Suz Pathmanathan
The global promotional products market is expected to hit $28 billion by 2027 as businesses increasingly seek innovative ways to enhance brand recognition through customized, high-quality merchandise.
That’s a heavy amount of gold in those hills! However, promotional product businesses' ambitions are thwarted by operational inefficiencies, wasted inventory, and an inability to scale internationally.
Brikl and Printful have partnered to offer a streamlined, powerful solution to meet these evolving demands. By combining Brikl’s advanced webstore platform with Printful’s global print-on-demand network, businesses can optimize their offerings while enhancing customer satisfaction.
This article will explore how our partnership provides essential benefits for the promotional products industry, backed by data and industry trends.
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1. On-Demand Fulfillment: No Inventory, No Problem
Managing excess inventory has been a significant headache for businesses in the promotional products industry.
💡According to a report by SAGE, a leading promotional product research group, 35% of distributors cite excess inventory as a leading cause of financial loss.
This issue has been compounded by the growing demand for personalized, one-off items, which traditional bulk-order models need help to fulfill.
The partnership changes the game by offering print-on-demand services—a model that eliminates the need for upfront inventory purchases. Printful’s fulfillment process is triggered only when a customer orders, reducing waste and lowering storage costs.
This approach opens the door for smaller clients who might not meet bulk order requirements by enabling companies to sell one unit at a time. With Brikl and Printful, promotional product companies can now easily tap into this lucrative market, serving both small and large-scale clients efficiently.
2. Global Reach: Ship to Over 230 Countries and Territories
Expanding internationally has always been a challenge for promotional product distributors. Research from PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) shows that 60% of businesses struggle with cross-border shipping costs, customs delays, and order fulfillment logistics.
This is where Printful’s extensive network shines like a beacon in the dark. With fulfillment centers located in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Spain, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Latvia, and Mexico, Printful’s strategic locations allow Brikl-powered stores to serve 230+ countries with fast, reliable shipping.
By auto-routing orders to the most efficient fulfillment center based on the customer’s location, the system ensures that orders are delivered quickly while minimizing shipping costs and customs delays.
💡 A DHL Global report showed that 74% of e-commerce businesses cite international shipping costs as a major barrier to entry for global markets. With Printful's automated fulfillment and real-time tracking, Brikl’s clients can now confidently expand their reach to new markets without the logistical headaches.
3. Consistency and Quality Control
In the promotional products industry, 74% of buyers say product quality is the most important factor influencing their purchasing decisions, according to ASI’s Global Ad Impressions Study. When clients expect top-quality merchandise, consistency across global orders becomes essential.
Printful’s vertically integrated model ensures consistent quality across all its global fulfillment centers. From fabric sourcing to printing and packaging, Printful maintains rigorous quality control standards.
💡 According to a 2023 Printful report, the company boasts a 99.7% accuracy rate in order fulfillment, ensuring clients receive flawless products every time.
For distributors and suppliers, this consistency is critical when working with large clients who demand that branded merchandise, including logos, colors, and designs, remain uniform across multiple orders and locations. Brikl’s platform ensures seamless coordination between Printful’s fulfillment centers, maintaining brand integrity regardless of the product’s origin.
4. End-to-End Solutions: From Design to Delivery
The promotional products industry is becoming increasingly digitized, with businesses demanding all-in-one solutions that can handle everything from product design to order fulfillment.
The partnership delivers exactly that. Brikl’s MicroStores allow promotional product companies to offer customized storefronts for each client, providing everything from product design options to integrated shipping solutions.
Printful’s automation handles fulfillment, shipping, and customer service inquiries, with response times under 20 minutes, giving businesses a seamless process from start to finish.
The impact of automation in e-commerce is undeniable—80% of promotional product buyers expect faster service and automated solutions to simplify purchasing, according to the PPAI. This partnership offers businesses that leverage Brikl’s platform and Printful’s fulfillment a significant advantage over competitors relying on manual processes.
5. Custom Products for Every Client
Personalization is the future of the promotional products industry. The Brikl x Printful partnership offers a vast array of customizable products, allowing promotional products businesses to meet their clients’ unique needs.
Printful’s product catalog spans everything from apparel to hard goods like mugs, notebooks, and bags, with multiple customization options, including embroidery, sublimation, and UV printing.
This flexibility allows promotional products companies to create personalized items for corporate events, employee rewards, and client gifts, enabling them to expand their offerings and capture more business.
According to PPAI's 2022 consumer survey, 58% of consumers report that personalized promotional products make them feel more valued by the brand. Offering customized solutions has become a necessity, not an option.
6. Sustainability in Promotional Products Industry
Sustainability is becoming a key factor in purchasing decisions. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the promotional products industry.
The print-on-demand model embraced by Brikl and Printful dramatically reduces waste by only producing items when they are ordered, eliminating overstock and leftover inventory. Printful’s commitment to sustainable practices—including eco-friendly inks, energy-efficient machinery, and reducing carbon emissions—makes it an ideal partner for businesses looking to offer eco-friendly promotional products.
By adopting sustainable practices, promotional product businesses can align with modern consumer values, especially as Forbes reports that 62% of millennials favor brands that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility.
7. Multi-Language and Multi-Currencry Support
As promotional products businesses expand internationally, offering a localized shopping experience is the name of the game when improving customer conversion rates.
💡 Research from Commonwealth Bank shows that businesses offering a multi-language and multi-currency experience see an average 15% increase in sales.
We recently rolled out localization features across the platform to support multiple languages and currencies. This allows promotional product distributors to offer their clients a local experience regardless of where they shop. This feature simplifies cross-border sales, enabling businesses to serve international clients better while boosting conversion rates.
By providing an intuitive, localized shopping experience, Brikl x Printful allows businesses to grow their customer base worldwide without the friction of currency conversion or language barriers.
Wrapping Up
With features like on-demand fulfillment, global shipping, customization, and a commitment to sustainability, this partnership addresses every key challenge businesses face in the promotional products industry.
The combination of automation, scalability, and personalization makes our solution an essential asset for companies looking to expand, streamline their operations, and reduce waste. As the market continues to evolve, businesses that leverage this partnership will be well-positioned to meet growing demand and deliver superior customer experiences.
Are you ready to elevate your promotional products business? Now is the time to embrace efficiency, sustainability, and global reach—your clients and the planet will thank you.
