OnFulfillment Blog | Event Marketing Materials

The tariff situation remains up in the air. Once day they’re on; the next day they’re off. Deals are struck; deals are abandoned. Rates are up; rates are down.

The current state of tariffs is still in flux. One week they’re on; the next week they’re off, reduced, or delayed. At any given moment, it’s not clear what the economic impact will be on promotional items purchased overseas.

One way around this situation—or at least a way to avoid it altogether—is to purchase promotional items made in the U.S.A. This blog is the second in a series offering suggestions on some branded merchandise either assembled or produced entirely in the U.S. (remember, a product labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” may be composed of pieces produced overseas but assembled domestically).

Due to the volatility and uncertainty surrounding the current tariff situation, there has been an increased demand for promotional items made in the U.S.A.

Until recently, lower production costs have generally made giveaways produced overseas a better overall value, helping organizations stretch their marketing dollars. Newly imposed (or pending) tariffs, however, threaten to push those costs higher than domestically produced items, driving companies to seek out products made in the U.S.A.

To assist in these efforts, OnFulfillment has identified a number of branded promotional giveaways that meet this requirement. Designed to fit every budget, these items help you avoid the extra costs imposed by tariffs without compromising on quality.

Over the past decade or two, it has become increasingly common for marketing organizations to outsource the bulk of their writing, design, and fulfillment services to outside vendors.

From a business perspective, it makes a lot of sense. It’s typically more cost-effective to bring in outside help only when needed rather than hire—and pay for—full-time staff. It’s largely a transactional relationship that lasts only as long as the project in question, and it works well for both sides.

Managing those relationships so that they continue to benefit both sides, however, requires some work. It’s natural to grow comfortable with the vendors you’ve carefully groomed over the years, steeping them in your corporate culture. They know you; you trust them. It’s comfortable. It’s…easy.

That’s when it’s time to take a close and critical look at the relationship.

Event season is heating up. That means companies will be looking for shippers to help them get their materials to venues around the country.

There are many vendors to choose from. It’s a highly competitive field, and shippers will be negotiating aggressively and making lots of promises to get the business. That is the time to be highly skeptical and to do the necessary research before signing a contract or even making a handshake agreement.

Everyone knows that if an offer seems to be too good to be true, it usually is. Making an ill-advised decision has significant consequences, and making a bad decision about a shipper when your event is on the line could be disastrous.