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Custom Ink vs Positive Promotions

Thursday, September 19th

2024 Promotional Product Store Reviews

Custom Ink Review 4.5 Star Rating

Custom Ink

4.5 Star Rating
  • Many name-brand clothing and product options
  • Easy design process
  • Volume discounts
  • Free standard shipping
  • Rush shipping options available
  • Satisfaction guarantee
  • Unfiltered product reviews
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Custom Ink began as a customizable t-shirt shop and has grown to offer all types of clothing, including a wide selection of name-brands. They also offer all types of promotional products from note pads to indoor herb gardening kits or stadium cushions. They offer volume discounts when you buy in bulk and even let you set up a fundraiser if you want to earn money from your designs without having to stock your own inventory. Custom Ink ships orders for free and guarantees that they'll arrive on time or you'll get your money back. They have an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and great customer reviews, making this one of the best places to turn for promotional products.

Positive Promotions Review 1.5 Star Rating

Positive Promotions

1.5 Star Rating
  • Sale items
  • Design items yourself or let the company do it for you
  • 24-hour quick ship items
  • 30-day return policy

Positive Promotions initially appears to be a good company with a long history of helping people create meaningful custom creations on clothing and other gear. They have a massive selection of items to choose from, some of which are on sale so you can get a bit of a deal. Customers can choose to design their own items or pay to have Positive Promotions do it for them. The two major reasons this company has earned our lowest ranking is their steep shipping fees and their "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau, along with awful customer reviews. You may be out quite a bit of money if you decide to order here, so we wouldn't recommend even trying.

Where is the Best Place to Find Promotional Products?

They say it takes around 8 touch points with a potential customer before they decide to buy your product or sign up for your organization. This means they'll need multiple interactions with your brand, like seeing it on a billboard, on a banner plastered to the bus that drives by, or with information on a flyer they pick up at the grocery store.

Every company has to utilize promotional products in multiple ways to have the best chance of getting their name out there to build their business. If you pay attention to the branding that's all around, you'll realize that there are nearly infinite ways to promote your school, business, or organization. Companies give out swag like t-shirts, wristbands, stress balls, or even ice cream scoops to make sure they stay at the forefront of your mind throughout the day.

The Best Promotional Product Stores Compare Promotional Product Stores Compare Promotional Product Store Reviews What are the best Promotional Product Stores Best Promotional Product Store Reviews

Promotional Product Store FAQ

There are lots of reasons why companies and organizations invest in promo products to give out. They're a great way to build visibility for your brand: when you hand out things that can be reused, like a tumbler or towel, your prospective and current clients are reminded of your business on a regular basis.

Some branded items are offered in an online store where team members can buy their own merch as they wish; maybe one person prefers a polo while another wants to rep the brand in a baseball t-shirt. Finally, promotional products are frequently used for recognition and awards ceremonies. You're only limited by your own creativity.
Every year sets a new trend. Remember fidget spinners? And yet, there are some promo items that are always popular, like drink cups, t-shirts and pens. It's up to you if you want to try and capture people's attention by having the newest, most novel swag to give away or if you prefer something more traditional.
Yes, most of the time you can request a sample right on the product page. It will probably be unbranded (or may even come with another company's logo) and you may have to pay for it. Many promo item retailers will send you up to $10 in samples at no cost; on more spendy swag, you may have to pay for it, put down a deposit, or return it at your cost.
That depends on the vendor and the product. If you have a logo and a product preference ready to go, and it happens to be an item offered as a quick production product by a supplier, you could theoretically have your order in hand within three business days. Obviously, though, the more lead time you have, the more likely you are to get a high-quality promo product that meets your expectations and that arrives in time for your event.
Yes! Most promotional product vendors have in-house design teams that will take whatever you have and improve it until it's picture- (or pixel-) perfect. These experts can often work with you to create a graphic or logo just from your idea too. Sometimes these services are included as a complimentary perk, while other vendors charge a fee.
Yes, most of the time. On items that cost less than $1 each, expect minimum quantities of at least 100. On more expensive promo products (think fleece jackets or high-end laptop bags), those minimums may be just a dozen or even less.
A custom online store is a personalized website offering the branded merchandise you choose to make available to your team, organization, or even to the public. It's an easy way to let people select what they need, like uniforms or other apparel, in the correct sizes. Some companies use these stores as a rewards portal: employees can choose gifts within a certain price range as a holiday gift or incentive for reaching a milestone. Not every vendor of promotional products offers custom online stores, so keep that in mind if it's an option you'd like to have.
Usually, but there are some stipulations. You'll almost always get a digital proof when ordering promo products, and if your items arrive and don't match that proof, you should get a refund or re-run: your choice. However, if you get them delivered and just don't like the color or style, not every vendor will offer a refund if it matches the proof you approved.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Some organizations sponsor races, others provide pens, pencils, and other free items to schools with their logo and branding. We see decals on cars, water bottles, bags, camping chairs, calendars, sports equipment, and everything else under the sun. These can be a great way to bring attention to your brand and count as a touch point towards a sale or a sign-up.

Because there are so many ways to utilize promotional products, it could seem overwhelming to decide what might be most effective for your organization. It will help to put your branding on items that people will find useful and display often. If you're a sports team, it makes sense to use coolers, frisbees, stadium blankets, sunscreen, or something else outdoorsy. A tech company could order pens, desk accessories, t-shirts and jackets, luggage, or drinkware. Some items you might give for free while others you could sell to loyal employees, fans, or participants in your company.

We've got a list of fantastic places you can turn to for branding. These companies will let you order any given product in bulk so you make sure you have plenty to go around. You can upload your logo, colors for your brand, the font you want, and start designing all the swag to get people hyped. There are a few things to consider when choosing a company to manage your promotional products:

  • Quantity. Most people are going to place bulk orders for promotional products. Does the company offer bigger discounts the more you buy? Do they have a wide range of products that will get you excited about putting your branding on their items and apparel?
  • Shipping timeframes. If you're taking part in a celebration or tradeshow where you need your promotional products by a certain time, does the company guarantee they can get your order to you? A good supplier will always provide an accurate delivery date that you can rely on.
  • Design assistance. You might have gotten put in charge of ordering all the promotional products for a gala, celebration, or big meeting and feel underqualified because you don't have design experience. Find a company that gives you an expert to work with, so you don't have to sweat it. Many places have people who do design work day in and day out and can make sure everyone is pleased with the products you order.
  • Customer satisfaction. What do other organizations say about the professionalism and reliability of the supplier? Do they continue to use their services or have they had to pivot and look elsewhere for someone cheaper and easier to work with? Look for a rating from the Better Business Bureau as well.

Some of the most reputable, easy-to-work with promotional product companies are out there. Taking advantage of them could make all the difference for your business and build your brand in a big way. Top Consumer Reviews has vetted and researched the top options and ranked them to make your choices easier. We hope this information gets you on your way to some sweet branded swag that you can disperse all over town!

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