If you’re proud to be a U.S. manufacturer, doesn’t it make sense to source USA-made OEM branding and safety decals for whatever it is you’re manufacturing?
It actually makes a lot of sense once you start breaking down the true cost of cheaper, foreign-made decals.
Tariffs have leveled the playing field
For some OEMs, it has always been difficult to resist the urge to save a few bucks by sourcing decals overseas. But today, in the year 2026, some of those overseas markets are having to pay tariffs of 15, 25 and even 50%. That has completely changed the dynamic for OEMs.
“We are now capable of meeting and oftentimes beating the pricing of overseas competitors,” says Frank Meiland, WISPI President.
And the thing is, there is way more that goes into the true cost of a decal than just the purchase price. When you start digging into all of that, the thought of sourcing decals domestically becomes a no-brainer.
3 hidden costs of offshore alternatives
- 1. Long lead times. Sourcing cheap offshore alternatives seems like a brilliant idea when everything is going smoothly. But when a sudden need emerges, the long lead times associated with overseas product can really throw a wrinkle into an OEM’s operation.
For example, sometimes a standards body issues a revision to a certain warning decal. If an OEM has a 3-month supply of an outdated decal sitting on an ocean liner for a couple months, all of those decals may have to be scrapped when they finally reach the OEM’s factory floor. There is a huge cost to that. And then the OEM has to spend even more money to get the updated decals produced and shipped in expedited fashion. Even more cost! - 2. Clumsy communication. Communication can also be a challenge when working with foreign companies. Responses may be slow due to time zone differences. Additionally, communication in general can be clumsy, making it more difficult to convey certain types of information. When you’re talking about things like safety and warning decals in the medical and aerospace industries, every single tiny detail is critically important. Nothing can be missed. Communication must be clear, quick and consistent.
- 3. Operational inefficiency. This is perhaps the biggest hidden cost of them all. When an OEM’s production team doesn’t have the necessary decals to finish assembling the final product, major bottlenecks ensue. There is a huge cost to this as well — especially when key shipments to customers are delayed or completely missed.
“Inventory piles up while service metrics tank,” Meiland says. “Lots of cash is tied up in ‘missing’ decals, but no cash flow is coming in because product isn’t shipping. That is a big price to pay for wanting to save a few bucks on cheap, offshore decals.”
5 characteristics of a great USA-based decal supplier
The benefits of sourcing domestically produced OEM decals should be pretty clear by now. That said, it’s important to choose the right supplier with the right capabilities in order to reap all of those benefits.
- 1. Just-in-time capability. WISPI is a vertically integrated manufacturer specializing in both screen printing and large-format digital printing. This allows for quick responses to sudden OEM needs.
“Our standard lead time is just 10-15 days. And when an OEM truly has an emergency situation, we typically get them their product in 2-3 business days, if not same-day in some instances with local OEMs,” Meiland says.
WISPI naturally works with major logistics providers like UPS and FedEx. Also, it’s not uncommon for a WISPI employee to hop in their truck and personally deliver decals to local OEMs. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to fill our customers’ needs as quickly as possible,” Meiland assures. - 2. Free graphic design services. Even when an OEM provides artwork for one of its custom decals, Meiland says it typically isn’t print-ready. WISPI’s team of experienced, in-house graphic designers will get that decal print-ready — even if they’re starting from a blank canvass. The best part is that it doesn’t cost the OEM a dime.
- 3. OEM “decal kits” streamline and simplify. In most instances, an OEM needs more than a single decal to finish assembling its product. That’s why WISPI assembles decal kits for its OEM customers. Doing so helps OEMs boost operational efficiency by streamlining the final assembly process. And to make sure every kit has everything the OEM needs, WISPI follows the Four-Eye Principle where one person assembles the kit, and a second person looks over that kit with a checklist to make sure everything is in perfect order.
- 4. 3M certification. WISPI is a 3M-certified facility. That means we have the equipment, processes and expertise necessary for 3M to feel comfortable with us using their adhesives and other printing supplies. In fact, when you’re 3M-Certified, you can offer the full warranty. That’s peace of mind for OEMs.
- 5. Old-fashioned customer service. One of the secrets to success here at WISPI is that we have so much fun at work. When you give us a call, you’re always greeted by a friendly human being who’s easy to talk to and eager to help. That’s something you don’t always get with other decal manufacturers — especially those located on the other side of the globe.