Promotional Items (pens, mugs, etc) Where do I get em?

[fresh]

I've had more than a few customers ask me for promo stuff like pens / various branded giveaway items. I keep searching for a company to work with who either has a trade department or does not sell to the general public and I come up short.

I met a company at a trade show who wanted me to buy a subscription to their "list" of different promo item companies. I wish I could charge people extra just so they have the ability to order from me. Recently I contacted an online company to see if they have a direct to trade program but all they offered me was an online affiliate program. UGH.

Help.

 

[Gino]

Google ASI and you'll find tons of every novelty item under the sun.

Be prepared, you WILL receive tons of literature and books until you go nuts looking through it all, then trying to make heads or tails with it.

 

[Locals Find!]

go to www.distributorcentral.com and apply for an account its free. They will make you jump through some hoops though to verify that you are planning to buy with the intention of reselling.

Jump through the hoops and your all set. You will have access to hundreds of companies selling all kinds of items with imprinted logos. From Pens to Camcorders.

 

[300mphGraphics]

I belong to Distributor Central too. I've ordered a few things for customers, but found it's actually easier to refer customers to another friend who is a specialist in the promo biz. Too many choices and I'd hate to order what could be crappy products and have unhappy customers. My friend has tons of samples and tons of experience and the profit on $150 worth of pens is not worth it to me. Referring the biz to my friend has turned in to many referrals back on sign projects that make more $$$. Win win.

 

[jrsc]

Distributor central is great for sourcing tons of companies and products. If you just want to work with one company that has a variety of items you could try crown products. They aren't aways the cheapest for every item but I have found them easy to work with. If you're just selling a small amount of promotional products dealing with one place is usually easier then going through the hassle of getting set up with a different company every time you order something. If you plan on making this a major part of your business distributor central or sage is the way to go. I would avoid asi.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Ummm......Yeah.

 

[Graphics2u]

I would avoid asi.

Why is that? i have looked into them a little, so just wondering why you feel that way?

 

[jrsc]

Why is that? i have looked into them a little, so just wondering why you feel that way?

We tried them once and had nothing but problems. They are expensive and don't care at all about helping you. They just want your money. Since we canceled with them they have tried to charge our credit card 3 times and its been over a year. Sage does everything they do and does it better, for less money and with better service. Their website is sageworld.com. We have sage now and are very happy with them. We also just got a distributor central account since they are free and they also seem good.

 

[Locals Find!]

Why is that? i have looked into them a little, so just wondering why you feel that way?

I was an ASI member for over 5 years. I consistently paid out more for membership than I was bringing in. You have to sell a lot of pens and low cost items to pay for membership. I jumped to distributor central where the suppliers pay to get your business. With ASI everyone pays to do business with each other. ASI is kinda like a strip club where only the house really wins.

 

[Gino]

Well, the other side of the coin is this........ we were members for quite a few years and finally quit as more and more brokers and non sign people getting in ruined it and completely underselling us, til it was no longer profitable. When the bottom falls out, you leave. Looking for a lower and lower cost on things just gives way to selling junk, so we decided to close that part of the shop. Besides, it was a full time job, pricing that crap out. When we made decent bucks... fine, but when so many jumped in it back in the late 90's into the 2000 era, it just wasn't worth it.

If all you wanna do is wheel and deal, it's probably fun, but not my cup-a-tea.

It was more of a convenience for our good customers than anything else.

 

[Locals Find!]

Well, the other side of the coin is this........ we were members for quite a few years and finally quit as more and more brokers and non sign people getting in ruined it and completely underselling us, til it was no longer profitable. When the bottom falls out, you leave. Looking for a lower and lower cost on things just gives way to selling junk, so we decided to close that part of the shop. Besides, it was a full time job, pricing that crap out. When we made decent bucks... fine, but when so many jumped in it back in the late 90's into the 2000 era, it just wasn't worth it.

If all you wanna do is wheel and deal, it's probably fun, but not my cup-a-tea.

It was more of a convenience for our good customers than anything else.

Its interesting how you blame brokers and non sign people for ruining an industry started by brokers and non sign people. It was the sign people that ruined promotional products not the other way around.

 

[Gino]

Its interesting how you blame brokers and non sign people for ruining an industry started by brokers and non sign people. It was the sign people that ruined promotional products not the other way around.

Ya know what ?? It's Friday and I'm not even gonna touch that stoopid frickin' mindest of yours. Too much went right today and I'm not going to bottom out with you blowing a gasket over such foolish logic, Addie.

Take a pill, chill and see ya later, Addie.

​

 

[Locals Find!]

Ya know what ?? It's Friday and I'm not even gonna touch that stoopid frickin' mindest of yours. Too much went right today and I'm not going to bottom out with you blowing a gasket over such foolish logic, Addie.

Take a pill, chill and see ya later, Addie.

​

Have a good weekend Gino! We all got our sore spots I guess. You don't like brokers in your industry I didn't like sign people in mine.

Its all been pretty much so mixed up now it really doesn't matter anymore. Now all we can do is fight to keep what we got and not lose anymore ground to the lowballers nipping at both our heals once again.

 

[fresh]

go to www.distributorcentral.com and apply for an account its free. They will make you jump through some hoops though to verify that you are planning to buy with the intention of reselling.

Jump through the hoops and your all set. You will have access to hundreds of companies selling all kinds of items with imprinted logos. From Pens to Camcorders.

sweet, thanks for the heads up.

 

[fresh]

Distributor central is great for sourcing tons of companies and products. If you just want to work with one company that has a variety of items you could try crown products. They aren't aways the cheapest for every item but I have found them easy to work with. If you're just selling a small amount of promotional products dealing with one place is usually easier then going through the hassle of getting set up with a different company every time you order something. If you plan on making this a major part of your business distributor central or sage is the way to go. I would avoid asi.

Great information. I'm glad I asked this question, I didn't think anyone would be able to help... but this thread is jam-packed with information. Thank you again.

 

[Locals Find!]

sweet, thanks for the heads up.

No problem if you got questions about any companies I know most of the major players and their track records. If you ever need any help or advice let me know. I did promotional products sales for a long time. I still know my way around the game pretty well.

 

[Gino]

Have a good weekend Gino! We all got our sore spots I guess. You don't like brokers in your industry I didn't like sign people in mine.

Its all been pretty much so mixed up now it really doesn't matter anymore. Now all we can do is fight to keep what we got and not lose anymore ground to the lowballers nipping at both our heals once again.

So, why don't you leave ??

What in tardnation are you doing in/on a sign forum if you don't like sign people/companies ??

What's up with you, that you'd say such a foolish thing about the very people you want to help you ??

So, if you don't want sign people in your industry..... is it safe to consider you really are in two businesses and are hiding and pretending to like us just to screw us whenever/wherever you can ??

This ain't personal, but if someone puts a fox in the chicken coop, what do you think will eventually happen ??

Once you hear the commotion going in..... the fox will be eliminated instantly by the farmer and his shotgun. You might loose a few chickens, but the good ones will outrun the dumb fox and the coop will go on and completely forget about the fox.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

This **** is getting heavy now!

And OP ... items are generally so cheap, just do a normal markup on whatever item is retail ... amsterdam printing is about 1/3 the cost what most of the promo sales people try to sell me and it's the same quality.

 

[Locals Find!]

So, why don't you leave ??

What in tardnation are you doing in/on a sign forum if you don't like sign people/companies ??

What's up with you, that you'd say such a foolish thing about the very people you want to help you ??

So, if you don't want sign people in your industry..... is it safe to consider you really are in two businesses and are hiding and pretending to like us just to screw us whenever/wherever you can ??

This ain't personal, but if someone puts a fox in the chicken coop, what do you think will eventually happen ??

Once you hear the commotion going in..... the fox will be eliminated instantly by the farmer and his shotgun. You might loose a few chickens, but the good ones will outrun the dumb fox and the coop will go on and completely forget about the fox.

I was speaking in the past tense. I no longer deal with promotional products as my business focus shifted years ago. The promotional products company I ran has been closed for many years now. I didn't like it then anymore than the old sign painters liked the plotters coming into the marketplace. I have moved on. I thought I was fairly clear about that. I apologize if I wasn't.

 

[Gino]

I was speaking in the past tense. I no longer deal with promotional products as my business focus shifted years ago. The promotional products company I ran has been closed for many years now. I didn't like it then anymore than the old sign painters liked the plotters coming into the marketplace. I have moved on. I thought I was fairly clear about that. I apologize if I wasn't.

Well, maybe you were clear, maybe you weren't, but you could still leave just the same. I won't get mad.