Transforming Catalog Deployments for Promotional Companies

📘 Case Study: Promotional Products Company Using NicklPay

Industry Context

Promotional products companies operate in a high-complexity environment filled with custom product configurations, multiple decoration methods, corporate-client catalogs, inventory challenges, and multi-channel ordering. NicklPay is uniquely positioned to streamline and automate these workflows while providing reliability during peak promotional seasons, rush events, and large campaigns.

This case study reflects what a promotional products company could achieve by implementing NicklPay.

Challenges in the Promotional Products Industry

1. Complex Customization Workflows

Products often require configuration across:

• Size, color, material

• Imprint locations

• Decoration method (DTG, screen print, embroidery, engraving, sublimation)

• Artwork variation

• Personalization fields

• Packaging options

Each unique combination may require its own SKU, pricing rules, production steps, and communication with decorators.

2. Fragmented Systems Across Teams

Promotional companies often use:

• E-commerce storefronts

• Spreadsheets or email for quotes

• Legacy warehouse tools

• Standalone POS for events

• Manual artwork approval workflows

• Accounting tools not tied to production

This fragmentation slows down turnaround times and increases the chance for errors or miscommunication.

3. Corporate Clients With Custom Needs

Large clients often need:

• Their own branded catalogs

• Restricted product lists

• Internal approval structures

• Price tiers

• Artwork workflows

Most platforms do not support this easily or at scale.

4. Inventory & Forecasting Challenges

Promotional demand spikes around:

• Annual conferences

• Employee onboarding cycles

• Corporate gifting seasons

• Holiday events

Without forecasting and stock automation, companies risk delays or stockouts.

5. Event-Based Selling (Conventions & Trade Shows)

Promotional companies frequently sell:

• At conventions

• At pop-up corporate events

• During seasonal community events

• At product launch activations

These environments are fast-paced and require:

• Mobile POS

• On-the-spot credit card acceptance

• Real-time inventory sync

• Temporary price lists

• Quick product lookups

• Offline capability

Most POS solutions for this industry fail to integrate with production workflows.

How NicklPay Transforms a Promotional Products Operation

NicklPay offers a unified operational system with modules for custom products, inventory, warehouse, pricing, forms, payment terms, custom catalogs, and intelligent automation through Nickl.AI. It also provides a mobile, event-friendly POS purpose-built for conventions.

1️⃣ Custom Product Creation & SKU Automation

NicklPay can generate SKUs automatically from configurable options.

This reduces the need for manual SKU creation and prevents duplication.

A promotional business could define:

• Decoration method

• Material

• Size/color combinations

• Artwork type

• Personalization

• Add-ons (packs, kits, bundles)

Outcome:

Cleaner production handoff, faster quoting, reusable product variants for future orders.

2️⃣ Branded Corporate Catalogs

Using NicklPay, a promotional company could launch client-specific catalogs featuring:

• Approved products

• Custom price tiers

• Branded portals

• User role restrictions

• Artwork upload workflows

• Payment terms

Outcome:

Frictionless B2B ordering and improved retention of corporate clients.

3️⃣ Unified Multi-Channel Order Intake

Orders from:

• Corporate portals

• Inside sales

• E-commerce

• Custom forms

• Conventions (POS)

• Email submissions (via forms builder)

…all appear in a single operational system with consistent pricing logic.

Outcome:

No double-entry, fewer mistakes, consolidated inventory.

4️⃣ Event & Trade Show Selling: POS Built for Conventions

This is where NicklPay is uniquely strong.

Promotional companies do not need full-time retail POS, but they do need a highly mobile, reliable, rapid POS environment specifically for conventions, expos, and on-site brand activations.

NicklPay’s POS enables them to:

✔ Sell products at conventions in real time

Including:

• Apparel

• Branded merchandise

• Event-exclusive products

• Clearance or leftover items

✔ Scan product UPCs or variants quickly

Using:

• Scan guns

• Zebra printers

• Mobile-friendly barcodes

• Lookup by name, image, or attribute

✔ Access pre-configured price lists for the event

Temporary pricing can be applied:

• By event

• By location

• By audience tier

• For same-day promotions

✔ Operate entirely offline if needed

Critical for busy expos where WiFi is unstable.

✔ Issue receipts instantly

Through text or email.

✔ Sync back to inventory automatically

Once online, all POS orders sync into:

• Inventory

• Order Management

• Customer history

• Accounting

• Reporting for event ROI

Outcome:

Professional, fast, error-free event selling–integrated seamlessly with production and inventory workflows.

5️⃣ Warehouse & Decorator Coordination

NicklPay’s WMS features:

• Bin/row placement

• Mobile scanning for receiving

• Decorator order tracking

• Product movement history

Outcome:

Better accuracy from receiving → decoration → finished goods → shipping.

6️⃣ AI Automation for Promotions Cycles (Nickl.AI)

Nickl.AI can support:

• Reorder recommendations based on seasonal corporate activity

• Forecasting for upcoming brand events

• Suggested bundles to increase order value

• Auto-created purchase orders

• Automated quoting via “Tell Me” or “Show Me” modes

Outcome:

Fewer surprises, smarter purchasing, quicker response times.

7️⃣ Pricing, Discounting & Terms for Corporate Clients

With over 150 discount conditions:

• Tiered corporate pricing

• Bulk quantity incentives

• Seasonal promos

• Special discounts at conventions

• Pricing tied to client loyalty programs

Outcome:

Pricing consistency and margin protection.

Aspirational Outcomes for a Promotional Products Company

If implemented fully, NicklPay could help promotional companies:

Want to learn more? Schedule a demo!