How to order corporate merch — the full A→Z workflow
A complete walk-through of the merch ordering workflow for buyers in Italy — what we need from you at each step, what we deliver, and how long every stage actually takes.
Step 1 — Brief (Day 1)
Send a one-page brief: quantity, target unit budget, item type (apparel / hard goods / gift box / mixed), audience (employee / customer / partner), required-by date, delivery address(es) in Italy, brand colours (Pantone codes if known), and any sustainability or compliance constraints. A WhatsApp message with a Pinterest link works fine — we'll convert it to a structured brief and confirm back within 4 hours.
Step 2 — Quote with options (Day 1–2)
Within 24 hours we send a structured quote with 2–3 options at different price points. Each option lists: unit price ex-IVA, branding method, MOQ tier, setup fee, strike-off cost, shipping to Italy, IVA 22%, total landed cost. We always show the next-tier-up unit price so you can compare ordering slightly more for a better unit cost.
Step 3 — Artwork (Day 2–4)
Send your logo as vector (.AI, .EPS, .PDF, .SVG) — PNG or JPEG raster files are accepted but we may need to redraw them at a €40–80 charge. If you have a brand book with Pantone codes, send the relevant pages. We mock up the artwork on each item, send a digital proof for sign-off, and only proceed to production after you reply "APPROVED" on the proof email.
Step 4 — Strike-off / pre-production sample (Day 4–8, optional)
For orders above 200 units or critical brand colours, we strongly recommend a physical strike-off — a real production-line sample with your logo on the final substrate. Cost: €35–80 per sample, credited against the final order. Strike-off ships to your Italy address in 2–3 days via BRT / SDA / DHL Express Italia; you have 3 working days to approve.
Step 5 — Production (Day 8–15)
Standard production runs 5–8 working days from approval at our Milano hub. Rush production at +35% surcharge: 3–5 working days. We send daily progress updates with photos from the production floor for orders above €5,000. Quality control: 100% visual inspection on all units, AQL 2.5 statistical sampling on print quality.
Step 6 — IVA invoice and delivery (Day 15–20)
IVA 22% is added via SdI (Sistema di Interscambio) — the mandatory Italian B2B e-invoice channel routed through Agenzia delle Entrate under your codice destinatario or PEC address. We issue the compliant e-invoice on dispatch day; your accounting team can import directly. Delivery from Milano to your Italy address in 1–3 working days via BRT / SDA / DHL Express Italia (next-morning available for premium clients). Tracking number sent the moment the carrier picks up. For multi-address splits, each address gets its own waybill; one consolidated invoice.
FAQ — ordering merch in Italy
What's the minimum order value?
No fixed minimum, but for orders under €500 the per-unit price is usually uncompetitive — most economies of scale start at 50+ units.
Can you sign an NDA before quoting?
Yes — mutual NDA is standard for product launches, M&A events and confidential campaigns. Send your template or ask for ours.
What payment terms?
Standard new-client terms: 50% advance, 50% on dispatch. After 3 successful orders: net-30. Enterprise tier with credit insurance: net-60.
Can I order on behalf of multiple legal entities?
Yes — we issue separate IVA invoices per legal entity, even for a single consolidated production run.
Who owns the artwork and tooling?
You own your brand artwork; we retain ownership of any custom screens or pads we manufacture (which we store free for 12 months for reorders).