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Printing on Products to Customize Them

 
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dothingsright

posts: 145

Nov 12, 2007 7:47 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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We have started a company that specializes in motivational giftware, framed artwork, etc.We are currently looking for help in finding manufacturers to make the customized gifts/products that we have designed. While many of the products that we offer will be exclusive to our company, we are also looking for the best way to go about getting particular products to have special sayings and quotes on them. How does this process work? Do you just buy products wholesale and have a company print your text on them? Can anyone suggest companies that offer a one stop shop to buy the products and print on them as well? Any book suggestions to learn more about this?
 
Thanks and God Bless,
 
DoThingsRight
dothingsright11/12/2007 7:48 PM
TigerTaco

posts: 337

Nov 12, 2007 8:38 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I think you might want to take a look at two main trade organizations for this kind of product sales (if I`m getting what you`re asking) Promotional Product Assoc. Int`l. and Advertising Specialty Institute
 
If you just want to get something on a lot of product without having to drop in a lot of time or money, you might like CafePress as it`s really turn-key and you can build and sell right there.
 
Also, take a look at the marketplace here as there are SuN members who may be able and willing to give you industry specific advise and direction.  Have fun!


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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom
dothingsright

posts: 145

Nov 13, 2007 1:46 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thanks TigerTaco.
 
Because we are creating an exclusive brand, we want to be certain that the products are not deemed to be promotional items. If you know what I mean...? Not a company where sayings are on "typical" promotional items. But rather where the company`s niche and customization of unique products, speaks directly to it`s brand. i.e. Willow Tree (in Hallmark), Succesories, etc.  
Cafe Press.com has the concept that I am looking for in that they take care of printing, shipping, inventory, etc. I would like to look at other companies that offer the same services. If we decide to use a company like Cafe Press.com, I need to find out the specifications around ownership (websites, domains, products, etc.).
I will definitely take a look at the marketplace as well.
 
Thanks Again,
 
DoThingsRight
TigerTaco

posts: 337

Nov 13, 2007 2:18 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Humm; are you looking at creating a brand by the products you carry/market ... short of creating and manufacturing all of your own products, you need to find the products that speak to your brand customer and personalizing them to fit your needs ...?  ThomasNet is a great place to find the companies making "stuff" and I`m sure some will be willing to license/private label for your needs as they already do that; as well as, with your WillowTree example, you can find companies to contract manufacture your own designs.
 
With the CafePress types of sites, and there are several good/similar ones, you are not really dealing with the direct manufacturer as they are more of a commerce engine where buyers and sellers make transactions ... they might own bits and pieces of things, but it sounds like you want to be them and that`s a really big extra nut to bite on top of doing all of your brand and product development (imho).


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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom
dothingsright

posts: 145

Nov 13, 2007 3:02 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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As not delay offering our products, we want to get started by possibly placing our quotes on unique products and when our exclusive products  have been completed (manufactured) add them to our line up. We`ve found some products that speak to our target customer. Let`s say we decide to use 3 different vendors with products that speak to our target customer. One vendor may offer products that we are not interested in customizing and thus are reselling. However, another vendor/supplier offers products that we can customize by adding our logo, etc. Our concern is how do you set up effective product shipping when you work with 3 different vendors. We want to do proper planning so our clients don`t receive 3 different packages from the one order they placed on our website.
We don`t want to be CafePress. We want a company to pretty much do the same things that they are doing. The challenge is CafePress does not offer the unique products that we would like to customize. Until we get to a point where we have a warehouse, we don`t want to receive and send all of our products. We are even considering shipping our exclusive (manufactured) products and allowing the others to be shipped separately.
Ideally it would be great to find a company that receives our orders from different vendors and ships them out to our clients. Do you see my challenge?
dothingsright11/13/2007 3:03 PM
TigerTaco

posts: 337

Nov 13, 2007 3:54 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I think I`m getting it; please excuse my rapid responce here as I have to go make some tacos.
 
What you`re doing is what a lot of people do, so take confidence in how you can succeed and you don`t have to re-invent the wheel!  That`s a GREAT thing, but you will also have to make a lot of decisions as there really isn`t a "right" answer and often times it comes down to what works the best for your life.
 
Here is a SuN member who can facilitate your inbound and outbound shipping "stuff"; there are a lot of places who offer various inventory, pick and pack, fulfillment etc. ... this gives you the ability to keep all your stuff in one place and get it out in one box; they will also handle all the calls, orders, and other things too ... it`s not a bad place to start if you don`t know anything about anything (not being curt, but logistics and all that jazz can be a major headache in itself).
 
Here is a SuN member who is doing something like I think you want, except I think he`s more of a salesperson without a specific brand; they are great people and this is a channel for logo`d product (e.g., he`s a member of the associations I posted in my first responce) as someone who makes a simple product can`t sell on all the people who might desire/need the product; so you join an association where the members sell for you and take a legitimate markup; he may be willing to explain and work more with you kind of thing; it`s hard to know about people and what makes them smile.
 
Anyway, even Amazon sometimes ships mutiple boxes, some companies never actually take possesion of what they sell, and there are a million ways to do things ... it`s harder when you`re going to have something personalized but the basic thing is to figure out your choke points and keep them under thumb ... nothing is every perfection all the time, but with your business you should be able to find a lot of examples fo the companies you think do a good job and then figure out what makes them "sing" to your brain.


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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom
JSondy

posts: 67

Nov 20, 2007 1:08 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I can speak directly to this process.  Our custom photography of vintage/classic cars (www.vintageimage.biz) is outsourcing this process.  Through our web vendor we were using Imagine Your Photos (www.imagineyourphotos.com) to imprint t-shirts, mugs, puzzles, caps and more.  This company will assist in setting up your own "branded" on-line shop.  They print and drop ship, good customer service and digital file requirements are easily understandable.

I did some work for Successories years ago; and they were outsourcing production to manufacturing facilities in metro Chicago ie trophies and poster printing.  The company has changed considerably since the mid-1990s

Tiny Prints (www.tinyprints.com) they`ve found niche market and showcase their designers. 
Freddie&Ma is another whose niche is custom handbags  (freddieandma.com)
 
In addition to Cafepress, check out Zazzle.  Each of these will let you set up your own shop and they handle all the production & shipping, set your own markup etc.  Also inquire locally, the technology and equipment to do this is becoming readily available; maybe you can establish a partnership. 

dothingsright

posts: 145

Dec 14, 2007 3:47 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Sorry for the delay in response. I really thank God for both of you!!! This really helps me out!
 
Take care and God Bless,
Tyra
Aniel02

posts: 7

Jul 27, 2011 7:46 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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It would be really helpful to know your market and what type of marketing to push for your brand... But it is always nice to customize the product to create good branding for the business.



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FA Daniels | www.fadaniels.com | Custom Printing Los Angeles
artdigitaltech

posts: 17

Apr 30, 2013 12:37 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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From my personal experience, I can say that promotional printed products are most cost effective tool than any other type of media. Its true that online media is getting popular, but still printing products really pays of in marketing world.



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Large Format Printing
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