THE GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD THE GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD 1

THE 2 3 1 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 1 Given the scope of our operations and particularly the complexitie...
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2 3 1 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 1

Given the scope of our operations and particularly the complexities associated with in-house branding, we have compiled “The 1-2-3 Guide to working with Amrod” in order to clearly illustrate the steps that will make your Amrod experience as simple, efficient and enjoyable as possible.

Outlined in this guide:

v Order Placement and Processing: an explanation of how we work and what we require from you to aid us in completing your order quickly and correctly.



v Branding Guidelines: an explanation of what these are and what to look out for when it comes to branding.



v Branding Processes: an overview of the various branding processes that we offer.



v Pantones and Marathon Charts Explained



v Useful Tools and Resources: an explanation of the free tools that we provide you with.

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 3

Order Placement and Processing: A Step-by-Step Guide STEP 1

Check stock This can be done live on the Amrod website (www.amrod.co.za) once you have logged in using your email address and password (Amrodallocated passwords can be changed on the Customer Login page on our website). If you have forgotten your password please click the Login tab on the website and click on the link to request a reminder.

Currently in stock: total stock on hand. Reserved: stock that is on 24-hour reserve for other clients. In the example above, 260 out of 3,183

of the blue units are reserved, and 2,923 units are available for purchase with an additional 30,000 units expected to arrive on approximately 2015/02/13. Incoming (nett of confirmed back orders): incoming stock that will be available for purchase, after confirmed back orders have been deducted from the total incoming stock quantity. Incoming ETA: estimated (not guaranteed) time of arrival of incoming stock. Note: If you require all available stock of an item on our website, please ask your Account Manager to reserve the stock for you and to confirm physical quantity on hand (occasionally stock on hand will not match stock on the system).

4 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

STEP 2

Check the recommended branding option next to the product in the Amrod Gifts Catalogue: • to determine which branding methods are available for the product in question • to see the maximum number of colours that can be printed on the said product (where applicable – i.e. pad and screen print) • to see any branding restrictions or limitations

Recommended branding option

Additional branding options for gifts, clothing & headwear can be found on the full branding guidelines, which appear on the Amrod website. Click the Branding Layout button to view the full product guideline for each item.

BAG-612 Northstar Drawstring Bag Front

Back

B C A D

D

Branding Options: Position A 1. Screen Print (SA) - 6 colours Size: 200mm wide x 170mm high

Position B 1. Screen Print (SA) - 6 colours Size: 200mm wide x 60mm high

2. Heat Transfer (HP) - Full colour Size: 160mm wide x 100mm high

2. Heat Transfer (HP) - Full colour Size: 210mm wide x 60mm high

3. Sublimation (SUB) - Full colour Size: 150mm wide x 150mm high Position C 1. Screen Print (SA) - 6 colours Size: 200mm wide x 290mm high

Position D 1. Zip Puller (ZP) - Full colour Size: 30mm wide x 15mm high

Need to know:

Sublimation can only be done onto white.

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 5

STEP 3

Send your order to Amrod Once you have a confirmed order from your client please email the order through to your Account Manager. Note: We do not accept any verbal orders.

Example of an emailed order containing the information that we require to process your order correctly.



3 Quantity required 3 Product code 3 Product colour code 3 Branding colours 3 Branding size 3 Branding position 3 Branding method 3 Artwork

An explanation of the checkpoints: v Product code: BAG-612 vP  roduct color code: SW* (for solid white) *this code appears next to each item in the catalogue or on the website. A Colour Abbreviations table appears on the inside front covers of our Gifts and Clothing & Headwear catalogues indicating what each colour code stands for. 6 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

vB  AG-612-SW = Solid White Northstar Drawstring Bag NB: we invoice orders according to the CODE that you provide us with for both the product and the colour and not based on the description e.g. if your purchase order states blue Northstar Drawstring Bag and you list BAG-612-SW as the code, we will invoice you for a solid white drawstring bag. The onus is on you, as the customer, to ensure that your purchase order contains clear and accurate information. v Quantity required: e.g. 100 units v Deadline: indicate your deadline, if there is one. Lead times start the day after layout approval and receipt of full payment, whichever is the latter. If you have a deadline, request a confirmation email from your Account Manager noting our ability to meet your deadline. v Branding method: e.g. screen print (remember, this information is contained on the branding guidelines). v Branding colour: this refers to the colour/s that you require to be printed on the product ordered. If you have specific requirements and/or need to match your client’s CI, please supply Pantone or Marathon thread colour references. If Pantone/Marathon thread colour references are not provided, we will match as closely as possible, but no rejections will be accepted based on colour not being correct. v Branding position: e.g. middle of the bag, position A. v Branding size: please indicate the width or the height that you require the logo to be branded at. An Amrod Layout Artist will place the logo at the proportionate size on the layout. Maximum branding sizes appear on the branding guidelines - if the ratio of the logo does not match that of the branding space exactly, the logo will appear stretched. In the case of a repeat job, no size needs to be indicated and you may simply indicate that branding is a repeat of a previous order. In the case of a repeat job, please provide the previous jobcard number as reference. v Artwork: attach logo/artwork in VECTOR format (see below illustrations for an explanation of vector artwork vs. non-vector artwork)

Vector Artwork: Acceptable vector formats: cdr (CorelDraw), ai/eps (Illustrator), indd (InDesign) or pdf (Adobe Acrobat).

layers layers can be layers layers can can can be be be manipulated manipulated manipulated manipulated \f\f \f\f \f\f \f\f

Jagged Jagged Jagged Jagged Pixellation Pixellation Pixellation Pixellation

Non-vector Artwork: Unacceptable formats: jpeg, bmp, tiff, png (Photoshop, Paint, downloaded from the internet)

\f\f \f\f

Colour Colour Colour Colour Irregularities Irregularities Irregularities Irregularities

VECTOR: Smooth edges on curves and straight lines, and most importantly, layers can be moved and manipulated.

JPEG, BMP, TIF, PNG ARTWORK: Jagged edges and colour irregularities, as well as pixellation on curves and straight lines.

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 7

STEP 4

Order processing Once we receive your purchase order we send it for invoicing. If there are any discrepancies, where physical stock does not match the stock quantity that is indicated on our system, we will notify you thereof ASAP. Depending on where stock is located this may take up to 24 hours.

STEP 4a

Branded orders In the case of orders that require branding, a jobcard is created once the order has been invoiced. Your Account Manager completes the jobcard, using the information that you have provided. Each jobcard has a reference number that is linked to the invoice number for easy tracking of jobs, e.g. SO01234567 is linked to JC01234567.

Example of a jobcard

8 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

STEP 4b

Branding layout generation An Amrod Layout Artist then pulls the information from the completed job card and creates a layout based on that information. Remember, the more information that you provide, the easier it is to generate a layout correctly the first time around.

Item reduced to fit page 107 c 178 c 300 c Black

107 c 178 c 300 c Black

ot is n ted ogo eques l l e h r t e w il t h av , we l t ha fee ng you poor, option e i e w d b d e e n il l an st er Wh the br ults w reque ” optio d e o es e t r h d t e d h h e en t. suit that t out wit comm layou h our and a lay ot Re to the ut wit “N ed layo vide pro with a ng add rther ption i t u o n f bu war vide a nded” e o r m p will Recom “ We

Actual size of print 180mm wide and 66mm high Actual size of print 180mm wide and 66mm high

 xample of a E branding layout

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 9

STEP 4c

The approval process Once the layout is generated it is emailed to you for approval. In the body of the email you will see the following button: Clicking on this button will launch your browser and direct you to our website where you will see the following:

STEP 4d

(1): Branding layout approval

If the layout is correct click

APPROVE LAYOUT OR REQUEST CHANGES ONLINE

g ovin ppr a as end line e m n m o o rec orders ically b We g at tion ndin tom bra will au produc e g. they d in th ndin a r e b plac ue for e u q

Tick all the boxes and click APPROVE LAYOUT for the final time: Alternatively, you may forward the email with the layout attached to your Account Manager and state: “APPROVED” in the body of the email. Please do not alter the subject line of the email as this contains the revision number of the layout. Note: if your layout has more than one option please clearly state which option is being approved. Further, please note that if you choose to confirm via email rather than online approval, your confirmation is taken as approval that all information (matching the points indicated on the online check list) has been checked by you and is correct. Once we receive the layout approval and proof of payment your order is put into the production queue for branding.

10 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

STEP 4d

(2): Branding layout changes If the layout is incorrect or requires amendments click Indicate the changes that you require. A revised layout will be generated and emailed to you for approval, where you will follow the steps outlined in 4d(1) on the opposite page. Note: layout changes may delay your job. If you have a deadline on the job in question please re-confirm with your Account Manager that we are still able to meet the required deadline.

STEP 5

Order collection Once your order is complete you will receive a notification via email advising you that your order is ready for collection. The notification emails are system-generated and sent to the email address(es) that you provide us with. The notification will not be sent to any email address(es) that do not appear on our system. If you would like to amend the default email address(es) or add thereto, please notify your Account Manager. Note: unless alternative arrangements are made in writing, or a collections notification is received by you, branded orders will generally only be ready for collection from 16:30 on the last day of the lead time quoted. Please do not send your driver or courier to collect prior to having received the system-generated notification as your order will not be available.

il e ma d r an ete able fo l p l om o ai to c rm (av site) t .za r e b o p. c o we emb tion f u r o m u r r e c R mo odg r orde o l le o r r c f m u a t h e n l oa d yo r ns@ edite o w i urie t o o p c d c e x l or co l lp e rier will he driver . u o c r in g this n you ect l l as o e wh is c

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 11

Branch deliveries We offer free daily delivery of orders and samples to our Cape Town and Durban branches, via courier. Upon placing an order, Cape Town or Durban based clients receive a Branch Delivery Request Notification. Clients have the option of selecting branch delivery on an order by order basis: by clicking or selecting in which case all future orders will be sent to the respective branch.

PLEASE NOTE the following important terms and conditions: • O n successful completion of this process you will receive a confirmation email from Amrod. If this confirmation email is not received the branch delivery request was unsuccessful and delivery will therefore not be effected. Amrod will not be obligated to fulfil the delivery in this instance. • F or COD clients, orders will only be sent after receipt of payment in our bank account • Branded orders will be dispatched on the day that your order is completed. • D ue to limited storage space, orders are to be collected from the branches within 4 days of arrival. Stock not collected within that time will be sent back to JHB and the courier charge will be for your account. • D urban deliveries require 48 hours from time of dispatch; CT deliveries require 72 hours from time of dispatch (excluding weekends). • S hould you need a guaranteed delivery date, please send your own courier company to collect the goods. Amrod will not be held responsible should these times not be met, whether through fault of Amrod or the courier company. • B ulk-stock returns will not be accepted at the branches and are to be returned to JHB at clients expense once management have authorized the return, in writing.

12 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

National Contact Number: 086-11-AMROD (South Africa Only) Branch Details JOHANNESBURG HEAD OFFICE

Physical Address 52 Saturn Crescent Linbro Business Park Johannesburg South Africa Tel: +27 11 457 9900 Fax: +27 11 457 9914/21 (Payments) Email: [email protected] GPS co-ordinates: -26° 3’ 47.63” +28° 6’ 34.19”

CAPE TOWN

DURBAN

Physical Address CTX Business Park Phase 3 Freight Road Airport Industria Cape Town South Africa

Physical Address Unit 2, Thynk Retail Park 23 Riverhorse Road Riverhorse Valley Estate Durban South Africa

Tel: +27 21 927 5300 Branch Manager: Roxane da Silva Email: [email protected]

Tel: +27 31 534 6760 Branch Manager: Tafadzwa Tsodzo Email: [email protected]

GPS co-ordinates: -33° 57’ 41.26” +18° 35’ 34.28”

GPS co-ordinates: -29° 46’ 45.07” +30° 59’ 33.14”

THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 13

Branding Explanations Selecting the correct branding method is crucial to ensuring maximum exposure of your logo. Our various in-house branding solutions are explained below.

CO2 LASER ENGRAVING A logo is burned into the product with a CO2 laser, replicating the original logo with great accuracy and in minute detail. CO2 engraving is suitable for natural materials like wood, glass and leather. The CO2 laser removes the top layer of the product to expose the second layer. This is a permanent and classy way to brand certain organic materials.

DEBOSSING A logo is pressed into the surface of a product using both heat and pressure to create a permanent stamped impression in the product. This branding process is both subtle and classy and looks great on folders and notebooks. Debossing can also be done on clothing made of synthetic fabrics.

DIGITAL TRANSFER This relatively new technology makes it possible to print a full-colour, digital logo on various surfaces where previously this wasn’t possible. A digital image is printed onto a special transfer paper and the product that is being branded is treated with a

CO2 LASER ENGRAVING 14 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

DEBOSSING

EMBROIDERY chemical before the logo is applied. The transfer paper is then placed onto the product, transferring the ink from the paper onto the product. At this stage the branded product is treated with a sealing chemical to ensure permanency of the logo. This technology is perfect for ceramic or metal mugs as well as metal flasks and water bottles. The Digital Transfer Printer does not print the colour white so this process is best used on white and metal items. On metal products, the colours in the logo take on a metallic tinge but the ability to create a permanent, full colour branding is unique to this process and therefore extremely attractive.

DOMED STICKERS Stickers are digitally printed on an adhesive vinyl in full-colour and then automatically cut to the required shape and size. The stickers are coated with a polyurethane resin to give a three-dimensional appearance. Domed stickers can be applied to smooth and rigid surfaces but work best in products with a purpose-made recessed plaque. This process gives a digital full-colour branding and is ideal for multi-colour logos which are hard to replicate with other print techniques. Digital printers don’t print white or metallics.

DIGITAL TRANSFER

DOMED STICKERS

Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric with designs stitched in strands of thread. Embroidery machines are driven by computer that read digitized embroidery files created by special software. The machines automatically create a design from a pre-made logo that is input into the machine. This branding process is ideal for textiles and fabrics and gives a permanent and upmarket branding on the product. Logos can be embroidered in up to 9 different thread colours.

FOIL HOT STAMPING Hot stamping with foil is a similar process to debossing except that a thin foil is pressed into the product to create a colour. Even though heat and pressure are applied, they are applied in lesser volume than during debossing and therefore the impression is not as deep. Foils are available in blue, copper, gold, green, light blue, orange, red, silver and yellow. Pantone matches in this process are not possible as the foil comes in a limited colour range. This process works best on leather and PU folders as well as select rigid cardboard notebooks.

EMBROIDERY

FOIL HOT STAMPING

HEAT TRANSFER PRINTING

PAD PRINTING

SUBLIMATION PRINTING

A digital image is printed onto a special vinyl surface, which is then placed onto the product in the correct position. At this point the product is placed in a heat press, and the heat from the press melts the adhesive backing on the vinyl, merging it with the fabric. This process is mainly used where a logo is too intricate for screen printing. As it’s a digital print, the detail in the logo is perfect but given that the logo is not cut out, it may affect the flexibility of the product.

A logo is applied to a plate which is then covered in ink. A silicone cushion is pressed onto the plate and the cushion is then used to transfer the logo onto the product.

Sublimation process is printing done by a digital fullcolour printerwhich is fitted with special sublimation inks.

LASER ENGRAVING

Pad printing allows for up to a 4 colour print.

A logo is burned into the product with a laser, replicating the logo with precise accuracy. The laser “burns” the top layer of the product off and reveals the layer beneath. If the layer beneath is a different colour to the top layer, when engraved, the bottom layer’s colour is exposed. Because the top layer is “burned off” in the process, laser engraving is a permanent method of branding and the tonal shades make it an upmarket, subtle choice. This process is used mainly for items such as metal pens, keyholders, mugs, flasks and BBQ items.

Each colour is applied separately but the detail in the print can still be excellent. This high volume printing method is favoured for small plastic items such as pens, keyholders and torches.

SCREEN PRINTING Screen printing is the process whereby a logo is exposed onto a mesh screen. Ink is placed onto the screen and a squeegee pushes the ink through the screen in the areas where the logo is. This method provides excellent coverage and is especially good for large and bold logos. Colours are printed one at a time so accurate registration is essential. There are various manual and automatic carousel machines for this process, depending on the requirement. This process is ideal for bags and t-shirts but can also be used for umbrellas, coolers and smaller items such as notebooks and folders. Screen printing allows for up to a 6 colour print.

HEAT TRANSFER PRINTING

LASER ENGRAVING

PAD PRINTING

SCREEN PRINTING

The logo is printed onto a special transfer paper and cut automatically to the correct shape. The logo is placed onto the product and heat is applied. The heat causes the inks to migrate from the paper onto the product. Due to the fact that this is a digital print, the logo can be as colourful and intricate as required. Since the ink migrates onto the product, sublimation doesn’t change the flexibility characteristics of the product in the same manner that a heat transfer does. This process works on man-made fabrics such as polyester and nylon and is perfect for polyester shirts, nylon bags and umbrellas. Sublimation printers cannot print the colour white, therefore this branding method works best when applied onto a white product. We also offer sublimation printing on select mugs.

VINYL STICKERS Stickers are digitally printed in full-colour on an adhesive vinyl and then automatically cut to almost any shape and applied onto a product. Digital printers don’t print white or metallics.

SUBLIMATION PRINTING

VINYL STICKERS THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 15

Pantone and Marathon Charts Explained What is a Pantone Colour? By definition, Pantones are a set of standard colours used for printing, each of which is identified by a unique number. Certain computer graphics software allows colours to be specified as Pantone numbers. Even though a computer monitor can only show an approximation to some of the colours, the software can output a colour separation for each different Pantone colour, enabling a printer to exactly reproduce the original desired colour. In the orange range of colours, there might be 10 different shades of orange to choose from. By way of example, a certain corporate might have a specific shade of orange associated with their corporate or brand identity, but due to the inherent limitations and calibration-variances associated with “every-day” computers, the exact same logo/colour may display differently from one computer screen to another. These displayvariances may result in one printer printing the same logo/colour differently to another printer. To combat this problem, a universally accepted number is assigned to a specific shade of a specific colour, ensuring that no matter where in the world that colour is printed, or by whom, the colour in question should always come out looking the same. Amrod uses Pantone values (the number assigned to the shade of colour in question) to mix inks for print jobs and this enables us to print a true representation of the required colour. Note: inks are affected by the colour of the item being branded. If you print a black bag with Pantone blue 2201C and you print a yellow bag with the exact same ink, the colours will not be 100% the same once the ink has dried. As per world industry standard one shade in either direction on the Pantone chart is acceptable.

16 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD

What are Marathon Thread Colours? Marathon Thread Colours work along the same basic principle as Pantone colours, but are used for embroidery purposes whereas Pantones are generally used for printing purposes. A Marathon Thread Book contains actual samples of the thread colours available for embroidery. It also contains a table where the manufacturers have pre-matched the most popular Pantone Colours with corresponding thread colours, and this enables us to embroider logos in the required colours. Where a pre-matched pantone-to-thread value is not available, or where clients request that we match the colour of a logo to a thread, we endeavor to match as closely as possible.

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THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 17

Useful Tools and Resources Amrod Dashboard: allows you to track the status of your dealings with Amrod, from jobs invoiced to items on backorder, to status of your branding orders. You are also able to see who your Account Manager is and view their direct contact details. Additionally, you can monitor your up-to-date spend with Amrod via your spend barometer (this is how you can track how close you are to attaining one of our ALP tiers).

Promogifts website: this is a free website that we offer you, with your name indicated in the URL e.g. www.promogifts.co.za/xyzpromotions.co.za The Promogifts website is essentially a mirror of the Amrod main website, but without any of Amrod’s contact information or details. You are able to display your company logo on this site (which we will upload for you). We are also able to add your email address, whereby your clients are able to email you directly by clicking the “Contact” button.

18 • AMROD BRANDING GUIDE

e-Catalogues: electronic versions of our catalogues appear on the

Image DVD: contains low-res and hi-res images of all items in our current

Amrod website.

Gifts and Clothing & Headwear catalogues, poster artwork and brand logos. This DVD is available for purchase at a nominal fee from our Collections Area. 2014/2015 Gifting e-Catalogue

2014/2015 Clothing & Headwear e-Catalogue

E

U

G LO CATA

E

U

Posters: we have designed a variety of hi-res posters for you to download and use in your showrooms or offices. These appear on the Amrod website and image DVD.

G LO CATA

Email these catalogue links to your clients to view online. You can also supply your own cover artwork and we will generate links to unique e-Catalogues bearing your own cover for you.

IM AG ES

15 2014/

IM AG ES

15 2014/

Amrod Tours: an informative, guided tour of our Production & Overflow Warehouse, held every second Thursday at 10am (email [email protected] to book a slot). Tours demonstrate the various branding processes in operation and explain each process. We highly recommend that you attend a tour in order to learn more about the branding process and what’s involved. AMROD BRANDING GUIDE • 19

Staff Uniform Programme Choose your staff uniform from one of Amrod’s premier clothing brands:

20 •

TO QUALIFY: 1. Amrod must embroider your company logo on all garments, in-house, in any single position of choice. Embroidery is limited to a maximum of 8500 stitches and 8000m2 2. Amrod must embroider the brand logo associated with the selected garments onto one of the sleeves or on the left or right chest (not the back). Brand logos may not THEbe 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD 3. Offer excludes: pants, skirts, belts, 1-price and discontinued items and items that cannot be embroidered. embroidered tone-on-tone.

Receive the discount associated with your loyalty tier, as well as FREE embroidery in 1 position of your choice on all staff uniform purchases. Discount only applies to Amrod clothing purchased and branded by Amrod, up to the value of R10 000 per calendar year. Terms & Conditions apply.

TZ Q UAR

10%

C H RO

ME

15%

B RO N

ZE

20%

C O BA

LT

25%

SILVE

R

30%

G OLD

35%

PL ATIN

UM

40%

ND

IU M TITAN

50%

60%

D IAM O

A TANZ

N ITE

75%

4. Offer is limited to US Basic, Biz Collection, Slazenger and Elevate garments. 5. Discounts based on QUARTZ pricing. 6. Offer is up to the value of R10 000 ex VAT per calendar year based on QUARTZ pricing. THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD • 21

22 • THE 1-2-3 GUIDE TO WORKING WITH AMROD