A branding brokerage is a company with an extensive network of players in the branding industry. It is not a single factory that encompasses all types of branding, as that would be too big a range. The key for the client is to find a company that can offer a wide range of services and in doing so, you will not find a company looking to push a product on you that they create in house to keep the costs down. Instead, you will find a company that will sell you the product that is best suited to your specific needs. Whether it is printing, laser engraving, embroidery, screen printing or whatever your needs, they have an established supplier base and buying power to back that up. They have the ability to negotiate better prices and deadlines, as well as savings that they can pass on to you, the client.

It is often cheaper to deal with a broker than dealing with the supplier directly, as you don't have the relationship that the broker has with the supplier.

The branding broker will generally get everything print-ready for the supplier, which eliminates additional costs you might have incurred by going directly to the supplier. Knowing that the broker supplies the artwork in the right print-ready format, means that the factory is happy to give them a good price which is invariably passed on to you.

Therefore, the print broker acts as a custodian of your brand, rather than passing the buck. He knows what the designs and colours must look like and he will often reject the job before you even know that something is wrong with it. He will know what went wrong too, so the factory can't pull the wool over his eyes.

Brokers Can Negotiate the Best Prices and Turnaround Times

Sometimes, the broker would work with up to 30 suppliers on a single project, ensuring that the job is done to your satisfaction and at the best price. In working regularly with all these suppliers, there is an established relationship and workflow infrastructure. This saves you, the client, a lot of time that you would otherwise have to find to fulfill your project on your own. But it also saves you from excessive markups. By splitting elements of the job amongst different suppliers, your branding broker is able to get far better prices on each element. Invariably, each factory does outsource some parts of their work as it is not part of their core business. Therefore, it is better for the broker to simply broker it to the appropriate factories from the outset. The bottom line is that in the long term, a broker works out cheaper and deliverables are generally of better quality.

Brokers Understand Industry Challenges

In rare situations, there may be national or international shortage of ink, or other elements. A broker is very hands on and will generally know about this sooner than some of the printing companies. This is an added advantage of using a broker over going direct. He can also advise you correctly on product design, optimal material cut and other issues that may help you save on materials, and therefore, on money. Manufacturers charge the full price for materials, while using the off-cuts for another client and they pocket the difference.

The wealth of experience and industry knowledge that a branding broker brings to the table is extremely valuable to tap into, especially when you want to get the most for your investment.

Ad agencies often use print brokers to sort out their artwork. If you took your artwork to a factory and they are up to capacity, they will simply add your project to the queue, whereas a print broker will move on to the next factory that has availability. He has an established relationship and a price arrangement with the factory. Many factories are also not geared for customer service, as they are in production, not sales.

Branding brokers are important middlemen who offer a valuable service. They can save you time, ensure that your artwork is in order, negotiate on your behalf, and often save you money at the same time.

We would like to encourage you to implement the guidelines in this article straight away. If you are not sure how to get started or how it best applies to your business, please contact us and we will be happy to share some further thoughts with you.