Proudly Canadian
When it comes to finding anything these days, most of us tend to start looking online first, instead of as the last resort − especially when it comes to promotional event items! With a worldwide market accessible to anyone who can click their mouse, global shopping has never been easier to do. And, with so much competition it can be easy to forget that the easiest and most efficient shopping can often be found much closer to home than we think. While the benefits of a more open market economy are numerous, it has also led to our own countries sometimes getting picked last − but why should you choose made in Canada? Let's take a look at why deciding to shop nationally, particularly when it comes to Canadian-made promotional items, can be more beneficial than you think!
Made in Canada is more expensive… or is it?
This one is probably the most common area of concern and a great place to begin breaking things down! The general consensus is that deciding upon made in Canada promotional items means adding a huge expense to your invoice for the same items you could perhaps get elsewhere for less. But is this really the truth? With variables like freight now soaring in cost − it makes sense that the less distance your custom branded promo goods have to travel, the better. When you look at this and combine it with other factors like the unpredictability of overseas shipping − you can begin to see that starting closer to home can mean less stress and even possibly less expense, with the right company.
Choosing reliable Canadian promotional goods to represent your brand
We have all probably been there. You order online, but when your items finally arrive, they are not exactly… quite what you had in mind. From the wrong size product to something that is nothing like the picture you were shown, the hazards of internet shopping are so well known they have become a staple for jokes and viral posts. We might shrug it off and chalk it up to “a lesson learned” with one personal item, going about our day feeling slightly annoyed but only a little financially worse off for our experience. It is however a very different story when you have ordered a thousand of something for a promotion and they turn up in poor shape or not at all − and this can spell disaster for your business. You might get your money back, but by the time you find an alternative, the ship has likely long sailed on your essential marketing campaign date.
But how does choosing made in Canada help with this problem? The internet is the internet after all, isn't it? Of course, the truth is that deciding to shop nationally rather than globally doesn’t always mean that this can be avoided. There are disreputable businesses out there all over the world, including in Canada − but there is also the benefit of more accountability when you go national. If the business is onshore then they are more likely to be easier to reach, and easier to file a complaint with, should it come to the worst. With the added bonus of being close to home, you might even get those essential replacements in time for your event after all! The best solution, we think at least, is to find a reputable promotional supplier based in Canada that you can trust.
Overcoming the challenge of finding accessible Canadian made goods
There is no doubt that the trend for offshore shopping isn’t going anywhere, but what about when we can't find what we are looking for in Canada? The positive news is that while the interest in Canadian-based promotional products may have once dwindled in the exciting rush of online shopping years ago, it seems to be coming back strong. From more suppliers bringing out made in Canada promotional lines, to people proudly supporting their local Canadian stores − people are beginning to realize that the more you support something, the more potential avenues are generated as a result. The short of it is, the more public interest there is in something, the more companies will try to provide it.
The true value of supporting Canadian business
From a reduced carbon footprint due to orders having to travel less distance, to supporting your local bakery, there’s no doubt that there are benefits when it comes to choosing Canadian − but how far do they reach? Did you know that by putting money back into the country you are also helping build up the economy and could also even be helping to create new jobs? We might not all be economical experts, but it is easy to see that revenue invested back into Canada can help benefit those around us. If this wasn’t enough, the long-term potential of choosing Canadian could even come full circle to help the investor! No matter how much of a deal you got on those custom branded notebooks − people just might not have the means to buy them from you if they are struggling economically. Simply put, we are more likely to be affected by our actions closest to home and this goes for our business decisions also.
Could a blend of offshore and Canadian-made goods be the perfect solution?
From promotional wristbands to custom branded business gift solutions, the need and drive for a huge variety of promotional items ranges almost as far as our creativity can invent. With this in mind, finding everything made in Canada is not always easily achievable. With the potential interest in Canadian-made promotional items on the rise once more, some businesses are still playing catch-up when it comes to product lines and availability. This means that some items are still primarily an offshore-based purchase, and this isn’t always the end of the world… depending on the product. Choosing promotional pens that have been made overseas might be just fine for your convention − but when it comes to ordering custom branded corporate gifts, you may prefer to keep it domestic. You wouldn’t want to risk the integrity of meaningful business gifts, which are so often seen as a direct reflection of the quality of your relationship with the recipient. So, when you have the option to order Canadian-made promotional charcuterie boards made from quality Canadian wood, why go anywhere else? This shows us that perhaps the best solution (for now at least) could be a blend of both imported and domestic goods.
Finding a Canadian-based supplier (Psst, we are right here!)
Whether you are looking for some general, custom logo totes for your expo, or something Canadian made like promotional calendars − you really can have the best of both when you choose a Canadian-based supplier. The perks include a time zone that is more likely to match up with your own for faster responses, to helping support economic growth through Canadian jobs and businesses. While everything you need might not be available as made in Canada just yet, working with a Canadian supplier that can give you the perfect mix of options is a great first step. When it comes to imprinted promotional items made both in Canada and overseas, it makes sense to start nearer to home. We are proud to be a part of Canadian promotional solutions and we are ready to help you get the most out of your next promotional event! So contact Dynamic Gift today, and let's get started!
