3 Minute Read

No matter how much brands and agencies try to plan ahead, unforeseen circumstances often create the need for rush requests on promotional items. The good news is that innovations in the promo items industry – and our experience in exploiting those advances – often result in delivering on previously unimaginable timelines. Whether you use Monitor or not, here are three steps to help you get your rush promo products on time:

Step 1: Get Your Logo Ready

In order to ship product as quickly as possible, branding is usually limited to a 1-color, 1-location logo. Your camera-ready vector artwork with fonts converted to outlines should be prepared in advance and ready to be emailed. Providing properly formatted artwork from the start, helps immediately identify any issues such as legibility or sizing limitations and helps avoid critical delays. It also allows time to clearly define logo size, placement details and prepare a basic mock-up, as digital proofs are not provided for rush projects. Keep in mind that Pantone color matches are not usually available for rush projects, so choosing the black or white version of a logo is the safest and fastest option.

Wood Tone Sunglasses produced for Amazon – 48 hour production available

Step 2: Provide Ship to Address & Delivery Date Up Front

Missing information or information that needs to be tracked down, like shipping addresses and delivery dates, slows down a rush order and jeopardizes missing cut off times. Providing the ship to address and delivery date up front allows for shipping and sales tax estimates to be generated so the order process keeps moving quickly. Remember, whether it’s Monitor or another vendor, you will get your items faster if you limit additional communication and back-and-forth. Lastly, this delivery info gives your vendor the opportunity to identify a supplier that is closest to your shipping to location, further minimizing shipping costs and potentially avoiding express shipping charges all together.

Stainless Steel Water Bottle produced for TikTok - 48 hour production available

Step 3: Choose Popular Products – Like Those in Monitor’s Rush Production Catalog

Brands and agencies have the desire to buy innovative and creative products, but a rush order is not the time to take on undue risks. Instead, for rush orders, choosing readily available items is your best bet. That doesn’t mean the products need to be boring – we can help you find popular items that will have impact. Monitor has even assembled a Rush Production Catalog of just these kind of items.

Drawstring Bag produced for Yamaha – 48 hour production available

To place a rush order of promotional items or to discuss your promo product needs, please contact us.