Company swag is an amazing marketing tool!

It can boost brand awareness when people wear or use your promotional products in public.

On top of that, cool swag can leave a lasting impression on the audience, which helps build brand recognition.

Still, for this to work, you need brand consistency.

But how can you achieve consistency when your business operates in both Canada and the US?

Well, this part can be a bit tricky.

While you can import merch from one country to the other, this can be quite challenging as you’ll see later in this article.

Unless you work with us at SwagDrop, that is!

We’re one of the few companies that produce, store, and distribute cool swag in both the US and Canada.

So, we can take care of the whole process for you.

But first, let’s see what you would be dealing with if you wanted to import swag yourself.

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Common Challenges When Importing Swag To/From the US and Canada

How to Overcome Common Challenges When Importing Swag To/From the US and Canada

Common Challenges When Importing Swag To/From the US and Canada

You need branded merchandise for lots of occasions, including trade shows, new product launches, and employee and client appreciation events.

Naturally, if your business operates in both the US and Canada, the first solution that pops into your head is to ship promo items across the border when necessary.

Easier said than done!

Just take a look at some of the biggest challenges we faced when we started out.

High shipping costs

Even though you can travel between the USA and Canada by car, shipping costs are still high.

Why?

Because we’re still talking about international shipping, which is never cheap.

Costs vary widely depending on distance, weight, and shipping method.

Ultimately, even if you buy promotional items in bulk to save money, you might end up spending more on shipping than on swag.

And if you need to import branded merch regularly, these costs will quickly add up and strain your company’s budget.

Time delays in customs clearance

As you might’ve guessed, shipping promotional items across the border involves a lot of paperwork.

For instance, to get customs clearance for your merchandise, you must provide specific info about the products, including a certificate of origin, proof of delivery, bill of lading, and more.

On top of that, certain promotional products, including apparel, require import permits.

And these are just a few of the customs clearance regulations you must comply with.

The problem is that if anything’s wrong with the paperwork, you’re doomed.

In our experience, this can lead to long delays in customs clearance, which translates into your company swag not arriving in time for your corporate event.

Border taxes and duties

Sorry to disappoint, but you won’t get off with shipping costs alone.

On top of shipping, you also have to pay border taxes and duties, which can vary depending on the type of promo items you’re shipping and their value.

To get a general idea of these costs you can use the calculator provided by the Canada Border Services Agency.

Still, if you’re importing swag packs including various products, like branded T-shirts, drinkware, tote bags, and keychains, it can be hard to estimate all these border costs accurately.

So, you risk having unpleasant financial surprises.

Complications of cross-border logistics

Both US and Canadian border authorities impose lots of regulations and procedures that you must strictly adhere to.

So, you must always do your homework and make sure that nothing’s changed.

Likewise, you have to make sure that the shipment drivers can lawfully cross the border, as this is another common issue.

Anyway, we don’t want to scare you off; so enough with the challenges!

Let’s look at some solutions.

How to Overcome Common Challenges When Importing Swag To/From the US and Canada

Importing swag yourself can be time-consuming and costly, so you clearly need a better solution.

Here’s what we suggest:

Have production and warehousing facilities in both the US and Canada

Partner up with a company that produces, warehouses, and distributes promo products across the US and Canada.

This way, you won’t have to worry about any of the import challenges, additional costs, and potential delays.

Plus, you can ensure brand consistency across all your corporate events in both the US and Canada.

And you’re in luck because operating in both countries is exactly what we at SwagDrop do.

Have an optimal logistics network for efficient national distribution

One of the key components of a supply chain is the logistics network.

Put simply, to have an optimal logistics network means to have strategically placed warehouses that facilitate the manufacturing and delivery of products.

So, that’s what you should look for in your swag supplier.

For example, we operate from Pittsburgh, PA and Toronto, ON. 

Why?

Because big cities like Pittsburgh and Toronto provide easy access to cost-efficient raw materials and transportation options, making it easy to optimize national distribution and maintain competitive pricing.

Look for customized solutions tailored to clients’ needs

Whether your branded merch is made in Canada or the US, it doesn’t matter, as long as you find a supplier that offers customized solutions tailored to your needs.

At SwagDrop, we give you three practical options to choose from:

• Swag packs enable you to create custom gift packages for any occasion, including client gifts and employee appreciation gifts.

You just choose the items you want us to include, like a coffee mug and a coaster, give us your company logo and we personalize them.

And that’s not all!

If you give us the recipient’s personal information we can deliver your corporate gift to their doorstep.

• Bulk swag is a very practical solution if you’re planning a grand-opening event or any other big corporate event.

Since many people attend these events, offering giveaways is a great way to leave a lasting impression on them.

With bulk swag, you can get some of our best swag at competitive prices because the more you buy, the less you pay.

For example, a cool backpack made out of 100% recycled PET that promotes sustainability, goes for $32 but you can buy it in bulk for $25 each.

• Pop-up shops are a great way to involve your employees and clients in the gifting process and minimize waste.

For example, you can set up a pop-up shop with some of our best swag, then invite your recipients to pick the corporate gift they want in their preferred size or color.

This way, you avoid dealing with apparel sizing issues or gifting items that the recipients won’t use.

Finally, once everyone picks a gift, we’ll produce the order and ship it to you.

On top of all that, we use award-winning promotional strategies that will help you get your story out there and connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Enough about us, now over to you.

Start Ordering Your Swag Today

Shipping swag between the US and Canada can be very challenging.

And if you want to do it with minimum cost, it can be next to impossible.

Which is why the best solution for you is to work with a supplier that produces, warehouses, and distributes cool swag in both countries.

Don’t want to brag but at SwagDrop we pride ourselves on being a unicorn company that’s done exactly that for years now.

So, check out our collection and start ordering your swag today.

We’re here to help you every step of the way!