Promotional Items

Printed products for the winter weather

2012-02-10T13:32:00.005Z

It looks like Britain is now in the grip of the winter season, with many areas experiencing temperatures below freezing for some time now.

If your business has workers that are outside or is related in some way to working outdoors then maybe your marketing materials and promotional gifts should reflect that?

There are a range of products that are well suited to working outdoors in the winter weather and if they are functional for this purpose I believe they are more likely to be used!

Promotional Conference Folders

Printed conference folders themselves might not seem like a “weather friendly” promotional gift, but for people that regularly work outside or are on the road, they can assist greatly in reducing damage to paperwork and important documents in bad weather.

Some of the materials conference folders are finished with are more weather friendly than others – leather, canvas and plastic are popular choices here. However the most important addition is a zip that will seal in your important paperwork and protect it from the elements on your journey.

Promotional Winter Clothing

Embroidered and printed clothing items are popular for staff and customers. Gloves, hats, scarves, ponchos and fleece jackets can all be personalised with a brand name or logo for use in the colder climate.

Branded Winter Umbrellas

One of the best ideas is a branded umbrella, which is normally left in a car boot or handbag ready to be used when the rain comes. There are also several styles to consider from compact foldaway umbrellas to large branded golf umbrellas, all of which have a lot of print space on the panels of the brolly itself.

Some styles of promotional product just work better than others in the bad weather. Gel based promotional pens are sometimes better in the cold than a biro and matt paper is easier to write on than gloss.

Promotional gifts in your stocking?

2011-12-27T12:05:00.003Z

Printed products are commonly used within the B2B community and are most likely to be purchased for this purpose, especially by those taking part in a conference or exhibition.

However manufacturers also offer an abundance of products that are well suited to businesses who also work in a B2C environment. Items such as printed pens, personalised stationary and novelties such as promotional toys or key rings are easily personalised and in a price range that if often achieveable by small and large businesses alike.

B2C Printed Pens

Printed Pens are probably the most popular item you can purchase mainly because of a few beneficial and unique factors such as their low overall price per unit, usability and versatility to most industries.

Although as consumers many of us are used to using the pens found on the high street in banks and similar organisations, there are an abundance of highly usable and quality of other printed pens and pencils available that can be purchased in far smaller quantities and offer the same style of marketability and branding.

B2C Promotional Stationary

Printed stationary is an essential ingredient to almost any business these days and includes important items such as letterheads, business cards and envelopes.

B2C Novelty Gifts

B2C environment there are additional items that consumers are interested in both as freebies and for purchasing, especially at this time of year.

Products I have seen personalised and purchased during the festive season include printed mugs, coasters, glasses, clothing (such as t-shirts and sweaters) and keyrings.

I have written posts on this blog on several occasions that are specifically aimed at Business to Business marketing, but after receiving some promotional products amongst my own Christmas presents it seemed appropriate to remind you of the benefits in all business environments!

Could a Leather Conference Folder be your executive gift this christmas?

2011-11-22T08:55:00.003Z

As the end of 2011 fast approaches, many of us are looking at the promotional products we will send as gifts at the end of the year as well as those to be used in the 2012 exhibition season.

Promotional folders can be used in several ways, making them a versatile and long lasting branded marketing option for your business. Specifically leather look or real leather conference folders have a quality finish to them and make an excellent executive gift for your clients and customers.

The leather conference folder pictured here is a good example of this. Many business professionals want stationary that is functional as well as stylish and being A4 in size with lots of optional extras included, this folder fits the bill. Business card holders, USB stick space, disc holders, pen holders and stationary holders are all standard and (most importantly) there are pockets for paperwork to be placed. One of the most important features is the zip closure, ensuring that once shut, you don't loose your important documents.

Leather Conference Folder - personalisation

Printing is normally completed on the cover of the folder in colour, so there is plenty of space to get your message across.

These items can normally be purchased in smaller quantities (from about 100), but if you get the branding right there is no reason they can't be used after the festive season in meetings and exhibitions.

Not forgetting they are also a good promotional item for staff that are client facing to use - I have even seen clients ask if they can have a promotional product the same as staff members are using!

Of course, the other advantage of conference folders and organisers is you can house other promotional products within them - I have seen brochures, dvd brochures, printed pens and printed pads.

Finding the right Promotional Products

2011-10-11T11:59:00.003+01:00

It can be difficult to choose the right products when the time comes to pick some freebies to hand out to staff and clients, in fact it sometimes feels like you might need to get some help from a procurement consulting company to assist you with finding the right product.

Well I have put together a short list of some of my favourite products this year and along with my reasons for choosing them, I have put together some details for you all below.

Purchasing Promotional Pens

Always a favourite with small and large businesses alike, promotional pens seem to be everywhere these days. But with such a broad range of pens available how do you choose the right one for your purpose.

I particularly like the metal ballpoint pens that can be lazer engraved. I find this finish makes them a little more special and highly suited for your own executives as well as a customer gift.

Purchasing Conference Folders

Conference Folders make an excellent gift and are widely used at events and exhibitions as well as during the Christmas season when they are a popular promotional gift.

Prices I have seen start from as little as £4 and I particularly like this A4 Leather look folder which has many optional extras such as a calculator and disc holder and the material allows for embossing on the front, which I think can often look more professional that the standard screen printing.

Purchasing Personalised Desktop Items

The trouble with smaller and cheaper promotional products is they are more likely to be lost or thrown away by the recipient, but there are a few products specifically designed for functional desktop use that I specifically like including a personalised mousepad calculator that doubles as a very useful desktop accessory.

I hope my list helps some of you to find some promotional products that are suitable for your business needs but if you need more assistance then why not speak with a promotional products supplier who should be able to assist with money saving ideas for your printing requirements.

Marketing your way to the top with Promotional Products

2011-09-08T20:53:00.003+01:00

The person responsible for Marketing in a business has possibly never been under more pressure to effectively use their budget to promote their employers products and services.

And the ways and means you have available to complete these promotions have never been greater, whether you are looking to increase your online presence, create a printed pen as a corporate freebie, enrol in a social networking campaign or just promote yourselves at a business exhibition, the choices are endless.

So, what are the choices and what are the benefits? Here are just a few of my opinions after considering this myself in recent months.

Purchasing Promotional Products

I quite like having business cards, stationery and letterheads that I use to send to my clients. I think it creates a professional impression that can’t be beaten. I have also arranged corporate uniforms for companies that I believe create the same impression.

If you are in the right field and have a good database of customers or send a lot of mailings then promotional freebies can also be an excellent purchase. I have received many over the years in mail order boxes and the like including items such as keyrings, lollipops, stickers and promotional vouchers for future purchases.

Of course, promotional items are most at home when used at a conference or exhibition...

Taking Part in Exhibitions

I believe that all companies should try exhibiting at an event that works for businesses within their industry. This can mean carefully researching the right even for you, but with hard work and due consideration you can increase your business from existing customers and even find some new ones whilst taking part.

There are a few essentials that I believe should be considered for first timers. This includes the promotional products mentioned earlier but also items that can be personalised to create a professional looking stand such as pop up banners, posters and brochure racks.

E-marketing and Social Media

E-marketing requires a solid database of people that have opted to receive your newsletters and offers. But again with the right research and a well thought out campaign you can gain extra business through special offers and promotions when advertising them in this way.

Of course, your shouldn’t underestimate the importance of PR and using these newsletters to tell your clients any important news including new products and services or press worthy information.

Marketing Online

As I have always said, just like the receptionist in your offices, your business website is one of the first things a potential client will see and should be built with the assistance of professionals who understand how a user experience works.

Throughout all of these ideas, one thing has always been paramount in my mind – Brand Promotion. Every product should have the logo, the website should also be covered in it and a strap line that quickly and clearly spells out what you do can also be crucial.

Design your Website and Promotional Products to compliment each other

2011-08-15T10:36:00.003+01:00

It seems that everywhere you turn today people are talking about "Brand Identity" and effective marketing solutions and I believe that making good choices when purchasing promotional products and personalised stationary go a long way towards this. However, speaking to a company that deals with website design Basingstoke recently, I was surprised to hear that many people do not properly consider tying in their brand identity with their website.

In my opinion, the website has become one of the most important tools available to a business and is often the first thing a potential client will see, so driving home that brand message along with contact information and clear details of your products and services is vitally important.

So what should you consider when trying to tie in your Website Design with other Promotional Products?

Website Logo, Logo, Logo!

Driving home that brand is all part of the journey when making sure your customers know that they are looking at the right website for a company that offer the right services. Keep that logo on all pages and make sure your promotional products also include it (in full colour where possible).

Website Promotion

Use your promotional items as an opportunity to promote the website - you have worked hard on getting the website online so make sure people know where to find it. Some businesses use their personalised products to advertise web exclusive offers in order to encourage visitors.

Also, don't underestimate the importance of advertising your site on other items such as signwritten vehicles and company uniform.

Colour Schemes

If your site has a chosen colour scheme, then follow it with the promotional items too. This also assists with brand awareness.

Really, your website could be classed as a promotional item in itself, offering potential clients free information on your business as well as promoting your brand message, logo and (most importantly) products and services.

Green Promotional Products for Eco Exhibitions

2011-07-05T09:41:00.003+01:00

With more and more exhibitions looking at green issues (such as Eco Build and UKAware) it is no wonder companies are looking to take part in both the B2B and B2C events of this nature.

However, as with all exhibitions, wouldn't it be nice to use eco friendly promotional products for these events? Well doing that might be easier than you think. Here are just a few of the items you can purchase that are created with the environment in mind.

Eco Bag
This backpack is made using unbleached natural cottons and would make an excellent giveaway, especially when filled with purchases from your stand and company information.

Banner Stand
The traditional banner stand has long been a staple of the exhibition scene, but new versions are available using Bamboo in place of aluminium for the frame.

Promotional Pen
The Media Max Digital pen is a lovely looking quality clickable rollerball that has a barrel made of 87% recycled material. Many other promotional pens use recycled materials and are available to suit a variety of styles and budgets.

And this is not the end of the list, other items available include conference folders, cotton jute bags, writing pads, coasters and much more. Don't forget these items are all fully customisable with print areas for your logo, contact details and much more.

Promotional and Marketing Products - New Ideas

2011-06-06T11:03:00.003+01:00

Everybody knows that promotional merchandise is one of the most popular and cost-effective ways for businesses to promote themselves on a regular basis as well as at an exhibition or event.

The traditional items such as promotional pens, mugs and umbrellas are now making way for some newer and more innovative merchandise. I have looked through some of the new ideas this week and put together a list of some of the more popular choices:

Promotional USB Products
Everyone uses a laptop or desktop today and there is no shortage of USB “plug and play” based items that you can purchase on the High Street. However there are also several functional and useful products that can be personalised for businesses such as port splitters (converting 1 usb port into 4), Memory Sticks, a USB mouse and even a special desk lamp!

Clocks
Long gone are the days of offering a boring calendar to your clients – clocks available to personalise make a stylish addition to any office or desk space with glass and metal options available that can be engraved instead of printed.

Novelty Items
I have also found several desktop novelty items that can be purchased and personalised such as paperweights, metal nameplates, diaries and organisers.

Many companies that provide promotional equipment can also arrange printing onto other items like these.

Promotional Bags everywhere you look!

2011-05-24T08:36:00.002+01:00

I think we have all become used to seeing an abundance of high street brands using promotional carrier bags every time we hit the high street, but how effective are these products likely to be in the future, especially with the European Commission looking for innovative ways to reduce the amount of waste plastic carriers cause.

The European Commission announced earlier this month that they are asking the public for advice on how to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags.

Having purchased bags for small and large businesses on many occasions in the past, it seems obvious to me that the use of carrier bags will continue for many years to come, so maybe the solution is to look at the materials being used? This way the retailers still have the opportunity to market their goods but the bags are more environmentally friendly and easier to dispose of.
Some of the options available for this include:

Cotton Bags
This type of carrier is already used by many smaller high street retailers and to be honest, the Cotton Bag is more likely to be re-used by the owner than any other.

Paper Bags
The first thing you see when you think ‘paper bag’ is a plain brown bag, and although these are available to be personalised (and very environmentally friendly) there are other options that might be more suitable. The Kraft Paper Bag can be fully personalised and has twisted paper handles, making it durable but stylish and as an all paper product it is bio degradable and can be put in a recycling box when finished with!

Jute Bags
Again, these items can be fully personalised but are made with eco-friendly materials. The bags are already heavily used at conferences and events and by retailers dealing in the gift industry.

Laminate Bags
Of course in some cases a plastic bag offers the best durability, so providing one that will last longer is more likely to be re-used. Laminate bags are a good option here, they can be full colour printed, but are hard wearing and will carry more than the average plastic bag.

The European commission is looking at the possibility of applying a charge or tax on the use of plastic bags and with more and more retailers requesting a payment for these items I for one would rather pay for one that is re-usable or environmentally friendly.

For more information on purchasing promotional bags, contact a specialist gift supplier who will be able to advise you on a product suitable for your needs and budget.

Promotional Products to the rescue!

2011-04-26T10:54:00.003+01:00

Following the recent hot weather, I was surprised to be caught in a massive thunder and rain storm whilst taking part in a meeting outdoors.

I had taken a traditional carrier with some of my paperwork and various samples in it and as I sprinted for shelter it rained so hard that everything within the bag was destroyed.

However, one of my colleagues had recently attended an exhibition where he was given a promotional set from one of our suppliers – this included:

An umbrella with corporate branding on some of the fabric sections

A conference folder which was careen printed with the same company logo, telephone number and website address.

A pen with a full colour logo on the barrel along with email details and a telephone number.

As well as a few other brochures and leaflets about the supplier themselves.

After we had dried ourselves off, we were surprised to see that everything in the conference folder had survived and I was so pleased when he gave me the pen, which was also still working!

The supplier could never have known how useful their gift would become and we will certainly remember their details for some time to come as a result of our bad luck that day!

Many Personalised Gift Suppliers provide a cost effective and fast service for this type of printing.

Free Promotional Items even on the High Street

2011-04-17T16:37:00.003+01:00

I was surprised recently when I was given some free branded goods at my local pharmacy after making a purchase of more than £30.00.

The free pack included some hand cream and make-up and was packed in a beautifully designed tote bag (far too good to throw away) which had the shop name and website address printed on the front.

It made me think of the wider varieties of branded bags (and other products) that are available today for ANYONE to personalise and how much more cost effective it can be lately to obtain these services.

Branded bags like the tote I was given are available in a variety of styles including from plastic bags and paper bags to conference folders and laptop bags.

But if you are buying a personalised bag then why not consider having a promotional pen as well – if you use similar payout and design techniques then they will make an excellent set to give to your customers and clients at an exhibition.

There are many other products to choose from such as mugs, umbrellas, USB keys, coasters and more.

For more information and assistance on designing and purchasing promotional products, contact a promotional product supplier who will be able to advise on the best solution for your budget.

Promotional Luxury Corporate Gifts

2011-03-15T18:27:00.008Z

Personalised Luxury Corporate Gifts - more accessible than you might think!

New Contracts, New Customers and company growth – all milestones that need to be marked in a corporate environment, but how do you choose to thank your clients (and even employees)?

Purchasing personalised corporate gifts have always been popular, but exclusive gifts don’t need to be as boring as you might think!

I was surprised by the luxury corporate gifts that are available today when I looked online recently.

Take the Schwarzwolf Drinking Set – this is a hip flask set, and comes with 4 cups and a filling funnel all enclosed in a gift box. This gift can be personalised with a company logo or message of your choice and makes an excellent “thank you” gift.

I also found a Coffee Set with a personalised steel flask, mugs, spoons, napkins and even containers for your sugar and milk. This whole set comes in its own carry bag and can also be personalised with your corporate message or brand by the supplier.

Personalised Pens have been popular for a long time as a corporate gift, but there are also luxury options available in this category that would make an excellent personalised gift. For example, the Designer Ball Pen and Rollerball Gift Set also come in their own presentation box and can be customised with your company logo.

In some cases, these items can be ordered in small quantities, so saying a personal, professional thank you has never been more accessible for large and small businesses alike.

If you are giving your corporate gifts to clients, I believe one of the key elements of promotional merchandise that is often overlooked is what they will do with the item after it has been received. Many standard corporate gifts (such as pens and keyrings) are not thrown away, but are they being looked at by the person who has any buying power or really warranted your thanks in the first place?

I have found it useful to consider the ‘end user’ carefully before placing an order and often found that purchasing 2 different items in varying quantities is more versatile (depending on the situation).

Don’t forget, if you don’t everything you order right away these products could also be used for special events and Christmas as well as being taken to conferences and exhibitions.

For more information on corporate gifts, contact a specialist corporate gift supplier, who will be able to give you help and advice on the right products for you.

New Year - New Conference Season - New Ideas

2011-01-14T15:14:00.004Z

Although the main part of the year for conference and exhibitions activity is considered to be the Autumn, Spring follows not far behind. Despite a harsh winter - December was one of the coldest on record - January soon sets the juices flowing when it comes to ideas for developing promotional activity. As we approach the middle of the month, and the both the mornings and evenings get lighter, marketing departments will soon be drawing up plans for increased promotional activity.

Nothing stimulates your ideas like going to a major trade show or exhibition. You get the opportunity to see what rival firms, suppliers and customers have been working. Very few markets stand still. Although attending a conference or exhibition may be difficult to justify from a cost perspective, it is only by meeting others and being exposed to the latest thinking in your industry, that you stay abreast of the dynamics impacting on your market place.

The Personal Nature of Promotional Pens

2010-10-20T12:25:00.003+01:00

It is amazing how one small item can bring back a flood of memories, something seemingly insignificant as the promotional pen left by your bed in a hotel room on the hotel notepad.
This small item found in the ‘junk drawer’ alongside many other miscellaneous items reminded me of an amazing weekend with my family five years ago.

This long forgotten promotional pen, probably thrown in the drawer on the return from our weekend, made me sit down and think about the weekend and what a wonderful time we had had.

Do the marketing team at the hotel know when they invest their marketing budgets in these items how such an insignificant item can deliver such significant memories; it is likely they do or why would companies invest in these items.

The hotel notepad long used and forgotten is out lasted by the use of the promotional pen, still working well and now much in use again after it produced itself out of the junk drawer many moons after it had been put there. The memories it induced really did make me think about how we as a family do not get together often enough.

I started to write a list (using said promotional pen of course) of all the family members that had been there that weekend, what we had got up too, including the wonderfully long leisurely lunches and dinners, who made it too breakfast and who didn’t nursing sore heads after the night before, the long walks to blow away the cobwebs and the games played when the rain set in.

This of course made me smile and in turn inspired me to ring around the family members and gauge interest in another family weekend at the same hotel in a few months’ time, not only did finding this pen make me pick up the telephone (rather than the ever present emails in our lives) and talk to everybody, (emails are far too easy for people to say no!); it was wonderful to hear my family feel the same as I did about our weekend five years ago and for them all without exception be excited about doing the same again very soon.

So thanks to one small promotional pen our family are now getting together again for another amazing weekend. Helpfully the hotel telephone number was provided on the promotional pen so it was very easy to call the hotel and make arrangements for our next weekend away, all family members are now looking forward to this enormously and this all came to fruition due to happening upon this long forgotten pen in the junk drawer.

My thanks go out to the makers of promotional pens for bringing our family together again.

Conference Season Gives Market Surge

2010-09-03T15:46:00.002+01:00

The autumn conference season is rapidly approaching. This is evidenced not only by the amount of visitor traffic to promotional and conference websites but by the recent rise in order conversion rates.

In the UK, the school summer holiday period from about 20th to July to the first week of September is a traditionally quiet period for much of industry. School holidays mean that many parents are absent from their offices and those workers that remain tend to focus on priority operational tasks. However, the conference and exhibition season tends to get under way at the end of the September. Those businesses that are planning activity must get all their conference supplies and promotional items designed and ordered well before the actual conferences are imminent.

The past two autumn conference seasons have been much influenced by the underlying recession. This season feels slightly different. And the orders received for promotional pens, promotional bags, conference delegate packs and branded corporate clothing seem to indicate that 2010 will be up on 2009 and 2008. As a parting shot, those businesses planning autumn conferences, and have still to order their promotional products, should do so ASAP.

Updated Promotional Website

2009-11-15T22:26:00.004Z

I have begun updating the Printed Promotional Merchandise website. The market for promotional merchandise is highly competitive. So I must improve the look and feel of the website. I have added images to three pages on promotional mugs, promotional golf and promotional clothing.

I am aware that it will take some time before the website looks sufficiently good for undertaking business activities. I will shortly add some more images of other promotional products.

Printed Promotional Merchandise

2009-10-07T11:52:00.000+01:00

This is a new blog from Printed Promotional Merchandise. We will cover developments in the market place for all manner of promotional items and promotional gifts in the UK.

With pressure on marketing budgets it is essential that any expenditure is seen to be making its full contribution to the achievement of critical marketing objectives.

Promotional merchandise comes in a range of categories. From mugs to pens, to umbrellas and corporate clothing. Some items have a limited or short-term life. Others may have a more permanent existence. Some promotional items can be bought off the shelf in bulk and be widely distributed. Others items may be bought for a specific occasion and may be tailored to a unique design.

This blog will attempt to stay abreast of the key trends in the promotional items marketplace.