At Adform Creative, although we offer online shopping, we prefer to support our clients with a dedicated account manager. For some companies, buying online makes sense. Other companies benefit from a dedicated account manager. To optimize quality, value, and outcome, it is advantageous to compare both experiences.
Strategy
Online companies typically rely on a software or robot to populate products and are thus devoid the intellectual agility of combining product and design specifications to achieve unique marketing goals. This is where off-line/relationship-based companies shine. If one of your marketing goals is to get the most out of every dollar, working with a partner that understands strategy and the products which work well for accomplishing precise objectives can offer better results. Having a long-term relationship can also provide brand consistency, a comfortable level of trust, and referral benefits.
User Experience
For those who enjoy browsing an endless sea of product options, instead of being presented a hand-curated selection of best-sellers, an online retailer is best. Online companies offer a 24/7 buying experience and typically host easy-to-navigate online stores. Off-line companies can be a life saver if you have better ways of spending your time than pouring for hours over an online store and want to leverage expertise in choosing products that are tried-and-true. Maintaining a relationship with a company that can recommend swag may provide a more customized solution for meeting precise marketing and budgeting goals.
Pricing
Companies such as 4imprint, Vistaprint, and Discount Mugs offer rock-bottom pricing. A word of caution: quality often comes with a price tag. Nothing beats high-quality swag to promote your products, whether you're handing it out at conferences, mailing it to prospects, or sending out client gifts. The keyword, however, is high quality - cheap, poorly made swag will only do more harm than good.
Management & Problem Resolution
If you're planning a campaign or an event, an off-line company will likely be able to better navigate strict deadlines and complex project demands. If your need doesn't require the one-on-one attention of an account manger, online companies may provide a better email/chat service experience for simple questions.
Regarding problem resolution, most reputable companies will refund or replace products that are incorrect or damaged. However, should you run into a snag with your order, it can be difficult to communicate with and resolve a challenge when trying to track down a company lacking a brick-and-mortar presence.
In conclusion, bear in mind that while many of the top online retailers have a similar level of quality, pricing, and service, not all companies are created equal. At Adform Creative we offer both online shopping and the personal touch of off-line client care.