Personalisation of promotional gifts

Personalization of promotional gifts is often a mystery to many buyers and it's even more difficult for an occasional buyer to understand what is meant by personalization of promotional gifts or branding of any corporate identity product. So here's a brief explanation of personalization, origination and artwork...three terms which continually crop up when buying a promotional gift.

Promotional gifts personalization 

Not to be confused with artwork although it often is in the mind of some buyers. Personalization of business gifts in this context mean putting a logo, sales message or company name onto a promotional gift…though sometimes it can simply mean a person's name. Nonetheless, typically personalization means a logo, motif or slogan; actually branding an item. 

Promotional gifts origination

Origination is a term peculiar to the business and promotional gift industry and sometimes causes much uncertainty in the minds of buyers unfamiliar with the processes and expenditure connected with the origination of personalized business gifts. Origination is not artwork, neither is it the application of the printing process; it is simply the medium used to put an image onto a product; for instance a screen for screen printing, plate for off-set litho printing or a jacquard for embroidery.  Both screen-printing and offset litho use a screen or plate for each printed colour but, for example, only one jacquard is required for multi-coloured embroidery. A useful analogy is to think of early school days when using a potato cut-out to put images on paper. In this case the potato is the origination - not the actual putting the image onto paper. 

Promotional gifts artwork

Essentially a true representation of the design and colours; sometimes broken down into the various colours. Today most artwork is computer generated and often fed directly into production equipment. All the same, some processes still require artwork to be converted to film and then to plate, screen or block.

Promotional gift extra costs

Also, it is as well to take into consideration that personalization, origination, artwork, carriage and packing are all extra costs supplementary to the catalogue price of a promotional gift or corporate identity badge.    Unfortunately, there is no single method of personalization suitable for all business gifts or promotional items...but, at least, now you will know a little more about Personalization of Business Gifts.