Top tips on submitting a detailed brief for promotional product quotes

Here at Promotional Merchandise we see quote requests come in every day for promotional products. Many of the requests do not provide a clear brief which means that the supplier has to contact the enquirer for more details before they can provide an accurate quote. For that reason we have provided a few tips to help you ensure you can give a detailed brief to your supplier and speed up the process of receiving your quotes and ordering your perfect promotional product.

Before you request a quote get a clear understanding of the aims and objectives of the promotional campaign and make sure to provide this information when you contact suppliers.

Provide an estimated budget. Many people don’t like to provide budgets when requesting quotes but the benefit of doing so is that the supplier can tailor the product to suit your budget. Many products, from pens to bags to t-shirts, are available in a variety of price options so providing a budget means that the supplier will know which option would be best suited to your needs.

Provide the number of colours involved in your design or your logo. Some products cannot be produced with a full colour logo and your supplier will be able to advise you of this and suggest an alternative. The number of colours in the design will also affect the cost of the product.

If you are thinking of a number of different products, provide the details of your target audience when requesting a quote. The suppliers are experts in their field and will be able to advise you which product would be best for you.

Provide a lead time and ensure you request a quote in plenty of time. The shorter the lead time the more expensive the product can become, as with a long lead time suppliers can source cheaper products internationally.

Provide the quantity of the product that you require. You can ask for price breaks for different quantities if you are unsure and as the unit cost of a product reduces the more you order, it is always worth checking.

Provide details of the delivery requirements when requesting the quote. If you need the products to be individually shipped to different addresses this will affect the cost. The same goes for whether the product needs to be individually packaged and whether the packaging also needs branding.

If you have ordered similar products from other suppliers previously, provide the details and an image if possible. This will ensure the supplier has a good idea of what you want and will not waste time on quotes or samples that are of no interest.

Ultimately, the more information you provide with your initial request, the faster you will receive a quote and the more accurate it will be. And remember, the suppliers are the experts and are there to help you get the most out of your campaign so do ask for their advice when you need to.

You can request a quote from three leading UK suppliers by filling out our simple Quick Quotes form. The suppliers will contact you with options and prices within approximately 30 minutes.

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