Why Having a Promo Partner Matters
We live in a world of instant gratification, busy schedules, and to-do lists. Technological innovation has created incredible conveniences to help us accomplish more and maintain constant productivity. I can schedule my grocery delivery, make a reservation, map my best route home, or buy a book that I can immediately read on my device- all thanks to technology. These sorts of advances are common in nearly every industry, and in every case- there are pros and cons that come with it.
Online ordering has been prevalent in the promotional products world for decades. It’s an amazing value for the right situation. Simply go online, find the product you want, upload your logo, select your quantity, and you’re on your way. The challenge is, not all circumstances are that easy. I recently worked on a project with a new client and was reminded of this reality.
Their company had an upcoming sales meeting, and they wanted to provide each team member with a nice backpack filled with branded merchandise (apparel, drinkware, a power bank). Some pieces needed to be shipped overseas, resulting in longer transit times. With this project, we wound up working with four suppliers and two decorators. Their logo had gradients in it, which didn’t translate well for items set up for spot color printing. This resulted in multiple e-proofs, virtuals and art edits. Because we were working with a deadline, and this industry is still grappling with labor shortages and longer production schedules, we had to stay on top of this project to ensure everything was delivered where and when it needed to be. Upon delivery, one of the packages was misplaced. The client reached out to me to confirm the delivery details and was able to quickly locate the shipment. We also learned that the color of the drinkware tumbler was slightly off from how the supplier had shown it on their website. Although the client didn’t request this, we offered a partial credit on that portion of the order, considering they weren’t completely in love with the color difference. Although this project had many moving parts, the client only had to worry about me. As long as I stayed on top of it, she could rest easy. Spoiler alert- I did, so she did!
Why this story is relevant is: when we were initially discussing this project, I learned through an email thread that the distributor which they previously used was an online ordering platform. If they had gone that route with this project, the end result could have been quite different. They wouldn’t have gotten the virtual images- showing different layouts of their logo on different products (unless they paid for it). Reviewing multiple proofs could have resulted in added fees. Needing to locate a misplaced package or discuss the color difference of the final product vs the website image would have meant extra time on hold with customer service. The additional intricacies of meeting deadlines and multiple shipping locations could have also been lost in translation.
That all being said, there is definitely a time and a place for an online order. That’s why we at HATCH Promotions offer our own tech solutions with pop up shops and company stores for our clients. We recognize that you don’t always need us to hold your hand through a straightforward 1 color logo placed on 1 location with 1 delivery address and no deadline date. But, we also recognize that this isn’t always as simple as it seems. We’re here to offer guidance and take on the inevitable complexities that arise, so that you can get back to your to-do lists and busy schedules.
I invite you to consider HATCH Promotions for your upcoming branded merchandise and apparel needs. Let us show you how a combination of technological advances and good old-fashioned relationships can result in efficiency and a successful return on investment. Contact us at: sales@hatchpromo.com to partner up!