A Gemnote alternative with more operational depth
Kept has run full-service merchandise programs since 1994, adding company e-commerce stores, deeper kitting, and worldwide fulfillment along the way. Gemnote runs a similar full-service model, handling design, sourcing, production, and shipping directly, on a smaller team.
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Two full-service agencies, different scale
Gemnote is an independent, YC-backed agency founded in 2015 with a small team of roughly 25 people. Its model is close to Kept's: design, sourcing, production, storage, and shipping under one roof, with enterprise clients including Airbnb, Google, and Salesforce. Gemnote applies a 50-unit minimum on most customized products and bills design work hourly, at $90 to $120 per hour with a one-hour minimum, on top of project-based product pricing.
Kept has run merchandise programs since 1994 and has built out company merchandise stores, deeper kitting infrastructure, and worldwide fulfillment alongside the core design and sourcing work, so a program that outgrows a small team's capacity doesn't have to change partners to keep scaling. Third-party review coverage for Gemnote is thin, so much of what is public comes from its own case studies and client list rather than independent platforms like G2 or Trustpilot.
How the two agencies differ
Team size and program breadth
Gemnote runs on a team of roughly 25 people, which supports focused, high-touch programs well.
Kept's larger, longer-running operation adds company e-commerce stores and broader fulfillment reach for programs that need to scale across teams, regions, or ongoing distribution.
Design pricing
Gemnote bills design hourly, at $90 to $120 per hour with a one-hour minimum, in addition to project-based product costs.
Kept scopes design as part of the overall program rather than a separate hourly line item, so creative direction doesn't run up a separate bill mid-project.
Minimums
Gemnote applies a 50-unit minimum on most customized products, which suits many mid-size programs well.
Kept scopes minimums to the specific product and program instead of a single standing threshold, so a smaller pilot isn't priced against someone else's baseline.
Sustainability commitments
Gemnote runs a compostable-mailer and recycled-packaging program with a stated carbon-neutral goal by 2040, which is a genuine commitment worth crediting.
Kept's KEPT for GOOD™ program and veritree partnership plant trees alongside every order today, not limited to a single eco product line.
Two credible paths to more responsible merchandise
Gemnote's compostable mailers and recycled packaging reflect a real, ongoing effort toward its 2040 carbon-neutral goal. Kept's KEPT for GOOD™ commitments and veritree partnership guide sourcing decisions across materials, packaging, and supplier practices, with a tree planted alongside every order.
Neither commitment substitutes for asking a provider direct questions about a specific program's materials, packaging, and supply chain before committing to quantities.
Gemnote alternative FAQs
What's the difference between Gemnote and Kept?
Gemnote and Kept are both full-service merchandise agencies handling design, sourcing, production, and shipping directly rather than through a self-serve platform. Gemnote is a smaller, YC-backed team founded in 2015; Kept has run merchandise programs since 1994 and adds company e-commerce stores and deeper kitting and worldwide fulfillment operations, so a program that grows past a small team's capacity doesn't have to change partners.
Is there a minimum order quantity or set pricing model?
Gemnote generally applies a 50-unit minimum on most customized products and bills design work hourly at $90 to $120 per hour with a one-hour minimum, on top of project-based product pricing. Kept scopes minimums and pricing to the buyer's actual quantities, customization, and timeline rather than a fixed hourly design rate.
Does Gemnote do good work?
Yes. Gemnote is an independent, YC-backed agency that has built merchandise programs for enterprise clients including Airbnb, Google, and Salesforce, and its full-service model is close to how Kept operates. Third-party review coverage for Gemnote is thin, so most of what is known comes from its own case studies and client roster.
How does fulfillment reach compare between Gemnote and Kept?
Both companies handle warehousing and shipping directly. Kept operates deeper kitting infrastructure and worldwide fulfillment built up since 1994, alongside company merchandise stores for ongoing programs, which is more operational depth than a team of roughly 25 typically carries in-house.
How do the two companies compare on sustainability?
Gemnote runs a compostable-mailer and recycled-packaging program with a stated carbon-neutral goal by 2040. Kept's KEPT for GOOD™ program and veritree partnership plant trees alongside every order today, in addition to guiding material, packaging, and supplier decisions.
When would Gemnote be a better fit than Kept?
If a program fits comfortably within Gemnote's 50-unit minimums and project-based scope, and an hourly design engagement works for the team, Gemnote is a credible full-service option with real enterprise experience. Programs that need company stores, heavier kitting, or broader global fulfillment infrastructure tend to fit Kept's operational depth better.
See how Kept compares to other merchandise partners
Ready for a full-service program built to grow with you?
Share your audience, timeline, and budget. Kept's team scopes design, sourcing, production, kitting, and fulfillment as one program, built to scale past a single pilot run.
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