How minimum orders differ by supplier type
Minimum order rules are set by the kind of supplier as much as by the item itself. Checking which type you are dealing with before you ask for a quote saves a round of emails later.
| Supplier type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Branded merchandise suppliersThe minimum applies to the branded design, so mixing designs raises the number of units you have to commit to. | Gifts that need to carry the business name, for staff or for clients. | Minimum order quantities are often set per design, so a list with several different roles or teams can multiply the requirement. |
| Pre-made, unbranded gift suppliersThese tend to have the lowest minimums because there is no set-up cost to recover across the run. | Small or last-minute lists where no logo or branding is required. | Stock lines change through the season, so an item shown as available in November is not guaranteed to still be there in December. |
| Print-on-demand and promotional suppliersSome will take orders below what a bulk supplier would accept, at a higher unit price. | Single-item small runs where a warehouse minimum would otherwise be a barrier. | The one-off origination cost (the charge to set up branding on an item) can outweigh the saving on a very small run. |
| Wholesale and bulk suppliersWorth checking only if your headcount, or your client list, is at the higher end of what a small firm typically buys for. | Large single-item orders where unit price matters more than order size. | The minimum is usually set with a much larger buyer in mind. |
This sets out general patterns across supplier types. A minimum order figure only holds for the day it was published, so check the current figure on the supplier's own order page before you commit to a list.