Promotional products are incredibly versatile. They can be used as giveaways, as prizes, as incentives, as rewards, in recognition of achievements, and for a wide range of other uses. However, it’s important that you understand the price versus quality situation. Otherwise, your efforts may not have the intended effect.
Businesses and organisations need to watch their bottom line. That’s a given. In the quest to save money, it’s tempting to purchase the lowest-cost promotional items possible. While that seems to make sense, it’s only superficial logic. Digging deeper into the equation will reveal that quality matters more than price in many (but not all!) cases.
Why and When Does Quality Matter?
First, understand that quality matters most in some specific situations. If you’re handing out plastic swag bags at a tradeshow filled with logoed ballpoint pens and stubby coolers, quality is less important. However, if you’re looking for a way to make an impact with your promotional products, then you need to think about more than just the price tag. A few situations in which quality trumps price include the following:
- Using a promotional item to reward an employee or associate for an achievement
- Using a promotional product as a prize (raffles, drawings, etc.)
- Using a promo item as an incentive
Obviously, in situations where the promotional product is expected to have significant value, you need to pay attention to the quality of the item in question. Going with the cheapest solution possible will usually result in sub par quality and leave the recipient, winner, or employee feeling let down. There’s also the fact that low-quality products reflect on your brand. Do you really want your company or organisation to be associated with cheap, low-quality items?
You Can Still Save Money
Buying quality promotional items does not necessarily mean that you must intentionally blow your budget. There are still ways that you can save money while ensuring that you get quality products that your recipients will be proud to own and show off.
One of those is to order in the right quantity. In most cases, the per unit price is lower with larger quantities. So, rather than ordering 1 item, consider ordering 10 and finding ways to use any extra items.
Another way to reduce costs is to plan effectively. Lead times play a role in the price that you pay. The more advance notice your promotional product partner has, the lower your costs will be. On the other hand, rush orders will usually incur higher fees, bumping up your per-item cost.
Finally, consider the bigger picture. Choosing items that are of high quality, that have appeal with your audience, and that will actually be used can generally justify a slightly higher per-unit price. After all, if you’ll be getting marketing from an item three years after you initially purchased it, that item more than paid for itself.
At 4Promote, we can help with any brand building and marketing needs. We offer the highest-quality promotional items, affordable prices, and industry-leading customisation options. Get in touch to learn more.
