4imprint Custom Lanyards, Journals & More: An Admin Buyer's Honest FAQ

What You'll Find Here

I've been managing corporate promotional orders for a 200-person company since 2020 – roughly $80,000 annually across eight vendors. When I need logo'd items, 4imprint is one of my go-to sources. But I've also learned where they fall short. Here are the questions I hear most often from other buyers, answered from real experience.

1. How do 4imprint custom lanyards hold up? Any real reviews?

Honestly? They're pretty good for the price point – but not indestructible. I ordered 500 custom lanyards for a trade show in 2023. The printing was crisp, the clips held up through three days of constant use. But if your team wears them daily for months, the edges fray a bit (which, honestly, is typical for any sub-$5 lanyard).

My sample limitation: I've only ordered from 4imprint's standard catalog, not their premium line. If you need heavy-duty for industrial settings, you might want to ask about their reinforced options. A colleague at a manufacturing firm told me she uses a different vendor for those.

2. Custom Ink vs 4imprint for business orders – which wins?

I've used both. Here's my take: Custom Ink is great for one-off T-shirt runs or fast, small batches. 4imprint wins for bulk orders and non-apparel items like lanyards, journals, and name badges.

When I compared Q3 2024 pricing side by side – same design, same quantity (250 lanyards) – 4imprint was about 18% cheaper, and their proof turnaround was faster (same-day vs. next-day). But Custom Ink's website is slicker, and they have a bigger apparel selection. So if you're doing a company T-shirt event, go Custom Ink. For mixed promotional packs? 4imprint.

I don't have hard data on industry-wide satisfaction rates, but based on my 40+ orders through both, my sense is retention favors 4imprint for repeat business orders.

3. Can I get custom journals or notebooks from 4imprint? Quality?

Yes, and the quality surprised me (in a good way). I ordered 300 spiral notebooks with our logo for a new hire welcome kit in early 2024. The covers were thick, the paper didn't bleed with ballpoint pens, and the logo alignment was spot-on.

One rookie mistake I made: I assumed 'standard' paper weight was the same across vendors. Turns out, 4imprint uses 70 lb text for their economy line and 80 lb for premium. I didn't specify, got the economy, wished I'd upgraded. The difference was maybe $0.30 per unit – totally worth it if your team actually writes in them.

4. Christmas ornaments from 4imprint – good for corporate gifts?

We did 200 custom glass ornaments (engraved with company name and year) as client holiday gifts in December 2024. The result? Pretty solid – except packaging. The ornaments arrived individually wrapped in tissue, but two had hairline cracks (shipping damage, not 4imprint's fault). I'd recommend asking about their foam insert option for fragile items (unfortunately, that added $1.50 per unit).

I wish I had tracked feedback more carefully, but what I can say anecdotally is that clients mentioned the ornament actually matched the photo online – which is rare.

5. Needlepoint vs cross stitch canvas – does 4imprint do either? What's the difference?

This one surprises people. 4imprint doesn't sell needlepoint or cross stitch canvas – that's more of a craft/hobby category. But here's why you might care: if you're ordering custom embroidered items (like logo patches or personalized towels), understanding the base fabric matters.

Needlepoint uses a stiff canvas (typically mono canvas or Penelope) with a grid – you stitch through the holes. Cross stitch uses aida cloth – also gridded, but the weave is looser. For corporate logo embroidery, most commercial machines work on woven fabrics (like twill or poly-cotton blends), not canvas. So if someone asks you to source needlepoint canvas for a craft project, you'll want a specialty craft retailer. I made that mistake once – spent two hours searching 4imprint's site before realizing it was the wrong category.

Bottom line

4imprint is a reliable choice for standard promotional products – lanyards, journals, ornaments – especially if you're ordering in quantity and need good customization. They're not perfect for every situation (ultra-cheap apparel, fragile gift packaging, or crafting supplies). But for 80% of business promo needs, they deliver. As of January 2025, their pricing is still competitive – verify current rates on their site.