Istanbul-based · Turkey-wide operations
Turkey B2B merch FAQ — frequently asked questions and operational facts
Answers to recurring questions about corporate merch sourcing in Turkey, the operational realities that drive lead times, and the VAT / e-Fatura / shipping / payments framework. We add new questions every month; for a specific project, sending the brief through the form below is enough to receive a VAT-inclusive TRY quote within 24 hours. If your question is not answered here, use the feedback form to send it to us directly.
FAQ scope: 50+ questions across nine categories
This FAQ hub is the result of categorising hundreds of questions received over a year from corporate clients in Turkey. The total coverage spans 50+ distinct questions and answers; each question has its own dedicated page, and the essential framework is summarised here. We work with nine primary categories, each arranged as a separate FAQ sub-section covering the five to ten most common questions within its scope.
Production: sample workflow, mockup approval, serial production windows, lead times, quality control and revision management. Average sample production takes 2-4 business days, serial production 5-8 business days, and complex kitting 2-3 weeks. Logistics: Yurtiçi, Aras, MNG and Sürat shipping lines; same-day delivery from Istanbul warehouses; 24-72 hours for non-Istanbul destinations; DHL, FedEx and UPS for international shipments; multi-location delivery; venue delivery protocols. Invoicing: 20% VAT-inclusive TRY quotes, e-Fatura and e-Arşiv applications, GİB integration, Euro/dollar invoice option, corporate credit accounts. Payments: Garanti BBVA, Yapı Kredi, İş Bankası, Akbank and Ziraat Bank wire transfers; Troy, iyzico and PayTR card payments; 30-day net terms for corporate clients.
Samples: complimentary sample policy, sample cost refund, mockup approval workflow, digital mockup, physical sample, batch sample. Revisions: revision allowance, which revisions incur a fee, file formats (AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, CDR), Pantone / RAL / CMYK colour management. Returns: conditions under which returns are accepted, conditions under which they are not, damaged goods policy, missing-product fulfilment, production defect remediation. KVKK (Turkish data protection law): lead-capture data retention, disclosure text, explicit consent text, data deletion requests, third-party data transfer. VAT-specific: export exemption, tax refund procedure, exemption certificate, 0% VAT for international clients, gift and promotional product VAT exemption queries.
At the bottom of each category page there are links to adjacent topics that are related but not strictly part of the category. For example, the sample workflow page links to logo file format, Pantone matching and file preparation guidance. To complete the FAQ structure each question has its own unique URL, enabling direct deep linking, indexing by search engines and discovery through help-centre tools.
Operational facts: lead times, samples and mockup approval
The operational facts that apply to corporate merch programs in Turkey form an unchanging reference framework for international B2B clients as well. Standard lead time is 5-8 business days; this window covers approved artwork, sample approval, production, quality control, labelling and packaging. For urgent programs we maintain 3-4 business-day rapid serial production capacity; in those cases product selection is constrained to catalogue items and rapid shipment to serial production lines is prioritised. For complex kitting we recommend a 2-3 week window.
Sample workflow
When a sample request comes in we offer two distinct sample types: digital mockup and physical sample. A digital mockup is a realistic Photoshop or custom preview rendering of the product with the customer’s logo and brand colours; it is produced within 24-48 hours at no charge. A physical sample is the first prototype from the actual production line; simple products take 2-4 business days, while complex assemblies take 4-7 business days. The first physical sample on a new project is generally complimentary; on revision requests a small sample fee applies to each new sample, and once the serial production order is confirmed that fee is deducted (refunded) from the total order value. The sample is produced to the specifications the customer has approved; Pantone code, sizing, material and print method are each confirmed individually.
Mockup approval and revisions
Mockup approval is the final design checkpoint before production. The customer signs off the approved mockup in writing (via e-mail or an approval link on the quote); this approval becomes the production order. Any specification change after mockup approval halts production and starts a new mockup loop; in that case the full design fee plus a delay window applies. For this reason we recommend rigour during the mockup review stage, and that Pantone codes and product dimensions be confirmed before production starts. As a baseline, three main revisions are included; from the third revision onward each additional revision carries a small design fee, and these fees are itemised separately in the quote.
Serial production windows and high season
Serial production in Turkey runs year-round. However, between September and November and again between March and May during the intense fair and congress season, the production partner workshops in Istanbul, Bursa, Gaziantep and İzmir operate at maximum capacity. During these windows we recommend planning orders six weeks in advance. Winter months (December - February) and mid-summer (July - August) have relatively shorter lead times. The year-end period (mid-December to early January) is generally the annual maintenance window for production workshops, and serial production for many complex products is paused during this period; programs that span this window need to be ordered in October.
20% VAT-inclusive TRY quotes, e-Fatura, e-Arşiv, GİB integration
For all Turkish SME, limited and joint-stock corporate clients pricing is presented as 20% VAT-inclusive TRY. For Turkish companies the quote is delivered with VAT included, which keeps accounting integration and budget planning against a single number. The quote does not break down VAT base per product line; the total VAT-inclusive amount is given, and the VAT base is calculated by GİB during the e-Fatura issuance.
e-Fatura mandatory clients
For clients that are registered as e-Fatura mandatory, invoices are issued directly through GİB (the Turkish Revenue Administration) integration. This is an electronic document in UBL-TR format that is actually delivered to the customer’s e-Fatura application and approved by GİB. All information required for the e-Fatura filing declaration (VKN tax ID, e-Fatura scenario, GİB user code) is collected during quote confirmation, and a one-off customer onboarding is performed. Documents delivered to the customer’s e-Fatura portfolio are stored in the GİB archive for ten years.
e-Arşiv application
Clients that are not e-Fatura mandatory but are enrolled in the e-Arşiv application receive an e-Arşiv invoice. e-Arşiv carries the same legal validity as e-Fatura; it is approved by GİB and delivered to the customer in PDF format. The quote is cut VAT-inclusive in TRY; the document is stored both by GİB and in the merch.org.tr archive for five years. For new Turkish companies the transition to the e-Arşiv application is generally faster because it carries fewer technical requirements than the e-Fatura scenario.
International clients and VAT exemption
For international clients that are not resident in Turkey the 0% VAT application is available. Under the export exemption, VAT is not calculated provided that an export customs declaration documenting the physical exit of the goods from Turkey is provided. In this case the quote is given in EUR, USD or GBP instead of TRY; payment is made via international bank transfer or SWIFT. The VAT refund is processed by the customer’s own country’s tax authority; this process takes an average of one to three months in Turkey. The documents required for the export exemption in Turkey (export customs declaration, transport invoice, insurance policy) are filed separately for each order.
Turkey specifics: Yurtiçi / Aras / MNG / Sürat shipping, Istanbul warehouse network
Corporate merch logistics in Turkey operates through four main shipping lines: Yurtiçi Kargo (generally Turkey’s widest network, first-class delivery across all 81 provinces), Aras Kargo (strong in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, 24-48 hour delivery), MNG Kargo (concentrated in Istanbul and the Marmara region, express inner-city delivery) and Sürat Kargo (strong in Ankara and Central Anatolia). For international shipping we have integration with DHL, FedEx and UPS; these lines provide full door-to-door service including customs clearance and last-mile delivery.
Istanbul warehouse network and inner-city delivery
Our main Istanbul warehouse is located in the Başakşehir / İkitelli area; from there we deliver to TÜYAP Beylikdüzü and TÜYAP Yeşilköy fairgrounds, CNR Expo Yeşilköy, Lütfi Kırdar Rumeli Salonu, Haliç Congress Center, Istanbul Congress Center and Zorlu PSM on the same day. For the Asian side of Istanbul we maintain warehouses in Ataşehir and Maltepe; corporate office addresses in Levent, Maslak, Şişli and Beşiktaş receive same-day delivery. For shipments leaving Istanbul, the main warehouse delivers the same day to a Yurtiçi or MNG transit hub; the next business day the recipient receives the parcel at the local branch.
Regional delivery timelines
From our Istanbul warehouses, delivery to all 81 provinces of Turkey via the Yurtiçi, Aras, MNG or Sürat shipping lines is achievable within 1-3 business days. Ankara, İzmir, Bursa and Eskişehir have a 24-hour window; Antalya, Konya, Adana, Gaziantep and Mersin run 24-48 hours; Eastern Anatolia and Southeastern Anatolia regions run 48-72 hours. During regional peak periods (pre-holiday, pre-year-end, campaign periods) the shipping lines may announce an additional 12-24 hour delay; in that case the customer is informed in advance and the delivery date is reconfirmed.
Shipping charges and contracting
Shipping charges are calculated individually based on the shipment’s weight, volume and destination. For a standard parcel (under 5 kg, single carton) Yurtiçi charges approximately 90-150 TRY for inner-city Istanbul delivery and 150-350 TRY for intercity delivery. Bulk shipments (pallet, contractually agreed shipping tariff) attract a discount. Customers on annual corporate contracts have monthly shipping capacity reserved with a 15-25% per-unit discount. Shipping insurance is standard at 1% of shipment value; for high-value shipments (VIP delegation kit, corporate gift set) full-value insurance is recommended.
Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Antalya: principal delivery regions
Corporate merch activity in Turkey is concentrated in four principal cities. Each city has its own B2B shipping infrastructure, a unique combination of fair and congress venues, and a local transportation framework. The sections below summarise the operational reality of these four regions.
Istanbul
Istanbul is the central hub of B2B merch activity in Turkey. Most warehouses and production partner workshops are here. Inner-city Istanbul delivery is possible on the same day. Venues: TÜYAP Beylikdüzü and TÜYAP Yeşilköy (European-side fairgrounds); CNR Expo Yeşilköy and CNR Expo Istanbul (next to Atatürk Airport); Lütfi Kırdar Rumeli Salonu (Harbiye); Haliç Congress Center (Sütlüce); Istanbul Congress Center (Taksim / Harbiye area); Zorlu PSM (Beşiktaş); Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Hall; Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus Conrad and Sheraton Levent. The number of dense merch programs in the region: 30+ fairs and 100+ corporate congresses per year.
Ankara
Ankara, as the capital, is the second city with a dense base of B2B corporate clients. Delivery time from Istanbul is 24 hours. Principal congress and fair venues: Congresium (Çankaya / Söğütözü); Sheraton Çankaya; Ankara HiltonSA; JW Marriott Ankara; TOBB ETÜ Congress Center. Dense merch programs in the region: public and defence sector, technology companies, large holdings and banks. Special requirements driven by the capital status: BDDK-compliant advertising rules (financial sector), SHGM security print rules (aviation), TSE standards compliance (state tenders).
İzmir
İzmir is the B2B centre of the Aegean region; it also hosts the second densest fair calendar after Istanbul. Delivery time from Istanbul is 24 hours. Principal congress and fair venues: Kültürpark (Alsancak area); Fuar İzmir (Gaziemir); Tepekule Congress and Exhibition Center (Bayraklı); Ege University Congress Center; Hilton İzmir and Swissôtel İzmir. Dense merch programs in the region: Aegean tourism and hospitality sector, agriculture and food companies, port and logistics companies, Aegean-region industrial enterprises.
Antalya
Antalya is the capital of Turkish tourism and congress tourism. Delivery time from Istanbul is 24-48 hours. Principal congress and event venues: five-star hotel congress centres in the Belek area (Regnum, Kempinski The Dome, Rixos Downtown, Kaya Palazzo, WOW Hotels, Cornelia, Maxx Royal, ICF Antalya); Anfas Expo Center (Antalya fair organiser); Antalya Expo Center (Aksu); Antalya Airport congress facilities. Dense merch programs in the region: congress tourism (international company meetings), holiday resort openings, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus ground services.
Payment methods: Garanti BBVA, Yapı Kredi, İş Bankası, Akbank, Ziraat; Troy, iyzico, PayTR cards
For Turkish B2B clients the payment framework operates in two separate categories: bank wire transfers and online card payment. Both categories are charged in TRY and collected against the VAT-inclusive amount. SWIFT wire transfer is also available for international clients.
Bank wire transfers
The principal Turkish banks we work with: Garanti BBVA (generally the most common bank among Turkish private-sector companies), Yapı Kredi (concentrated in the financial sector and retail), Türkiye İş Bankası (Turkey’s longest-established private bank, generally preferred by large holdings), Akbank (especially technology and media companies), Ziraat Bankası (for state tenders and public projects). Payment by wire or EFT is generally completed the same day or the next business day; for express value the remittance must be sent by 14:00 at the latest. EFTs received after 17:00 take value the next business day. Bank wire payment is free of charge for corporate clients; bank EFT commission on individual accounts is the customer’s own bank expense.
Online card payment
We work with three infrastructure providers for the Turkish card ecosystem: Troy (Turkey’s domestic card scheme, accepted at 1.5 million+ POS terminals), iyzico (Turkey’s leading payment infrastructure, supporting all major card schemes), PayTR (particularly strong in the SME segment, fast onboarding). These infrastructures accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Troy-branded Turkish cards. Single-instalment payment by corporate or company card is available for corporate clients; instalment payment is generally used for retail projects and is not recommended for corporate merch projects. 3D Secure verification is standard; an additional verification stage applies for high-value payments.
Virtual POS, payment link and combined bank transfer
For high-value corporate orders, alongside card payment through virtual POS, the merch.org.tr payment link (a single-use link generated through iyzico / PayTR) is also offered. With virtual POS, 100% online collection is achieved; in a combined bank transfer the quote amount can be settled partly by card (50% on order confirmation) and the remainder (50% before shipment) by wire transfer. Customers with corporate credit accounts work on 30-day net terms; the VAT-inclusive amount is invoiced throughout the term and collection is completed at the end of the term.
Production partner locations: Istanbul, Bursa, Gaziantep, İzmir
Corp-Merch operates four primary production partner regions across Turkey. Each region has its own strengths and product categories; this diversification makes it possible to route a corporate client’s needs to the right workshop. Each production partner workshop operates within its own specialisation, and the right match directly affects project quality and lead time.
Istanbul — İkitelli, Merter, İstoç
Istanbul is Turkey’s main production centre. The İkitelli Organised Industry area, on the Başakşehir border on the European side, is an industrial district where textile, promotional textile, promotional print, corporate gift and packaging manufacturers are densely concentrated. Merter is an area where textile and garment workshops dominate, hosting boutique workshops focused on export-oriented production. İstoç (İstanbul Toptancılar Çarşısı, the Istanbul Wholesalers’ Market) is a centre of wholesale and large-scale serial production workshops. We have more than 50 production partners across these three areas; each order is matched to specifications.
Bursa
Bursa is Turkey’s automotive supply, furniture and textile production centre. Our production partner workshops in Bursa are particularly strong in textile products (polo shirts, t-shirts, shirts, soft-shells, jackets), promotional bags (leather, faux-leather, canvas) and metal accessories (promotional pens, desk organisers, metal USB drives). Bursa, being two to three hours from Istanbul, is integrated into the Istanbul logistics network; delivery timelines are generally the same as Istanbul. Bursa is particularly preferred for large-quantity textile orders and long-term corporate contracts.
Gaziantep
Gaziantep is the production centre for Turkey’s southeastern region. It is particularly strong in promotional textile (t-shirts, caps, track suits), jewellery and accessories (earrings, necklaces, bracelets), synthetic bags and plastic promotional products. Gaziantep, being Turkey’s oldest trade centre with a focus on export to the Middle East, offers pricing advantages for large-quantity orders. Delivery time to Istanbul is 14-18 hours; express Istanbul delivery via Yurtiçi and Aras.
İzmir
İzmir is the production centre of the Aegean region. It is particularly strong in maritime-sector merch (sail canvas, sailing vests, marine textile), Aegean agricultural promotional products (olive oil, grape, citrus-themed corporate gift sets), tourism merch (hotel openings, congress tourism, holiday resort promotion). İzmir is also a centre for boutique manufacturers focused on European export, which is why İzmir partners are often chosen for EU-compliant products (FSC, GOTS, OEKO-TEX). Delivery time to Istanbul is 8-10 hours.
FAQ policy: which questions are answered here, which are routed to the sitemap
Our FAQ hub is built on two core principles. First: to answer operational and procedural questions directly. This covers lead times, pricing, shipping, payments, invoicing, samples, revisions and returns. Second: to route personalised and design-led questions to the right channel. SSS draws the general framework; submitting the quote form is sufficient for a specific project.
Directly answered questions
The following categories are answered directly in the FAQ section: operational timelines (lead time, sample workflow, shipping delivery time, post-event reorder), pricing framework (general price ranges, VAT application, bulk discount, corporate contract), legal and financial matters (VAT rate, e-Fatura application, e-Arşiv, GİB integration, KVKK disclosure text), technical details (product material options, print methods, file formats, colour management), delivery rules (shipping lines, regions, venue delivery rules, damaged goods policy). For additional detail on any of these topics by phone or e-mail we respond within 24 hours.
Topics that require sitemap routing
The following categories are not answered directly in the FAQ; the relevant page provides a redirect: product catalogue details (each product’s material, size and colour combinations are on the product page), city and region programs (each city’s own city guide and delivery detail are on the city page), event-specific programs (each fair and congress has its own page with the event-specific merch framework), print method details (each method has its own page with technical features and application examples), legal and policy texts (privacy, KVKK disclosure text, cookie policy, terms of use are on the relevant policies page). This redirection both keeps the FAQ current and lets the user find the right detail in a single click.
Special requests that are not redirected but not directly answered either
The following categories require the quote form to be completed: custom design consulting (corporate identity design, product development, mockup design), special orders that require price negotiation (very low or very high quantities, special production lines, import-export), corporate customer programs (annual agreement, multi-location distribution, shipping integration, ERP connection). For these categories submitting the quote form is sufficient; within 24 hours a VAT-inclusive TRY quote and an operations plan are returned.
FAQ freshness, feedback form and long-term strategy
The FAQ hub is a dynamic structure. New questions are added every month, existing answers are updated and categories expand to reflect sector developments. During 2026 updates related to KVKK, changes to the e-Fatura application, Troy and iyzico infrastructure updates and shipping tariff changes have been reflected in the FAQ. Updates planned for 2027: VAT rate change scenarios, new shipping lines, AI-assisted mockup production and blockchain-based supply chain verification.
New questions added every month
In the first week of each month the new questions most frequently collected by the customer support team are added to the FAQ. For every added question a separate page is created; that page is directly accessible via deep link and indexed by search engines. Category headings, the count of questions added per month, updated answers and added topics are summarised in the monthly FAQ bulletin. This approach keeps the FAQ both current and easy for the customer to find the specific answer they are looking for.
Feedback form and FAQ improvement cycle
A feedback form is at the bottom of every FAQ page. Through that form the customer can indicate whether the answer on the page was sufficient, request additional detail or send a specific topic. Feedback is reviewed weekly; pages that receive more than 20% negative feedback are prioritised for update. Through this cyclical structure the FAQ centre grows in parallel with customer needs. Topics identified through feedback that warrant their own page are added as new FAQ sections.
What is not in the FAQ: custom design consulting and dedicated corporate meetings
The FAQ hub is designed to answer operational and general framework questions. For the categories of request below we recommend using the quote form directly or requesting a separate meeting with a corporate account representative instead of searching the FAQ. This ensures that you receive a solution tailored to your specific need.
Custom design consulting
Corporate identity design, product development and mockup consulting each require a separate process. This process is designed for companies that are building a brand from scratch or that want to adapt their existing corporate identity to physical products. The scope of work includes: corporate identity analysis, product-brand fit assessment, mockup design (physical and digital), material and production method recommendations, sample production and serial production planning. For these processes submitting the quote form or requesting a separate preliminary meeting with a corporate account representative is sufficient. The meeting usually lasts 30-60 minutes and can be conducted by video conference or face-to-face.
Dedicated meeting for corporate clients
For corporate clients with an annual merch budget of 250,000 TRY or more, with a recurring order plan, or with multi-location distribution requirements, we recommend a separate meeting process. This process covers a detailed discussion between the corporate account representative and the client on annual budget planning, location-based delivery network, ERP integration, brand consistency, contract terms and payment plan. The meeting lasts one to two hours and is generally held at the client’s own office or via video conference. Within five business days after the meeting a comprehensive corporate program proposal is prepared. The program generally includes: assigned corporate account representative, annual product planning, monthly budget reporting, location-based distribution planning, quality control framework, KVKK-compliant data management, e-Fatura integration, ERP connection and bespoke pricing framework.
Corp-Merch is an independent external production and logistics partner for corporate merch sourcing in Turkey. All information shared on this FAQ page is published to describe the operational framework; the company is not a partner, sponsor or official supplier of any event, congress, fair, festival or sectoral program. All event names are the registered trademarks of their respective organisers.
Reach us with your question, feedback or project
If you could not find the answer in the FAQ, or if you want a quote for a specific project, complete the form below. Within 24 hours a VAT-inclusive TRY quote and an operations plan are returned. 30-day net terms and e-Fatura integration are available for corporate clients.