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GPSUK is a UK-based B2B promotional products company that sources, brands, and delivers merchandise for UK businesses. Founded in 2008 by Gareth Sampson, we supply over 3,500 branded products — from drinkware and apparel to eco stationery and bespoke sourced items — to more than 4,200 active trade accounts across every sector of UK industry. Our core differentiator is Gareth's 25+ years of direct factory relationships in China, which gives our clients access to pricing, speed, and product breadth that UK-only suppliers cannot match. We also operate a bespoke sourcing service for products not in our standard catalogue, with an in-China quality testing team that inspects every bespoke order before shipment. Everything ships from our Bristol fulfilment centre, with standard lead times of 3–5 working days on catalogue products.

Gareth Sampson is the founder and Managing Director of GPSUK. He has spent over 25 years building direct relationships with manufacturers and factories across China — in cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Yiwu, Ningbo, and Dongguan. Unlike most UK promotional products suppliers who rely on agents or sourcing platforms, Gareth has visited the factories in person, returned year after year, and earned the kind of long-term relationships that give GPSUK a genuine operational advantage. When a client needs a product at short notice, or requires a custom-sourced item not in any catalogue, Gareth's network is what makes it possible. He is directly involved in all bespoke sourcing enquiries and is reachable at gareth@gpsuk.co.uk for clients who want to discuss a complex brief directly.

GPSUK has two UK locations. Our head office is at Commerce House, Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AB — this is where our accounts team, sales, and client management is based. Our fulfilment centre is at Portside Trade Park, Bristol BS1 4QU, where products are received, quality-checked, packed, and dispatched across the UK. The Bristol site also serves as our stock-holding location for clients with dedicated inventory arrangements. Our in-China quality testing team is based locally in China and works directly with our factory partners — they are not managing remotely from the UK.

GPSUK was founded in 2008 in Manchester, originally as a small print operation with three people. Over 17 years we have grown to 47 staff, a London HQ, a Bristol fulfilment centre, and an active client base of over 4,200 UK trade accounts. We fulfil over 2.1 million units per year. Our longest client relationship is eight years, and we hold an on-time delivery rate of 98.4% measured against committed delivery dates. We have held ISO 9001:2015 certification since 2014, are BPMA members, and are currently undergoing B Corp certification assessment. We have been voted a top-10 UK promotional products supplier by industry publications.

Most UK promotional merchandise companies buy from agents or sourcing platforms and have no direct factory relationships. GPSUK is fundamentally different because of Gareth Sampson's 25+ years of personal relationships with Chinese manufacturers built through repeated visits, sustained business, and direct dealing in Mandarin. This means GPSUK can access production capacity, pricing, and speed that competitors sourcing through intermediaries cannot. We also have an in-China quality testing team — real people based locally in China who physically inspect bespoke orders at the factory before they ship. Added to this, we operate on a named account manager model (not a call centre), offer Net 30 credit terms to trade accounts, and maintain a brief library so reorders are near-instant. The combination of direct factory access, local QC, and relationship-based account management is uncommon in this industry.

GPSUK works with businesses of all sizes — from sole traders and startups ordering 50 branded tote bags to FTSE-listed companies ordering 50,000 units across multiple product lines. Our catalogue minimum order quantities start at 24 units for many products, making us accessible to smaller businesses. Trade accounts have no minimum annual spend requirement. For very small first orders, we recommend starting with catalogue products (which have well-established MOQs and lead times) rather than bespoke sourcing, which typically requires higher volumes to be economically viable. If you're unsure whether your order size is suitable, contact the team and we'll give you an honest answer.

GPSUK supplies clients across virtually every UK industry sector. Our largest client segments include energy and utilities (including Octopus Energy), education (including Pearson), retail and fashion (including Clarks Shoes), healthcare (including Bupa UK), financial services (Aviva, Nationwide), technology, professional services, events and hospitality, and charity and not-for-profit organisations. We also work extensively with marketing and branding agencies who manage merchandise for multiple end clients. Our bespoke China sourcing service has been particularly valued by healthcare and public sector clients who needed fast-turnaround specialist products — a capability demonstrated most clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic when we pivoted to supply PPE and branded healthcare products to NHS suppliers.

Yes. GPSUK holds ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management processes, covering supplier selection, order management, client communication, and complaint resolution. We are a full member of the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association), the UK's primary trade body for quality and ethical sourcing standards. Our products carry FSC certification (paper and card items), OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (apparel and textiles), and CE and UK CA marking (electrical and tech products). We are currently undergoing B Corp certification assessment. Our eco-certified products come with full documentation verifying each certification, which clients can use in their own sustainability reporting.

GPSUK's bespoke China sourcing service allows UK businesses to source virtually any branded product directly from Chinese manufacturers — even if it's not in our standard catalogue. The service is built on Gareth Sampson's 25+ years of personal factory relationships across China. You submit a brief describing the product you need (type, material, quantity, branding, deadline, budget), and our team identifies the right factory, requests samples, manages production, conducts pre-shipment inspection through our in-China QC team, and delivers to your UK address. It is fully managed — you don't need to deal with export documentation, customs clearance, freight forwarding, or any of the logistics complexity. Most bespoke orders are delivered within 6–10 weeks via sea freight or 2–3 weeks via air freight for smaller or urgent orders.

In practice, yes — if it can be manufactured and branded, we can almost certainly source it. Gareth's factory network spans a very wide range of product categories across Chinese manufacturing hubs including Yiwu (gifts and small items), Guangzhou (apparel and bags), Shenzhen (tech and electronics), Ningbo (packaging and containers), and Dongguan (garments and footwear). Products we source regularly include branded drinkware, apparel, bags, stationery, tech accessories, packaging, eco products, display materials, outdoor and leisure items, healthcare products, and corporate gift sets. If you have a product in mind, submit a brief and we'll confirm whether we can source it — typically within 24 hours. If we can't, we'll tell you immediately rather than stringing the conversation along.

Gareth Sampson began visiting factories in China in the late 1990s — before most UK businesses were sourcing directly from Chinese manufacturers. Over 25+ years he has made repeated visits to factories across Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Yiwu, Ningbo, and Dongguan, met factory owners and production managers in person, and built relationships through sustained, repeat business. In Chinese manufacturing culture, longstanding personal relationships carry significant weight. They translate into practical advantages: factories prioritise GPSUK's orders in their production schedule, are honest about lead times rather than telling us what we want to hear, alert us early if a raw material issue arises, and accept our QC team's on-site inspections as normal practice. Most UK companies sourcing via agents or platforms get none of these advantages because they have no direct relationship with the factory producing their goods.

MOQs for bespoke orders vary significantly by product type and factory. For standard bespoke items — drinkware, bags, stationery, apparel — most factories in our network accept MOQs of 250–500 units. For more complex or highly customised products, MOQs may be higher, typically 500–1,000 units. For simpler items with less customisation, some factories will accept 100–150 units. We tell you the factory's actual MOQ at the briefing stage, before any commitment is made. If your required quantity is below the factory's MOQ and there's flexibility on product spec, we will often suggest alternatives that meet your needs at a lower quantity threshold.

The timeline depends on the product complexity, sample revision rounds required, and shipping method chosen. As a general guide: factory identification and initial response takes 1–3 days; sample production typically takes 7–14 days from the factory; sample approval by the client takes 1–5 days (depends on how quickly you can review); bulk production typically takes 15–25 days for most products; pre-shipment inspection adds 1–2 days; and sea freight from China to the UK adds 25–35 days (air freight is 5–7 days). Total time via sea: 6–10 weeks from brief to UK delivery. Total time via air for smaller or urgent orders: 2–4 weeks. We build a project timeline for every bespoke order and share it at the briefing stage so there are no surprises.

Not necessarily — and in some cases it's cheaper. Because GPSUK sources directly from the factory without agents or intermediaries, factory-direct pricing can be very competitive, especially at higher volumes. For standard catalogue products where we have existing stock and established factory relationships, catalogue pricing reflects economies of scale and is typically the most efficient option. For products not in our catalogue, bespoke sourcing is the only option and the pricing reflects the factory cost plus our fee for managing the full process. The main cost comparison clients should make is against UK-based suppliers quoting for the same product — in our experience, GPSUK's bespoke sourcing consistently comes in below what UK competitors quote, often by 20–40%.

Yes, and Gareth has facilitated factory visits for several clients on larger or ongoing orders. In practice most clients choose to rely on our QC team's inspection reports rather than travelling to China, but for large enterprise contracts or clients who want firsthand assurance, a factory visit can be arranged as part of the project plan. If you want to visit, tell us at the briefing stage and we will coordinate the visit logistics — factory scheduling, translation support, and suggested itinerary — through our China-based team.

For every bespoke order you receive: a written product specification confirming the agreed dimensions, materials, branding spec, and packaging requirements; physical sample sign-off documentation; a pre-shipment QC report with photos of the finished product against the approved sample, measurements, and a pass/fail checklist for each inspection criterion; export documentation and a commercial invoice; import documentation and UK customs clearance records; and a delivery confirmation with tracking information at each handover point. For eco-certified bespoke products, we additionally provide the factory's certification documentation. This documentation set gives you everything you need to verify the order and, where relevant, include the product in your own sustainability or procurement reporting.

GPSUK operates a six-step quality process for all bespoke orders: (1) Written specification agreed before factory selection; (2) Factory selected based on track record with the specific product type — not from a platform; (3) Physical sample produced and approved before bulk production begins; (4) Production monitoring by our in-China team throughout the manufacturing process; (5) Pre-shipment inspection conducted in person at the factory by our locally-based QC team; (6) Full logistics management through to UK delivery. The pre-shipment inspection is the critical step — our QC team visits the factory after production completes, checks product dimensions against spec, verifies branding accuracy and colour fidelity, inspects material quality and packaging, and counts the cartons. A written report with photos is issued before goods are released. No bespoke order has ever been knowingly shipped with a non-conformance.

GPSUK's QC team is physically based in China — not managing inspections remotely from the UK. They work in Mandarin with factory production managers and supervisors, conduct in-person factory visits, and have the authority to hold production and require remediation before goods are released. This local presence is a significant advantage over remote inspection models: misunderstandings about spec are far less common when the conversation happens face-to-face in the right language, and problems are identified and resolved at the source rather than after an ocean crossing. For every bespoke order, the QC team produces a written pre-shipment inspection report covering product dimensions, branding accuracy, material quality, hardware function, packaging condition, labelling, and carton count.

If our QC team identifies a non-conformance during pre-shipment inspection, the goods are held at the factory. Our team documents the specific failures, notifies the factory in writing, and works with the factory management to determine the fastest remediation path — this may involve reworking the affected units, reprinting branding, or in rare cases replacing a portion of the batch. Production is not released until the non-conformance is resolved to our satisfaction. We notify the client immediately and provide an updated delivery timeline. In cases where remediation is not possible within the client's timeline, we discuss options directly — which may include partial shipment, a replacement order on an expedited basis, or a refund. We have never knowingly shipped an order we identified as non-conforming.

Catalogue products are produced by factories with which GPSUK has established multi-year relationships and well-documented quality track records. We do not conduct pre-shipment inspection on every catalogue order, but we maintain factory audit records, conduct periodic factory quality reviews, and hold factories to our quality standards through our supplier agreements. For large catalogue orders of 5,000 units or more, we can arrange pre-shipment inspection on request. For standard catalogue orders, our quality assurance comes from the depth and consistency of the factory relationship rather than per-order inspection — which is why factory selection based on proven track record, rather than lowest price, is central to how we operate.

GPSUK's current on-time delivery rate is 98.4%, measured against the committed delivery date confirmed at the point of order. We track this metric across all orders and review it monthly. The cases where we have missed a committed date have almost exclusively involved force majeure events — port congestion at Chinese export ports, typhoon-related production delays, national holiday scheduling, or UK customs processing delays outside our control. When we detect a risk to the delivery schedule at any point in the supply chain, we notify the client proactively and provide a revised timeline rather than waiting until the original date passes. We do not confirm delivery dates we are not confident we can meet.

Factory certification requirements vary by product type. For most general merchandise orders, we work with ISO 9001:2015-certified factories. For apparel and textile products in the eco range, we require GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification. For electrical and tech products, CE marking and UK CA conformity marking is standard. For paper and card products, FSC chain-of-custody certification is required. For eco-certified products, we request and retain the specific certification documentation from each factory and can provide copies to clients on request. We maintain certification records for all active factory partners and review them as part of our periodic supplier audit process.

If you receive an order with a quality issue, contact your named account manager immediately with photos and a description of the problem. We aim to acknowledge all quality complaints within four business hours. Our process is: acknowledge and log the complaint; request photographic evidence and affected quantity; review against the QC report and production documentation; determine fault (factory, transit, or other); and agree a resolution — which may be replacement, credit, or partial refund depending on the nature of the issue. For issues caused by factory non-conformance we missed at inspection, we arrange replacement at our cost. For issues caused by transit damage, we work with the carrier and our insurance on the client's behalf.

GPSUK's standard catalogue contains over 3,500 products across eight main categories: Drinkware (insulated bottles, mugs, travel cups — 284 products), Apparel (hoodies, polo shirts, t-shirts, jackets — 412 products), Bags & Totes (cotton totes, backpacks, holdalls, jute bags — 198 products), Tech & Gadgets (wireless chargers, USB hubs, power banks, earbuds — 231 products), Eco Range (certified sustainable products across all categories — 341 products), Stationery (notebooks, pens, desk accessories — 156 products), Packaging (gift boxes, postal boxes, bags — 124 products), and Events & Trade (banners, lanyards, display materials — 207 products). Every product is available with your branding — screen-printed, embroidered, laser-engraved, pad-printed, foil-blocked, or digitally printed depending on the product and your preference.

Minimum order quantities vary by product. As a general guide: mugs and ceramic drinkware start at 24 units; apparel (t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies) starts at 12 units; insulated bottles and travel cups start at 36–50 units; tote bags start at 100 units; tech accessories start at 10–50 units depending on product; notebooks start at 25 units; ballpoint pens start at 100 units; event items like lanyards start at 100 units; display materials like banner stands have no minimum. The MOQ for each specific product is shown on the product page. If your required quantity is below the stated MOQ, contact us — for some products and some timeframes there may be flexibility, and for others we'll suggest the closest alternative with a lower threshold.

Yes. For bespoke sourced orders, a physical sample is always produced and approved before bulk production begins — this is mandatory, not optional. For catalogue products, blank (unbranded) product samples can be requested and are typically available within 2–3 working days. Branded catalogue samples can also be produced for larger orders — lead times and costs vary by product and branding method. For some premium catalogue items where the branded look is critical (premium notebooks, embroidered apparel, foil-blocked stationery), we strongly recommend a branded sample before committing to full quantity. Your account manager can advise on whether a sample is recommended for your specific product and order size.

For many product categories, yes. Custom colour options are possible for apparel (where the garment manufacturer can produce in a Pantone-matched colour at higher MOQs), printed drinkware (where full-colour wrap print gives full colour freedom), bags (where fabric and thread colour can be specified), and packaging (where full bleed print gives complete design freedom). Laser-engraved products are inherently single-colour (the engraved material colour). Screen-printed products are limited to the number of spot colours included in the branding. For custom colour requests, discuss with your account manager at the briefing stage — we'll confirm what's achievable and what the minimum quantity threshold is.

GPSUK offers the full range of branded merchandise production techniques. Screen printing applies spot colours through a mesh stencil — ideal for simple logos on drinkware, bags, and apparel at volume. Embroidery stitches the design directly into fabric — premium finish for apparel, bags, and caps. Laser engraving removes the surface material to reveal the substrate beneath — ideal for metal, bamboo, and glass products for a permanent, premium result. Pad printing transfers ink from a silicone pad — used for irregular curved surfaces like pens and small tech items. Full-colour digital print (DTG) prints directly onto the fabric or surface with no colour limitation — ideal for photographic or complex designs. Foil blocking presses metallic foil onto paper or card using heat and pressure — premium finish for notebooks, stationery, and packaging. Debossing creates a depressed impression in the material — used on leather, cork, and card products.

Yes. 60% of GPSUK's full catalogue is eco-certified. Our dedicated Eco Range contains 341 products including GOTS-certified organic cotton apparel and bags, FSC-certified notebooks and stationery, OEKO-TEX® certified textiles, recycled PET bags made from reclaimed plastic bottles, wheat straw and bamboo products, seeded paper products, and biodegradable items. Carbon-neutral shipping is included on all UK orders. Full certification documentation is provided with every eco order. For products not in the eco range, we can often suggest a comparable certified alternative — and for custom eco products not in any catalogue, Gareth's China factory network can source them with the relevant certifications verified at source.

The most efficient way to start is to submit an enquiry through our website contact form or email quotes@gpsuk.co.uk with your brief. Include the product you're interested in (or a description if you're looking for bespoke sourcing), the quantity you need, your branding (or a description of it), and your required delivery date. Your account manager (or the accounts team if you're a new client) will come back with a quote, a digital proof, and a delivery timeline — typically within one business day. Once you approve the proof and confirm the order in writing, production is scheduled. Trade account clients can also place repeat orders by calling their named account manager directly, which is often the fastest route for established briefs.

A digital proof is a visual representation of how your branding will appear on the product — showing the logo or artwork at the correct scale, position, and colour on an image of the actual product or a technical layout. GPSUK provides a free digital proof on every single order, without exception — this is one of our founding principles and has been standard practice since 2017. You receive the digital proof before any production is committed to and are required to sign off in writing before we proceed. We will produce as many revision rounds as needed at no extra charge. Nothing goes into production without your explicit written approval. This process has prevented thousands of costly mistakes over the years.

For the highest quality output, we prefer vector artwork in AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS, or PDF format with all fonts converted to outlines. Vector files can be scaled to any size without loss of quality and are required for screen printing, embroidery, and foil blocking. We also accept high-resolution raster files (minimum 300 DPI at print size) in PNG, TIFF, or PSD format — these are suitable for digital printing and pad printing. JPEG files are accepted but not recommended as they may exhibit compression artefacts. If you only have a low-resolution logo (for example a PNG from a website), tell us and our design team can redraw it as a vector for a small fee. We will always check artwork quality before proceeding and flag any issues before they affect the finished product.

Yes. Our in-house design team can redraw logos as vectors, adapt existing artwork to meet production spec requirements, create new artwork for a product brief, or lay out multi-element designs (for example, a pen with a logo on one side and a URL on the other). Design work is charged at a flat rate per job — your account manager will quote this at the briefing stage. For clients who place regular orders, we store your approved artwork on file so that reorders require no new artwork submission — the brief library means we already have your Pantone references, approved sizes, and positioning locked in.

Amendments are possible before production begins — which means before the digital proof has been signed off and production committed. Once you have approved the proof in writing and production is underway, amendments to design, quantity, or specification are significantly more difficult and may incur additional costs. Cancellations after production has started are not possible without financial liability for the work completed to that point. For bespoke China-sourced orders, cancellations after sample approval are particularly complex as the factory will have committed production resources. We always recommend careful review of the digital proof before sign-off rather than seeking amendments later. If you have any doubt, tell your account manager before approving — we would rather delay a day than produce something that needs to be redone.

Reorders are one of the biggest practical advantages of a GPSUK trade account. Once a product has been produced for you, the brief — including your artwork, Pantone references, approved sample photos, branding specifications, and preferred product details — is stored in your brief library. A reorder requires only a confirmation of quantity and delivery date. Production is typically scheduled within 24 hours of the reorder confirmation. For catalogue reorders with an established brief, your account manager can often confirm same-day scheduling and 3–5 day delivery without any back-and-forth. This is what clients mean when they say the account "runs itself."

Product prices quoted are for the branded product at the stated quantity — screen printing, embroidery, or other branding method is included. Artwork setup fees (also called origination or setup costs) are charged separately on first-time orders and cover the creation of the screen, embroidery digitisation, or other production-specific setup. Setup fees are a one-time charge — reorders of the same product with the same branding do not incur setup fees. Setup fees vary by method (screen printing setup is typically £20–40 per colour; embroidery digitisation is typically £25–50 per design; laser engraving typically has no setup fee). Your account manager will include all setup fees in your quote so the total cost is clear before you commit.

Standard lead times for catalogue products are 3–5 working days from proof approval to UK delivery for most items. This covers production, branding, quality check at our Bristol fulfilment centre, and courier delivery. Some specialist or higher-complexity catalogue items (softshell jackets, waxed canvas bags, premium gift boxes) have lead times of 7–10 working days. For bespoke China-sourced products, lead times are 6–10 weeks via sea freight and 2–4 weeks via air freight. Lead times are always confirmed in writing at the point of order and measured from proof sign-off date. If you have a hard deadline — a product launch, event date, or campaign go-live — tell us at the briefing stage and we will confirm whether the timeline is achievable before you commit.

Our primary market is the UK, and standard catalogue pricing includes UK delivery. We can deliver to Ireland, and for larger accounts, we can arrange delivery into mainland Europe and beyond as part of bespoke project logistics. International delivery is quoted separately and requires discussion at the order stage. For clients based outside the UK who want GPSUK's bespoke China sourcing service, goods can also be delivered directly from the factory to an international destination as part of the logistics management we provide — this can in some cases be more cost-effective than routing through the UK. Contact us to discuss your specific international delivery requirement.

Yes. Multi-site delivery is a standard service for trade accounts and is used extensively by clients like Pearson Education, who have us deliver directly to 40+ individual campuses with pre-sorted delivery labels. For multi-site delivery, provide a delivery manifest (a list of addresses and quantities per address) and we handle the splitting, labelling, and dispatch. Multi-site delivery is charged per additional address at a standard rate. For very large national distribution — hundreds of delivery points — we discuss the most cost-effective logistics configuration at the order stage, which may involve pallet delivery to a regional hub rather than individual courier drops.

For UK catalogue deliveries, GPSUK uses a combination of DPD, DHL, and Royal Mail depending on parcel dimensions, weight, and service level required. Standard orders are dispatched on a next-day tracked courier service from our Bristol fulfilment centre. Large pallet deliveries use a specialist palletised freight service. Tracking information is shared with you at the point of dispatch. For bespoke China-sourced orders, air freight uses DHL Express or FedEx International Priority, and sea freight uses full container load or groupage (LCL) through our freight forwarding partner. We manage all carrier relationships and logistics coordination on your behalf.

If we identify a risk to your committed delivery date at any point — from production scheduling to transit tracking — we notify you proactively rather than waiting for the deadline to pass. We will provide a revised delivery estimate, explain the cause of the delay, and where possible offer options to mitigate it (for example, switching from sea to air freight if a bespoke order is running behind). For delays caused by GPSUK's error, we cover any additional expediting costs. For delays caused by force majeure events (severe weather, port strikes, national holidays), we manage the situation transparently and work with you on any deadline implications. Our 98.4% on-time delivery rate reflects the seriousness with which we treat committed dates.

A GPSUK trade account gives you: a named account manager (a specific person who knows your brand and is your single point of contact); Net 30 payment terms from day one (invoice on delivery, pay at 30 days — no card payment per order); a brief library that stores your approved artwork and specifications so reorders are near-instant; volume discounts that apply automatically at 250, 500, and 1,000+ units; access to the full 3,500+ product catalogue; access to Gareth's bespoke China sourcing service; priority production scheduling during peak periods (Preferred and Enterprise accounts); and quarterly or annual account reviews. There is no setup fee, no minimum annual spend, and no annual membership fee. The account is free to open and the benefits apply from the first order.

Standard trade accounts open with Net 30 payment terms and a £5,000 credit limit. Preferred accounts offer Net 60 terms and a credit limit of £15,000 or more based on credit assessment and trading history. Enterprise accounts have bespoke credit facilities negotiated based on the scale and nature of the business relationship. Credit limits are reviewed at the account's annual review and can be increased earlier if trading history supports it. We conduct a soft business credit reference check on all new accounts — this does not affect your credit score. Most standard accounts are approved within one business day.

Yes. GPSUK works with a large number of marketing and branding agencies who manage merchandise across multiple end clients. We offer agency accounts with consolidated invoicing across client orders (one invoice run covering multiple client projects), a named account manager experienced in agency workflows, competitive pricing at consolidated volume, and a brief library that can hold separate profiles for each of your clients. Agency accounts are free to open and available to any registered agency or consultancy. Contact us to discuss your agency setup and we'll tailor the account structure to how you work.

Volume discounts apply automatically to all orders based on quantity tiers: orders of 250–499 units receive a 5–8% reduction from the listed unit price; orders of 500–999 units receive 10–15% reduction; orders of 1,000+ units receive 18–25% reduction. Exact discount percentages vary by product category. Trade account clients also accumulate annual volume rebates — the total spend across a rolling 12-month period triggers rebate tiers that are applied as credits on the account. The more you order across the year, the better your effective unit pricing. Your account manager will show you your current annual volume position and projected rebate at your quarterly review.

Standard trade account applications are usually approved within one business day. Our accounts team reviews the application, runs a soft business credit reference check, and issues the account confirmation email with your account number, opening credit limit, and account manager contact details. Preferred account applications (which involve a higher credit assessment) typically take 2–3 business days. Enterprise accounts, which involve bespoke credit facility negotiation, are discussed on a case-by-case basis and typically finalised within a week. If you need your account activated urgently to place a time-sensitive first order, tell us at the application stage and we will prioritise the review.

GPSUK's Eco Range contains 341 products across all main categories. Drinkware includes bamboo fibre travel cups, glass water bottles, and stainless steel bottles with recycled components. Bags include GOTS-certified organic cotton totes, jute shoppers, and recycled PET backpacks made from reclaimed plastic bottles. Stationery includes FSC-certified seeded paper notebooks (the cover grows wildflowers when planted), recycled wheat straw pen sets, and 100% recycled notepads. Apparel includes GOTS-certified organic cotton t-shirts and OEKO-TEX® certified polo shirts. Desk accessories include cork and wheat straw desk sets, bamboo cutlery sets, and natural cork mouse mats. Packaging includes FSC kraft postal boxes and rigid gift boxes with recycled content inserts. Every product in the range carries at least one verifiable certification with documentation available.

Yes to both. Every product in GPSUK's Eco Range carries a verifiable certification — FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, confirmed recycled content percentages, or verified biodegradability standards. We provide the documentation with every eco order: the certification name, the certifying body, the certificate number where applicable, and the organic or recycled content percentage. Many GPSUK clients include this documentation in their annual sustainability reports, supply chain disclosures, and ESG reporting packs. If you need certification documentation in a specific format for your reporting, tell your account manager and we will provide it.

In most cases the price difference is small and in some cases there is no premium at all. GPSUK's philosophy is that eco options should be the default, not a premium tier. We have spent years sourcing certified products through Gareth's China factory network at price points that match or closely match non-certified equivalents. In cases where a premium does apply — typically for specialist certifications like GOTS organic apparel — we flag this clearly in the quote. As a rough guide, GOTS-certified organic cotton t-shirts are typically 10–20% above the equivalent non-organic price at similar quantities. Recycled PET products and bamboo products are generally priced at parity with their conventional equivalents in our catalogue.

Carbon-neutral shipping means that the carbon emissions generated by shipping your order from our Bristol fulfilment centre to your UK delivery address are offset through verified carbon reduction projects. This is calculated for each shipment and offset automatically — it is not an add-on charge. Carbon-neutral shipping is included in the standard quoted price for all UK orders. The offsetting is done through verified projects (VERRA or Gold Standard certified). We do not claim that the shipping itself generates zero emissions — we claim that the net emissions are offset to zero through a verified programme. If you want details of the specific offset projects used, contact your account manager.

Yes. If you need an eco-certified product that is not in our standard catalogue — a specific sustainable material, an unusual form factor, or a product with a certification level above our catalogue standard — we can source it through Gareth's China factory network. We identify the appropriate factory for the product type and certification level, request the factory's certification documentation, and apply our standard pre-shipment QC process. The certification documentation is verified at source before the goods ship. Minimum order quantities for bespoke eco sourcing are the same as standard bespoke sourcing (typically 250–500 units minimum) and lead times are 6–10 weeks via sea freight.

GPSUK is currently undergoing B Corp certification assessment. B Corp is a comprehensive third-party standard that assesses companies across five impact areas: workers, community, environment, customers, and governance. We began the assessment process in 2024 and are working through the full BIA (B Impact Assessment) with the support of B Lab UK. Our current estimated score places us close to the 80-point threshold required for certification. We expect to complete the assessment and receive a certification decision in 2025 or early 2026. We are holding ourselves to the full B Corp standard — not just the parts where we already perform well. Updates on our B Corp progress are published on our sustainability page.

The quickest way is to submit an enquiry through our website contact form or email quotes@gpsuk.co.uk directly. Include: the product or product type you're looking for, the quantity you need, how you want it branded (logo, text, design — share a file if you have one), and when you need it. You'll receive a response from a named team member within one business day — in most cases same day before 3pm. For bespoke sourcing enquiries, you'll receive an initial feasibility response and a request for any additional spec details before we issue a formal quote. There is no obligation to proceed once you receive a quote. Alternatively, call us on 0800 123 4567 and speak to the team directly.

Start by thinking about three things: what product you want (or what you want to achieve — we can suggest products if you're not sure), how many you need, and when you need them. Then contact us with those three details and we'll take it from there. You don't need print-ready artwork, a clear brief, or any prior knowledge of the promotional products industry. Our team will ask the right questions, suggest products suited to your budget and timeline, show you proofed examples before you commit, and walk you through the process step by step. Many of our largest ongoing clients started with a first order of 100 tote bags or 50 branded mugs. We are equally happy to help with a first small order as with a large campaign.

We respond to all enquiries within one business day. This is a genuine commitment — not marketing copy. For enquiries submitted before 3pm on a working day, we aim to respond the same day. Enquiries submitted after 3pm or over weekends are typically responded to by 10am the following working day. Your response comes from a named person — a member of the accounts team or directly from your account manager if you're an existing client — not an automated reply or a chatbot. For urgent bespoke sourcing enquiries with a hard timeline, flag the urgency in your message and we'll prioritise the response.

Yes. Gareth is directly reachable at gareth@gpsuk.co.uk for bespoke sourcing enquiries, particularly for complex or high-value briefs where the client wants to speak to the person with the factory knowledge. Gareth is also available for calls — your account manager can schedule a call between you and Gareth for any brief that benefits from a direct conversation. Gareth is involved in reviewing all bespoke sourcing projects and is the final decision-maker on factory selection for complex orders. For standard catalogue orders and trade account enquiries, your named account manager is your primary contact and will involve Gareth if specialist sourcing input is needed.

GPSUK works with first-time buyers and new businesses as readily as with established accounts. You don't need a trade account, a credit history, or a large order to start — you can order catalogue products as a new client with payment in advance or by card and receive the same quality of product and service. Many of our longest-standing client relationships started with a first order from a startup or new team. We would rather earn the account through the quality of the first order than require proof of scale before agreeing to help. If you're not sure we're the right fit, tell us your brief and budget honestly and we'll give you an honest answer about whether we can help.

Because all products are branded specifically for your business, standard retail returns (change of mind) are not applicable. However, we fully replace or refund orders where the product does not match the approved specification — including branding errors (colour wrong, position incorrect, size off), product defects, or significant quantity shortfalls. Claims must be raised within 7 working days of delivery with photographic evidence. For bespoke sourced orders, defects identified post-delivery that were not present or detectable at our pre-shipment inspection are assessed on a case-by-case basis and resolved at our cost where the failure is attributable to GPSUK's QC process. We have never disputed a genuine quality claim.

Ordering from Alibaba or similar platforms gives you access to Chinese manufacturers, but without the factory relationship, quality oversight, or logistics management that GPSUK provides. On Alibaba you are typically dealing with trading companies (not the actual factory), communicating without Mandarin proficiency, receiving no pre-shipment inspection, managing your own import documentation and customs, and having no recourse mechanism if quality doesn't meet your spec. GPSUK provides all of these missing elements: Gareth's direct factory relationships (not platform listings), in-China QC inspection before shipment, full logistics management from factory to your UK address, and a named person accountable for the outcome. For businesses placing occasional large bespoke orders, the managed service cost is typically recovered through quality protection alone — avoiding a single failed shipment pays for many years of account management.

GPSUK does not operate a formal affiliate programme, but we do reward client referrals generously through our account credit programme. If you refer a business that opens a trade account and places a first order, we apply a credit to your account equivalent to a percentage of that first order value. The credit is applied automatically — you don't need to claim it. Details of the current referral credit rate are available from your account manager or by contacting accounts@gpsuk.co.uk. We have grown primarily through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients over 17 years, and we take referrals seriously as a reflection of the quality of our service.