Founded by Gareth Sampson — a promotional products specialist with over 25 years of direct sourcing experience from China. GPSUK combines deep factory relationships, an in-China quality testing team, and a commitment to UK trade standards that 4,200+ brands rely on every day.
GPSUK exists because of one person's obsession with doing this properly. Gareth Sampson spent the better part of the 1990s and early 2000s travelling to factories across China — not browsing catalogues, not using agents, but walking the production floors, shaking hands with factory owners, and building the kind of trust that takes years to earn.
By the time GPSUK launched in 2008, Gareth had already spent over a decade understanding what separates a reliable Chinese manufacturer from an unreliable one. He knew which factories could hold tolerances, which suppliers would tell you the truth about lead times, and which ones to walk away from. That knowledge became the foundation everything else was built on.
Today, those relationships are GPSUK's single greatest asset. When a client needs 10,000 branded umbrellas, 50,000 custom tote bags, or a product that doesn't yet exist in any catalogue, Gareth knows exactly where to go — and exactly how to ensure it arrives right and on time. Our in-China quality testing team, based locally and working directly with factories, provides pre-shipment inspection and sign-off before a single unit is loaded.
This direct-to-factory model means our clients get pricing that reflects reality, not three layers of margin. It means lead times are honest, not optimistic. And it means problems — when they arise — are resolved at the source, not after they've crossed an ocean.
That same rigour applies to every product in our standard catalogue. Over 3,500 SKUs, 2.1 million units fulfilled per year, 4,200+ active trade accounts across the UK — all backed by the same China expertise that Gareth built before most of our clients knew the industry existed.
GPSUK offers a dedicated bespoke sourcing service for UK businesses. Tell us what you need — any product, any quantity, any brand — and Gareth's team will source it directly from the right manufacturer in China, quality-test it on the ground, and ship it to you.
Gareth Sampson begins sourcing branded promotional products directly from Chinese manufacturers — building relationships before most UK businesses knew where to look.
A decade of factory visits, supplier negotiations, and quality assessments across China. A personal network of trusted manufacturers takes shape — one built on consistency, not convenience.
GPSUK founded. Gareth brings 10+ years of direct China sourcing expertise into a dedicated UK trade business. The proposition is simple: access to world-class manufacturing, delivered with British standards.
Established an in-China quality testing team — locally based inspectors who verify product standards and shipment readiness before a single unit leaves the factory floor.
Relocated HQ to London. Opened Bristol fulfilment centre. The infrastructure to handle 2 million+ units per year falls into place.
Launched digital proofing at checkout — the first UK promotional products company to do so. Every client sees exactly what they're getting before production begins.
Navigated COVID by pivoting to PPE and branded healthcare products for NHS suppliers. Gareth's China factory network proved invaluable when UK supply chains faltered.
Launched the Eco Range — 800+ sustainably certified products, sourced and quality-verified through the same China network. Eco became default, not a premium.
Bespoke China Sourcing formalised as a standalone service. Any product, any brand, any UK business — GPSUK can source it, test it, and deliver it.
We promise industry-leading 3–5 day standard lead times across our full catalogue. Speed is never an excuse to cut corners — it's a discipline we've built into every step of our process.
Every order includes a free digital proof — no exceptions, no upcharges. Nothing goes to print without your explicit sign-off. This single standard has prevented thousands of costly mistakes.
Gareth has spent 25+ years building personal relationships with manufacturers and factories across China. Every order — catalogue or bespoke — is backed by direct factory access, honest pricing, and a quality testing team based in China.
Our eco options aren't premium add-ons. They're built into the standard range. 60% of our catalogue is eco-certified, and every UK order ships carbon-neutral — because responsible sourcing should be the baseline.
Over 25 years sourcing branded products directly from Chinese manufacturers. Gareth has built one of the deepest factory networks in the UK promotional products industry — built on personal relationships, not platforms.
The person most clients know best. Sarah and her team manage every account relationship with the care of someone who genuinely takes pride in your brand.
Eighteen years in promotional products manufacturing. Marcus oversees every order from factory sign-off to Bristol fulfilment — and knows when to push back to protect quality.
Led the transformation of our eco programme from a side catalogue into the core of everything we sell. Works closely with Gareth's China supplier network to certify and expand the sustainable range.
In 2022, we made a deliberate choice: sustainability would stop being a section of the catalogue and start being the default. Every product brief now includes an eco pathway as the first option — not an upsell.
We're currently undergoing B Corp certification assessment. Not because it's good PR, but because we want the external accountability that comes with it. We're holding ourselves to a standard.
Carbon-neutral shipping on all UK orders is included in every price. Our FSC certification covers all paper and card products. And Priya Desai's product development team vets every new supplier against our environmental sourcing criteria before an order is ever placed.
Trusted by 4,200+ UK brands — from challenger startups to household names.
Talk to a named account manager within one business day. No call centre, no chatbots — just someone who knows branded merchandise and wants to help your brand do it properly.