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(SCHEDULED IN WP) The Cost of Being Late: How Leaving to Order at the Last Minute Can Cost Your Business Big Money

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In the fast-paced world of business, timing is everything. This is especially true when it comes to ordering custom-branded promotional merchandise. While it might be tempting to delay decisions or wait until the last minute, this approach can have big financial and operational consequences.

Here's why being organised and timely with your approvals and feedback is a non-negotiable when you're ordering merch (your delivery and all the praise you will receive depends on it!).

 

Summary:

To help you stay organised and ensure timely approvals and feedback, here are some practical tips:

  1. Plan Ahead: Start the planning process early. Identify key dates and deadlines, and work backward to establish a timeline for approvals and feedback. We'll be a big help in this area, we know all about factory shutdown periods and pre-Christmas order dates, etc. 
  2. Set Clear Expectations: Communicate clearly with your stakeholders and suppliers about deadlines and expectations. Ensure everyone understands the importance of timely responses.
  3. Delegate Tasks: Delegate responsibilities to team members to ensure that approvals and feedback are provided promptly. Encourage accountability and collaboration.
  4. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular check-ins with your suppliers (that's us) to monitor progress and address any potential issues early on. We'll be in touch with our manufacturers to get their updates and share them with you.
  5. Prepare for Contingencies: Have a back up plan in place for unexpected delays or issues. This can help you stay on track, even if something goes wrong.

 

1. Understanding your internal chain of approval 

Whether you work for a big corporation or a small family-owned business, there is a big chance that you are not the person approving and signing off on the merch order. You may find yourself in the crossfire of your merch rep asking for approval on the virtual mock-up so production can begin, and your boss's boss not having reviewed and approved the new designs. When the approval comes, it might come with notes to change the artwork, the colours, and even the entire merchandise.

So understanding your internal chain of approval, such as how many people need to see and sign off on the merch order, is important to sustain a feasible project timeline. Communicating to your superiors the production time and deadlines for feedback and approval is crucial to have the merchandise shipped on time.

 

2. Higher costs for rush orders

"We've got plenty of time!"

But all of a sudden, you don't. There's an issue with the original plan or delivery provider and if the order isn't submitted, tomorrow, you'll still get what you want, but with a rush fee applied. 

One of the most immediate impacts of failing to submit an order until the last minute is the additional cost of rush production and expedited shipping. Manufacturers often charge premium prices to accommodate urgent orders, and these costs can quickly add up. By planning ahead and allowing ample time for production, you can avoid these unnecessary expenses and get more for your money.

 

3. Limited product options

As the time ticks away, so do your options. When you are late in submitting your order, suppliers may not have your preferred merch in stock , forcing you to settle for the second or third option on your list. Early planning ensures you have access to a wider range of high-quality products that truly reflect your brand’s image and values.

 

4. Higher margin for mistakes

Rush orders often do not have enough time to produce a pre-production sample for you and your superiors to see a prototype before production starts. This enhances the risk of typos in the artwork, incorrect branding colours, and imprint size, just to name a few common mistakes that may happen.

By providing timely approvals and feedback to your branded merch sales rep, you ensure that every detail meets your standards, and if any problem arises, there is enough time to fix it. The result is amazing branded merchandise you’re proud to share with employees and clients.

 

5. Missed opportunities

Promotional merchandise is often tied to specific dates, events, marketing or HR campaigns. Starting your merch order close to the day you need to receive it may result in missed deadlines and opportunities. Imagine showing up for a trade show without your display banners. Or not having enough gifts for attendants because the product didn't have enough stock and no time to produce more. 

Late orders risk missing crucial deadlines, which can lead to missed opportunities and a lack of promotional materials when you need them most. By staying ahead of the game, you ensure your brand is always ready to make a strong impression.


The biggest tip to avoid the intense stress of a late order? Work with Inck. Delivering branded merchandise on time is what we do. Send us a quick brief before it's too late.