The Ultimate Dictionary of Promotional Product Terms

Armscye

Who knew the hole in your t-shirt sleeve had a name? This is the space where your arm squeezes through.

Barrel

Most barrels are made of wood, so it only makes sense that “barrel” would define the wooden part of the pencil.

Crimper

Your stapler wouldn’t work without a crimper, which is the random metal piece at the bottom that helps push the staple through the paper.

Fourchette

This is a less common way to refer to the shaped piece on the sides of the fingers in gloves.

Ferrule

The metal rings at the top of your pencil under the eraser are called ferrules. This comes from the Latin viriola, which means “little bracelet.”

Grommet

The holes in your shoes for the laces, or the small metal piece at the bottom of a drawstring bag, are also known as grommets.

Keeper

Your pants are kept from falling down thanks to the keeper! This is the loop on a belt under the buckle.

Koozie

No party is complete without a koozie, which is a fabric or metal sleeve that keeps a can or bottle nice and chilly!

Plunger

Also known as the “clicker,” this is the top part of the pen that you push down when you’re ready to write.

Nib

The nib is the tip of the pen. Without it, you’d have an inky mess every time you try to write!

Blank

Blank products are exactly as they sound, the item’s missing any kind of identifying design or text.

BPA-Free

Products that are made without bisphenol A, a plastic that’s rumored to have harmful effects, are known as BPA-free.

Double Sided Imprint

This is when a custom design is printed on the front and back of a product. It works best for items like coolers, tote bags, and keychains.

Imprint Area

The space or area where your message or design is printed is called an imprint area. This will vary in shape, size, and location from product to product.

Logo Colors

These are the colors used in your design and printed on the product. Don’t confuse them with the “item color,” which is the color of the product itself.

Proof

Think of this as proof that your design looks good. It’s a virtual mockup of your design on your item of choice, usually sent virtually via email.

Rush Production

An item in rush production will spend less time being customized at the factory. Note that this typically requires an additional fee.

Rush Shipping

If you’re in a pinch, rush shipping is a good option as it reduces the number of days an item is in transit. It’s also referred to as expedited shipping.

Setup Fee

This varies from product to product, but the setup fee is the cost for the ink, machines, and labor that goes into customizing your items.

Digital Printing

An image, usually in full color, is printed directly onto your product via an Inkjet printer.

Also known as:

• Full color transfer
• CMYK printing
• Four color process printing

Emboss/Deboss

Customized metal plates are heated to temperatures as high as 212°F and are used like stamps on the products, creating an indented or raised look.

Embroidery

A machine stitches your design or message onto fabric products like hats or t-shirts.

Heat Press/Transfer

A giant industrial iron at about 300°F transfers your design onto an item.

Laser Engraving

As the name suggests, this is when your item is engraved using a laser. The process results in a design that won’t chip or fade over time.

Pad Printing

Sometimes referred to as an “ink imprint,” this process involves a giant industrial stamp being used to decorate your products.

Font

This is the style of the text printed on your promotional products.

Bitmap/Raster

Bitmap, or raster, images are lower in resolution and made from a collection of pixels. A good example would be the image you save from a Google search.

Pantone Colors

Pantone is an organization that developed their own distinct color system. Each color is assigned a special formula and number to distinguish it from a similar shade.