Glossary
It can be a confusing place within the brand and merchandise industry, so we thought we would put your mind at ease by creating a glossary of terms to explain everything just for you.
A
Apparel
Anything that is clothing or garment related is considered apparel. Check out how we can help you choose the right apparel products here.
Acceptance Quality Level (AQL)
Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) ensures the right standards of quality are met with every product that is produced.
B
B2B
Business-to-business (B2B), also called B-to-B, is a form of transaction between businesses, such as one involving a manufacturer and wholesaler, or a wholesaler and a retailer.
B2C
Business-to-consumer (B2C) refers to the process of selling products and services directly between a business and consumers who are the end-users of its products or services. Most companies that sell directly to consumers can be referred to as B2C companies.
Brand
Your brand isn’t just a logo. It’s everything from the culture and ethos of your organisation to visual elements such as use of colours, typography and identity iconography.
C
CMYK
CMYK is typically the colour model used when printing. CMYK stands for: Cyan Magenta, Yellow & Key (Black). When starting or saving documents ready for print make sure the settings are in CMYK mode to ensure the colours are as close to the final printed version as possible. The other colour model used is RGB which is commonly used for digital screen artwork.
D
Drop shipping
Drop shipping is a retail fulfilment method in which a business doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. This means that when a customer buys a product, it goes straight from the manufacturer or supplier (or the third party) directly to the customer.
E
Eco-Friendly
We are a business that places the greatest importance on ensuring the products are sustainable and have minimal or no damage to the environment wherever possible. Check out our eco-friendly products here.
Embroidery
Embroidery is the method of displaying a logo with thread using multi-head (or needle) machines. Embroidery can give a product the premium feel it needs and allow the design or logo to really stand out. Get in touch with us if you’re interested in use embroidery for your products.
EPS
EPS (Encapsulated Post Script) is a standard vector file format used to transfer information between applications.
E-Store
A store of a retailer that sells goods or services online. Also known as an e-commerce store. Find out how we can help you with setting up an e-store here.
F
Fulfilment
Fulfilment is the process of fulfilling an order online, from receiving the order request to packaging and shipping the product(s) to the recipient. With our streamlined warehouse system to keep your products safe and organised, we are well equipped to stock and ship with efficiency and care. Find out more here.
G
Green Retailing
Green retailing is the commitment of businesses reducing their carbon footprint by putting measures in place to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Chat to one of our team to see how we can help you achieve green retailing.
J
JPEG
A JPEG (or JPG) is an image file format. It usually compresses the image and saves everything that is visible in the document, including the background. For printing it’s best to use a vector format rather than a JPEG or PNG.
K
Kerning
Kerning is the amount of space between two letters, compared to leading which is the amount of space between
L
Logo
A logo is the key icon or typographic symbol to represent an organisation’s brand. It should be unique, distinctive and eye catching in order to attract a business’s target audience.
Longline
A longline clothing product means that the garment is longer in length than what would be considered a regular cut or length.
Leading
Leading is the space between each line of text. The distance in points between one baseline and the next. This is different to kerning which is the amount of space between each individual character.
M
MOQ
For some products there might be a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) that is required. Chat to one of our friendly and experienced sales team who can help you navigate ordering the right amount of a product you need.
O
OOS
Out of Stock (OOS) is something that we make sure doesn’t happen for any of our customers. If you’re experiencing this issue with your current supplier then let’s chat!
Oversized
An oversized clothing product is where the garment is considered larger for the average size. For example an oversized t-shirt could have larger sleeves or feel baggy compared to a regular fit in the same size.
P
Pantone
Pantone is a system for matching colours, used in specifying printing inks. This is different to CMYK or RBG.
PNG
A PNG is a picture file format similar to a JPEG but supports the ability to save images with transparent backgrounds. Although PNGs can be high quality images, when printing onto physical products its best to use vector formats such as EPS, AI or SVG.
PO
A purchase order (PO) is a legally binding document created by a buyer and presented to a seller. It lays out the order details, including quantity and types of products the buyer needs, as well as payment terms and delivery details.
Product Life Cycle
A Product Life Cycle (PLC) describes the stages a product goes through once it’s in on sale. There are four key stages: introduction; growth in sales; establishment and decline. By monitoring a life cycle, you can decide on future promotions, improvements or discontinuations of a particular product.
S
Sample
A sample of a product can be requested before a large order is made. Chat to one of our team see if you’re able to get a taster before making a final decision.
SKU
Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique number (usually eight digits) that retailers assign to products to keep track of stock internally. A SKU holds a product’s data such as type, size, colour, and brand. A SKU is used to manage and track inventory.
Social Commerce
This is where businesses and individuals use social media platforms to display products – almost like a shop window. Usually products are then linkable to the main e-commerce store where the customer can purchase their desired product(s).
Sublimation
Sublimation is the process by which dyes are applied to the fabric. The dye-sublimation printing process uses heat to transfer dye onto the fabric. Chat to one of our team if you would like to use sublimation on your products.
V
Vector
A vector is the file format for a design document. A vectored image or typographic can be scaled without any pixelation, meaning it always stays crisp and presentable no matter the size. These files can be saved as an SVG, EPS or Ai file, depending on what the desired outcome is and what software is available. If you need help turning your logo or design into a vector please get in touch.
W
White Label
White label products are sold by retailers using their own branding whilst the products themselves are manufactured by a third party. Don’t hesitate getting in touch with us if you would like your products completed with your brand.
