1WorldPrint Are Members of the BPMA: What It Means for Your Merchandise

We joined the British Promotional Merchandise Association in December 2021 and announced it here in January 2022. Almost five years on, membership plays an important part in how we source, brand and deliver promotional merchandise for our customers.

The BPMA is the professional body for the promotional products industry in the UK and Ireland, a market worth more than 1 billion pounds a year.

The BPMA is a trusted brand, offering advice and guidance to buyers as well as leading the promotional merchandise industry in delivering service excellence, continued professional development and compliance through a strict Code of Conduct which governs areas such as quality, fair trade, accurate advertising and mediation.

As a buyer, choosing a BPMA member supplier means dealing with a company that has signed up to that Code and is answerable to a trade body if something goes wrong. The quickest way to spot one is seeing the BPMA Stamp of Trust.

In this guide

• What Is the BPMA?
• Background of the BPMA
• The BPMA Code of Conduct
• The BPMA Stamp of Trust
• If Something Goes Wrong With an Order
• Training and the BPMA Education Programme
• Sustainability and the StepForward Pledge
• Merchandise World and the Wider Industry
• How to Check a Supplier Is a BPMA Member
• Why We Are a Member of the BPMA
• Keeping to BPMA Standards on Every Order
• How to Order Merchandise From a BPMA Member
• BPMA Membership FAQs

What Is the BPMA?

The British Promotional Merchandise Association is the trade association for every company involved in branded and promotional products, from the factories and importers who make them to the distributors, like us, who brand them and deliver them to businesses, schools, charities and events. It describes its own purpose as to connect, inspire and educate its members.

Its members fall into three main groups:

• Distributors. Companies that work directly with buyers, sourcing products, adding the branding and managing the order through to delivery.
• Suppliers. Manufacturers, importers and decorators who make and supply products to distributors.
• International members. Overseas businesses that work with the UK and Irish market.

The BPMA also acts as the voice of the industry, representing its members' views to Government, and runs a Chartered status for member businesses that reach and exceed the very highest levels of professionalism, compliance and integrity.

Background of the BPMA

Established in 1965, the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) is one of the UK's leading industry bodies dedicated to promoting best practice around the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of promotional items.

The BPMA has always been a not-for-profit organisation. It works to grow demand for promotional products on behalf of its members, and to make sure good practice is kept all the way along the supply chain to the business that receives the finished items.

We, and many others in the trade, advise buying promotional merchandise from a BPMA member. Membership on its own does not make a supplier faultless, but it is a useful indicator that the company has agreed to an industry Code, keeps up with product safety rules and has access to the training and product knowledge the association provides.

The BPMA Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is at the heart of BPMA membership. Every member agrees to it prior to signing up, and the BPMA Board of Directors has the power to enforce it, investigate complaints and remove members who do not keep to it. In plain terms, the Code asks members to:

• Describe products honestly. No deceptive, misleading or unethical selling, and products shown exactly as they are.
• Keep products safe and legal. Everything supplied must meet the safety laws and regulations that apply to it.
• Take responsibility for the supply chain. Members hold their contractors to account on product safety, working conditions, fair wages, environmental standards and the prevention of labour abuse.
• Follow advertising rules. Members keep to the rulings of the Advertising Standards Authority.
• Respect confidentiality. Sensitive information, including a customer's plans, artwork and any third party's details, stays confidential.
• Pay on time. Members honour agreed payment terms with their suppliers.
• Act professionally. Members conduct themselves in a way that protects the reputation of the industry.

What the Code Means When You Order From Us

For our customers, the Code shows up in everyday behaviour. The product you approve on your visual proof is the product you receive. Items that need to meet safety standards, such as printed mugs, branded water bottles and branded power banks, come from suppliers who can show they comply. And your artwork files and launch plans are treated in confidence from the first email to the final delivery.

Get a merchandise quoteor call 0208 064 1315

The BPMA Stamp of Trust

The BPMA Stamp of Trust is the mark that tells a buyer they are dealing with a member. It is a quick way to separate suppliers who have signed up to an industry Code of Conduct from those who haven't, which matters more than you think in a market where anyone can set up a website and start selling branded products, calling themselves experts.

When you see the stamp, you know the company has agreed to the standards above, has easy access to industry training and advice, and is answerable to a trade body if things go wrong. It is not a guarantee that every order will be perfect, but it is a clear sign that the supplier takes quality, honesty and compliance seriously.

If Something Goes Wrong With an Order

Even with the best planning, problems can arise. The first step is always to raise it with your supplier, and with us that means speaking to your dedicated Account Manager, who will look into it and put things right as quickly as possible.

In a situation when a problem with a BPMA member cannot be resolved between the two of you, buyers can contact the BPMA, which will work with both sides to help resolve the matter. Behind that sits the BPMA Board, which can investigate complaints against members and take action under the Code of Conduct. Buying from a non member gives you none of this extra protection.

Training and the BPMA Education Programme

One of the most valuable parts of membership is access to industry training. The BPMA Education Programme is an online course built by professionals from the promotional merchandise industry, and both of its levels carry CPD accreditation with the Association for Accredited Learning.

• Trained in Promotional Merchandise (TPM). The entry level course, covering the fundamentals of the industry for people with up to three years' experience.
• Certified in Promotional Merchandise (CPM). The advanced course, for people with more than three years' experience who want to deepen their knowledge of business and the sector.

Courses run in four intakes a year, finish with an exam, and cover topics from product knowledge to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. In 2026 the BPMA celebrated its latest graduates at the House of Commons.

We benefit from regular training and support from the BPMA, and work with many other members and leading brands in the industry. That knowledge feeds straight into the advice we give to clients, from choosing between screen printing and embroidery for a polo shirt to picking the right product for a campaign.

Sustainability and the StepForward Pledge

Sustainability has long been one of the first questions buyers ask, and the BPMA has responded with the StepForward Pledge. Member companies complete an assessment of 13 commitments grouped under three headings (products, people and planet) and then publish a one page sustainability statement on their BPMA profile so buyers can see what they are doing.

It is a practical framework rather than a slogan, and it reflects a wider shift towards merchandise that people keep and use. If sustainability is a must for your next order, our guide to sustainable promotional merchandise and our range of eco friendly merchandise are great places to start, and natural materials such as bamboo are well worth a look.

Merchandise World and the Wider Industry

The BPMA brings the industry as a whole together as well as setting its standards. Merchandise World, the trade exhibition run by the BPMA and Sourcing City, is where distributors meet suppliers, see all the new products first hand and keep up with what is changing in the market. The BPMA also runs yearly industry awards, a member directory and a job board, and offers members helplines for HR, legal and tax questions along with support with credit management.

For buyers, all of this adds up to suppliers who are better informed about new products, safer sourcing and the latest trends. You can see some of the products our customers come back to again and again in our round up of the most popular promo merch, and for client and staff gifting, our corporate gift boxes bring several branded items together in one presentation box.

How to Check a Supplier Is a BPMA Member

Checking takes a couple of minutes and is well worth doing before you place an order:

• Look for the logo. Members usually show the BPMA logo or Stamp of Trust in their email signature.
• Search the BPMA website. The BPMA website lists its members, so you can confirm a company is genuinely signed up.
• Ask the question. A member will be happy to tell you how long they have been part of the BPMA and what it means for your order.

Membership is one sign of a good supplier, alongside things like free visual proofs, clear pricing and fast replies. Our guide on what to look for in a printing company covers the rest.

Why We Are a Member of the BPMA

We joined the BPMA because it reflects the way we already wanted to work: honest pricing, products that do what they say, safe and responsible sourcing, and proper service from the first enquiry to the final delivery.

It also suits the way our customers buy. Many come to us for printed and embroidered clothing and then add promotional merchandise such as pens, lanyards and notepads for an event, a launch or a team. Being part of the BPMA means that, for clothing and merchandise alike, you are working with a supplier that is answerable to industry standards across the board.

We print and supply for businesses, marketing agencies, charities, schools and events across the UK, with tracked delivery nationwide. Screen printing starts at 20 units per design, and DTG, DTF and embroidery start at 8 units, with a standard turnaround of six to seven business days and 30/60 day credit terms available for businesses.

Keeping to BPMA Standards on Every Order

Membership is only worth something if it shows up in the work. Beyond the points covered by the Code above, that means honest advice, even when it points to a cheaper product, a smaller run or a different print method than the one you asked about, and lead times we can actually hit, with a clear answer on whether express turnaround is realistic for your date.

It also means owning problems. If something is not right, your Account Manager deals with it directly rather than passing you between departments. You can find out more about the team and how we work on our about us page.

How to Order Merchandise From a BPMA Member

Four steps from first enquiry to delivered order, with one point of contact the whole way through.

BPMA Membership FAQs

What does BPMA stand for?

BPMA stands for the British Promotional Merchandise Association. Established in 1965, it is the not-for-profit trade association and professional body for the promotional merchandise industry in the UK and Ireland.

When did 1WorldPrint join the BPMA?

1WorldPrint became members of the BPMA in December 2021, announcing it in January 2022, and we continue to work to the standards set out in its Code of Conduct.

What is the BPMA Code of Conduct?

The Code of Conduct is the set of rules every BPMA member agrees to follow when signing up. It covers honest and accurate description of products, product safety and legal compliance, responsible supply chains, confidentiality, paying suppliers on time and following the rulings of the Advertising Standards Authority.

What is the BPMA Stamp of Trust?

The Stamp of Trust is the mark the BPMA uses to show that a company is a member and has signed up to its Code of Conduct. Seeing it tells you the supplier has agreed to work to industry standards on quality, honesty and compliance.

Why should I buy promotional merchandise from a BPMA member?

Buying from a BPMA member means you are dealing with a company that has agreed to a strict Code of Conduct, takes product safety seriously and has access to industry training and support. If something does go wrong and cannot be resolved, there is an industry body you can turn to that will help both parties.

What happens if there is a problem with an order from a BPMA member?

Raise it with the supplier first, as most problems are put right very quickly. If it cannot be resolved, buyers can contact the BPMA, which will work with both sides to help resolve the matter. The BPMA Board can also investigate complaints against its members.

How can I check if a company is a BPMA member?

Look for the BPMA logo or Stamp of Trust on the company's website, then check the member search on the BPMA website. You can also simply ask the supplier how long they have been a member.

What is the BPMA StepForward Pledge?

StepForward is the BPMA's sustainability programme. Companies complete an assessment of 13 commitments across products, people and planet, then publish a short sustainability statement on their BPMA profile.

Please get in touch if there is something you don't see here. Email hello@1worldprint.co.uk or call us on 0208 064 1315.