Benefits of using a branded merchandise agency vs online supplier
On the face of it, sourcing branded merchandise appears easy and even sounds fun! For the first hour, that is. But after spending hours searching online, marketers and purchasing managers are often left with far too much choice and feeling confused about what types of products offer value for money, whether their business logo will look good in the suggested position and if the consumer will even take notice.
There are, of course, hundreds of online providers who take the need for a ‘middle man’ or branding agency out of the equation. Almost anyone can go online and order promotional products in huge quantities themselves, and at very competitive prices.
However, there are several advantages to using the services of a specialist – which often costs exactly the same, if not less when you consider the return on your time and your financial investment.
Here’s why…
- Personal touch
When you work with a branded merchandise agency, they will take the time to get to know your business, understand your target customer and what you are trying to achieve with promotional products.
They will then be able to advise which types of products will best deliver on your objectives based on your budget and take the hassle out of sourcing, ordering and delivery.
Rather than consulting a standard catalogue, they have the ability to come up with creative and bespoke solutions, some of which you may not even know existed.
- Perception
Protecting your brand should be your number one priority. You want your clients and customers to perceive the business in a positive way and any branded merchandise must align with your identity and resonate with your audience.
This not only impacts the products you choose, but the quality of them, the design and the branding.
If you’re a luxury brand who uses cheap merchandise, then this could damage your reputation. If you produce something that looks good, but it’s not fit for purpose, then that could have the same affect too.
Agencies have the experience to know what works and what doesn’t.
- Professional
As well as detailed product knowledge and a vast supplier network, agencies will have a deep understanding of wider branding and promotional strategies.
Investing in branded merchandise is far more than choosing a product and personalising it with your logo and colour palette; it’s about knowing the intended audience, use and return on investment as well as how this fits into your wider overall marketing and business development strategy.
- Positioning
Do you even know where to put your logo on a product, whether the file is the correct type and if it will be visible and printable on that type of material? We do! We’ve done it for thousands of clients, and even helped them to avoid some pivotal logo positioning mistakes!
In addition to advising on and verifying logo placement, we can handle proofs and quality control, ensuring the final product meets your expectations.
Read more about logo positioning pitfalls here…. [insert link when we have written that blog].
- Pricing
As the saying goes, price is what you pay, value is what you get. With branded merchandise agencies, however, there isn’t often a fee for their consultancy service but it will save you hours of time and could improve the return on investment.
The products they source could be exactly the same price, if not cheaper, than those you manage to find online too. This is because they have nurtured personal relationships with their suppliers and have purchasing power.
Price does not just relate to the products itself either – it can also be impacted by postage and packaging, which an agency can advise on.
If products do come in at a higher price, it’s undoubtedly because of the quality and minimised risk of defects and faults.
- Process efficiency
When working with a branded merchandise agency, your own time commitment will be minimal.
They will handle everything on your behalf, from sourcing products and briefing on design to communication with suppliers. Agencies can provide detailed guidance on production timelines, shipping logistics, coordinating delivery and quality control too.
They’ll be your single point of contact, eliminating the need to juggle the various stages of order and shipment.
- Partnership
Long term relationships with branded merchandise agencies are extremely effective. Thinking of agencies as an extension of your overall marketing team will build trust, loyalty and brand expertise.
The agency will come to know your business and customers inside and out, knowing exactly what you need to meet your marketing and overall business objectives.
Providing both a fast reactive service as well as a proactive approach to suggesting new innovative ideas, your branded merchandise strategy will be a breeze to fulfil.
If you’d like a free consultation with etc Branding, we’d love to hear from you.
