Training - Print
Did the swag arrive on time? The most frustrating part of buying promotional branded merchandise is spending time and effort choosing the right products and then finding that they don’t arrive at the event in a timely fashion.
This is where PDI is different, we take that problem away.
Knowledge and Experience is Power
If you use a carrier – DPD, DHL Fed Ex – to try to deliver to large exhibition hall such as the Excel or NEC in the UK, Messe Frankfurt or Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – it will almost certainly fail. Standard carriers with an address and stand number will find it difficult to deliver to the larger event locations – but there are ways, which do not have to involve dedicated vehicles, although this may be appropriate. PDI have learnt the tricks of the trade and can share these with you. We can source the products hold in stock AND get them to where they are needed.
Even small hotel locations require the correct instructions and labelling, and on international shipments can prove challenging in some countries because of customs restrictions. But we understand the issues.
Contact usPlanning
The most important commodity in successful distribution, whether to an event or individual, is TIME. PDI will work with you to plan the promotional merchandise, making sure we have them ready in time. Either at our UK warehouse or Dutch warehouse as appropriate. Understanding your event calendar and being a part of the events team is key.
Last Minute Purchase versus Stock Holding
Planning is great but in the real-world last-minute requests are a fact of life. Your choice is then, either
- Buy a product on a short lead time - problem is that short lead time are only available on the common pen, bottle, notebook and tote bag – any concept of having original products is gone
- Accept that there will be last minute requests and hold extra products in stock – to be called upon for that last minute request. This way the small quantity required urgently will not be subject to the premium of small order and you can have your novel, original brand aligned product.
Last minute print? No problem we are a digital on demand printer with on-site facilities for the last-minute print
Branded Store Front
We can provide a branded on line catalogue which will enable you and your team members to place orders on-line, see stock levels and organise exhibition collections all from your own store front. This allows you to gain control of your distributions
Swag Distribution - Keys to Success
1. Large scale event halls
Most promotional products companies will ship products to a destination, but as explained above the large halls will simply not accept a delivery by carrier for an exhibitor. This is because the exhibition hall can make money from the movement of goods in and out of the hall. To do this they use an on-site logistics company who take delivery of exhibitor parcels, often at a location away from the hall, and then will deliver to stand. As an exhibitor you will be given details of the logistic company, and we will engage with them to ensure things run smoothly
2.T racking
Most businesses will send a product delivery and then forget it. We track every parcel we send – checking all the time to see the parcel is on track. If it is held by customs, we will find out why. If its missing information we will supply the information – tracking the parcels until final destination. Web site and on-line systems are great but in the end it is people and their experience that will ensure the items arrive
3. Returns
We will handle returns – not always easy, since the salespeople at an event do not want to hang around organising shipments. However, this is what we do and can make this process straight forward. Returns ensure you do not waste stock of promotional items.
Once returned we examine the products for damage and only return to stock that which can be re-used – we can also organise the cleaning of tablecloths.
Talk To Us About Storage and Distribution
Let's Start A Conversation
- +44 (0)1256 332550
- enquiries@pdi.co.uk
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Unit B. The Loddon Centre,
Wade Road Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG24 8FL. UK
What we're thinking
