Ordering Late… What to Do When Time is NOT on Your Side!

Let me ask you this question – What portion of your overall responsibility would you say includes purchasing promotional products for tradeshows? Probably less than 1%, right?! This is probably the reason why so many buyers find themselves ordering late and paying for rush service and overnight shipping.

So Why Does It Take So Long?

Think about this - every promotional product we sell is customized. Unlike retail products, these products aren’t just taken off shelves and shipped. The reality is that they require time to produce.

So what should you expect when it comes to timing? Well to start, you should figure on the art preparation (1 to 2 days) the production (standard 5 to 10 days) and the shipping (ground 1 to 5 days).

A good rule of thumb is standard production on most items with shipping and art prep require 3 to 4 weeks from the time you order to the time you receive your goods. Keep in mind some products require more or less time.
The bottom line is this - if you order early, you will save money and eliminate unnecessary stress.

Rush Jobs Go Bad

Consider this. If you think paying through the nose to rush an order is your biggest problem, guess again! The fact is- rush orders have twice the risk of creating much bigger problems. Imagine getting the wrong product, having a misprint, or even missing a delivery in time for the show.

So what should you do? Remember, there are approximately 5000 manufacturers in this industry. The problems start when you pick a product you see on a large website or catalog and your distributor has to deal with a manufacturer they have no experience with.
The solution? Keep it simple… And believe me when I tell you to trust only about 50 of them.

I’m a firm believer in the “under-promise,” “over-deliver” philosophy. If I can’t say with confidence that I can’t get an order to them on time – I will tell them that. Better that, than let them down and ruin my customer’s confidence in my service.

Believe me when I tell you again - there are a large majority of manufacturers in this industry who simply do not care about you or me. But always keep in mind that there are 50 great suppliers who do.