Common mistakes in a branded merchandise order, and how to avoid them
A failed promotional item is rarely noticed because of the product itself. Most of the time, everything was decided well before production: an unsuitable file, a poorly chosen position, a proof approved between two meetings, an order placed too late. These mistakes recur from one company to another, and almost all of them can be avoided with a few checks. Here are the most common ones, grouped according to the moment in the order when they occur, with the reflex that keeps you from falling into them.
File mistakes, the source of most disappointments
The logo file is the leading cause of unpleasant surprises. Three mistakes keep coming up.
- Sending a non-vector logo. A pixel image, often copied from a website, may be suitable for digital printing if its resolution is sufficient, but not for processes that follow outlines, such as embroidery, screen printing or engraving. Reflex: ask the person who created your visual identity for the source version.
- Assuming a PDF is necessarily vector. A PDF or .ai file may contain nothing more than a photo of the logo, pasted inside. The extension is right, the content is not. Reflex: zoom in very strongly; if the edges blur, it is not a true vector file.
- Leaving text as live fonts. A name or slogan not converted to outlines may display in a substitute font at the printer’s, and this change goes unnoticed until delivery. Reflex: convert text to outlines before sending.
The configurator’s automatic check spots some of these defects at the time of upload. To go into the subject in depth, our guide to the vector file explains how to prepare a logo for each process.
Position and legibility mistakes
A flawless file can still give a disappointing result if it is badly placed or poorly contrasted.
- Choosing an unsuitable marking area. An area too narrow for an elongated logo squashes it; a curved surface damages very detailed artwork. Each product page shows the real template of its areas, with their dimensions: look at it before deciding, rather than relying on the lifestyle photo.
- Forgetting the actual size. A slogan that is legible on your screen becomes tiny once reduced to the width of a pen. Our guide to logo size on a promotional product helps you find the right scale.
- Choosing a marking colour that cannot be read on the product. A navy logo on a navy bag complies with all the technical rules, and yet remains invisible. The same goes for light grey on off-white. Reflex: picture the product a few steps away, in daylight; if the logo does not stand out, change the colour of the product or the shade of the marking.
- Keeping a gradient. Except with sublimation, it will be simplified into solid colours. It is better to prepare a flat version yourself than to discover bands on delivery.
If you are unsure which process suits your product, the marking techniques page presents the strengths and limits of each one.
Quantity and size breakdown mistakes
Volume is often decided too quickly, and its mistakes are costly because they only appear at the time of distribution.
- Allocating sizes at random. For a textile, the configurator asks for quantities size by size. Guesswork almost always leads to the same scenario: too many medium sizes, not enough large ones, and employees who never wear the garment. Reflex: collect the actual sizes of the people concerned, then add a small reserve on the most requested sizes.
- Mixing colours and sizes without checking the totals. When several colours are ordered, the table shows a total per colour: compare it with your list before confirming.
- Forgetting sizes for people missing from the list. New starters in the coming months, temporary staff, teams at another site: think of them when filling in the table, not afterwards.
- Oversizing the order to get a better unit price, then storing boxes for months. Our guide to the minimum order quantity explains how to find the right volume.
The proof checked too quickly
The proof is the binding document: what appears on it will be produced, with no going back once production has started. Yet it is the step most often rushed, approved on a phone between two appointments. Before clicking, calmly check:
- the spelling of every word, including secondary mentions such as a website address or a slogan;
- the version of the logo: is it really the current brand guidelines, and not an old variant?
- the colour of the product and the colour of the marking, with their references;
- the position and size of the logo in the area;
- the quantities by colour and by size.
Have a second person proofread it, ideally the one who knows the brand guidelines. Our team then checks every print, your artwork and your proof, before manufacturing; our quality control is explained in our frequently asked questions.
Ordering too late, or counting from the wrong day
The last mistake is a scheduling one. Many buyers calculate the lead time from the day of the order, whereas production only starts when the proof is approved. Everything before that, such as looking for the right file, internal back-and-forth on the artwork or a requested correction, is added before this starting point.
Two reflexes limit the risk. First, look at the production lead time on the product page as soon as you choose the product, not when you pay. Second, appoint in advance the person who will approve the proof and warn them it is coming, so that it does not sit waiting in an inbox. To build a complete schedule starting from the date of your event, use our guide to the production lead time for promotional products.
Questions fréquentes
Does the configurator detect all file mistakes?expand_more
It measures what can be measured: resolution at actual size, number of colours, overflow of the area, fake vector file. It does not judge legibility or contrast on the chosen colour: that is the role of our team, which checks every print before manufacturing.
Can I change my order after approving the proof?expand_more
The approved proof is binding and starts production. All checks must therefore be done before your approval: ask for a correction as long as you have any doubt.
How should the sizes in a T-shirt order be allocated?expand_more
Start from the actual sizes of the people concerned rather than an estimate. The configurator lets you enter quantities size by size and colour by colour, with a total for each colour.
Why is my logo illegible when the file was compliant?expand_more
A file can comply with all the technical rules and still be barely visible, for example if the colour of the marking is close to that of the product or if the text is too small for the area. Check the contrast and the actual size before approving the proof.