Promotional items, often called swag or custom merch, are important in both internal and external marketing campaigns. They help you and your organization increase your brand visibility and reinforce your company culture through tangible items that digital channels can’t achieve. When done right, custom promotional items become organic walking billboards for your brand.

That’s why, with over 25,000 promotional product vendors operating around the world, the challenge is no longer whether to invest in branded merchandise, but which partner to trust.

This guide breaks down the top 5 promotional product vendors and companies for 2026, highlighting who they’re best for, where they shine, and what to consider before choosing a partner for your custom promo items and branded swag programs.

Choosing the Right Promotional Product Vendor for Your Needs 

Before going over the list, it’s important to first identify the aspects you need to consider when you’re choosing the right promotional product vendor for your team. We compiled some key factors you should consider to make the decision-making easier for you.

1. Budget and order size: How many swag items do you need? 10? 100? A thousand? There are some platforms that specialize in small orders, while others excel in bulk purchases. Only a few can handle both. As such, make sure to first identify the number of items you need when choosing a vendor.

2. Product specialization: On our list, HALO and SanMar excel when it comes to bulk apparel items. But if you need drinkware, then you’re better off looking at a company with a comprehensive offering of such items. That’s why you also need to consider if the platform you’re eyeing offers the promo products you need, so you don’t waste time and resources.

3. Service expectations: What kind of support do you need? Do you require a consultant who’ll guide you through the whole process of your swag campaign? Or do you prefer a simple platform where you can order items yourself? Answering these questions will allow you to trim down your options.

4. Geographic or global reach: If you’re a global company, having a promotional product vendor with global warehouses or fulfillment centers is crucial. You have to ensure that your chosen platform can handle the logistics of your international shipments, or you’ll have a hard time managing your items.

5. Technology and integration: In the case that you want to avoid manual work by automating milestone gifting, then be sure to work with a platform that can be integrated with your current HRIS or CRM tools.

What are the top 5 promotional product vendors and companies in 2026?

1. PerkUp

For companies managing custom promotional items across global teams, PerkUp operates as a swag management platform rather than a traditional vendor. Specifically, the platform addresses coordination challenges for branded merchandise distribution across 65+ countries through warehouses in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, and Australia. PerkUp also offers bulk and On Demand swag options, alongside 5,000+ gift cards and event swag items. In addition, the platform also integrates with over 200 HRIS and SSO tools, including Slack and Amazon Business, to automate gifting for employee milestones.

What makes PerkUp particularly valuable for global teams is its focus on the entire swag lifecycle. Rather than simply facilitating one-off purchases or bulk orders for custom promo products, the platform helps companies maintain ongoing programs that keep remote team members feeling connected through custom merchandise. PerkUp handles everything from procurement and storage to fulfillment and delivery.

Pros

• Warehouses in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, and Australia

• Large catalog consisting of bulk swag, On Demand swag, event swag, and 5,000+ gift cards

• Integrates with 200+ HRIS and SSO tools, as well as Slack and Amazon Business

• Built-in automation for employee milestone gifting

• Ability to combine bulk and On Demand swag in one swag store, not typically offered by other platforms

• Customs and fees are typically covered to minimize surprise charges

• Transparent pricing with detailed cost breakdowns

Cons

• Currently doesn’t support warehousing and shipping to South America

• Mostly focused on internal swag campaigns

• Lacks CRM integrations for sales and marketing campaigns

2. 4imprint

4imprint offers a wide variety of promotional items, including pens, bags, notebooks, tech products, and apparel. Based in Wisconsin, the company provides free samples before large orders and operates with a 360° Guarantee that covers the cost of late deliveries, offers refunds if products don’t meet expectations, and provides price protection by refunding double the difference if a lower cost item is found within 30 days. 4imprint accommodates orders as small as six (6) items while also handling bulk orders for large swag campaigns.

4Imprint also has a risk-reduction approach. What this means is that they offer free samples, low minimums, and delivery guarantees, which help remove uncertainty from the ordering process. If you have doubts about its capabilities, you can first test it out with smaller orders before committing to larger purchases.

Pros

• Free product samples are available before placing large orders

• Low minimum orders starting at just six (6) items

• 360° Guarantee that covers late deliveries, product satisfaction, and refunds double the price difference if you find a lower cost within 30 days. 

• Extensive catalog with thousands of promotional items across categories

Cons

• Limited advanced design customization compared to specialized design platforms

• No in-house design team for complex custom artwork projects

• Mixed reviews on the platform’s customer service

3. Vistaprint

The next on our list of promotional item vendors​ is Vistaprint, which specializes in customizable promotional items, apparel, and marketing materials like brochures, business cards, and banners. The company operates as a one-stop shop where you can order both promo items and complementary print marketing materials from a single platform. Their design tools include templates and easy-to-use interfaces that guide you through the customization process, even if you don’t have prior design experience.

Pros

• One-stop shop for both promotional products and traditional print marketing materials

• Intuitive design tools with templates make customization accessible for beginners

• Affordable pricing, which is particularly attractive to small businesses and startups

• Well-established company

Cons

• Product quality can be inconsistent across different item categories

• Delivery can be delayed sometimes, according to some reviews

• Limited personalized support compared to vendors with dedicated account representatives

• Some advanced customization options require additional fees

4. Custom Ink

Custom Ink is an online platform specializing in custom merchandise and promotional products, particularly apparel. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Virginia, the company offers a design lab with pre-made graphics and custom artwork upload capabilities. The platform’s offerings include t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, drinkware, bags, tech accessories, and tradeshow items. It also provides four delivery options (2-week standard, 1-week rush, 3-day super rush, and multiple addresses shipment) with free shipping for standard delivery.

Pros

• Design Lab that makes custom design accessible to beginners

• Professional design team available to help refine your design concepts

• Free standard shipping on orders

• Rush shipping options available for tight deadlines

Cons

• Pricing can be higher than some competitors, especially for small orders

• Actual items can differ from digital proofs, according to some Custom Ink users

5. 4AllPromos

4AllPromos offers over 3,500 custom promotional items with a lowest price guarantee. The company provides tote bags, drinkware, pens, apparel, and other various promo items while committing to match or beat competitor pricing on identical products. If you’re a customer of this platform, you’ll have a dedicated sales representative who will guide you through product selection, design, and ordering from start to finish. Because of this, 4AllPromos can be suitable if you’re budget-conscious and want to receive a personalized service.

Pros

• Lowest price guarantee matches or beats competitor pricing

• Offers 3,500 custom imprinted products

• Dedicated sales professionals who provide personalized guidance

• The platform has three ways you can shop: by category, by occasion, and by occupation, which can help simplify your item selection process

Cons

• Occasional fulfillment delays and low quality are reported in customer reviews

• Limited advanced technology products compared to larger vendors

Key Takeaway

At the end of the day, the best promotional product vendor is the one that fits how your company actually operates. Order size, geographic reach, service expectations, and operational complexity all play a role in whether a platform becomes a long-term partner or a recurring headache, so make sure to choose wisely!

Frequently Asked Questions about Promotional Products and Companies

What are promotional products, and why are they important?

Promotional products, also called swag or custom merch, are branded items used for marketing, employee engagement, or customer appreciation. They increase brand visibility and reinforce company culture, creating tangible touchpoints that are crucial in marketing and sales campaigns.

What’s the difference between wholesale vendors and swag management platforms?

While both platforms offer promo items in bulk, wholesale vendors primarily only focus on customizing and delivering the products to you (a company), while swag management platforms, like PerkUp, handle inventory, global distribution, automated gifting, and ongoing campaigns for internal or external audiences (company and individual recipients).

Can I order small quantities of promotional items?

It depends on your chosen vendor. Vendors like 4imprint accommodate orders as small as six items, while other platforms focus on bulk orders. Some swag management platforms, like PerkUp, also combine small and bulk orders in one platform.

Can I ship promotional items globally?

Global shipping varies by vendor. PerkUp, for example, has warehouses in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, and Australia, allowing seamless international fulfillment. Other vendors may focus primarily on domestic US delivery only.

Do promo vendors provide design support for custom items?

Some vendors, like Custom Ink, offer online design tools and professional design teams, while others focus mainly on distribution and require external services for complex artwork.