driptionary
Navigating the world of branded products can be tricky. So we created the driptionary—a quick guide to help you understand the terms associated with ordering swag and branded products.
A-C
approval
noun
uh-proo-vul
The official “yep, looks good” step before something hits production.
bleed
noun
bleed
When artwork extends past the edge of a design so there’s no white border after trimming.
co-branding
noun
koh-brand-ing
When you pair your logo with a retail brand (like Stanley, Cotopaxi, Carhartt) on a product.
ASI
noun
A-S-I
The main organization providing industry education, directories, and tools for suppliers + distributors.
brand guidelines
noun
brand guy-d-lines
The do’s/don’ts of a brand — color codes, logo rules, spacing, tone. (We love these.)
combo print
noun
kom-bo print
When more than one decoration method is used on one item (example: laser + full color).
backorder
noun
bak-or-der
When an item is temporarily out of stock but expected to return — AKA waiting season.
charge
noun
charj
Any extra fee added by a supplier — setup charges, run charges, PMS charges, and more.
cut & sew
noun
kut and soh
Fully custom apparel made from scratch — shapes, stitching, panels, and all.
D-F
decoration
noun
dek-uh-ray-shun
The technique used to apply your art — screen print, embroidery, laser, pad print, deboss, etc.
drop ship
noun
drop ship
Shipping individual products directly to multiple recipients — big in onboarding + client gifting.
digitizing
noun
dij-ih-tie-zing
Turning your art into stitch paths for embroidery machines.
eps file
noun
E-S-P-fi-le
A high-quality graphic file that ensures your logo looks sharp, no matter the size.
die-cut
noun
die kut
A custom-shaped cutout — usually for stickers, patches, or packaging.
fulfillment
noun
full-fill-ment
The packing, kitting, and shipping of orders — the behind-the-scenes hustle.
G-I
ghosting
noun
goh-sting
A faint, unwanted print shadow — the enemy of crisp decoration.
imprint area
noun
im-print air-ee-uh
The maximum space allowed for your logo on a product.
in-hands date
noun
in hands dayt
The day your client actually needs the product in hand — more sacred than a birthday.
MERCH
SWAG
PRODUCT
GOODS
PROMO
MERCH SWAG PRODUCT GOODS PROMO