Artwork Guidelines

Artwork Policy and Indemnity

The Customer indemnifies MerchLab (Pty) Ltd t/a MerchLab (registration number 2023/983638/07), its directors, officers, agents and affiliates ("MerchLab Indemnitees") and holds them harmless against any claims, losses, damages, injuries and liabilities (including court costs, legal fees and deductibles under its own insurance policies) brought by brand or trademark owners and arising from the provision of services or supply, save to the extent that such claims, losses, damages, injuries or liabilities arose as a result of a negligent act or omission of MerchLab or MerchLab employees acting in the course and scope of their employment with MerchLab.

You warrant that you hold, or have obtained from the relevant brand or trademark owner, all rights necessary to reproduce any artwork you submit. MerchLab may decline or halt any branding job where it reasonably believes third-party rights may be infringed.

Artwork Guidelines and Process

• All artwork should be uploaded to our website for processing. Profile and Super Reseller account holders may store approved artwork against their account for reuse on future orders.
• All final layouts must be approved online. Artwork amendments must be submitted online through the artwork approval process.
• Branding will only commence once the layout has been approved and full payment has been received.
• It is the Customer's responsibility to ensure that approval has been obtained from the brand or trademark owner before any items are branded.
• Branding lead times are quoted from the day after artwork approval or receipt of proof of payment, whichever is later. Lead times exclude weekends, South African public holidays, and MerchLab's annual shutdown period.
• All orders and their status will be communicated via email or WhatsApp. For the purposes of the Main Terms, "writing" includes email and other data messages as contemplated in the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002.

Artwork Submission

Only PC-format artwork is accepted. Vector artwork is preferred and all fonts must be converted to curves/outlines. Accepted file formats:

• .CDR
• .EPS
• .AI
• .PDF

Formats we do not accept:

• Word or PowerPoint files (or images saved from them)
• GIF and JPEG under 300dpi
• FreeHand
• Artificial Intelligent (AI) created images that are not vector

Artwork for multicoloured imprints must be supplied as a colour-separated file, except in the case of digital printing. If typesetting is required, you must supply the font and size. To avoid font substitutions, all fonts must be converted to curves.

Artwork not received in the correct format will attract a redrawing fee and requires a 48-hour lead time. The redrawing fee will be quoted to you for approval before any work commences, and the order will proceed only once full payment has been received.

Artwork Approval and Applicable Fees

All artwork must be approved. Branding will commence only once artwork has been approved and full payment for the order has been received.

By approving the artwork:

• You accept the layout as depicted in the artwork, and confirm that the item being branded, and its colour and size, are correct.
• MerchLab will not be held accountable for any spelling or artwork errors on items branded in accordance with the approved artwork.

Once artwork has been approved, no changes will be accepted.

Printing colours will be matched as closely as possible to the Pantone colours or swatches supplied. A 100% colour match is not guaranteed. We do not guarantee any print onto metal or ceramics.

No additional fees apply to artwork received in the correct format. Artwork received in an incorrect format will attract a redrawing fee, quoted for your approval before work commences. The redrawing fee includes two further changes to the layout; any additional changes thereafter will be charged at R150 excluding VAT per change.

Cancellation: Branding orders cannot be cancelled after artwork approval and payment. Where MerchLab exceptionally accepts a cancellation at the artwork approval stage, the standard 20% cancellation fee applies, as set out in clause 10.1 of the Main Terms.

MerchLab cannot accept returns on incorrectly branded items where the artwork was approved by the Customer. Nothing in these Guidelines limits your rights in respect of defective goods under clause 12 of the Main Terms.

Display Products

Stand-Alone Skins — Availability and Artwork

Skins are available as stand-alone items for most of our display range and can be ordered via the Website. Ordering display skins follows our standard branding procedure. The Customer must supply artwork using CMYK/RGB/Pantone colours. MerchLab will then provide a digital layout configuration for you to review and send to your end-customer for final approval before production.

All artwork must be created in CMYK, and all Pantone colours must be included as a Pantone Solid Coated Spot within the supplied print file. Failure to do so will result in no colour matching taking place. Due to the limited colour range of various digital CMYK print methods, not all Pantone colours can be achieved. We endeavour to match as closely as possible, but tonal and colour variations will occur across different materials (for example, PVC versus fabric). Fluorescent and metallic Pantones cannot be matched; only a tonal representation can be achieved.

Refitting and Hardware Compatibility

MerchLab supplies stand-alone display skins as supply-only products and does not offer a refitting service, including for hardware previously purchased from MerchLab or from third-party brands. Fitting is the Customer's sole responsibility.

MerchLab display skins are tailored to fit standard MerchLab hardware. MerchLab is not liable if a purchased skin does not fit due to damaged existing hardware, or if it is fitted onto third-party hardware. It is the Customer's responsibility to order the exact matching replacement skin for their specific display unit model. All skin sales are final and subject to our branded order policies in clause 10 of the Main Terms.

Care, Longevity and Warranties

Overexposure to harsh sunlight reduces the longevity of your print. We strongly encourage Customers to care for display fabrics by removing them from direct sunlight and storing them safely when not actively in use.

• Display skins/fabrics: 3-month limited print fade warranty.
• Banner walls and gazebos: 12-month manufacturer's mechanical guarantee.
• Telescopic, harp, and windcheater banners: 3-month mechanical warranty.

These warranties exclude display hardware or skins that have been mishandled, abused, subjected to extreme weather or winds, or not used for their intended commercial purpose. They apply in addition to, and do not limit, your statutory rights under clause 12 of the Main Terms.

Display Repairs

In-warranty repairs: Display hardware within its warranty period requiring repair must be returned to MerchLab Johannesburg at the Customer's own expense. All broken, sheared, or damaged structural parts must be included in the return package.

Out-of-warranty or damaged repairs: Requests for repairs on hardware that is out of warranty, or damaged through misuse, are handled strictly on a case-by-case basis. MerchLab may evaluate the hardware and issue a repair quotation, or reject the request if structural integrity cannot be guaranteed. Repaired items left uncollected for more than 90 days after written notice of completion may be sold or disposed of, as set out in clause 13 of the Main Terms.

Workwear Policy

Manufacture of workwear products commences only once the order is received. Once a sales order is generated, the order may not be cancelled or changed.

Conti suit sets are sold according to industry standard, under which the pants in the set are two sizes smaller than the jacket. Conti suit sets are therefore sold based on the jacket size — for example, an order for a size 34 will comprise a size 34 jacket and size 30 pants.

Please ensure that sizing has been established correctly before placing an order, as sets are always sold as set out above.

We do not accept returns on branded or unbranded workwear items that have had tape specially applied, as these are not ex-stock items. We accept returns only on workwear items held in stock and readily available, subject to clause 10 of the Main Terms.

Branding Disclaimers and Information

1. Lead times may be extended for large quantities: for screen and pad print, more than 3,000 prints; for embroidery, laser and digital, more than 1,000 designs. Personalisation is excluded from normal lead times. Lead times exclude freight and transport time from Johannesburg to branches, as well as picking time once delivery has been made to branches. Every effort will be made to maintain the shortest possible lead time.
2. To guarantee on-time delivery of deadline orders, the payment and approval lead times specified by MerchLab must be adhered to.
3. For large orders, you are welcome to place a single separate order to serve as a pre-production sample.
4. A tolerance of up to 2% is allowed for rejects.
5. Damage or shortages in stock that has been collected or delivered must be reported within the 3-business-day reporting window in clause 9 of the Main Terms.
6. On digitising of embroidery, we reserve the right to request a price increase if the artwork exceeds the maximum allowed stitches-per-block threshold.
7. Colours of actual products may vary slightly from those shown in the catalogue and on the Website. For accurate colour matching, please place the item as a single order.
8. All product sizes are indicated, but sizes may vary slightly from those provided.
9. Product images may differ slightly from actual items due to the limitations of photography, film separation, printing and digital display.
10. While we have taken care to ensure the accuracy of the details on this Website, errors may occur. If you have any questions or concerns about specific products or information, please contact us. E&OE.
11. The artwork, designs, and trademarks displayed on products are for illustrative purposes only, demonstrating the type and quality of branding we offer. They do not imply endorsement, or that the products are manufactured for or by the owners of those artworks, designs or trademarks.