Custom Wholesale Merchandise: How to Order Branded Products in Bulk

Quick answer: buying custom merchandise in bulk lowers the price per piece because set-up costs are shared across the whole order. The most cost-effective items to produce in bulk are t-shirts, tote bags, pens, caps, mugs and notebooks. Order 50–100+ pieces to unlock better pricing, keep the design to one or two print positions, and plan two to three weeks ahead for large runs.

Why buy custom merchandise wholesale?

• Lower cost per piece. Screen set-ups, embroidery digitising and proofing are one-off costs, so the more you order, the less each piece costs.
• Consistent branding. One production run means the same colours, sizes and placement across every piece.
• Stock on hand. Keep giveaways, uniforms and welcome kits ready for events, new joiners and last-minute requests.
• Less admin. One order, one invoice and one delivery instead of many small reorders.

The most cost-effective items to order in bulk

Product	Why it works in bulk	Regular price from (AED / USD approx.)
T-shirts	Every event and team needs them; screen printing gets cheaper at volume	48 / 13
Tote and drawstring bags	Low cost, large print area, reusable	8–16 / 2–4
Pens	The lowest cost per impression of any item	2–8 / 0.5–2
Notebooks	Used in meetings and training for months	16 / 4
Caps	Highly visible outdoors and at events	24 / 7
Mugs and bottles	Daily use at home and in the office	16–48 / 4–13
Uniforms and workwear	Ongoing need for staff; reorders stay consistent	18–80 / 5–22
Promotional giveaways	Keychains, lanyards, stickers and badges for large crowds	Varies

Bulk orders receive additional discounts on top of these regular prices. For a full price breakdown see our custom printing cost guide.

How bulk pricing works

The price per piece usually drops at quantity breaks such as 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 pieces. The biggest savings come from:

• Fewer colours. For screen printing, each colour is a separate screen, so a one- or two-colour logo is cheapest.
• Fewer print positions. Front only is cheaper than front, back and sleeve.
• One design across the order. Mixing sizes and colours is fine; changing the design per piece adds cost.
• Standard products. Core styles in stock cost less than items sourced specially.

How to order custom merchandise in bulk

1. Decide what and how many. Plan quantities by size for apparel (a typical split is S 10%, M 30%, L 30%, XL 20%, XXL 10%).
2. Send your logo as a vector file and your brand colour codes.
3. Request a quote through our bulk order form, or design online and add the quantity to your cart.
4. Approve a proof or sample. For large runs, approving a sample first avoids surprises.
5. Production and delivery. Large orders typically take one to two weeks; see our turnaround guide. We deliver across the UAE and the Middle East and ship worldwide.

Tips for wholesale custom orders

• Order a few extra pieces (around 5%) for new joiners and replacements.
• Choose a print method that suits the quantity: DTF for smaller runs, screen printing for large runs of simple logos, embroidery for uniforms.
• Combine products into one order to qualify for better pricing.
• Plan around busy periods such as Ramadan, Eid, National Day and year-end.
• Consider eco-friendly options for large giveaways to reduce waste.

FAQ

What is the most cost-effective custom merchandise item to produce in bulk?

Pens and non-woven or drawstring bags have the lowest cost per piece. For items people keep and use often, t-shirts, tote bags and notebooks give the best value for money.

What counts as a bulk order?

Usually 50 pieces or more of a product. The price per piece keeps falling as quantities grow into the hundreds and thousands.

Can I mix sizes and colours in one bulk order?

Yes. Sizes and garment colours can be mixed within one order while keeping bulk pricing, as long as the design is the same.

Can I get a sample before ordering in bulk?

Yes. For large orders we recommend ordering a single piece first, since most products have no minimum order.