The nine lessons.

How marketing agencies buy branded apparel in the EU without losing their minds — techniques, pricing, suppliers, timelines, and what to do when it goes wrong. Free, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Technique You Pick Determines Your Quality Ceiling

Match technique to textile and use case before matching to budget.

Why Your “Simple Logo” Quote Varies 300%

Always ask for the all-in delivered price. Sticker price is fiction.

The Design That Looks Better and Costs Less

Ask every supplier: “What’s the most cost-effective way to achieve this look?”

The Three Questions That Expose Bad Suppliers

Named contact + proof process + per-piece QC = operational foundation.

When Cheap Becomes Expensive

Price × Risk Factor = True Cost. Client-facing work is ×2 by default.

Timeline Management Without Panic

The rush fee isn’t the problem. The lack of buffer is.

The Prototype Investment

€30 prototype on a €2,000 order is insurance, not overhead.

When Things Go Wrong

A supplier’s response to the first mistake is your real contract.

Pricing Benchmarks That Actually Exist

Walk into negotiations with ranges, not asks. “I’m seeing €X–€Y” beats “Can you do €X?”

Prefer the paged experience?
Open the interactive reader → Cover · contents · all lessons