Glossary
#
1-up printing: Refers to a single image or page, printed once on a sheet of paper or other substrate.
3D printing: A manufacturing process that creates three-dimensional objects by layering materials, such as plastic or metal, based on a digital design file.
3PL: See “third-party logistics” below.
A
B
Branded promotional items: Customized items such as pens, keychains and USB drives used for promotional purposes to increase brand awareness.
Buyer: A person or team responsible for sourcing and purchasing goods or services for a company or organization.
C
Channel marketing: Promoting and/or selling products or services, such as referral- or commission-based programs, through partner channels.
Channel partner: A company or individual that promotes and sells a company's products or services through a partner program.
Corporate portal: A centralized platform that allows employees and partners to access company resources and information, such as marketing materials, training programs and HR policies.
Custom apparel: Branded clothing such as T-shirts, hoodies and hats that are created for promotional purposes or as employee uniforms.
D
Digital asset management: The process of organizing, storing and sharing digital assets such as images, videos and other marketing materials in a centralized system.
Digital printing: A process that produces high-quality prints from digital files rather than from physical printing plates.
Direct mail marketing: Sending promotional materials such as postcards, catalogs or letters directly to potential customers through postal mail.
E
Eco-friendly printing: A method of printing that prioritizes environmentally conscious and sustainable practices and materials.
Employee gifting: The process of providing gifts or rewards to employees to boost morale, increase motivation and enhance the employer-employee relationship.
Event collateral: Promotional items and marketing materials such as swag bags, name badges, signage and flyers that create a cohesive and branded event experience for attendees.
Event marketing: The process of promoting a company's products or services through in-person or virtual events such as trade shows, conferences and webinars.
F
FPO (creative): Stands for "final print output," referring to the final version of a design ready to be printed.
FPO (design): Stands for "for position only," indicating temporary placeholder content in a layout or design.
Fulfillment center: A facility used for storing, packaging and shipping products to customers.
Fulfillment costs: Expenses associated with processing, storing and shipping orders, including labor costs, shipping fees and inventory storage fees.
Fulfillment service provider: A company that specializes in providing order fulfillment and logistics services for businesses.
G
Gifting programs: Programs that provide rewards or incentives such as gift cards or free items to customers or employees to encourage loyalty and engagement.
Gift card programs: A program that provides customers or employees with gift cards as incentives or rewards for engaging with a brand or business.
H
Human resources training: Training and development programs such as onboarding or skills training targeted at employees.
Hybrid event: An event that combines both virtual and in-person elements, allowing participants to attend both online and in-person.
I
Integrations and compliance: The process of integrating and merging software systems to ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.
Inventory management: The process of managing and optimizing a company's inventory levels to ensure adequate quantities are available to fulfill pending and anticipated orders.
In-person event support: The provisioning of promotional items and printed materials for in-person events such as trade shows or conferences.
J
K
Key performance indicators: Performance metrics used to track progress toward specific goals such as order accuracy, shipping times and customer satisfaction.
Kitting and assembly: The process of assembling and packaging custom gift sets containing multiple items.
KPIs: See “key performance indicators” above.
L
Large format digital printing: A digital printing technique for producing high-quality images on large substrates. Typically used for large-scale graphics such as billboards, trade show displays and vehicle wraps.
Large format printing: A printing technique for producing high-quality images on large substrates, typically used for producing posters, banners and other signage.
Lead generation: Identifying and cultivating potential customers for a company's products or services.
Logistics: The process of planning, coordinating and executing the transportation, storage and delivery of goods or services.
M
M (quantity): A commonly used abbreviation for "thousand," typically used in printing to indicate the quantity of printed materials.
Marketing asset management: The process of organizing, storing and distributing digital marketing assets such as images, videos and documents in a centralized system, ensuring consistency and efficiency in marketing efforts.
Marketing collateral: Printed or digital marketing materials such as brochures, data sheets, case studies and whitepapers used to promote a brand or product in support of the sales process.
Marketing fulfillment: The process of providing promotional items, printed materials and other marketing assets to customers or partners to support marketing initiatives.
N
O
Offset printing: A technique that transfers ink from a printing plate to a rubber blanket and then onto a printing surface, producing consistently high-quality prints.
Online printing: A service that allows customers to order customized printed materials such as business cards, brochures, flyers and banners online.
Order fulfillment: The process of receiving, processing and shipping customer orders for products or services.
Order tracking: The process of monitoring the status of customer orders from processing through shipment and delivery.
P
Packaging design: Creating, designing and selecting packaging materials, colors and graphics that convey brand identity and deliver important product information.
Personalization: Tailoring marketing messages, offers or products to individual customers based on their unique preferences, behavior or demographics.
Pick-and-pack: The process of selecting and packing items for shipment, ensuring that all necessary contents are included and properly packaged.
Price per m; Price/m: Typically refers to the price per meter or linear meter of a product or service.
Print advertising: The use of printed media such as newspapers, magazines and billboards to promote a company's products or services.
Print as image: A setting in some printing software that rasterizes vector graphics to ensure they are printed accurately.
Print management: The process of overseeing the production and distribution of printed materials, including design, printing and shipping.
Print marketing: The process of promoting a company's products or services through printed materials such as brochures, flyers and direct mail campaigns.
Print-on-demand: A digital printing process that allows the creation of small quantities of customized products such as books, T-shirts and posters on an as-needed basis.
Print ready: Refers to a digital file that is properly formatted and optimized for printing without requiring any additional adjustments or modifications.
Production costs: Expenses associated with activities and materials related to producing materials, including design, printing, paper and ink.
Promotional product sourcing: Finding and selecting suppliers to create branded promotional items such as pens, mugs and apparel.
Q
Quality assurance: A set of activities that ensure a product or service meets the desired quality standards and requirements.
R
Redemption programs: Programs that allow customers or employees to redeem rewards or points for discounts, free items or other incentives.
Reward programs: Activities that inspire customers or employees to make purchases or achieve specific goals by offering rewards such as points or discounts.
Returns management: The process of handling and processing returned products, including inspection, repair, repackaging and restocking.
S
Sales collateral: See “marketing collateral” above.
Shipping: Coordinating the shipment and delivery of promotional items and printed materials to customers or other locations such as events.
Supply chain management: The process of managing the flow of goods and services including procurement, logistics and inventory management to ensure that products are delivered to customers in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Supply chain visibility: The ability to track and monitor the movement of products and materials throughout the supply chain, from procurement to delivery.
Sustainable printing: See “eco-friendly printing” above.
Swag: A commonly used slang term for branded promotional items such as hats, T-shirts and tote bags used for marketing and promotional purposes.
T
Third-party logistics: A company that provides logistics services, including warehousing, transportation and fulfillment, on behalf of another company.
Trade show marketing: Promoting a company's products or services through trade shows, exhibitions, seminars and other events targeted at a specific industry or audience.
Training programs: Designed to teach and develop skills in employees or customers to improve performance and productivity.
U
Uniform program: The act of providing customized uniforms to employees to ensure a consistent and professional look for the brand.
V
Value-added services: Additional services such as kitting and assembly, personalization and gift wrapping provided to customers to enhance their experience.
Variable data printing (VDP): A process that allows each printed piece to be personalized with names, addresses or other unique messages to create a highly targeted and customized experience for the recipient.
Vendor management: Managing relationships with vendors and suppliers, including negotiating contracts, monitoring performance and ensuring compliance.
Virtual event support: The provision of digital promotional items and printed materials for virtual events.
Virtual events: An online event such as a conference or webinar that takes place in a digital environment or format.
W
Warehouse management system: A software system that helps manage and optimize warehouse operations, including inventory management and order fulfillment.
Warehousing and inventory: The process of storing and managing products, materials and promotional items in a warehouse, including tracking inventory levels and maintaining organization.
Web-to-print: An online method that allows users to create, design and order customized printed materials such as business cards, brochures and banners directly from the web.
Wholesale printing: A printing service that provides large quantities of printed materials at discounted prices, often for resale or distribution.
Wide-format printer: A press that can print on larger substrates, typically 18 inches or wider, for producing large-scale graphics such as posters, banners and signage.
Wide-format printing: A printing process that accommodates large print sizes and specialized materials such as banners, posters and vehicle wraps.
Workflow automation: The use of software tools that automate repetitive tasks and processes, streamlining operations and increasing efficiency.
