Everything you need to know about branded merchandise. ☾ Dark

Yes — and honestly, we think ordering a sample first is often a brilliant idea. Samples let you get a real feel for the product, check the quality, understand the branding area, compare colours properly and make sure the product matches your brand expectations. Most samples can be ordered directly online. If not, just drop us a line and we’ll see what’s possible.

Most samples are supplied plain and unbranded. Some products, such as printed air fresheners, stickers or custom-shaped items, are produced specifically for each order, so samples may be previously produced examples rather than freshly branded one-offs.

If you’ve never seen or handled a product before, samples are always a smart move. They’re especially useful for checking garment fit, comparing colours, assessing material quality and making sure the product feels right for your brand.

Samples are generally non-returnable and non-refundable unless they arrive faulty, damaged or incorrect. They are supplied to help you assess quality, sizing, colour, material and branding suitability before placing a larger order.

Yes — minimum order quantities vary depending on the product and branding method. We clearly show minimum quantities on product pages wherever possible so you can quickly see whether an item suits your requirements.

Absolutely. Most clothing orders include a mix of sizes, and you can usually mix garment colours too. We’ll simply check that your artwork works consistently across all selected colours and advise if any changes are needed.

Yes — mixing garment colours is very common. We’ll check that your logo works well across all selected colours and let you know if any adjustments are recommended to keep the branding clear and consistent.

Our pricing includes delivery to one UK mainland address. If you need split delivery to multiple locations we can often help, although additional delivery charges may apply.

On some products yes. The best thing to do is send us the products you’re interested in and we’ll let you know whether plain supply is possible.

Absolutely — we love repeat orders. We keep your artwork on file which makes reordering much quicker and easier. Product ranges can occasionally change, but wherever possible we’ll help maintain consistency across repeat orders.

Yes — we keep artwork on file specifically to make repeat ordering easier and faster.

Definitely. We can usually reuse or adapt your existing artwork for different products, garments or branding areas depending on the suitability of the design. Sometimes minor adjustments are needed, but we’ll guide you through anything required.

Artwork approval is the stage everything hinges on. Production cannot begin until final artwork has been approved, as this protects both you and us from mistakes. We’ll always aim to get proofs to you quickly and revise them until everything looks right.

Yes — our pricing includes setup costs. After more than 20 years in the industry, we still find it frustrating when companies advertise low unit prices and then pile on extra charges afterwards. We prefer to keep things transparent: no hidden origination fees, no surprise setup charges and no unexpected extras. Maybe that’s just us 😄

Because we mainly supply businesses, website prices are shown excluding VAT. Every quote calculator includes a VAT toggle, official quotations clearly show VAT, and VAT-registered companies can usually reclaim VAT anyway.

Absolutely. A great starting point is using the “Lowest From Price” sorting option on the website, which helps you quickly compare products across different budgets. If you’re still unsure, just drop us a line and we’ll happily suggest suitable options.

We’ll definitely try. Clothing is subjective, so there’s rarely a perfect universal answer, but we can guide you towards the right fit style, garment weight, branding method, quality level and durability expectation based on how the garments will actually be used.

Vector artwork is always the dream 😄 An EPS file with fonts converted to outlines is basically our studio’s happy place. SVG, AI and high-quality PDF files are brilliant too because they scale cleanly without losing quality. But don’t worry if you don’t have those — we can usually work with JPGs, PNGs, PDFs, screenshots and old logo files too. Send us the best version you have and we’ll take a look.

Vector artwork uses perfectly calculated lines and curves rather than tiny square pixels. That means it can be scaled up or down without becoming blurry. Printers, embroiderers and designers love vector files because they produce sharp, clean branding across lots of different products.

Absolutely. We work with PNGs and JPEGs all the time. The higher the resolution, the better the final result is likely to be. If you have multiple versions of your logo, send the one that still looks sharp when zoomed in on screen.

Yes — and weirdly, we love doing it 😄 Taking rough, blurry or low-quality artwork and rebuilding it properly is basically our version of The Repair Shop. Sometimes it can be time-consuming, but strong artwork makes a huge difference to the final branded result.

Don’t panic — it’s incredibly common. Send us the highest-resolution version you can find and we’ll assess it. We’ll let you know whether it is production ready, needs improving or would benefit from being redrawn. We’d always rather fix issues before production than let poor artwork create disappointing branding later.

Yes — always. Before production begins we normally provide an artwork proof so you can check logo placement, sizing, colours, garment choice, spelling and overall layout. This stage helps make sure everyone is happy before anything is produced.

Absolutely. If you want to adjust logo size, positioning, colours, wording or product choices, just let us know and we’ll update the proof as quickly as possible. The proofing stage can affect lead times, so replying promptly always helps keep things moving.

Honestly? Everything 😄 We check proofs carefully, but it’s still important that you review spelling, phone numbers, email addresses, logo positioning, colours, garment selections, quantities and sizes. This is especially important if artwork has been recreated from a lower-quality file.

Usually yes — within the limits of the product’s printable or embroidery area. If you’d prefer the logo slightly higher, lower, larger, smaller or positioned differently, mention it during proofing and we’ll see what’s possible.

In many cases yes — or at least extremely close. Screen printing and spot-colour printing are usually very good for Pantone matching. Digital and full-colour printing use CMYK colour mixing, which can occasionally vary slightly. Different materials and surfaces can also affect the final appearance.

Usually very close, but slight variation can happen depending on garment colour, fabric texture, branding method, print process and thread type. We always aim to keep colours as consistent and accurate as possible throughout production.

Colour reproduction is surprisingly complicated 😄 Monitor calibration, lighting, fabric colour, material texture, coated and uncoated Pantones, print method, ink absorption and white underbases can all affect how colours appear. We always work to achieve the best possible colour result for your brand.

This varies depending on the product, branding area, logo shape, branding method and garment size. We show branding dimensions on product pages wherever possible, and we’ll guide you during the proofing stage. If we think a logo is too small, hard to read or visually unbalanced, we’ll tell you.

Not in the same way they can be printed. Embroidery uses solid thread colours rather than blended inks, so true gradients are not really possible. Gradient-style effects can sometimes be simulated, but they increase stitch count, production time and cost. Simple embroidery usually looks best.

Because thread behaves very differently to ink. Embroidery uses needles, thread, fabric and physical stitch movement, which means tiny lettering can quickly lose clarity or fill in. Clean, bold embroidery nearly always looks more premium and more readable than overly detailed designs.

Embroidery is limited by stitch width, fabric texture, thread thickness, needle size and garment movement. Gradients, tiny details, thin outlines and very fine text often need simplifying to stitch cleanly. And honestly? Simple embroidery usually looks better anyway 😄

Sometimes yes — it depends on the product, the material and the branding method. If you’re after a metallic finish, send us the product details and we’ll happily check what’s possible.

Yes — absolutely. Most garment print methods use white ink or white underbases when printing onto darker garments. This helps colours remain bright, vibrant and visible instead of becoming dull against dark fabric.

Digitising is the process of converting artwork into an embroidery file that embroidery machines can understand. It controls stitch direction, stitch type, stitch density, sequencing, underlay and pull compensation. Good digitising is a huge part of what separates average embroidery from really premium embroidery.

Yes — you can. Our proofs can be viewed on mobile devices and you can zoom in to check details. That said, we always recommend reviewing artwork on a larger screen where possible, especially when checking spelling, positioning, small details, sizing and colours.

Production times vary depending on the product, branding method, stock availability, artwork complexity and order quantity. We display estimated lead times on product pages wherever possible so you can quickly check whether a product suits your deadline.

Artwork approval is usually the biggest factor. Production cannot begin until artwork has been approved, so delays during proofing can affect dispatch dates. We always aim to get proofs over quickly and keep everything moving as smoothly as possible.

We’ll always try our absolute best. We genuinely hate letting customers down, so we build realistic production schedules rather than making promises we can’t keep. If you’re working to a deadline, let us know early and we’ll guide you towards the safest options.

Once your order is placed we move into the artwork and proofing stage. Artwork is checked, proofs are prepared and once approved your order moves into production, quality control and finally dispatch.

Once artwork has been approved and payment has been received, production begins. Garments are decorated, print runs are scheduled, embroidery files are processed and your order moves through final production and quality control.

Without doubt: proof approvals. Even a short delay approving artwork can affect production schedules, especially during busy periods. The faster approvals come back, the smoother production tends to run.

Very occasionally stock can change unexpectedly, especially during busy periods. If this happens we’ll let you know immediately and discuss alternative colours, replacement products or updated lead times.

Yes. Once your order has been dispatched we’ll send tracking information so you can follow delivery progress and arrange for somebody to receive the shipment.

At the moment we mainly supply within the UK and do not currently offer international delivery directly through the website. However, if you have a special requirement it’s always worth asking.

Honestly? Pretty much all year round 😄 But the busiest periods are usually late spring, summer event season, September and the run-up to Christmas. If you’re ordering for exhibitions, school leavers, events or Christmas campaigns, it’s always wise to allow a little extra time.

At the moment this isn’t a service we formally offer. However, if you have an ongoing project or repeat ordering requirement, it’s always worth speaking to us so we can advise on the best approach.

If there’s ever a problem, we’ll communicate it honestly and quickly. Production issues are rare, but when they happen we’ll always work with you to explain the situation clearly and find the best possible solution.

We work with trusted printers, embroiderers and production partners across the UK and Europe that we’ve built strong relationships with over many years. Orders go through checking during artwork preparation, proofing, production and dispatch to help minimise errors before products leave for delivery.

The easiest way to think about it is this: embroidery is stitched into the garment using thread, while print sits on the surface using ink or transfer methods. Embroidery usually feels more textured and premium, while print is better for detailed artwork, gradients and larger graphics. Both are excellent — the right choice depends on your logo, garment, budget and desired look.

Most modern branding methods are extremely durable when applied properly. Embroidery is stitched directly into the garment, laser engraving is permanent and screen printing can often last the lifetime of the garment itself. Durability depends on how products are used, washed and cared for, but branding technology has improved massively over the years.

Honestly? This is surprisingly subjective 😄 Many people associate embroidery, laser engraving and debossing with premium branding because they feel tactile and permanent. But great design matters just as much as the branding method. A beautifully designed one-colour print can often look more premium than an overcomplicated embroidery.

Print methods are generally best for highly detailed artwork. Techniques like DTF, screen printing and digital printing reproduce gradients, fine detail, tiny text and complex colour transitions much more easily than embroidery. If you’re unsure, just send us the artwork and we’ll advise honestly on what will work best.

Heavier garments usually work best. Hoodies, sweatshirts, fleeces, jackets and caps all handle embroidery beautifully because the fabric properly supports the stitch weight. Lightweight garments can sometimes pucker or distort slightly under dense embroidery stitching.

Most garments are suitable for print, especially t-shirts, sportswear, lightweight clothing and fashion garments. Print methods are ideal where you want softer finishes, large graphics, detailed artwork or vibrant colour reproduction.

Usually fabric weight, material quality, construction, finishing and sustainability credentials. Heavier garments often feel more premium because they hold shape better and wear differently over time. You’ll also often see price increases with organic materials, recycled fabrics and premium garment brands.

Every clothing brand develops and dyes colours slightly differently using their own suppliers and manufacturing processes. That means “navy” from one brand may look completely different to “navy” from another. It’s very normal within the garment industry.

Yes — modern branding methods are far more durable than many people realise. Traditional screen printing can often last as long as the garment itself, while modern DTF printing has improved massively in recent years too. Proper washing and garment care help maximise lifespan further.

As a general rule we recommend washing garments inside out at 30°C on a gentler cycle and avoiding excessive tumble drying where possible. This helps preserve both the garment itself and the branding finish.

Absolutely — and honestly, embroidery is usually the best choice for fleece garments. Printing onto fleece generally doesn’t produce particularly strong results, whereas embroidery looks clean, durable and premium on textured fabrics.

Towels have a high-pile textured surface which means embroidery can sink slightly into the fibres. Different stabilisers, underlay stitching and embroidery techniques are often used to help maintain clarity and definition on towel products.

Caps are surprisingly technical to embroider because they’re curved, structured and stitched differently to flat garments. The embroidery machines themselves also work differently on caps compared to standard clothing. That said… we absolutely love embroidered caps here 😄

Honestly? The most sustainable garment is usually the one people actually keep and wear. There’s very little benefit producing garments that end up unworn. That said, recycled and organic garments are increasingly popular and many brands now offer genuinely strong eco-focused collections with excellent quality too.

Stretchy lightweight fabrics can struggle to support dense embroidery stitching. This can cause puckering, pulling or uneven embroidery. That’s one reason we usually recommend embroidery on slightly heavier garments like hoodies, sweats, fleeces and jackets rather than lightweight t-shirts.

3D embroidery — often called puff embroidery — uses foam underneath the stitching to create a raised three-dimensional effect. It’s especially popular on caps, streetwear and bold logo designs because it creates that chunky premium stitched appearance people love.

Satin stitch is one of the main stitch types used in embroidery. It creates smooth raised lines using tightly packed stitches laid side-by-side, making it ideal for lettering, outlines and cleaner logo details.

Fill stitch — often called tatami stitch — is used to fill larger embroidered areas with thread. Instead of smooth lines like satin stitch, it creates a woven textured appearance which works brilliantly for larger blocks of colour and filled logo sections.

Because embroidery physically sits on top of the garment using actual thread and stitching. Unlike print, embroidery adds texture and depth to the material, which is one reason it is often perceived as a more premium branding method.

Quite simply: more stitches mean more production time. Higher stitch counts use more thread, increase machine time and slow production down. Very dense or highly detailed logos can dramatically increase embroidery time and cost.

Embroidery usually uses stabilising backing materials behind the garment during stitching. These help support the fabric, reduce movement, improve stitch quality and minimise distortion while the embroidery is being sewn.

Different fabrics behave very differently under stitching tension. Texture, thickness, stretch, weave and softness all affect how embroidery sits on the garment. Fleece behaves differently to cotton, towels behave differently to caps and lightweight t-shirts behave differently to hoodies.

Usually yes — although it depends on the garment, stitch density and fabric type. Embroidery can often be carefully unpicked and removed, although dense stitching may leave small needle marks or slight texture changes behind.

Because thread behaves very differently to ink or digital artwork. Tiny details, thin lines, gradients and very small text often become unreadable when stitched into fabric. Simpler embroidery nearly always produces cleaner and more professional results.

Embroidery works best on hoodies, sweatshirts, fleeces, jackets, polos and caps because these garments properly support stitch weight and maintain clean embroidery detail without excessive distortion or puckering.

DTF stands for Direct To Film. Artwork is printed onto a specialist film, coated with adhesive powder and then heat pressed onto the garment. It’s brilliant for detailed artwork, gradients, vibrant colours and smaller production runs.

Screen printing is one of the most traditional and durable garment printing methods. Ink is pushed through mesh screens directly onto the garment surface, producing bold colour, excellent durability and fantastic-looking prints.

Rotary digital printing allows full-colour designs to be printed around curved products such as bottles, tumblers and mugs. The product rotates while high-resolution printheads apply the artwork around the surface.

Pad printing uses a soft silicone pad to transfer ink onto awkward or curved surfaces. It’s commonly used for pens, keyrings, USB drives, stress toys and many smaller promotional products.

Laser engraving uses a focused laser beam to permanently mark or remove material from the product surface. It creates precise detail, a premium finish and extremely durable branding that won’t peel or crack over time.

Soft enamel is commonly used on badges, pins, medals and custom metal merchandise. Recessed areas are filled with coloured enamel, creating a tactile finish where the raised metal edges sit slightly above the colour fills.

Traditional screen printing often produces the softest-feeling finish, especially when using water-based inks. Modern DTF printing has improved massively too and can now achieve very soft flexible finishes on many garments.

Yes — over time some print methods can eventually crack due to repeated washing, stretching and wear. However, modern print technology is dramatically better than it used to be and proper garment care helps massively.

Embroidery is technically the most durable because the design is stitched directly into the garment. Among print methods, screen printing and high-quality transfer systems both offer excellent durability when properly applied.

It depends on the garment fabric and intended use. Sublimation is excellent for polyester sportswear, while DTF and transfer methods are extremely popular for names, numbers and sponsor logos on sports kits.

Fabric colour, texture and material composition all affect how printed colours appear. A logo printed onto black polyester, white cotton and textured fleece can all look slightly different even using the same artwork file.

Laser engraving works beautifully on metal drinkware, insulated bottles, pens, wooden products, tools, notebooks, tech accessories and executive gifts where customers want subtle permanent premium branding.

Yes. We can usually reorder previous products and branding setups, making repeat ordering much quicker and easier.

In many cases yes, allowing future orders to move through production more efficiently.

Absolutely. Existing branding can often be adapted to new garments or products depending on artwork suitability.

If any issue arises, we will work with you to investigate and resolve it as quickly and fairly as possible.

We currently accept Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, BACS bank transfer and PayPal through our secure checkout. Unfortunately we do not currently accept American Express directly, although some customers choose to use Amex through PayPal instead.

Absolutely. Just contact us and we’ll issue a proforma invoice with our bank details. Production begins once payment has cleared. If your order is time-sensitive, card payment is usually the fastest option because bank transfers can occasionally take time to clear.

Yes — our checkout uses secure encrypted payment processing and modern fraud protection systems designed to keep transactions safe. Payment details are processed securely and sensitive financial information is not stored directly on our servers.

Yes — absolutely. Once your order has been processed you’ll receive a VAT invoice by email for your records.

Yes — if you have a valid discount code you can enter it during checkout and the discount will be applied automatically.

We do not currently offer specific charity discounts as standard. However, if you’re working on a charity or fundraising project it’s always worth speaking to us and we’ll try to help where we realistically can.

VAT is currently applied to all website orders. If your organisation is VAT exempt, VAT reclaim arrangements would normally need to be handled directly through HMRC or your relevant authority.

If a refund is required we’ll process it as quickly as possible once everything has been confirmed. Refund timings can vary slightly depending on the original payment method and banking provider.

Yes — after placing your order you’ll receive confirmation emails covering your order details, artwork process and invoice information.

We use trusted tracked courier services including DPD, DHL, UPS, Royal Mail and TNT depending on the shipment size, destination and service level. Tracking details are emailed once your order has been dispatched.

Unfortunately we can’t guarantee delivery for a precise requested date. The estimated delivery date shown on your quote, invoice or product page reflects the latest expected delivery timeframe for your order.

Most couriers will either attempt redelivery or leave instructions for collection from a local pickup point. Your tracking link will normally provide the latest delivery status and available options.

At the moment we currently deliver within mainland UK only. Unfortunately we are not currently able to deliver to Northern Ireland or international destinations.

Estimated delivery dates are shown on product pages, quotes and invoices wherever possible. If you’re ever unsure, just ask and we’ll happily check the latest production timings for you.

Not always. Different products and branding methods can have different production lead times, so some orders may arrive in separate deliveries. Where relevant, estimated delivery timings are shown during the ordering process.

In most cases yes. If nobody is available to receive the parcel, the courier will normally leave instructions for rearranging delivery or collecting the shipment. For urgent event orders we strongly recommend ensuring someone is available to accept delivery.

Because products are custom branded specifically for your order, returns are generally not possible unless the finished goods differ from the approved artwork or agreed specification. If there’s ever an issue, please contact us and we’ll always do our best to help resolve it fairly.

We can — although honestly we usually recommend avoiding it where possible 😄 Hotels, exhibition venues and event spaces can be extremely busy environments and deliveries occasionally go missing internally once signed for. If direct venue delivery is your only option we’ll absolutely help where we can, but delivering to a home or business address ahead of time is normally the safer option.

Yes — orders are generally dispatched plain label without Kaboom branding on the outer packaging wherever possible.