Two quotations for the same number of gifts may cover very different things. One might include only the object; another includes design, a sample, personalisation and packaging ready for presentation. The useful question is not simply “what is the unit price?”, but “what does that price actually cover?”.
Separate preparation, production and handover
Some work happens once: design, artwork preparation, machine programming or making a mould. Other work repeats for every piece: material, machining, personalisation, inspection and packing. Delivery and coordination may be separate again.
That explains why doubling the quantity does not necessarily double the price, and why even a large batch cannot reduce every cost to almost nothing. Some stages remain necessary if the result is to meet the agreed specification.
What a comparable quotation should spell out
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| Item | What to agree | Where assumptions creep in |
|---|---|---|
| Design and artwork | Concepts, revisions and usable vector artwork | A small photograph of a logo may need redrawing. |
| Sample | Material, scope of testing and approval | A digital preview does not demonstrate a finish. |
| The piece | Dimensions, construction, colour and tolerances | The same product name may describe different objects. |
| Personalisation | One shared logo or individual names | Each name also needs checking and matching to a recipient. |
| Packaging | Protective or presentation packing, cards and sorting | A shipping carton is not automatically a gift box. |
| Delivery | Addresses, access and agreed handover | One bulk delivery differs from individual dispatches. |
When a larger batch genuinely helps
Repeating one shape can spread preparation across more pieces. The benefit changes if every object has a different text, colour or package. Ten identical gifts and ten individual awards are different briefs, despite the identical headcount.
Include alternative quantities you are considering. We can check where an increase makes a useful difference and where it does not. We do not promise a universal percentage saving: an economy has to come from the real preparation, material and workflow.
A small logo can mean a substantial making decision
Fine lines, small lettering and low contrast behave differently on a physical surface from on a screen. Before production, consider the smallest readable features and the right marking method. Engraving may be enough; in other cases, relief, layering or a colour infill makes sense.
In our Layher project, shallow CNC-machined recesses were filled with white resin. That is a different scope from a simple surface mark. Describe the intended physical result when comparing quotations, not just the word “logo”.
Simplify the right things
Geometry, the number of variants and presentation choices often offer better ways to control cost than compromising the surface. One well-designed shared mould may be more efficient than several almost-identical shapes. A distinctive material detail sometimes needs less branding around it, rather than more.
If the budget is fixed, share the total and identify the essentials. We can discuss priorities: retaining the meaningful company component, simplifying the outline or choosing shared packaging. Working options and a confirmed quotation should always remain clearly distinct.
A rush deadline changes the route, not the material
A short lead time may call for another mould strategy, fewer variants or an available material. Curing and finishing still need sufficient time. We confirm a deadline after checking the brief and capacity, not from a blanket promise on a website.
Distinguish the event date from the last safe delivery date. Approvals, artwork corrections and checking the batch belong in the programme too. Changes to recipient names after approval can affect both cost and timing.
A brief that makes a useful answer possible
- The purpose and recipients: colleagues, clients or partners.
- Quantity and the number of different versions.
- A budget outline, stating whether packaging and delivery are included.
- Vector artwork and any personalisation details required.
- The event date, destination and preferred handover date.
- A reference image and three things you want to retain from it.
For a client in Bratislava, Vienna or Germany, the principle is the same: compare the scope before comparing the number at the bottom. At Ahoj Epoxy we can discuss the material and making method together, and explain which decisions will move the budget.
Your questions answered
Can you quote without a finished design?
We can start with options and an indicative scope. A firm quotation needs an approved specification.
Is a sample always free?
That should not be assumed. Its scope and cost are agreed according to the work involved.
Can we supply a component to include in the gift?
We assess the material, dimensions, surface condition and proposed method of incorporation. Photographs and a trial piece are the best starting point.
Bespoke making for businesses and design partners
A clear quotation, without hidden assumptions
Send the quantity, deadline and budget outline. We can define a useful scope from the piece itself through to handover.
