We joined SAGE last June, approx. We actually paid for SAGE & the web store with our first order. We had used Kaeser & Blair for a couple years to get a feel for the promotional products business. Mainly to have a source for our existing customer base that wanted promotional products. Low cost to join Kaeser & Blair but they are the middle man between you and the supplier. Therefore, if the profit is normally 40%, you get 20% & they get 20%. With SAGE you pay a fee, but you keep all profit & that quickly adds up to more than the membership.
So after a while, dealing with the ordering, art files & follow up of the orders we figured out it wasn't brain surgery. The main thing I think is, covering your butt. Proofs that the customer signs off on, states if something is approved wrong they are financially responsible. So far we have not had any mistakes.
We do not go out & solicit PP business. Tried some newspaper adv., no results. Our customers know we have them & we are listed in the Yellow Pages under PP. We do have a salesperson that works on straight commission to sell PP. She makes the contact, sells the order, we do the art & divide the commission. She does this part time & has brought in sales.
PP vary, you can have a nice sale but your profit isn't much. Depends on what your customer wants, quantity & their budget.