Question 1

Screen printing or embroidery: which is better for branded clothing?

Accepted Answer

Screen printing suits large, flat designs on t-shirts and lightweight fabrics, and it holds bright colours well across a big print area. Embroidery stitches the design into the fabric instead, giving a textured, more premium finish that works well on polos, caps and jackets.

Question 2

What file format works best for a logo that's being printed?

Accepted Answer

Vector files such as EPS, AI or PDF are the safest choice, because they scale to any size without the edges going blurry. A high-resolution PNG or JPEG can work for smaller prints, though artwork pulled straight from a website is usually too low in quality to reproduce cleanly.

Question 3

Why do businesses use promotional products for marketing?

Accepted Answer

Branded items keep a business visible long after an ad has been scrolled past, because a pen or drink bottle sits on a desk and gets used every day. They also give a conversation something physical to leave behind, which a business card alone rarely manages.

Question 4

Which promotional products get kept the longest?

Accepted Answer

Practical items tend to last longest. Drink bottles, coffee cups, pens, bags and caps stay in use because they solve an everyday problem, while novelty items are more likely to end up in a drawer.

Question 5

How many colours can a logo have when it's printed on merchandise?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the decoration method. Screen printing treats each colour as a separate layer, so designs with fewer colours reproduce most cleanly, while full-colour digital printing handles detailed artwork and photographic images.

Question 6

Which promotional products work best at trade shows and conferences?

Accepted Answer

Lightweight, useful items are the practical choice, because visitors are already carrying bags and collecting material from other stands. Pens, notebooks, stress balls and reusable bags travel well, while a smaller number of higher-value gifts can be held back for key prospects.

Question 7

Are eco-friendly promotional products worth choosing?

Accepted Answer

Seed products, bamboo desk accessories and reusable drink bottles reflect well on a business and tend to be kept rather than thrown out. They're a sensible fit for organisations with sustainability commitments, though it pays to check what a product is actually made from rather than relying on the label.

Question 8

How should printed or embroidered clothing be washed?

Accepted Answer

A cold, gentle wash with the garment turned inside out suits both, and it's best to avoid tumble drying or ironing directly over the design. Embroidery is generally more hard-wearing than a print, although stitching can snag if garments are washed alongside zips.

Question 9

What's the difference between promotional products and corporate gifts?

Accepted Answer

Promotional products are inexpensive items handed out in volume to build awareness, such as pens, caps or stress balls. Corporate gifts are chosen with a specific recipient in mind, usually a client or staff member, so they lean towards fewer, higher-quality items like wine accessories, blankets or watches.

Question 10

How are sizes worked out when ordering corporate clothing for a team?

Accepted Answer

Collecting a size run from staff before ordering is far more reliable than estimating from a headcount. Sizing varies between brands and between men's, women's and unisex cuts, so checking a size chart or a sample garment first avoids a box of shirts nobody can wear.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about branding, apparel and merch

Got a brief, a hunch, or a deadline? Let's talk.