Inside Information

Information that the BIG BOX Supplier don’t want you to know!

This might take you a while to read but it will make your promo life more profitable and easier.

What are clones, replica’s, patented and copyrighted promo products?

You can call them clones, replicas, knockoffs, or tributes. These words will help you would understand what I am about to say.

Patented Products

In the promotional product industry, and all industries in fact, there are products that are patented and products that are copyrighted and sometimes product’s that are both. However, a product’s claim to having these protections is not always true or accurate.

As well, very often, only a small portion of a product that claims to be patented may in fact be patented. For instance, a drinkware piece can claim a patent and to the casual observer it looks like the entire thing is protected under that patent. However, it maybe only the handle or the lid or some small function of the overall design that is in fact under patent.

Other products, that claim to be patented may have even had their patent run out. Patents are almost always issued for a finite period of time (usually 20 years).

And finally, some products that claim to be patented are not. 

What about copyright?

Copyright is a different process. When something is copyrighted it almost always refers to things that are not of a functional nature but more of a branding nature.

For instance, if you want to buy a Yeti Tumbler with the Yeti logo you pretty much have to buy an expensive Yeti copyrighted product.

However, if you want to buy a Tumbler that looks and functions almost identically to the Yeti Tumbler you can find factories and suppliers who can source and deliver a near exact replica for half the price or less.

 It will look, work and function identically to the Tumbler but will not have the prestigious Yeti logo or any patentable part they may or may not have. FYI I am using Yeti just as a example that all of us in the marketing business understand. this is nothing to do with Yeti in particular.

One of the things that Promo Motive specializes in is in sourcing, logoing and delivering top quality replicas some of the more well-known promotional product’s and delivering them to you at a price that is more “sane and realistic”.

It is not to say that a brand-name product isn’t a good product, often they are. I am simply saying bad there are product’s with near identical functions, looks and uses all at a price that is often 50% or less in cost!

There are product’s that are very,very similar to branded products that do not cross any intellectual property lines. These products fill your clients needs for a great marketing giveaway and in the process save you and maybe make you more money... plus save money for your client, whose budgets are now being tightened.

At the factory level

The other interesting thing about this process is that branded product’s rarely have their own factories.

Most often those brands go to a variety of factories offshore and they create the product for that brand. These factories are the same ones building the near replicas.

The other part of the cloning idea for promotional products is the fact that many product’s whether they’ve been made for retail environment or a promotional product environment are discontinued or are no longer in stock.

I have a very strong feeling that when a supplier tells you this (not in stock) it is not always the truth. Here’s why I think this way.

Covid pandemic still causing problems

As we all know, the pandemic turned the promotional product industry on its head. In the first six months in 2020 we went from supplying marketing materials, trade show goods and employee recognition gifts to being suppliers of PPE. There are still ramifications in our industry as a result of that, still going on now and into the foreseeable future.

What’s the big problem?

The first and foremost problem is that a lot of big box suppliers invested heavily in PPE all at a very high price. That PPE now sits on their shelves and is not worth 1/10th of what it cost them to buy.

As someone who has run large supplier companies I can tell you that owners and accountants look at this inventory and realize that all of the money tied up in masks, hand sanitizer etc etc etc has to be sold out at rock bottom prices to get it off the shelves. Simply put, no one wants them and that ties up money.

These blow out prices have caused the big box supplies to lose hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. Making it more and more difficult to afford new products, old winners and even to hire trained and experienced CSR’s.

Why the Big Box Suppliers are struggling?

The above problem means that there is not enough cash flow in these companies to buy many of the product’s that they once carried. They avoid the embarrassment of the problem by now simply saying “it’s out of stock or the laughable, the factory stopped making it”. They are not telling you, the Distributor, the truth!

What is true, is that all of these product’s, are actually available direct from the factory. The factories are still able and willing to produce product’s that many of their suppliers are no longer able to buy because they do not have the cash flow to do so.

This is where Promo Motive excels!

Promo Motive works with nearly 100 different factories both domestically and offshore. For nearly 20 years we have been supplying the promotional products industry with factory direct promotional products that are sometimes considered discontinued items, or they may be replicas of other items or items whose patents have run out. (FYI) We do not intentionally source or build patented products but we do find you product’s that you and your clients will love and will save you money!

What should you do next?

You should call us or e-mail us at [email protected].

If you want to get an idea of a cost for availability of a product you can simply send us pictures of what you want, give us 24 hours and we will give you an MOQ and a price.

You can send us ideas that you found on Amazon or in your local retail setting or from another suppliers catalog that your clients used to buy and now still want. Or, you can have us price compared to just about anything that any big box supplier provides. We guarantee to beat them and save you money.

We do things differently!

In short, we get rid of the high cost of warehousing and the cost of unwanted stock (do you have any ideahow many lime green polos are sitting on shelves…for years?) we don’t buy product colors, sizes, fads etc that no one wants and then have to eat the cost of them and finally, we work on a very small profit margin.

We keep our operation small nimble and cost effective. That way, we can be your swag supplier, get you what you want, all at a price that your client is asking for.

We do it all from the factory floor to your door

We take care of every aspect of the order from start to finish. When we quote you a single all-inclusive price. No hidden fees. Professional, well trained CSR’s. Knowledgeable.

Are you interested?

Does this sound interesting? It should!

E-MAIL US HERE TO SAY HELLO TO A REAL ACTUAL PERSON.

Here’s A Few Ideas For Your Clients!

Promo Motive. Your Factory Supplier.

Promo Motive is a SUPPLIER of promotional products, trade show swag and creative office supplies. We specialize in getting your logo on them and delivering them to your door.

Think of us as your own product sourcing company.

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For inquiries, email us by click on this link: [email protected] 

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WHAT IS OG MEANING?

WHAT DOES OG MEAN?

OG is a slang term for someone who’s incredibly exceptional, authentic, or “old-school.” It can be earnestly used for a legend like Michael Jordan or more ironically, like for that friend who can unwrap a Starburst with their mouth.