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Sunday, June 30th
2024 Promotional Product Reviews
Positive Promotions
- In business since 1947
- Up to $10 in samples at no charge
- Guaranteed lowest prices
- 24-hour "fast track" service
- Free art proofs
- Satisfaction guaranteed
Positive Promotions got its start in 1947. For more than 70 years, they've helped companies and organizations get the giveaways and gifts needed for employee recognition ceremonies, trade shows, special events, fundraisers, celebrations and more.
Traditional and novel promo items
The range of promotional product categories you'll find here is impressive. You'll find the basics of apparel, pens and pencils, and calendars, of course. But why not think outside the box a little and look at toys, automotive tool kits, or items for the home? There are plenty of options within each category as well: for example, in Food and Candy, you'll find individually-wrapped chocolates and hard candies but also larger gift sets that might include a hot/cold tumbler and cocoa or tea bags.
Simplify your life with filters
Because there's so much to choose from, you'll probably want to use the filters to narrow down what you do and don't want. Besides selecting the promo product categories you prefer, you can also indicate the imprint method (foil stamp, label, laser engraved) or eliminate any items that come with a set-up fee. You may also have a budget or delivery timeframe in mind, so be sure to check the boxes that describe your situation there. And, depending on how many items you intend to buy, the Minimum Order Quantity dropdown can be used to display only the promo products that fit your plans.
Use Helpful Links for more options
Our favorite filter is the Helpful Links dropdown. We're not sure why Positive Promotions calls it that; it sounds like you're going to be taken to blog articles or something informative. What you'll actually find there are some extra ways to narrow down your results. Maybe you're really interested in swag that is eco-friendly, made in the USA, or antimicrobial? Or do you only want the very newest items in their catalog? This filter is where you can specify all of that and then some.
Free samples
As you discover promotional products you like, you can add a sample to your "sample cart" (you'll find that tab under the Select Print Option section of the page). Positive Promotions offers up to $10 in free samples, though we're not entirely sure how that works when you're considering items that are more than $10 each.
Failure to respond to BBB complaints
Because this business has been around for over half a century, we were expecting a pretty sterling reputation. However, when we looked up its listing with the Better Business Bureau, we were disappointed to see a "D-" rating for failing to respond to 16 customer complaints. Granted, 27 complaints in three years isn't excessive, but there's no excuse for not answering - especially when you have been in operation for so many years. When clients describe their experience working with you as "nightmarish" , it's generally wise to respond - quickly, professionally, and maybe even apologetically.
Clients would advise you to order elsewhere
And, from what we saw on the BBB listing and elsewhere, there's plenty to apologize for. Customers report placing orders in June and not receiving them until the end of September - for an event that had already taken place two weeks earlier. Orders are accepted with no forewarning that items may be out of stock, on backorder, or just plain unavailable. It was genuinely challenging finding any clients who say that their experience buying promotional products here was smooth from start to finish. So much for the 100% satisfaction guarantee they promise.
Choose a more reliable vendor of promotional products
We hoped that Positive Promotions would live up to its name. The company offers a great selection of promo items and some novel features, like an easy-order webstore to let customers or clients choose their own gifts and apparel sizes directly. Unfortunately, clients say that this provider doesn't deliver. We recommend placing your order with one of the higher-ranked vendors of promotional products in our evaluation.
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Where Can You Buy the Best Selection of Promotional Products?
Name a brand, company, organization or school that doesn't have promo products. Hard to do, right? There's no shortage of ways these groups use to put themselves out there with swag. Run a 10k race and what do you get? A t-shirt, medal, and some kind of fitness gear at a minimum. Go to a college fair and come away with a pile of cups, koozies and calendars - all in the hope that you'll keep them in mind when you (or your child) are choosing a school for the fall.
Is your group making the most of your promotional products? It can be overwhelming trying to decide which tchotchkes are right for you. What's the best combination of value and results? What if you don't have a design ready to go? How much time will it take to get your items produced and delivered?
Continue reading below
Promotional Product FAQ
There are lots of reasons why companies and organizations invest in promo products to give out. They're a great way to build visibility for your brand: when you hand out things that can be reused, like a tumbler or towel, your prospective and current clients are reminded of your business on a regular basis.
Some branded items are offered in an online store where team members can buy their own merch as they wish; maybe one person prefers a polo while another wants to rep the brand in a baseball t-shirt. Finally, promotional products are frequently used for recognition and awards ceremonies. You're only limited by your own creativity.
Every year sets a new trend. Remember fidget spinners? And yet, there are some promo items that are always popular, like drink cups, t-shirts and pens. It's up to you if you want to try and capture people's attention by having the newest, most novel swag to give away or if you prefer something more traditional.
Yes, most of the time you can request a sample right on the product page. It will probably be unbranded (or may even come with another company's logo) and you may have to pay for it. Many promo item retailers will send you up to $10 in samples at no cost; on more spendy swag, you may have to pay for it, put down a deposit, or return it at your cost.
That depends on the vendor and the product. If you have a logo and a product preference ready to go, and it happens to be an item offered as a quick production product by a supplier, you could theoretically have your order in hand within three business days. Obviously, though, the more lead time you have, the more likely you are to get a high-quality promo product that meets your expectations and that arrives in time for your event.
Yes! Most promotional product vendors have in-house design teams that will take whatever you have and improve it until it's picture- (or pixel-) perfect. These experts can often work with you to create a graphic or logo just from your idea too. Sometimes these services are included as a complimentary perk, while other vendors charge a fee.
Yes, most of the time. On items that cost less than $1 each, expect minimum quantities of at least 100. On more expensive promo products (think fleece jackets or high-end laptop bags), those minimums may be just a dozen or even less.
A custom online store is a personalized website offering the branded merchandise you choose to make available to your team, organization, or even to the public. It's an easy way to let people select what they need, like uniforms or other apparel, in the correct sizes. Some companies use these stores as a rewards portal: employees can choose gifts within a certain price range as a holiday gift or incentive for reaching a milestone. Not every vendor of promotional products offers custom online stores, so keep that in mind if it's an option you'd like to have.
Usually, but there are some stipulations. You'll almost always get a digital proof when ordering promo products, and if your items arrive and don't match that proof, you should get a refund or re-run: your choice. However, if you get them delivered and just don't like the color or style, not every vendor will offer a refund if it matches the proof you approved.
Continued from above...
If you're the point person for promo products at your institution, take a deep breath and relax. There are many vendors who will assist you at every step of the way and even make it fun to get answers to all of your questions - from sample kits to help you brainstorm to in-house design teams who can take your hastily-sketched-on-a-napkin drawing to a professional-looking logo.
Looking at the different suppliers out there, can you tell which ones are experts and which ones you should avoid? We've got some ideas you can use to decide for yourself:
- Variety and quantity of products. The more promo items a company carries, the easier it is to come up with just the right ones for your event or group. Within any category you're considering, click to see how many options there are: it's great if they offer pens, for example, but not if there's only one style of pen to purchase.
- Design services. Let's face it: some of us are just not talented in the design arena. The best vendors of promo items will give you all the help you need, whether that's from-the-ground-up artwork or simple tweaks on what you already have. Even better if those services are free.
- Delivery timeframes. When you have an event coming up, your promo items probably won't do you much good if they arrive a day late. Choose a supplier that not only offers a shipping timeframe that matches your needs but also makes it right if the order doesn't get there on time.
- Guarantees. Your promotional products should match your submitted design, be the quality you expected for what you paid, and arrive when promised. What will the vendor you're considering do if any of those expectations aren't met?
- Reputation. Promises are easy to make, but not so easy to deliver. What do other clients say about how well the vendor fulfills orders? Do they make good on everything they offer?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best providers of promotional products available today. We hope this information helps you find all the right swag for your business, organization, or even your next big family reunion!
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