Promotional Product Trade Associations: What Can They Do For You?

Nowadays, anywhere people look, they will see promotional products. From custom shirts to branded bags and street furniture. They are generally things used around the house, school or workplace. This is precisely the function of promotional merchandise: to advertise while being functional.

Since that is not an easy feat, trade industries and organisations help to bring some structure and sanity to the business. So, we’re featuring the promotional product industry today and some promotional product trade associations to look out for when you’re planning your next branded merchandise.

What Is The Promotional Product Industry?

The promotional products industry is made up of companies and associations that design and distribute promotional products in line with the client company’s marketing needs and requirements. The industry consists of suppliers and distributors that work hand in hand to deliver quality promotional products to end consumers.

These promotional products are mainly composed of functional and decorative products with a brand name, logo or message. Now, these promotional merchandises have a plethora of benefits for companies depending on the purpose of the promotion. They can help increase brand recall and awareness, build brand trust and improve public impression as well as retain and entice new customers.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the roles of the people involved in this industry and how they work with each other.

Suppliers

Supplier companies specialise in the creation of specific promotional products. They are responsible for the process of manufacturing and imprinting. Oftentimes, these are factories with specific technology for specific products that are available for mass production.

Apart from the process of manufacturing, they are also responsible for the materials to be used in the merchandise. Thus, it’s important to go through all these things when talking to suppliers, to ensure that both your company and the supplier are in the same boat.

Distributors

Distributors are the businessmen that make the promotional product industry run like a well-oiled machine. They are usually responsible for transactions between the client company and the suppliers. Distributors are also known as promotional product agencies and middlemen who connect the needed companies together.

While suppliers offer the promotional products themselves, distributors offer their intensive knowledge in the field. In addition to that, most distributors have built a connection to various suppliers and established trust as well as quality control with these factories.

End Consumers

End consumers are the people these promotional products are aimed at. Both the loyal consumers of the brand company and prospective clients. They are the goal and the objective of the whole process.

When planning for promotional merchandise, the company must ask themselves if their end consumers would find the branded merchandise functional and actually use it.

Promotional Product Trade Associations

Sometimes it may seem complicated to find the right company to supply your next corporate gift or set up a good partnership.

Buzz on promotional industry blogs and association portals can help companies make the right choices. Therefore, here are promotional product trade associations to click through to know more about their services.

Promotional Product Trade Associations: What Can They Do For You?

Experience

Promotional product trade associations are established groups that have been in the industry for years. This advantage comes in handy especially if your company doesn’t have experience regarding promotional products that will fit your brand and market.

They have all the how-tos and tips to ensure a smooth transaction for the promotion.

You can also ask for assistance when it comes to your promotional merchandise design or navigating through the production process.

Connection

Being in the industry means these suppliers and distributors know where to get the best materials and the most fitting factory for the promotional merchandise your brand wants.

This connection between members of the associations not only ensures you quality in product and work but could also help you reduce cost.

Furthermore, it exposes your brand to newer markets and possible people in the business to work with in the future.

Technology

One visible effect of working with this industry is you no longer need to procure the needed machines for your promotional products.

It saves you the cost of the technology and the creation of another department.

Moreover, it gives you more choices when it comes to the promotional product you want to use.

Quality

Associations are made up of suppliers and distributors that follow certain standards. Since these promotional product trade associations aspire to do more business with you, you can trust they will deliver the quality you will require.

Furthermore, they specialise in various products so there’s always a supplier and distributor that will be able to cater to your marketing needs.

Here are more blogs to read through in line with promotional product trade associations:

When it comes to finding suppliers, it’s best to check contract manufacturers which specialise in certain industries and would lend their product expertise to your brand. Read more about the contract manufacturers below:

Contract Manufacturing in China: Which Province for What Products?

Finding high-quality manufacturers in a certain country who are familiar with every area of how the local suppliers conduct business can be done by using buying agents. Know more about buying agents here:

Sourcing 101: Why Do You Need A Buying Agent In China?

The danger of outsourcing the manufacturing of your promotional merchandise is the theft of intellectual property (IP). Check out how NNN Agreement helps you with this problem for better business with manufacturers.

NNN Agreement: How To Protect Your Intellectual Property in China?

To Sum It All Up,

Promotional product trade associations can be partners that would assist you every step of the way or let you focus on your business and marketing while they work on your promotional merchandise. The important factor here is for you to know how the industry works so you could properly enlist help in areas you need them.

The ODM Group is a promotional product company with decades of experience in the industry. We have an in-house creative team, Mindsparkz, to assist you in the concepts and designs of your promotional product. In addition to that, we also have connections with trusted merchandisers to ensure the quality of product material.

Apart from promotional products, we offer a wide variety of services such as manufacturing point of sale displays, gift with purchase designs, luxury packaging and corporate gifts. Contact us today!