About Werbelineale.com

How did it all start? A short story.

It was probably around 2012 when we developed a website for a customer while also supplying promotional products. Unfortunately, the paying part did not work out too well. Bankruptcy. A “limited liability company with limited hope”, you might say.

So we took a closer look at their product range — and immediately loved the idea of using rulers as advertising media.

Rulers last for decades. We still have rulers in our drawers from companies that disappeared many years ago. Yet the ruler, as a friendly promotional product, still reminds us of the pleasant interactions we once had with those companies.

That is why rulers are not disposable products — unlike many promotional giveaways nowadays.

Everyone talks about sustainability and ecology. But when it comes to actually acting on those ideas, creativity suddenly becomes scarce and budgets become tight.

Werbelineale.com combines ecology, people and business

Promotional products can absolutely be both sustainable AND economically sensible.

A well-designed ruler creates positive brand impressions for many years. In that sense, a promotional ruler is certainly more sustainable than many other giveaways that get thrown away even though they still work — simply because people already have too many of them.

How many pens are lying around in your drawers right now? Be honest.

And then there is the worst category of all: promotional products that are basically manufactured as waste from the very beginning. Products with no real purpose, no aesthetic appeal and advertising messages so aggressive that actually using them feels embarrassing.

And no — the Berlin police were never among our customers. Probably unfortunate for the police.

We also strive to inspire our customers with sustainable materials.

What could be nicer than a tactile, beautifully crafted beechwood ruler?

Of course, plastic has many advantages over wood — but even plastic can be made more environmentally friendly. We can produce flat PVC rulers containing up to 40% recycled material, without any loss of quality. Unfortunately, this material is still somewhat uncommon, which means larger production quantities are required to make it economically viable. Visually and haptically, recycled PVC is virtually indistinguishable from standard PVC.

We are particularly proud of our rulers made from renewable corn starch. Technically, these rulers would even be industrially compostable — but honestly, who would want to throw them away?

They are identical in functionality and appearance to conventional polystyrene set squares, yet they are not petroleum-based. These “bio” rulers are available both as profiled rulers and as set squares. In quantities above 3000 pieces, they can even become cheaper than classic polystyrene versions.

Environmental awareness is deeply embedded throughout our entire company.

We financially support Pferdehilfe e.V., the Schwandorf animal shelter and LBV. We have also proudly supported the “Menschen für Menschen” initiative, helping fund tree planting projects in Ethiopia.

Short supply chains

Short supply chains make sense not only environmentally.

People here deserve stable employment, environmental standards are high — and that is a good thing.

Almost all our products are manufactured within the EU, with more than 70% even produced in Bavaria. Some products come from Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Only a small number of rulers originate from the Far East, simply because competitive pricing is sometimes only possible there.

Social commitment and education matter to us

When NATEX from Hamburg asked what set squares might cost as consolation prizes for students participating in a science competition, we did not hesitate for long — off they went! One full carton of our corn-starch set squares for NATEX.

Together with Daniel Senn from Landenhof, we also developed low-vision rulers for people with visual impairments. These are even available individually through our partner Lineal-Discount.de.

Children and education are our future. Why would anyone want to be stingy about that?

Mathias Wickles – CEO of Werbelineale.com

As a trained wholesale and foreign trade merchant, business economist, multimedia assistant, coach and mediator, I bring together everything needed for this business: web design experience, clear communication, design expertise and international trade knowledge.

Add to that a genuine love for printing, DTP and prepress work.

Every single order matters to me — because there is always more attached to it than just numbers. No matter the quantity. No matter the turnover. Customer satisfaction comes first; the money follows naturally afterward.

Nothing makes me happier than customers praising the process — even when it occasionally becomes a bit complicated — and returning again and again. That is the goal: turning satisfied customers into loyal long-term partners.

While many promotional product dealers simply sell products, we provide consultation and build long-term business relationships.

Werbelineale and our product range

In the beginning, there was only the ruler. Nice — but a little lonely.

Over time, more and more variations were added: different plastics, aluminium and wood. Then folding rulers joined the range — and quickly became a bestseller. Carefully manufactured and beautifully printed folding rulers are simply a wonderful product category.

Eventually, we also added complementary products such as pens and carpenter pencils. They round off the product range nicely.

Why such extreme specialization?

Promotional rulers are, admittedly, a niche product.

Take a look at the big promotional product retailers. What do they sell? Everything from sharpeners to pens, thousands of different lighters — and even fender socks. Yes, fender socks. Protective covers for boat fenders.

We tried that approach ourselves years ago. But we quickly realized that this environment — with its enormous product variety and endless finishing options — is really a playground for large anonymous suppliers.

Anonymous shops. No qualified consultation. Nobody reviewing your artwork files. Quite depressing, honestly.

Sure, you can do business that way. But is it enjoyable? Does it feel reliable or safe? We are not convinced.

We do things differently.

We only offer products that have passed our quality standards. We inspect many products — and reject many as well.

UX, haptics, aesthetics, sustainability, advertising value and pricing all need to work together without major compromises. But quality must ALWAYS be perfect. We do not cut corners and we do not do half-hearted work.

And because we can only keep that promise when we fully understand and control our product range, we deliberately do not sell lighters, erasers or business cards.

Why our customers become repeat customers

Personal consultation

As specialists, we treat every order like our own project.

From the very first inquiry, we communicate closely about goals, expectations and requirements. Purchasing departments and middle management especially appreciate this approach, because they often have to justify their decisions internally.

A properly managed project saves a lot of headaches later.

We know exactly what is needed — and when — to create an excellent promotional product. Occasionally that means we “annoy” our customers with additional questions. But in the end, everything works out perfectly.

Other companies offer an upload form and a product description. We offer guidance.

Sampling

Nobody likes buying a pig in a poke.

We are happy to send free product samples. Compare them with your expectations. Test them thoroughly. For many products, professional proof prints are also available — especially worthwhile for critical designs or uncertain color choices.

Triple artwork check (free of charge)

Once you have selected a product, the artwork process begins.

We are happy to assist with design work — usually free of charge. Only larger or more complex projects may require compensation after prior agreement.

We stay in constant communication and help shape your product according to your wishes.

Once everything is finalized, the printing specialist creates a final proof which is reviewed and approved by both you and us. That means at least three people review your artwork.

However, please note: you remain ultimately responsible for the content itself. We often catch spelling mistakes and content issues — but cannot accept liability for them.

All the details around the product

A ruler is still a product — and products must comply with regulations, including GPSR requirements. We would rather reject an order than manufacture an unsafe product.

Some customers have probably received more consultation from us than they initially expected. But laws and regulations change constantly, and many requirements are still not widely known. We help because we know the field.

Delivery times

Deadlines matter.

We respect your deadlines and often push ourselves harder to meet them. After shipping, we are also happy to provide tracking numbers.

But please remember an old Bavarian saying:

“When you rush things, you rarely create beautiful children.”

A project deserves proper planning and communication. Errors caused by time pressure tend to become very expensive later on.

Promised delivery times always begin after final approval and artwork clearance. Lead times vary significantly depending on the season. Delivery times displayed on our websites are non-binding estimates and can fluctuate considerably — especially before Christmas.

Customs and documentation

Customs procedures are not always simple. We take care of them.

If you would like delivery outside the EU — for example to Switzerland or the UK — we prepare and organize everything for you and ship DAP uncleared directly to your requested destination.

Quality management and quantity tolerances

Before any product enters our portfolio, the manufacturer must prove its quality.

We test extensively — because we only do things properly.

Finished products are inspected multiple times before shipping to ensure everything meets your expectations.

For this reason, some products may have quantity tolerances of up to +/-10%. We intentionally produce slightly more than ordered and only deliver products that pass quality control. Any differences are of course charged or credited accordingly.

Reorders

Your rulers or folding rulers turned out perfectly and you would like to reorder?

Simple — one email is enough.

We store your data, making reprints easy at any time, including modifications if needed.

Our goal

Better, longer-lasting promotional products for your customers.