79 replies to this topic

[bigimpression]

Thought this would be an interesting thread.

Who are your top suppliers and why do they make the cut?

[dusty]

ryan:

name your top ten suppliers and why.

[bigimpression]

Well I used to send my orders through Kaeser & Blair, therefore I didn't had to directly deal with the suppliers.

With that said, I'd like to start dealing direct with suppliers, that is why I started this thread.

But, here are my top 5 that I do deal directly with:

Tradenet- Outstanding service and products. When learning to do CRA on my own, one of their graphic artists was more than happy to answer all my questions and reveiw files for me.

Souvenir - Great products and their graphic art dept also helped me when trying to learn to produce CRA on my own. Customer service could be better, but still tops by me.

Versa-Tags - Have always met my deadlines and treated me like their best customer even when ordering 1 box of key tags.

Lancer Label - Extends credit right away, and produces great labels, and again customer service is always fast and courteous.

AAkron Rule - Just started to deal directly with them and so far all my customer have been pleased with the final product. Customer service was very responsive to any questions.

[dusty]

bigimpression:

i agree with all of your choices, except versa-tag. i've never had an opportunity to use their products.

my top 5:

edwards industries - ceramic and glassware. located in los angeles area. exceptional customer service. they go out of their way to make me feel as if i'm their only client.

dart manufacturing- always good

notes, inc., pete langdon does a great job, makes everthing run smoothly, even when they screw-up!

northranch enterprizes- in and out the door. always perfect. they won't let you down if you let them know your event. (just pay your bill on time, or charlene will have her death squad at your doorstep!!!)

printgear-for blank apparel. their office in california has helped me out many times.

there are more, but for now....

[Chris Miller]

Only 10? We have dealt with too many fine suppliers to list only 10. Here are a few we have dealt with before, and will continue to deal with (in no particular order). I would highly reccomend all of these to anyone interested.

1) Sanmar - Easy online ordering, and excellent service

2) Vantage Apparel - Great apparel, and excellent service

3) Klio Eterna - Local, great quality product, and again great service

4) Anchorline - Local, great selection, great service, and great quality

5) Bic Graphic USA - Name brand and they give us a good credit line :D Quality and service are great

6) Tradenet - Excellent assortment of products, best customer service i've ever received, and pricing is great too

7) Norwood (insert one of the 16 lines here) - They have it all and have the rewards program. Service is also great.

8) Primeline - Easy to do business with, great service, good selection of misc products

9) Label Works (Carlson Craft) - Great pricing on labels, and customer service is fast and effecient.

10) Ariel Premium - Local and the only ones we use for stress balls. Great service too.

11) Leeds - Great product line, and great deals for self promos and specs and such.

12) Fast Badge - It's all in the name. These guys make it possible for us to easily upsell badges to existing customer orders. Service is great too

13) MWM Dexter (Tailormade) - Great pricing, and somewhat local. Customer service is great too.

14) Quikey Manufacturing - Good selection, and good people.

15) Neely Mfg. - Just an all around good line, and great people to work with.

16) Gill-line - Anything that sticks. These guys are great.

17) Fey Line - Love using these guys for the little stick on calendars. Great price, and great service.

18) Evans Manufacturing - Tons of misc stuff, and they carry some products that we sell regularly.

19) Express-A-Button - Best place that ive ever dealt with for buttons.

20) Chemical Light - They do all the glowy stuff and we have a few customers who use a lot of this stuff.

[bdadco]

I have to agree with Chris in Only 10? :)
We have dealt with too many fine suppliers to list only 10. Here are a few we have dealt with before, and will continue to deal with (in no particular order). I would highly reccomend all of these to anyone interested.


(1) Adva-Lite - flashlights, pens & etc - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(2) Morco - rain gauges, thermometers & etc - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(3) Gotham Pens & Pencil - made in USA - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(4) Gold Bond - pens, pencils, rulers, yard sticks & you name it they may have it - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(5) M-i Line - tools, toys, and many items - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(6) Finn Graphics - the greatest stick on calendars, decals and labels - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(7) Diversified Ad Tee - kitchen tool, & golf products - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(8) Business Cards Inc (BCI) - business cards & business forms - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(9)Tagmaster -key tags, pens and much more - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(10) Samco - pencils, rulers & yard sticks - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(11) Dixon - the pencil peoople - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(12) Stouse - labels & decals anything that sticks on, - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(13) Jo-Bee - pencils, pens and many other items - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(14) Sanford - papermate and many other name brand pens - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(15) Americana - need a good jar opener they have then + many other items - great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(16) Bic Graphic -great products, wonderful customer service, don't add handling charges to freight cost and does not sell to end users.

(17) Hotline Products (calendars)

(18) Goes Litho (calendars)

(19) Skinner Kennedy (calendars)

(20) Mead (calendars)

:) :) :)

[tedp]

Lots of great supplier choices here, folks. This is one subject that could easily be broken into several by product category.

Here's one that, if you're looking for a really, really nice shirt, is the best: F.A. McCluer. Their shirts are sold by neck and sleeve length, and their pinpoint oxford is my absolute favorite shirt ever. They also have a fantastic denim shirt - great with a tie and khakis. If you're ever looking for a great shirt, they sell in Brooks Brothers stores - just dynamite. $60 retail, mid 20's or so to us. Something like that.

Another of my favorites is Leed's. Absolutely wonderful customer service, their line is always of high quality and very diverse. And like I've seen above, their sample and self-promo policies are super.

There's my two cents. :)

[logoclick]

As far as favorites on my list for best service.

Hub Pen - Awesome Free 24 hour rush service
Dooley 0 Stadium Cups also Awesome Free 24 hour rush service
AaKron Line - Never screwed me yet. Great Service!
Gold Bond - Ditto
Glass America - Gotta Love em' Great Specials and quick turn-around.
Stouse - Great Labels, hang Tags, etc.. Great Prices.
Galactic Line - Balloons, Footballs, etc.. Also Great Service and Fast Production on Time!
Leed's - Great Stuff and Great Service.
Tagmaster
Windmill Press - Calendars Planners

[IDEASGirl]

:rolleyes: Well...... I will go with 10 too; and have some that anyone had mentioned them:

• Bic Graphic
  
• TradeNet
  
• Norwood
  
• Bullet Line
  
• Vitronic 4 Seasons
  
• HPC Global
  
• HotLine
  
• Taylor & Grant (candies)
  
• Anchor Line
  
• AT Designs (Pins)

And as per printing solutions concern... nothing like DFS Group and Carlson Craft....

Labels? Lancer

[Remy]

I'll put my 2cents in......

Tradenet
Souvenir (not all Norwood divisions are as accomodating)
Bic
American Acrylic
Tomax
Gemline
Charles River Apparell
Vantage
Adva-Lite
LabelWorks

[ArdeoTech_Admin]

Here's a few...

1. Bodek & Rhodes - Apparel
2. Sanmar - Apparel
3. ETS Express - Great Drinkware and Prices
4. Sanford - Great Writing Instrument Options
5. TradeNet
6. Perfect Promotions
7. Leeds
8. Quickey
9. HUB Pen
10. Galactic Line
11. HPC Global
12. QuickPoint
13. Discount Label
14. Norwood
15. Garrity
16. Sweda
17. etc........

[tedp]

Finally, a vote for my favorite label house - Discount Labels. Very fast, very reasonable. Also, if you do any presentation folders, try Folder Express. Great catalog, great style selection, all sorts of options that can all be priced right there in the catalog. Awesome supplier! One more, and I know they had their share of trouble late last year, Norwood's Triumph Line for calendars. Been using them since before Norwood bought them - always great selection and quality.
That's my 2 more cents.

[rickyboy]

It's hard to pick just 10, but I'll give it a try:

1. Gemline
2. Leeds
It's funny that my top two are direct competitors, but both are superb companies with great local reps in the West, Greg Armstrong and Rick French.
3. Sweda
4. The Book Co - what a sleeper line but they'll do whatever it takes you help you close the deal!
5. Bic
6. IMC
7. Sanford
8. Pinnacle Designs
9. Logomark
10. San Mar

In these days of constantly declining customer service, I can almost always count on the above 10 companies to come through for me!

[adspecip]

...and my 10 (not in any specific order):

Alpha
Bodek & Rhodes
Discount Labels
Stouse
Hub Pen
Aakron
Leeds
Bullet Line
Crown Products
Webb
TradeNet

and a few more:
Norwood (RCC Koozie & Souvenir)
American Ad Bag
BCI
Gemini Line
Garyline

there's just so many!

[lovedzines]

This is a great thread especially for people new top the industry like myself.

[creativegifts]

Tagmaster is definitely on the bottom of my list (the very bottom). They have great products and prices but their customer service is non-existent. I have spent over an hour "on hold" today three different times throughout the day, left three messages, and have never been able to talk with anyone. All I need is a tracking number for a customer who has not received their products and you cant talk to anyone at the company. I have just removed every one of their products from my website. I dont have the time to deal with companies that cost me customers.
Joyce Reid

[rickyboy]

Tagmaster (Dard) does have customer service issues but when I have a problem I call their Executive VP Bonni Shevin and she gets me an answer/resolves the problem. You can reach Bonni at 847 425-6835 or email her at bonnis@tagmaster.net. She will happily help!

[creativegifts]

Ricky: Thank you for the contact info. I appreciate it and will call Bonni first thing tomorrow morning about this particular order.

BUT I sell more than just products. We sell customer service and our customer service depends on that of the factories. If Tagmaster has issues (and they definitely do), they need to deal with them. This is a business for me and should be for them--not a hobby.
Joyce Reid

[MalibuSurfrider]

This list is ever-evolving, but I've had good experiences working with these suppliers:

1) Sanmar
2) Bodek & Rhodes
3) Perfect Promotions
4) Webb
5) Alternative Apparel
6) Soffe
7) HPI Emblem
8) 3M Promotional
9) Magnet LLC
10) Stouse

[margie@kapcoadv.com]

I wonder about the range of opinions about Tagmaster. Some of you love it, and others
(like us) have had a LOT of trouble with their customer service.
Maybe it is the individual representative we deal with?
I am not sure, but maybe they divide their cust service people by area or alphabetically...maybe Ohio or companies starting with a "K" (like us) have a rotten rep?
Anyway, we use them as infrequently as possible.
This has been fun to review your favorite companies; our list is so similar!
OUR FAVORITE DESK CALENDAR CO: WARWICK. They are incredible at turning things around. We have dealth with them for 29 years.
Also: Favorite new WALL CALENDAR CO: BEACON promotions. Bailed our butts out last fall when Triumph lost it. We are working to move as many of our wall calendar orders to them as possible. Warwick has great wall calendars, too.
--Margie