Choosing the right merchandise for a rebrand is an important part of bringing your new identity to life, but deciding what to order is only one part of the process. Once you know what you need, there is still the question of how merchandise will be stored, ordered, distributed and managed across your organisation, both during the initial rollout and in the months and years that follow.
For businesses with multiple locations, departments or teams ordering merchandise, those practical considerations can quickly become complicated. Thinking about the logistics early gives you the opportunity to put the right processes in place, maintain consistency across the business and make it easier for people to access what they need without creating additional administration.
At Pellacraft, we help clients think beyond the first order and consider how their merchandise will work in practice, from stockholding and distribution to online ordering and ongoing fulfilment. In our latest blog, Sam Pella, Director at Pellacraft, shares her practical advice on how to get your rebrand logistics right first time.
1. AC Midsize Umbrella FARE® Windmatic®
2. Bucket Hats
3. 600ml Thermo Mug with Removable Handle
1. Think About What Happens After Launch
A rebrand naturally creates a focus on launch day, particularly when items need to reach different people and locations at the same time, but it is equally important to consider what happens once that initial activity is over.
Different departments may need to replenish stock, new employees will continue to join and regional offices or sites may need merchandise for their own events and activities. Without an agreed process, these requirements can result in repeated requests, inconsistent ordering or individual locations sourcing their own products without brand control.
Planning ahead allows you to decide which products should be available on an ongoing basis, who needs access to them and how much control different teams should have, creating a process that works for the people managing your brand as well as those using it.
2. Decide How Stock Will Be Managed
Understanding what you need to hold in stock, where it will be stored and how it will reach different locations should form part of your rebrand planning, particularly if you are equipping several sites or expect products to be reordered regularly.
Holding stock centrally can make it easier to maintain a consistent range and respond to ongoing requirements, while a stock and store solution can remove the need for your own teams to find space, monitor stock levels and organise individual deliveries.
The right approach will depend on your organisation, the products involved and how frequently they are needed. Considering these requirements before placing your initial orders can help you make better decisions about quantities, storage and fulfilment.
3. Give Teams Access Without Losing Control
For organisations with multiple departments, branches or locations, one of the biggest challenges is finding the balance between giving people the freedom to order what they need and maintaining control over how the brand is represented.
Creating a range of pre-approved products and designs can make that much easier. Teams have the confidence to order merchandise knowing that the products, artwork and branding have already been agreed, while individual locations can become more self-sufficient without compromising consistency.
Pellacraft’s Online Shop can be created around the way your organisation works, with products, designs and ordering processes tailored to your requirements rather than expecting your teams to adapt to a standard system.
Permission levels can also be set according to individual requirements, giving different users access to the products or ordering options that are relevant to them while retaining appropriate controls over the wider merchandise programme.
4. Make Ordering And Distribution Easier
Once merchandise is being used across multiple locations, having a clear way to place and track orders can make a significant difference to the amount of administration involved.
Rather than relying on emails, spreadsheets or individual requests, an online ordering system can provide one place for teams to access approved merchandise and manage what they need, while giving the organisation greater visibility over ordering and fulfilment.
Combined with stockholding and distribution, this creates a more joined-up approach in which merchandise can be stored centrally and dispatched when required, whether that is to individual employees, departments, branches or sites.
Make Logistics Part Of Your Rebrand Plan
As with product selection, the earlier you consider the logistics behind your rebrand, the more opportunity you have to create a solution that works for your organisation rather than trying to solve individual problems as they arise.
Before you launch, it is worth asking:
- Who will need to order merchandise, and what should they have access to?
- Which products will need to be held in stock and replenished regularly?
- How will merchandise reach different teams, locations or individual employees?
- Could pre-approved designs and products make ongoing ordering simpler and more consistent?
- Would an online ordering portal help teams become more self-sufficient while giving you the control and visibility you need?
1. Elgon Recycled Cotton Quarter Zip Sweater
These decisions may not be the most visible part of a rebrand, but getting them right can make the rollout considerably easier for everyone involved and create a more manageable approach to merchandise long after the initial rebrand has launched.
At Pellacraft, we can help you plan the practical side of your merchandise programme, from stockholding, fulfilment and multi-site distribution to pre-approved ranges and online shops configured around your organisation’s individual requirements.
If you’re planning a rebrand, talk to us early about how your merchandise needs to work across your organisation and we’ll help you put the right processes in place for launch day and beyond.
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT