If you're ordering branded merchandise for the first time, or you're taking over a process someone else used to manage, this guide covers the practical side: what things cost, how minimum order quantities work, what affects lead times and what to have ready before you brief a supplier.   How promotional product pricing works Promotional product prices are quoted per unit and almost always decrease as quantity increases. This is because the setup cost for a print run (creating screens, configuring machinery, mixing inks) is fixed regardless of how many units you order. The more units you spread that setup cost across, the lower the per-unit price.   What this means in practice:   Ordering 250 units of a product will cost less per unit than ordering 50 The biggest price drops typically happen at the standard quantity breaks: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000 If you are close to a quantity break, it is often worth ordering slightly more to hit the lower per-unit price Most supplier prices are quoted inclusive of a standard single-colour logo print. Additional colours, multiple print positions and premium branding methods (embroidery, engraving, debossing) usually carry an additional cost. Check what is included in the quoted price before you compare suppliers.   Typical price ranges by product type Product type Typical price range (per unit, 100 units) Pens (plastic) £0.30 to £1.50 Pens (metal) £1.50 to £5.00 Notebooks £2.00 to £8.00 Tote bags (cotton) £1.50 to £4.00 Mugs £2.00 to £5.00 Water bottles (plastic or rPET) £3.00 to £8.00 Water bottles (stainless steel) £8.00 to £25.00 Power banks £8.00 to £20.00 Lanyards £0.50 to £2.00 USB drives £4.00 to £12.00 These are indicative ranges. Actual prices vary by product specification, branding method and quantity. The price on the product page is the number to trust.   Minimum order quantities Minimum order quantities (MOQs) exist because the setup cost for a print run makes very small orders uneconomical for the supplier. MOQs vary by product, not by supplier policy.   A few things worth knowing:   MOQs are per product line, not per order. You can order 50 of one product and 100 of another in the same order. If the MOQ is higher than you need, ask. There is often a similar product with a lower threshold. MOQs are lower for simpler branding methods. A digitally printed pen may have a lower MOQ than an embroidered cap. Bundled gift sets sometimes have lower MOQs than the individual products they contain, because the setup is shared across the set. How lead times work Lead time is the time from proof approval to delivery. It does not include the time to create and approve the proof, which typically adds 1 to 2 days.   A realistic breakdown:   Stage Typical time Proof creation (from artwork receipt) Within 20 minutes Proof approval (your side) Same day to 2 days Production 3 to 7 working days depending on product Delivery (UK standard) 1 to 2 working days Total from artwork to delivery 5 to 12 working days Express options are available on selected products with production times of 1 to 3 working days. These are worth checking if your deadline is under two weeks from today.   What to have ready before you brief a supplier The faster you can provide the following, the faster your order will move:   Your logo in vector format (AI, EPS or PDF). If you only have a JPEG or PNG, send it and the supplier will tell you whether the resolution is sufficient. Your brand colour references (Pantone codes if you have them, or a hex code as a starting point). The quantity you need, including whether you want a buffer above your expected usage. Your delivery deadline, not just the event date. Work backwards from the event to allow for proof approval and any revisions. The delivery address, including whether it is a residential address (relevant for remote worker orders). Frequently asked questions Do prices include VAT? Prices on product pages are typically quoted excluding VAT. VAT at the standard rate applies to most promotional products. Check the checkout summary for the VAT-inclusive total before you confirm your order.   Can I split an order across multiple delivery addresses? Yes. We can deliver to multiple addresses within the same order. Call us to confirm the logistics for split deliveries before you place the order.   What happens if I need to make changes after approving the proof? Once you have approved a proof and the order has gone into production, changes are not possible without stopping the run, which may affect your lead time and cost. The proof step is the right time to make all changes. If you spot an issue after approval, contact us immediately and we will tell you where the order is and what options are available.   Is there a setup fee on top of the quoted price? Our prices are all-inclusive: the quoted price covers the product, branding and UK delivery. There are no hidden setup fees. If a specific branding method carries an additional cost, it will be shown in the product configurator before you add to basket.