Buy cheap, buy twice: Why Brands Should Avoid Cutting Corners on Branded Merchandise

It’s a wet Monday morning in February, and the Arcadia production team are gathered around the table, coffees in hand, ready for the weekly review of live projects. 

The meeting begins with a little light weekend chat before attention turns to job bags, timelines and quality checks.

This week's conversation took an unexpected turn. Instead of debating the standout performances from the winter Olympics, (Milan-Cortina 2026) or Lindsey Vonn competing with an ACL injury! the team found themselves discussing reports circulating on social media about the quality of ceremonial medals.

Several athletes were reporting issues with their most prized new possessions on social media.

Apparently, the ribbon had come away from the medal with the little piece holding it together coming apart. What shoud of been a celebration of excellence had become a conversation about quality!

Of course, Milan-Cortina 2026 organisers were quick to react saying "we are giving maximum attention to investigating the issue and finding out what the problem is".

In the big picture of this amazing event this is a problem that should have not been on the agenda.

When a product represents something of immense value — achievement, recognition, trust, or pride — its quality should never be in question. A medal may be made of metal and ribbon, but what it symbolises is priceless. When the physical product falls short, the brand behind it pays the price.

This isn’t an isolated issue. In recent years, even world-renowned organisations have faced criticism and costly replacements due to merchandise that didn’t stand the test of time. The lesson is clear: quality issues don’t just create inconvenience — they erode credibility.

Branded merchandise is never “just a pen”, “just a bottle” or “just a t-shirt”. Every item carrying your logo is a physical ambassador for your brand. If it breaks, fades, leaks, or fails, it sends a message — and rarely the one you intended.

Price and quality should always reflect the importance of the occasion and the values of the brand it represents. Rushed production timelines, insufficient testing, or choosing the cheapest option often leads to short-term savings and long-term regret.

“It should be fine” is not a quality strategy.

At Arcadia, we believe branded merchandise should be built to last — because your reputation is. From careful product selection and robust testing to realistic lead times and responsible sourcing, quality should never be an afterthought.

Remember: when you buy cheap, you often buy twice. And the second cost is rarely just financial — it’s your brand trust.

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