Resources
Spec Card
A straightforward way to build a spec card for South African promo kits, written for brand teams who already run events.
How Spec Card keeps branding details straight
Spec Card gives your team one clear summary of a promo kit or branded pack. Use it to note item sizes, print positions, quantities, colours and the details that buyers, suppliers and event staff need in one place.
A Spec Card starts with the exact item list for the kit, not broad campaign language. Record sizes, colour references, print positions, pack quantities and whether each piece is folded, bagged or handed out loose. For South African event stock, that single page helps prevent mix-ups between table giveaways, staff packs and VIP handovers.
List every branded item on the card by name and size. Add notes where logos must sit, which side faces front, and any sizing issue picked up on a previous run. When boxes reach a venue, those details help buyers, suppliers and event crews check the right stock without guessing.
What goes on the card
A useful Spec Card shows the item name, material, branding method and count in one view. It should also flag artwork cut-off, attachment points, handle colours, zip colours or lanyard clips where those matter. That format suits promo kits that need to move from approval to packing without details getting lost in email threads.
Match the card to the final pack version before anything is printed. Note the dispatch date, the image that reflects current stock, and any correction from earlier samples so the same error does not carry into the next event. Promo kit orders need the item list, head count and the event venue so packs are made up correctly.
- Print positions listed per item
- Quantities checked before packing starts
- Artwork issues logged on one page
SA checks on every spec
Spec Cards for South African promo work need room for venue realities and stock variation. A runner gift for Sandton can differ from a campus handout in Durban or a conference table set in Cape Town, even when the campaign name stays the same. The card should show which version goes where, especially when quantities split across cities.
Coastal moisture can affect paper inserts, sticker adhesion and some bag finishes. Inland transport dust may matter for glossy items, acrylic pieces and unpacked display stock. Power interruptions also change when branded lights, charging cables or battery items must be tested before an event opens.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Notes worth adding early
Brief the spec card with product photos, print deadlines, and the artwork or sizing mistakes already found. Keep the subject line plain.
Write the Spec Card while samples, artwork and corrections are still easy to compare. Add SKU references, carton counts and any known swap between approved visuals and available stock. That gives the buyer a clean record when someone asks what was ordered, packed or handed over on site.