Category Archives: Promotional Items

Best Promo Shirt Imprint Options

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In promotional items, “decorating” means imprinting on something. It’s often used specifically for apparel like shirts, hats and uniforms.

The three standard types of apparel decorating most businesses use are:

  • embroidery: stitching words or a design with thread
  • screen printing: ink in solid fields of color
  • direct to garment (DTG):digital imprinting, photographic

These are other ways to imprint. For instance, vinyl cuttings are great for numbers on football uniforms, but in promotions, businesses are typically getting lots of shirts with the exact same imprint. You usually get the best price-benefit sweet spot with embroidery, screen printing or DTG.

Embroidery
stitching words or a design with thread

Embroidery is best for polos and office shirts, jackets and hats. It makes for a classy traditional look with a small logo on the front of a shirt or sleeve.

  • set up costs are high, $50-$200 (one time)
  • low minimums so you can order one at a time
  • typically small designs are embroidered on nice shirts like polos and button down shirts
  • traditional, classy look
  • can be as fancy as the budget allows
  • available on almost any shirt and other apparel   

Screen PrintingScreen Printing
applying spot colors with moderately heavy ink on top of the fabric

Screen printing is typically used for t-shirts with designs using solid colors. It’s best when ordering 16 or more shirts and get’s very economical at higher quantities. 

  • mid-range set up costs, $30-$150 (discounted after first order)
  • can be done on almost any shirt available
  • solid spot colors only (no photographs or gradients)
  • lots of shirt styles available
  • when you need more than 24 shirts, this gets economical
  • great piece price when ordering high volume

Direct to Garment (DTG)Direct to Garment (DTG)
digital imprinting, photographic

DTG is best for photographs and designs with gradients. They can be ordered in low quantities including one at a time. 

  • mid-range set up costs $30-$150 (one time)
  • ink blends into fabric
  • colors are a little muted, a little de-saturated
  • good for photographs and gradients
  • good for ordering one at a time and small quantities
  • can be automated online for lots of repeat orders
  • limited shirts styles and colors can be used for DTG

Google My Business

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Google has a free business listing that some folks don’t know about. It’s particularly helpful for anybody with a public location (office or retail) and serves a geographic area (a small town or region). Every business should get a listing; it’s free and it can show up on Google when somebody searches for your company. It’s also where customers can leave reviews.

 “Mandatory” for Retail and Restaurants

Figuratively speaking, this listing is “mandatory” for any retail business: restaurants, stores, salons, auto repair. That’s my opinion. Other businesses should set up a listing, too, but for retail, it’s even more important. Think of it this way: your competitors are already listed.

Here’s what it looks like when the public sees it.

Google My Business Public Listing

See it live: https://www.google.com/search?q=pacesetter+media

Multiple Locations – Businesses with multiple locations can add each location and manage groups of locations.

There are a few steps like verifying your location by either a phone call or postcard mailing. And you need to enter information like address and description. Adding pictures or video is a nice touch, too.

Find More Info Here: https://www.google.com/business/

Google used to have a service called “Google Places” which has been changed to Google My Business. If you once had a Places listing, it’s been converted.

Bing Places

Bing has a similar listing service. You can find more information here.

https://www.bingplaces.com/

Promotional Items

Best Tip Ever for Promotional Items

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At a recent networking event, I shared the best tip I ever heard about promotional items, and it’s good enough for it’s own blog post:

The best promotional item is one your clients have in front of them when they realize they need your service.

That’s it. Pretty simple.

For an electrician, that might be a sticker on the fuse box or a flashlight. For a dentist, it could be a toothbrush cover or a toothbrush. For a auto repair shop, it could be a tire gauge or car phone holder.

I have a few generic suggestions: pens, notepads, calendars, and mouse pads. These are routine items, but they are usually kept or passed around. They’re often in front of office workers when they realize they need lots of things.

Popular Item – PopSockets® Phone Holder

Pop Socket Phone Holder

Right now, I think this is a go-to promotional item. A PopSockets® sticks flat to the back of your phone, tablet or case with its rinsable, repositionable gel. It makes handling a phone easier…a lot easier.

The bottom line for business: this item is kept and used. It keeps your logo in front of people.

Quantity1005001000
Retail Each$5.08$5.02$4.98

After discounts, I expect this item to start at $3.99 each.

  • White/Light Gray
  • Imprint: One Color
  • Setup: $41.67

Call (813) 685-9206 for more information.