How to request a sample

Because sample requests vary so much, the form gives you space to explain your goals, what you are trying to do, and what you would like us to send.

If you have nothing to add and just want to leave that section blank, that’s okay. We’ll send you blank samples.

When we cannot offer samples for free

The phrase "this is why we can’t have nice things" comes to mind.

In the past, our sample request forms have been abused. The form is not a way to request a free calendar for personal use. It is for people who want to see whether a product suits their needs before potentially placing an order.

If that order never happens, that’s okay. What matters is that there was a genuine intention at the start.

Because of this, we ask for the following information on the form:

• Your name
• Company name
• Email address, preferably a work email
• Phone number, although this is optional

As a general policy, we do not send free samples to people who are not associated with a company, charity, or other established organisation. That may sound harsh, but most of our products are made for promotion or fundraising. Not being linked to an organisation is an admittedly imperfect, but fairly strong signal that the sample may not be requested for the right purpose.

This is not a hard rule. If you are ordering as an individual and have a genuine chance of placing work with us after receiving a sample, explain that on the form. Humans read every request. It is not a "computer says no" situation. Our sales team use their judgement.

There may also be times when production is at full capacity and we cannot accommodate sample requests. If that happens, we will communicate it clearly.

How many samples can I have?

The unsatisfying answer is: it depends.

Say you request 10 calendar samples, but the information you provide suggests your eventual order may only be for 25 promotional calendars. You probably will not receive all 10, unless a particularly generous reviewer is working that day.

We reserve the right to refuse or limit sample requests. That said, we have plenty of flexibility and will bend over backwards to help genuine customers.

There is nothing embarrassing about asking for what you need. We will explain clearly what we can and cannot do.

Will my sample exactly match my final order?

Maybe, maybe not.

The samples we send are made from the same stock products that we customise for orders, so the quality, materials, and general feel should be the same.

However, if you later place an order and request changes, your final product may differ from the original sample. In that case, the proof you approve before production is the best representation of what your finished order will look like.