At Steel City, we select telescopic umbrellas that can actually handle the daily commute – coping with opening, closing, and being in and out of bags without turning into a flimsy giveaway after a couple of uses. It’s really important to us that the product lands well with your client, so we focus on the details that ensure quality: print placement, mechanism feel, and timing.
- Logo panel control: We’ll always provide a proof before production to lock in your print placement and size (e.g., 1-colour, 1-panel branding in a defined area such as 180 × 120mm). This ensures the logo doesn’t end up skewed, cropped, or too small to see when the canopy opens.
- Express date control: We know lead time is a really popular question. Our options run from artwork approval, with fast-turn options available (e.g., 5 Day Express Delivery alongside standard lead times like 15 days), so you can hold your event date without having to swap to a different item at the last minute.
- Shortlist that ships: We use our experience to filter options before you see them. We run the visuals, pricing, and proofing, and monitor production so you are only choosing from umbrellas we know we can brand cleanly and deliver to your deadline.
- One-hand mechanism: We prioritise automatic open/close because that makes the umbrella genuinely useful when you’re carrying a bag. It ensures the product stays in your recipient’s routine instead of getting abandoned for being a hassle.
- Clear origin options: We include UK-made choices because we know traceability is important. This keeps the manufacturing origin simple to evidence if procurement asks late in the process, so you don’t end up re-selecting a model after you’ve already approved artwork.
- Seam-safe branding: We make sure the branding spot is right (e.g., 1 panel with a set print size) so your logo avoids seams and awkward wraps, and really stands out when the canopy is open.
- Benchmark first, then bespoke: I will always put forward these models first as our benchmark for mechanism feel, frame strength, lead time, and predictable print placement. We can then narrow it down and widen the search if your quantity and timeline allow for more bespoke specs.