Logo Mats · 6 min read · October 19, 2026

Custom Advertising Mats for Promotional Products Distributors: What to Offer Your Clients

Mats are one of the few promotional products that sit in front of customers every day for years. Here's how promotional products distributors match logo floor mats, counter mats, bar mats and other advertising mats to their clients, and how to run the artwork and orders.

Large printed logo mat on the floor of a trade show booth

Pens get lost. Tote bags go in a cupboard. A logo mat at a client's front door, or a counter mat beside their till, is in front of their customers every day. For a promotional products distributor, that's the pitch: an advertising mat keeps working long after the order ships.

This guide is for promotional products distributors and branded merchandise agencies adding custom advertising mats to their catalogue. It covers which mat suits which client, what to ask for in a brief, and how to run proofs and orders without surprises.

The short answer

Custom advertising mats cover five main products: logo floor mats for entrances, counter mats for checkouts, bar mats for pubs and drink brands, putting mats for golf events and corporate gifts, and printed chair mats for gaming and office brands. Match the mat to where the client's customers stand, sit or pay, then confirm the artwork on a free digital proof.

Which advertising mat for which client

Start with where the client's customers are, not with the product list:

  • Retail stores, showrooms, offices and hotels: logo floor mats at the entrance. The mat traps dirt and puts the brand at the door.
  • Shops, pharmacies, phone stores and service counters: counter mats beside the till, printed with a logo, a promotion or a product message.
  • Breweries, drink brands and pubs: bar mats on the bar top, which catch spills and show the brand to every customer who orders.
  • Corporate gift buyers, golf clubs and event organisers: printed putting mats for gifts, sponsor packs and putting challenges.
  • Esports teams, gaming brands and office suppliers: printed chair mats under gaming or office chairs.

Logo floor mats: the entrance

A logo floor mat is the anchor product for most mat programmes. It does two jobs: it protects the floor by trapping dirt and moisture, and it shows the logo at the entrance. Our MC-2000 construction pairs a 4 mm twisted nylon face (600 g/m²) with a 2 mm rubber backing (2,000 g/m²), heavy enough for a commercial entrance.

For clients with several locations, logo mats also repeat well: one design, rolled out to every branch. Our playbook for logo mats across multiple locations covers that kind of order. Browse the logo mat range.

Counter mats: the checkout

Counter mats sit where customers pay, which makes them advertising space with a purchase decision attached. There are three types, and the right one depends on how often the client changes the message:

A printed branded counter mat has a full-colour PVC top on an anti-slip foam rubber base, in 12×24, 18×36 or 24×48 inches or a custom size. It suits a permanent brand message.

An insert-window counter mat has a clear lift-up window, so the client can swap promotions without reprinting the mat. A magnetic flip-top counter mat does the same with a magnetic cover. For the comparison, see insert-window vs magnetic counter mats.

Bar mats: drink brands and venues

Bar mats are a standard item for drink brands supplying pubs and bars. A rubber bar mat with a custom logo suits a heavy-duty bar top; a sublimation printed bar mat carries full-colour artwork. If your client is a brand rolling mats out to many venues, our guide to custom drink mats for beverage brands covers the planning.

Putting mats and chair mats: gifts and fan products

Some advertising mats are gifts, not fixtures. A printed golf putting mat with a sponsor logo works for golf days and corporate gifts; our guide to custom logo putting mats for corporate gifts explains the options. A printed office chair mat suits gaming brands and esports teams selling to fans; see custom printed gaming chair mats.

Decorating in-house? Blank sublimation mats

If you print in-house, blank sublimation mats let you decorate mats yourself with a heat press. Blank door mats and area rugs are made for sublimation, with a surface that takes the ink for bright, lasting colour.

Running artwork and proofs

Most problems with promotional mats start at the artwork stage. Ask the client for vector logo files and brand colour references at the start, and tell them early that each mat type is printed differently, so fine detail and exact colour can vary between a floor mat, a counter mat and a bar mat. Every order is confirmed on a free digital proof before production, which is the point to catch a wrong colour or a logo that's too small to read from standing height. Our logo floor mat artwork guide has a checklist you can pass on.

MOQ, samples and lead time

MOQ and price depend on the product, size and quantity, and are confirmed in the quote. Stock items typically take 7–15 days and custom orders 20–30 days, plus shipping, so ask clients for event and launch dates at the start.

How to start

Send the product type, size, quantity, artwork and the client's deadline, and we'll come back with a quote and a free digital proof. See the full product range or send us your client brief.

FAQ

What are custom advertising mats? Custom advertising mats are floor, counter and bar mats printed with a brand's logo or message, such as logo entrance mats, checkout counter mats and branded bar mats.

Which advertising mat is best for a retail client? For a retail client, a logo floor mat at the entrance and a counter mat at the checkout put the brand where customers walk in and where they pay.

Can counter mat promotions be changed without reprinting? Yes. Insert-window and magnetic flip-top counter mats let the client swap the printed insert without reprinting the whole mat.

Do promotional mat orders include a proof? Yes. Every custom advertising mat order is confirmed on a free digital proof before production.

This article is general industry guidance. For advice on a specific project, contact our team.

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