We are in a similar situation, We are custom screen printers, engravers, sublimators, and pretty much whatever the customer needs either on our own merit, or through Sage or ASI promotional options....I just recently had an opportunity to quote 10,000 pencils...Never would have even thought about it in the past....Made almost $1000 on the job and didn't do anything other than research the product, and made sure the Order was placed appropriately.

If you are a dot the I's , cross the T's kind of person....I doubt you would have any trouble working in the promotional marketplace. The biggest issue outside of financing for a smaller company....is using quality suppliers....Sage and ASI both have rating systems....I use them extensively when looking for products that my customers request. I typicaly look for companies rated B or better, as I was burned a couple of times early on with poor service and quality from lesser rated companies.....

Definitely worth looking into if you have an interest and your finding customers requesting products that you can't do on your own at this point.

Hello Mike,

Nice to meet you. SFV is correct.

David Takes also gave "great" advice in his posting.

One of my primary focuses in the promotions market (ASI, PPAI, SAGE, and others) is with our glass, ceramics, crystal, acrylics, plastics decoration partner, which we have been working with for over 3 years. We have worked with them on sublimation (which they have now decided to jointly go into in extremely large production runs), decal manufacturing and decoration possibilities, and direct flatbed printing solutions.

Another of our joint ventures with the direct flatbed printing will start with one of the top "keychain" suppliers to the ASI/PPAI/SAGE market with our direct printing machines being shown starting at the Philadelphia Show at the end of May. These are the www.swi-usa.com printers/ Super A3 and A4 models. Direct "full color photo" printing into plastics, without any pre-coatings. These are specialty LipChip HOT (heat cured inks), that's what SWI calls them, and they will be printing directly to many surfaces for the promotional products market.

Just email me when you need some help.