FAQs
Promotional Merchandise, Corporate Giveaways and Branded Clothing can be a mine field. However we want to make it simple for you, so to help, here are some frequently asked questions.
How do we contact you?
Telephone 020 3142 6700
email info@outstandingbranding.com or the
contact us form.
Are you on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube?
We can be followed on Twitter , Facebook and YouTube to be kept up to date with the product of the day, Clara the Cows latest exploits and breaking news.
Will you Price Match?
We like to offer all our clients great service and a competitive price for branded promotional merchandise. However we don't want to lose your order, so will happily match a price if a written quotation is supplied.
What is origination? Why do I have to pay it each time I order?
An Origination charge is the cost to set up your branded promotional merchandise production. It includes the cost of the physical template, such as printing screen or embroidery jacquard, that needs to be made to personalise your promotional merchandise; and the time to set up the machinery or equipment to brand your order.If you order exactly the same promotional item again, a Repeat Origination charge, which is generally less than the full Origination charge, and covers the time to retrieve the screen or jacquard and set up the machinery, will apply.
If you order a different promotional product, the chances are the branding area will be different or perhaps the second product is provided by a different corporate giveaway supplier. In either case, a brand new screen will need to be created, and hence the full Origination charge is payable again.
How do I need to supply artwork?
Artwork is required in a vectorised, eps format, created in Illustrator version 7 or above. Whilst a range of other artwork files, pdf or Quark can often suffice, not all branding methods or machines can work with these, so eps is best.
Why won’t a jpg suffice?
Unfortunately, jpgs are low resolution files, and cannot be scaled up or down to suit the branding area of the promotional item. Hi-Res Jpegs can sometimes be used, but very rarely.
What is an ‘average’ lead time for promotional merchandise?
As we offer so many different types of corporate giveaways and promotional merchandise, some designed and manufactured from scratch in the Far East, others assembled and branded in the UK, still others warehoused and branded in Europe, it’s very difficult to give an ‘average’ lead time. However, for purposes of planning, if you allow 3 weeks before a required delivery date for placing an order, this will give you sufficient time to select from a very wide range of promotional items. Of course, as with all things, the longer you can give us, the wider the range you have to choose from!
What if I need some branded merchandise at short notice?
Fortunately, some promotional merchandise can be turned round extremely quickly, some even within 24 hours! If you have an emergency such as this, just contact us on 020 3142 6700 or email us info@outstandingbranding.com and brief us on the details – we will be happy to suggest promotional items that can be delivered in your time frame.
Can you match my corporate colour exactly?
When printing promotional merchandise and corporate giveaways, we always endeavor to match your stated PMS pantone colour as closely as possible. However do note that variations can occur depending on the colour, texture, composition and surface of the promotional item being printed. On many promotional merchandise items, we can offer pre-production samples for your peace of mind. There is usually a charge for this, so just ask and we can provide a quote.
When embroidering branded merchandise and promotional clothing we will choose the closest thread colour to your pantone reference. We will also supply an embroidered swatch where time allows.
Why can’t I collect my promotional merchandise to avoid carriage costs?
For various reasons. Firstly, we prefer to manage your promotional merchandise order right through to final delivery, to ensure continuous quality of service, and also as part of our commitment to making things easier for our clients. Furthermore, our factories and branding partners do not allow 3rd party couriers to collect from them, due to reasons of health & safety, storage, changes in production schedules and so on. We always arrange for deliveries to be made to you, your client, or your event location as required. We charge all carriage at cost, and will work with you and your time lines to ensure that the most cost effective method to deliver to you is chosen.
Are your prices inclusive or exclusive of VAT?
All our prices are exclusive of VAT.
Will I get a proof?
Yes. We supply a pdf visual showing branding design, colour, size and other details for client sign off before your promotional merchandise will go into production. Even on repeat orders, our strict production processes will require client sign off, to ensure there is no room for error.
Are there real cost benefits to ordering in higher quantities?
In brief, yes! The more you order, the cheaper the promotional item will get; but bear in mind that depending on the item, you may have to order a substantial amount more to see a real cost benefit. For example if you need 500 cheap promotional pens, the cost won’t improve hugely on ordering 600. The price for 1000 however would be better, and at 5000 better still! We are always happy to advise, as price breaks vary from promotional product to promotional product, and will quote on further price breaks so you can see for yourself. Don’t forget, we can always arrange storage if you want to order higher quantites and don’t have space yourself. Ask us for a quote if this is of interest.
What if I’m not happy with my goods?
We strive for total customer satisfaction. In the unlikely event that you are not happy with your branded promotional merchandise, you can rest assured that we have strict Service Level Agreements in place regarding any complaints, and will work with you to a satisfactory resolution in a timely manner. Our reputation as a leading supplier of branded merchandise, corporate giveaways and promotional clothing rests on our clients being delighted with the goods and services we supply, and we take this very seriously.
What is a ‘scheme’?
A ‘scheme’ or ‘program’ is suitable for organisations ordering large quantities of a range of Promotional Merchandise and corporate giveaways, and in particular who have multiple staff members ordering these promotional items from multiple locations. With a scheme, we work with our clients to suggest a range of branded merchandise which can be used across the business. These would then be ordered in bulk, to last for example around 3-6 months; and then stored in the Outstanding Branding warehouse to be ordered online by individual staff members when required. The benefits for this range from lower costs for the promotional products as they’re ordered in higher quantities; better brand control, as all areas of the business use the same items, rather than ordering different styles; speed of delivery (since products are held in stock, they can be delivered overnight); and tracking of usage of the items.
If you think this could work for your organisation, call us on 020 3142 6700 or email info@outstandingbranding.com