Merchandise
Branded merchandise is one of the easiest wins from China: printed apparel, bags and promotional gifts at low minimum orders, with the customisation that makes your brand look sharp — for far less than UK promotional suppliers.
Merchandise is often the first thing a business sources from China, and for good reason. The products are simple, the quality is easy to judge by holding a sample, and the difference between factory pricing and what a UK promotional supplier quotes is usually obvious the moment you see both numbers side by side. If you have ever been quoted for branded tote bags and thought the figure looked steep for what it is, you were probably right.
The thing that keeps minimum orders low here is branding a stock product rather than commissioning a custom one. A factory already producing a given bag or cap in volume can add your print without retooling, which is a different economic proposition from a bespoke shape. Where a fully custom item genuinely matters to you, we will say what volume it needs to make sense rather than quietly pricing it as though it were standard.
What we source
- Printed t-shirts and clothing
- Tote bags and drawstring bags
- Caps and headwear
- Lanyards, badges and pins
- Promotional gifts and giveaways
- Packaging and gift boxes
What to consider
- Many stock formats can be branded with just your print, which keeps minimum orders low.
- Specify colours as Pantone references and approve a printed sample — screen and print colours differ.
- Print method matters as much as the product: screen, embroidery, transfer and digital each suit different volumes, fabrics and levels of detail.
- If merchandise is tied to an event date, plan backwards from it — air freight can rescue a deadline, but it changes the economics that made the order attractive.
Common questions
Can I get low minimum orders on branded merchandise?
Often yes, especially when you brand a stock product rather than tooling a fully custom one. We can also consolidate orders to reach a workable minimum.
Will the printed colour match my brand guidelines?
If you supply Pantone references rather than screen colours, and approve a printed sample before the run, it will be close. We do not sign off brand colour from a photograph.
Can you mix several products into one order?
Yes, and it is usually the right move. Consolidating t-shirts, bags and smaller giveaways into a single shipment spreads the freight across more units and lowers the landed cost of each.
Related guides
- Sourcing promotional merchandise and branded goodsBranding, minimums and lead times for merchandise that carries your name. How to get print and quality right when the product is your marketing.
- MOQ and sampling: starting with small ordersWhat minimum order quantities really mean, how to lower them, and why you should always sample before you commit.
- How to write a product spec that gets accurate quotesA specification is what makes a delivery capable of failing. Dimensions with tolerances, materials by grade, colour to a physical reference, packing, and the defect standard with an agreed inspection rule.
- Sourcing custom packaging and print from ChinaColour, structure and the UK taxes that attach to packaging. How to get print right first time and avoid an expensive tax surprise.