FAQ

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Ordering

How do I get started?

Please begin by placing your order through our online shop. We have helpful links on our homepage where you can shop by product type or learn more about ways to work with us.

How long will my order take?

We have an estimated ship window at the top of every product page. We suggest planning for your items to arrive at a minimum, one week prior to your event, in case of any delays in production or transit that may be out of your control.

What If I need my order before the estimated ship date online?

This is the window we feel comfortable promising, so we cannot guarantee early deliveries. However, please be sure to always include your "need by date" in your order notes so we can flag the order as urgent. We do our best to meet every event date, regardless of the promised ship window!

Some items will have a Rush option available. Please ready more about our rush options here.

Can I see some designs before I place my order? Will I get a Proof?

Absolutely! If you aren't sure what you want, our Personalized Collection of designs are sorted by Product Type and/or Theme for easy shopping + personalization.

A digital proof can be added to any order for + $5. Our Create Your Own / Custom Designs / Work with a Designer options include a proof, as it is required. Please understand we will hold your order until we have your approval, so if you have not received your proof within three (4) business days, please reach out.

We do ask that you place your order before requesting a digital proof on our Personalized Collection, Create Your Own or Custom Designs. Our team designs every order, and this helps us schedule the design work and meet deadlines each week. Thank you for understanding! For more inspo and product images, see our gallery here.

How closely will my proof resemble the actual printed product?

We do our best to convey all design details including scale, size, colors during proofing. We do ask that you understand this is just a digital mockup, so some differences are to be expected, and considered normal.

Since we cannot guarantee color translation to your screen, please reference our color swatches here with corresponding PMS colors. Please reach out for a PMS match on any product or foil.

Artwork on digital napkins can be adjusted up to 10% to improve print quality.

I haven't received my proof yet.

You can expect a proof within 4-5 business days. All orders with proofs will be held until we have your approval to begin. If you haven't received your proof within three (3) business days, please reach out and we'll have your link re-sent. (Please also check your spam if your filters are strong).

Do you offer discounts for bulk orders?

Our price structure has bulk discount pricing already built in. The cost per item will decrease as the total quantity increases on almost all items. All pricing is per design. Please reach out for pricing of quantities over 1,000.

Wedding, Special Event or Corporate Event?

We would love to help create design concepts to carry throughout all aspects of your wedding, corporate or special event. Please click here to view more about our processes for ordering.

Do you offer other products not listed online?

Yes, we do! There are many products we do not have online (for example, corporate gifts). Please reach out by sending us an email to hello@theessentialmkt.com for a custom quote.

Do you have a storefront, or can I place my order over the phone?

We are online only, and therefore do not have a storefront to shop. We are happy to answer any questions over the phone, but we must have new orders + proof revision requests placed through the website so our team can ensure no detail is missed.

Party Products

Single-sided, double-sided, wrap - explain!

There is no additional charge to print double-sided, or have your design wrap around the cup.

If you do not specify, we will print as shown in the sample online. By default, we typically print as follows:

Styrofoam cups: double-sided, or wrapped
Shatterproof cups: single-sided
Stadium cups: double-sided, or wrapped
Koozies: double-sided
Napkins: single-sided; diagonal or straight orientation dictated by the design

If you do not specify, our design team will design in accordance with how the artwork will best fit and print.

If you are designing yourself and would like any templates or imprint areas, just reach out!

What is the difference between one-ink color, two-ink colors, and full color?

There are two different print methods for party items: screen printing, and full color digital printing:

Screen Printing

maximum of one to two ink colors
most cost effective for party items (cups, koozies, napkins)
a plate is made of the design, and then the ink is transferred onto the item.
an additional run through the printer is required for additional colors

this is why it is an additional cost to print a second ink color

we take this into consideration when designing, as we do not want ink colors too close, to allow for shift among color runs, or overlapping as this will result in an undesirable color.

Full Color, Digital Printing
required for multi-colored art (for example, watercolor artwork)
only available on some items
requires a slightly increased cost and longer lead time

Do you offer more ink colors than shown online?

Absolutely! We can print in a custom Pantone color for + $25. Just include the exact PMS # in your order notes and add this item here for each custom PMS color.

Can I order a sample?

If time allows, we suggest ordering a physical sample if you are unsure of color(s) or print quality of your artwork. Please click here to order a blank or custom printed sample. Please allow up to 3 weeks to receive custom printed samples.

We are able to offer a corresponding PMS color to almost every item in the shop, just reach out! For ink colors, click here to view our PMS color chart.

Please be sure to read about color and ink variations in our shop policies, as colors can vary slightly between print runs.

Paper Products

What is the turnaround time?

Please double check the ship window available at the top of each product page; We do our best to update this based on the current production schedule.

What is included in the proofing process?

A digital mockup of your design -- card front (and back, if applicable) and envelopes; No physical samples or hard copies are included in the proofing process.

Print Methods

Photo Options

If you are ordering digital printing, we can also print your photo directly on the card at the same time. This does not require any additional cost.

If you are ordering specialty printing (foil stamping, letterpress or thermography) you will need to print photos separately and adhere them to the cards.

We are able to mix print methods for an additional cost. For example, if you would like your photo digitally printed on the card paired with letterpress text.

Print quality is always best when printed photos separately as they are printed in a photo lab on high quality photo paper.

Will you adhere my photos to the cards?

We do offer card assembly. Please understand during our peak busy seasons, we may pause on accepting new assembly orders. If you opt not to add this, your photos will ship separately to you prior to your cards arriving.

Click here to view our Add-Ons & Embellishmentsincluding photo printing, second side customization, assembly, recipient address printing, envelope liners & more.

Are your colors customizable?

Absolutely! Our sample designs are shown in colors to give you ideas, but you'll be prompted to select your ink and paper color(s) before adding to your cart.

Can I use my own wording?

Please do! We include sample text for ideas but we welcome and encourage you to personalize your card in a unique way.

Can I change fonts?

We have a Design your Own option for personal stationery that allows you to select your fonts, layout, colors, etc.

Our semi-custom designs are available in the fonts shown. We do offer custom card designs for invitations and announcements which allows you to complete customize and work with a designer.

I approved my order for print, but found a mistake! Can I still cancel?

We can usually pull an order from production within two (2) hours of you approving your proof.

Can I order more invitations or announcements later?

Of course! However, it is most cost effective to order all at once as each print run incurs certain set up costs + file preparation. We suggest ordering at least 10 extras, just in case!