If you are planning your first branded merchandise order, the question that comes up before any other is simple: how much is this actually going to cost? The honest answer is that it depends on the product, the decoration method, and the quantity you order, but once you understand how those three things interact, pricing becomes easy to predict.
Here is a practical breakdown using real products we stock in Australia and New Zealand, from budget-friendly giveaways through to premium client gifts.
How pricing actually works
Every branded merchandise order has two cost components. There is the unit price of the product itself, which drops as you order more, and there is a setup cost for the branding itself, which is a flat fee regardless of quantity. On top of that, freight applies per order rather than per item.
Because setup and freight are fixed costs, they get divided across fewer items on a small order and more items on a large one. A setup fee of $85 per colour/position and freight of around $20 at a minimum adds very little to the unit cost of an order of 250 tote bags, but it adds a meaningful amount to an order of 5. This is why most items we stock have a practical minimum quantity where the numbers start to make sense, even though we can technically supply as few as one unit from local stock.
Entry-level items (from around 50 units)
For pens, badges, and tote bags, 50 units tends to be the point where setup and freight stop dominating the price. Below that, you are often paying more per item for the branding than for the product.
Panama Pen: a retractable aluminium ballpoint with a lacquered barrel and chrome trim. At 50 units, expect around $1.50 per pen.
Lapel Badges: custom-shaped metal badges with a resin-protected finish, ideal for staff, events, or fundraising campaigns. At 100 units, around $3.80 each.
Viva Natural Look Tote Bag: a large non-woven tote with shoulder-length handles. At 50 units, around $5.20 each.
Mid-range apparel and drinkware (from around 50 units, or fewer for smaller runs)
This is where most corporate orders sit, apparel and drinkware that people actually use every day, keeping your brand visible long after the event or campaign ends.
TRENDSWEAR Element Unisex T-Shirt: a 150gsm combed cotton tee, OEKO-TEX certified and part of our Impact Aware range. At 50 units, around $11.85 each. One colour screen print.
Rift Cap: a five-panel cotton twill cap with embroidered eyelets and an adjustable closure. At 50 units, around $8.10 each with embroidery up to 10,000 stitches.
Cordia Ceramic Vacuum Cup: a 300ml double-wall insulated cup with a ceramic lining, presented in a gift box. At 50 units, around $17.50 each, or from as few as 10 if the quality justifies the higher unit cost for a smaller run.
Premium apparel (from around 10 units or fewer)
For higher-value apparel, we can work in much smaller quantities, since the unit cost of the product itself is high enough that setup and freight matter less proportionally.
Chad Polo: a heavyweight 220gsm combed cotton polo with UPF 50+ protection, built for a premium look and long wear. At 10 units, around $35.00 each.
Supply Crew: a mid-weight 290gsm anti-pill fleece sweatshirt with raglan sleeves, a strong option for workwear or team uniforms. At 10 units, around $42.00 each.
Higher-end gifting (from around 10 units or fewer)
For client gifts, executive giveaways, or milestone rewards, named-brand items carry a higher price point but land very differently to a generic giveaway.
Osprey Arcane Roll Top Backpack: a 14L recycled-fabric backpack with a padded 16 inch laptop sleeve, made from the equivalent of 12.5 recycled plastic bottles. At 10 units, around $240.00 each.
Why we can supply from a single unit, but rarely recommend it
All nine of these products are held in stock here in New Zealand, so technically we can supply a single branded unit if that is genuinely what you need. Once you add a $85 setup fee and around $20 in freight, though, one branded pen can end up costing considerably more than the pen itself. If the budget allows and the use case calls for it, such as a single executive gift, we are always happy to quote it. For most campaigns, ordering at or above the practical minimum for that product category gets you a far better price per unit and a far better outcome for your marketing spend.
Getting an accurate quote
These figures are a guide. Final pricing depends on your exact quantity, logo size, number of print locations, and current freight rates. If you would like a quote for any of the products above, or want help matching a product to your budget, get in touch and we will put together options across a few price points.
Prices mentioned we have included the most cost effective branding method, most likely one colour print one position.
