Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Which suppliers do community members recommend for branded merchandise like ice buckets, aprons, blankets, cool boxes, parasols and paper cups?
Members have shared several go-to suppliers for branded merchandise, each with different strengths: **Ice buckets:** - **Waiters Friend** (waitersfriend.co.uk/product-category/ice-buckets/) — members report good experience - **Outdoor POS** (outdoor-pos.com/products/barware, contact: jelle@outdoor-pos.com) — praised for quick turnaround and low minimum order quantities - **Pedrino** — offered as a short lead time option by a member **Aprons:** - Low MOQ branded aprons can be sourced, though one member suggested asking for Simon Davies (of Chase) as a potential contact for classy options **Blankets and cool boxes:** - **Outdoor POS** also handles these items with low MOQ and quick turnaround **Parasols and paper cups:** - Sourcing parasols and paper cups can be done through Chinese suppliers at the cheapest price point, though lead times are typically 3.5 months - Members noted Chinese sourcing is "much much much cheaper" but require patience on delivery **Note:** Willis was previously recommended by the community for ice buckets but members report recent difficulties getting quotes. Outdoor POS appears to be the current preferred alternative for multiple product categories with shorter lead times and flexible MOQs.
Which suppliers should we use for branded merchandise, and what are typical prices for branded sample cups?
Members recommend two specific suppliers for branded merchandise: - **Awesome Merchandise** — praised for good quality and quick turnaround on branded clothing items - **Go For Green** (contact: Wayne Whoriskey) — endorsed multiple times by members as very good, with Wayne specifically highlighted as excellent to work with For branded sample cups specifically, members were asked about fair pricing and suppliers but the community discussion does not contain concrete pricing ranges or specific cup suppliers. Members confirmed Go For Green as a good option but did not provide sample cup pricing details in the excerpts provided.
Which suppliers do members recommend for branded merchandise like tees, hoodies, and parasols?
Members recommend several established suppliers for quality branded clothing merch, each with different strengths: - **Merchery** — high-quality option with partnerships with major brands like Patagonia, though premium pricing. - **Rapanui** (rapanuiclothing.com) — specialises in recycled and organic cotton; members suggest their design-your-own service. - **Teemill** — another recycled/organic cotton option mentioned alongside Rapanui. - **Avallen** — noted as sustainable with zero minimum order quantities. Caveat: prints can fade quickly if designs aren't blocky; best suited for solid, graphic approaches. - **Mate Kustom Clothing** — described as "superb" by members, with at least one member offering direct introductions to the owner. On branded parasols, the discussion did not yield specific supplier recommendations from the community. **Caveats:** Members prioritising sustainability have found success with Avallen and Rapanui/Teemill, though this may trade off against the premium positioning of Merchery. The quality and durability vary by supplier and design approach.
Which suppliers should we use for custom branded umbrellas and small-run promotional merchandise?
Members recommend two suppliers for branded umbrellas and low-run merchandise: - **Southwestern Windbreaks** — recommended for custom umbrellas and parasols; visit www.southwesterlywindbreaks.com - **Create Cocktails** — specialises in branded merchandise for small runs (5–10 units); contact Dan at dan@createcocktails.com or www.createcocktails.com - **Heads Hearts and Tails** — recommended by members for branded merchandise; contact Joe Stokoe at joe@headsheartsandtails.com The discussion suggests these suppliers are comfortable handling low-volume orders typical of drinks-industry businesses.
Where can brands source branded mini fridges as promotional merchandise?
Members have had success sourcing branded mini fridges through specialist promotional merchandise suppliers. The community recommends: - **Far 'n' Beyond** — praised for handling multiple shapes and sizes, fast turnaround times, and strong sustainability credentials. Contact: jen@designprintdigital.com Members indicated they were actively seeking recommendations in this area, suggesting it's worth getting in touch with suppliers directly and comparing options.