsistencies stem from the sheer number of products they are supplying. Their disclaimer covers them for the logo on one item being a few millimetres to the right or left where the logo on the next item is dead centre.
The information you give us is the first step you can take in making sure your promotional products are just right. So having a clear brief is integral. Below are three more things you can do to limit the occurrence of promotional products issues.
Ask for a sample
To further curb the occurrence of larger issues arising, suppliers offer preproduction samples at cost. Samples are invaluable due to the confidence they give that what you will receive is absolutely what you want. A preproduction sample will give you a feel for the size and shape of your product. If the sample arrives and the item is too heavy or a detail is off, adjustments can be made to make the product just right.
A sample will also show how the colours will appear when they’re printed. The product material and the colour of the product can alter the tone of the colours once they’re printed on its surface. To counter this, suppliers print a layer of white first in order to get a truer print and a sample will demonstrate the final result.
Get a sample; for the peace of mind and avoiding buyer’s remorse, it’s worth it.
Know the PMS number
In the branding business we know that the colours of a logo are almost as important as the design itself. Cadbury Purple is not the same as purple, and purple will never be used on a Cadbury product. The way to ensure the correct colours are used on merchandise is to use the specific Pantone colour, identified by a number/letter code. So important are these colours to the big brands that there have been decades-long battles over them and their use (don’t you dare use PMS 2685C for your chocolate bar wrapping, you will regret it).
If the exact colour of your logo is critical, know the PMS number. When it is requested and where printing and production allows, that is the colour that the factories will produce regardless of how it looks on your screen.
Order early
Deadlines can multiply stress immensely. While Impact can meet some extremely tight time-frames, our clients’ stress becomes our own when their deadline looms. To stop a time-frame strangling the possibilities available to you, order early. Know your events calendar and start looking at promotional products three to six months in advance. The options available increase when there is the time to make them and perfect the branding.
Getting in with plenty of time also reduces the worry of products getting lost in transit. Immense pressure is added to all parties involved when the courier has a tight delivery deadline. So to prevent refreshing the courier tracking site every 10 minutes and a possible late arrival, order early.
You can read more about promotional product time-frames here.
What if there’s still an issue with the product I ordered?
Mistakes do happen, no one is immune. Even if you’ve done all of the above and we’ve done everything our end, there is still a small chance that something could go wrong at any point in the production chain. If there’s still an issue with the product (it’s faulty, broken, the wrong colour or has wrong parts), there’s no problem that can’t be fixed with some time and effort. Products can be remade, parts re-sent and logos reprinted.
We are passionate about the products we produce and so are just as passionate about getting them right. Our experienced and knowledgeable team are only a call away to answer any questions before, during, and after the production process.