Let's not rush into things
This time of year tends to get hectic for most. The holidays are approaching, the year is ending, and time seems to fly at an unfathomable rate. And in our industry, it’s when people frantically call or email looking for swag that they need as soon as humanly possible.
Rush orders are always dicey but these days many suppliers won’t even accommodate them. Between material shortages and shipping woes just the thought of rushing something can be terrifying. But while rushing orders is generally not possible there are situations where orders can be turned around at a pretty solid clip. Much of this depends on how prepared the client is going in. Here are three aspects to keep in mind that can help an order get pushed through as quickly as possible.
Artwork
One of the best things you can do to expedite an order is have your art dialed. Obviously, the first step is knowing what you want printed. Whether it’s just a logo or a separate design, when dealing with a quick turnaround you will want to have it ready to go. Here are some other things to consider:
Format - In almost every situation a printer will need vector art. This would be AI, EPS, or editable PDF format. PNGs and JPEGs are not vector art and occasionally can be used if a digital print is an option. But vector is always safest.
Colors - Always know exactly how many colors your art is and it also helps to have Pantone colors (also called PMS colors) picked out.
Fit - Is the artwork you want a good fit for the item you want it on? Not every design works well on every product. If you have a super detailed multi color logo and you want it printed on a pen there is a very good chance it won’t work. Fine detail typically fills in when reduced to a small size. You may need to alter your art to be simpler in order to work on certain products.
Budget
Choosing a budget can be difficult for any order but it’s vital for any rush order tees, hats, or promo products. It allows your account rep to help you choose the right items or styles quickly so there is much less back and forth, helping to keep an order moving forward. If you’re going to a conference and looking for a giveaway you will probably want something a bit cheaper. If you’re having a big event and you want some t-shirts to sell, perhaps your budget will be bigger. Having a number in mind you want to stick to will help with the decision making process before the order is placed.
Delivery
The final thing to keep in mind when needing swag quickly is the delivery. If you’re local and can pick it up, then that’s easy! But often times shipping is necessary even when you’re working with a local company. If you can’t pick up and a courier is an option that is always the safest bet. Generally they deliver same day and you’re not risking a box getting lost or delayed. If you have to use UPS or FedEx it’s always best to pad the shipping time a bit. If they say it’s a three day ship, try and plan for five just in case something goes wrong. Shipping companies are working hard to keep things on schedule in tough times but sometimes delays happen. If expedited shipping is necessary then keep that in mind for the budget talked about above.
Much of this probably seems obvious but many times people either don’t know or simply forget to have these things at the ready. It’s not always possible to to turn orders around super quickly. But being prepared increases the chances dramatically.