Top Things to Know Before You Start Selling Swag
If you're new to the industry and considering beginning to sell promotional products (aka swag), Swag Space is here to help. Here are a few of the top things you will need to know to get started
Understand your Market
What customers do you hope to attract? Do you have any established networks that order (or would be interested in ordering) promotional products and apparel? Do you have a particular niche that is right for you? Specializing in a specific niche can help you stand out and cater to a specific customer base.What kinds of products would they be interested in? What are they ordering the products for? This knowledge will help you make informed decisions about what products to offer and how to start selling them.
Curating Your Product Selection
You want to be thoughtful about the selections of product you want to offer. Are you trying to reach a specific type of buyer or attracting a broader customer base? What are these customers going to be using their swag for? This can really determine the budgets they have. However, no matter the use-case and budget-level, always focus on choosing products that align with your target audience's preferences and offer long-lasting value.
Understanding Customization Options
Swag is a unique product to sell, because your customers are decorating these items to represent their brands or groups. You should spend time understanding the different ways that different products can be customized. These include screen printing, embroidery, laser-engraving or debossing. Also, you will need to understand the options available on different product types.
Artwork and Design Guidelines
Like the customization options, it is important to familiarize yourself with the artwork and design requirements for different processes and products. Understand the preferred file formats, resolution, and color specifications necessary for optimal printing results. Sharing these guidelines with customers will help streamline the customization process. Communication of clear guidelines to customers on these things, as well as submitting artwork or logos for personalization is crucial to ensure the best experience and quality of decoration.
Finding the Right Order Quantities
It is important to understand a few basic things about the quantities of products to order. First, most items have a minimum number that customers must order for customization. Second, there are (sometimes significant) price breaks for higher quantities. Work with customers to understand their needs and suggest quantities that balance their needs and possible cost savings. Also, with Swag Space you can offer the ability to store products in our warehouse, so if a customer needs larger quantities in the future or for multiple events, it might make sense to order more upfront and store with us until they are needed.
Production and Lead Times
Remember that the products that you will be selling to your customers will be customized for their needs. This means significant time is needed to produce these products. Understanding the production process and lead times for each product is vital for managing customer expectations. Take into account potential delays during peak seasons or unforeseen disruptions. By providing customers with accurate timelines, you can foster transparency and build trust.
Here are some of the steps involved to help clarify these timelines. Each product will go through a color approval and professional ‘mock-up’ process and the customer must approve a mock-up of each product before they are sent to production. If the customer wants adjustments or changes, this can add time.
If your customer wants samples prior to purchasing larger quantities, this has to be considered as well.
Packaging and Branding
What are your customer expectations regarding how they want their products to be packaged and branded. Explore opportunities to create fully custom boxes through swag space to add a fully branded experience for your customers. They can also include things like post cards, greeting cards or brochures in these boxes.
Managing Shipping and Logistics
It is important to help your customers understand shipping methods, carriers, and associated costs for delivering their products. Whether they want to send all their items in bulk to one location or store in our warehouse and ship when needed, there are different costs and variables to each. Also, be aware of any shipping restrictions or customs regulations, particularly for international orders. Always share tracking information with customers can help reassure customers and provide a positive receiving experience.
Providing Exceptional Customer Support
This can not be stressed enough, you should aim to deliver your customers outstanding customer support throughout the entire ordering and production process. Be responsive, address inquiries promptly, and keep customers informed about their order status. Going the extra mile in customer service can lead to customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth referrals and prevent misunderstandings or disappointments down the road.
Getting started selling swag does require some learning and time. However, Swag Space is here to make the process easier for you. Let us know if you have any questions, or apply today to become a swag space member.