Smart Swag Savings: A Guide to Saving Money on Merch
Maximize Your Swag Budget Without Sacrificing Quality
When it comes to corporate gifts and personalized swag, we all want the best without breaking the bank. But how do you balance cost and quality? Fear not, savvy spender! Here’s your ultimate guide to smart swag savings and optimizing your budget while ensuring your swag still impresses. We’ll dive into design hacks, smart sourcing, and creative solutions to stretch your budget without losing that wow factor.
The Key to Success: Understanding Your Needs
Every client, every brand is unique. At Crooked Monkey, every project begins with a deep dive into your brand and specific needs. This doesn’t mean we slow the process down; actually two of our company values are “We Dig Deeper to understand the why” and “We value time (and speed) “. So, it’s about asking the right questions. We believe that a thorough understanding of your project is essential to delivering the best results.
Whatever your project entails, we’re dedicated to finding smart, efficient solutions. Maybe you need a specific brand (that your CEO loves), or perhaps you’re after the perfect PMS color match for your logo. Whether it’s a super awesome, custom overseas creation, efficient logistics from storage to shipping, streamline operations through automation or digitizing inventory, we’ve got you covered. We’ll ensure that we find the best way to optimize resources to achieve the desire outcome.
Crafting Overseas
Do you think that producing merch overseas is complicated, time-consuming, and requires massive quantities? We are here to Debunk these Myths! We’ll always recommend whether to produce locally or overseas based on the best option for your specific project. Is it complicated? Not for you, because we handle everything!
- Premium Look, Lower Cost: Do you love a super premium product or brand, but the price is skyrocketing? Let it be our inspiration to re-create a custom product with similar features, reducing costs without sacrificing quality. Imagine this: a name-brand jacket costs $120, but by designing a similar item in our own overseas factories, we can produce it for $60-$80 with 75%-80% of the same quality. The best part? We add unique details and finishes with your branding, making it truly unique.
- Choosing the right material: When creating items from scratch, we can switch materials to be more cost-effective, eco-friendly, or suited to your event. As an example, one of our clients wanted an exclusive makeup pouch. We did a new design, switching leather to canvas, significantly reducing the cost while maintaining a chic-custom look.
- Early Bird Savings: Planning ahead always opens up more ways to save costs. Shipping by boat instead of by air takes longer delivery, but can save you an additional 30-50% on shipping costs.
Private Label Options
When it comes to quality swag, the brand name isn’t always the deciding factor. This is where private label options become your secret weapon for smart swag savings. Brands like Tultex, District, and District Made offer comparable quality to well-known names like NLA and Bella Canvas, but at a fraction of the cost. For example, District’s version of the NLA 6210 or Bella 3001CVC can save you about $1 per unit. That may seem like a small difference, but it adds up quickly when ordering in bulk.
While Under Armour is a popular choice, Ogio provides excellent quality at a more affordable price. This makes Ogio an ideal option if you want top-notch products without the premium brand price tag.
And it’s not just apparel where private labels shine. As another example, Moleskine is a classic choice, but Journal Books offers a comparable quality alternative when budgets are tight. Sometimes, opting for a different brand can provide the same level of quality while helping you stay within your budget.
Quantity Matters
Screen printing and embroidery costs hinge on quantity. Ordering 144 units instead of 50 can significantly lower costs. However, ordering more than 288 units doesn’t usually lead to substantial savings. We’re here to help you find that sweet spot where your order size maximizes cost-efficiency.
Printing costs also depend on the number of sides, colors, and print locations. Simplifying your design by reducing the number of colors or print locations can slash costs. We’ll work together to ensure that your design is both cost-effective and impactful, without compromising on quality. We’ll help you balance the budget while achieving the look you want, so you can focus on enjoying the results.
