Valentines gifts set to be overtaken by promotional products

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Popular womans magazine Marie Clare recently posted an article on its website suggesting that;

‘Two in Five women would rather receive a personalised gift than the typical box of chocolates or flowers for valentines day says new research.”

So it seems promotional gifts have a place both in the business world and the personal world.

Researchers found that the most popular products available for personalisation include engraved jewellery and personalised art prints.

Fast becoming more popular are the promotional gifts for the B2C industry.

Admittedly this blog specifically focuses on the B2B community, but there is no reason why a promotion like this could not be adapted to suit a B2B environment.

Many of the high street products are available in smaller quantities and (as a result) make them a more viable solution for a small town based business. If you are looking to test the water with a promotional product then this is probably a handy way to do it.

More and more high street stores are beginning to provide personalisation services for various items such as pens, t-shirts, mousemats, pictures and lots of other products – even some supermarkets are offering the service. I recently purchased a mug that was personalised with an image I provided electronically and it old cost a few pounds for full colour printing.

Of course, if you are in the business of buying these products in bulk then the high street is probably not for you, but it can often be useful to be able to rustle up some additional promotional gifts for an unplanned meeting with just a copy of your own logo and contact details.

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Are personalised mobile sites for everyone?

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Never before has it been more important to have a digital presence, and spending your time and money online is a carefully considered aspect of most businesses.

Personalised Mobile Internet

Websites, Mobile Sites and Applications are becoming a more popular investment for many sizes and styles of business, and many marketers are considering them as part of their budget for branded and personalised products for the year ahead.

As time has passed in the last 10 years, the need to have a quality, optimised website has grown and this rule seems to apply whether you are in a B2B or B2C environment. In the early stages, mobile sites were generally limited to news feeds and large scale online businesses and many companies saw the need to be ‘mobile friendly‘as a vanity project.

However, with the popularity of mobile, laptop and tablet pc’s ever growing, it seems that more companies are starting to consider the possibilities that mobile e-commerce and accessibility could bring and as a result, more and more businesses are making their websites mobile!

Can I have a personalised mobile internet site?

Most website designers will be able to assist in creating a mobile friendly internet site, but 9 times out of 10 it is a process that will need to be started from scratch.

Like all your other promotional products, there are lots of things to consider in getting the design balanced with the brand message and call to action. Unlike your standard web design, it is highly likely you will have less ‘space’ to do so and as a result the number of images, amount of content and navigation will all need to be changed.

However, the beauty of a personalised mobile site is it can work in conjunction with your existing site, meaning that mobile users will see a slightly scaled down version of the site compared with desktop or laptop users.

In my opinion, with free wifi and mobile internet access becoming readily available in most town centres, it is likely that traffic from mobile devices will continue to increase and as a result, having a mobile friendly site might just help you stay in front of more customers on more occasions!

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B2B Promotional Marketing ideas for 2012

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

It’s likely to be way past the time when you are thinking about promotional products for Christmas, but you might be looking at your corporate stationary and peripherals for next year and working in the B2B community can make it more difficult to choose where best to spend you Marketing budget.

Promotional products for 2012

If you are taking part in an exhibition or event in 2012, then these products may be of interest to you.

Lots of new ideas are starting to appear in time for the new year, with a focus on eco-friendly and multipurpose products.

Personalised USB Hub

Personalised USB Hub

For a digital, internet or IT based company; this USB Hub would make an excellent corporate giveaway. As a multipurpose product, it not only splits one USB port into 3, it also reads SD cards – handy for downloading photos or other data from phones or cameras.

Conference folders are also becoming more versatile as I have mentioned in a previous post. I’m confident that lower prices, large print areas and availability of a “pocket” A5 size will all help to make them a more popular product next year. Not forgetting, the folder itself acts as a useful holder for your own brochures and leaflets to pass on to prospective customers!

Printed stationary for 2012

Again, thanks to price changes many businesses are opting for a more luxurious paper when considering their next print of letter head and compliments slips. Some businesses are also personalising other stationary items such as envelopes and folders in a bid to improve their brand identity.

Business cards will be another key item that changes with many gadget style cards now available, I think there are lots of good ways to get customers to keep your card after you hand it out. One of the best ideas for card sizes personalised gadgets is this USB key that is credit card sized – a memory stick with your calling card included!

Marketing and promotion online in 2012

Finally, I think digital marketing and brand awareness will continue to see the majority of the boom in 2012. With the introduction and popularity of more platforms for internet access (tablet PC’s and mobile phones) it is likely more and more businesses will start the process of “upgrading” their sites to make them mobile friendly and incorporate e-commerce within them.

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Are branded conference folders a versatile marketing solution

Posted on November 15, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

I have mentioned various styles of promotional products on this blog but mostly I have been considering them as a promotional gift for a potential customer or client.

Many businesses also use promotional products for their staff by providing them with printed or embroidered items such as stationary or uniform.

But one product idea that can be used in both cases to great effect is branded conference folders and in my opinion this is mainly because of their versatility and professional look and feel.

There are a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from and various optional extras to consider, including:

Conference folder size

A4 Leather Look Conference Folder

A4 Leather Look Conference Folder

A4 is the most common size purchased and prices start at just a few pounds for one of this size. However with more people looking for something that is highly transportable, the A5 size is also becoming more popular as it can be easily tucked into a laptop bag or briefcase whilst commuting.

Finish of the conference folder

The material used on the exterior of the folder can give a very different feel. Real leather, leather look, canvas and plastic are amongst the most popular and although black is commonly purchased other colours are available. Bear in mind you can also have clasps in a popper or zip and if you are giving the folder to employees you might want to consider the width of the folder for their paperwork.

Type of branding used

Depending on the exterior finish chosen there are a variety of finishes available for your company personalisation. Some folders are created specifically for heat embossed branding, a nice choice if you have a clear logo. Embroidery is sometimes available on the canvas styles, although costs vary depending on the amount of work required to create your logo and other information. Printing is probably the most cost effective option, but not all materials can be laser printed, so be sure to check with your supplier before deciding.

Whichever conference folder you decide to use and whoever you decide to hand them out to, be sure to use the space inside to include some of your own company information and brochures as well as a promotional pen (if you have one).

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Promotional Products are for Employees too

Posted on October 23, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

I have spoken several times on here about promotional products such as Promotional Bags, Printed Pens and Personalised mugs etc, but on the whole I have spoken about the advantages of using them for clients.

However, one of the other ways they are also commonly used is for staff.
Employees, Contractors and sub-contractors are one of the least used marketing commodities and can be an excellent and easy way of promoting your business with minimum effort.

Many items can be used by staff, not just the traditional uniforms we are all used to seeing. Some of my ideas have included:

Promotional Bags for Employees

Promotional Bag for Paperwork

Promotional Bag for Paperwork

If you have workers that are on the road, maybe they are delivering products or attending meetings and handing out information.

Giving them a promotional bag to put everything in can give a nice finishing touch to your paperwork.

Promotional Stationary for Staff

Whether they are workers on a site, in an office or on the road having items such as pens, stationary, mugs and travel accessories can be another useful promotional tool. Don’t forget they can use the items themselves as well as handing them out to prospective clients they might meet along the way.

Promotional Printing on Company Property

Personalisation for business is not just limited to the items you can find through a business gift supplier. Items such as uniforms, vehicles, badges, mobile phones and briefcases can all be personalised with a bit of imagination. Try asking your printer for some quality transparent stickers for car windows and gadgets such as laptops.

It is so easy sometimes to forget what is right under your nose and some of the biggest businesses around have been highly successful in advertising special offers and raising brand awareness through the items their staff use and wear on a daily basis.

Speaking to your printer is often a good place to start when considering branding some of your existing company assets and a business gift supplier is often the best way to go for promotional products themselves.

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USB Keys the easy Promotional Product?

Posted on September 19, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Promotional Products (including Printed Pens, Conference Folders, Mugs and Umbrellas) are very popular at this time of year, and getting ready for both Christmas and next years exhibition season sees most Marketing offices cranking up the pace.

In recent years there seems to be a trend both on the high street and with online suppliers for USB products. I have had a look at some of the ideas available and many are now creeping into the world of promotional products for business.
If you are looking for a useful and lifelong promotional product to supply to clients, colleagues and potential customers then maybe some of these items might be for you:

Printed USB Keys

Personalised USB Key

Personalised USB Key

The USB Key has become a staple for every business person. Whoever would have thought that carrying so much information could be done on something as small as a keyring. The style and shape of a USB key can be changed depending on your requirements and even custom built plastic USB holder can be created. However from a marketing perspective I quite like this Credit Card style USB key, which can hold up to 8 GB of files and has a large print area for my message.

Personalised Computer Accessories

These digital accessories are all connected to a computer using the USB port and could be a useful accessory for someone who travels a lot. The mouse and port splitter both have retractable cables to the equipment packs away tidily and into its own presentation case.

Printed USB Light

This light attached to a USB cable can be personalised at the top and (to be honest) would be a real lifesaver for me when working late at night. No separate power supply is needed and it will illuminate your keyboard, making it easier to work in the dark!

Promotional USB Mouse

This promotional Mouse can be personalised on the top and like the computer accessories pack mentioned above, it also has a retractable cable so it tidies up without tangling in your laptop case.

Many other USB products are available, but these are just a few of the ones that I felt were well suited as business gifts for most occasions.

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Design & Print Meeting proves interesting

Posted on August 23, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

I was really pleased to be invited along to a meeting recently for Designers and Printers. The meeting was intended to cover a catch up on ideas and inspiration in all aspects of design, including:

  • Website Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Stationary Design
  • Promotional Materials
  • Uniform Design

The group was a real mix of people all involved in Design and Print of some description – anything from a Basingstoke Web Design firm to Kent based Personalised Stationary provider.

These groups can be a good way of pooling resources and coming up with new ideas as well as potentially a useful resource of further leads.

Of course, you don’t have to employ a company like this to create your own designs, but having a professionally created logo along with your stationary and website can go a long way towards creating a professional impression for potential (and existing) clients.

I have always believed that your website is one of the most important places you can create – these days it is a companys’ handshake with most potential customers going there long before they make direct contact through a phone or email.

Of course, creating all of these different aspects of design is not always easily completed by one person, which is why so many designers work closely with others in order to pool their resources when needed.

Ideally if you are looking to create your first website or printed stationary, then look at some of your competitors and consider what works and doesn’t work for them. Alternatively, speak with a professional designer who will be able to assist you in creating something unique for your business.

Posted in B2B General, Marketing Services

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Promotional Pencils – more variety than your average scribe!

Posted on July 13, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Lets face it, if you are looking for promotional products, you are likely to choose one of the big 5 – pens, mugs, umbrellas, clothing or bags. However, my eyes have been opened recently to the versatility of another product – Promotional Pencils.

In truth, I have never looked at pencils before but I wanted to create a gift set for special customers and suppliers, and individually creating a selection of products that worked well together seemed the best option.

In the end I went for a Conference Folder that contained a rollerball pen, pencil and pad, all of which were similarly branded in the company colours – Red and Blue.

But it was the pencils that surprised me the most. I don’t think I have owned a pencil myself since my school days. Nowadays I rely on tippex for the mistakes I make. However, the personalised pencil I created for this purpose had a rubber on the end and a holder in the conference folder for it, so there is no reason for it not to be used time and time again.

Promotional Pencil - Rainbow

Promotional Pencil - Rainbow

I was specifically interested in the variety of shapes and colours available – even a rainbow pencil that would have worked well as a souvenir at a gift shop or visitor attraction.

Of course I don’t think promotional pencils will ever replace pens, their popularity and versatility is just always growing, but why not consider making a stationary set like me? Especially when you consider how cost effective pencils are.

 

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International Marketing & Catering Show Gets Bigger

Posted on June 24, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

For many years there have been several Catering and Hospitality shows that cover various aspects of the business.

Exhibition Banner Stand

Exhibition Banner Stand

However the annual Bakery Industry Exhibition and Food and Drinks Logistics shows will be merged next year into a new show – Foodex 2012.

Following reports in June from several exhibition organisers that several B2B and B2C shows are now experiencing an increase in visitor numbers on last year, it is no wonder so many people are now looking to get involved in this industry, especially if you are in hospitality, where the Foodex show will now provide you with 2 sets of visitors for the price of 1!

Of course, there are always other opporunities to take part in large and small shows, many networking groups organise smaller county or location based events that call be very beneficial for small businesses.

But whether you are a B2B or B2C business, it seems there are many opportunities to take part in events like these and if you have your promotional equipment already prepared (such as Banner Stands, Promotional Pens and other Handouts) then taking part can be very cost effective.

As a point of interest, if you are new to exhibiting but would like to know more about the show you are thinking of taking part in, speak to the exhibition organisers who should be able to give you more information on the success of previous years including visitor numbers, exhibitor information and other details.

 

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Promotional Gadget Market Increases

Posted on June 14, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

For many years businesses have been purchasing printed products such as personalised pens, mugs and stationary.

However in recent years this industry has grown and the choice of ‘corporate gifts’ available is more varied than ever.

As we all know, a pen or coaster is not always the most appropriate corporate gift (depending on the recipient and occasion), so why not look at have some other items personalised such as:

USB Memory Keys

Available in many different shapes and sizes, USB keys can normally be printed on the outer casing, however credit card style keys are also available, offering more space for your logo and / or message.

Conference Folders & Laptop Bags

Conference Folders are often used by staff, but they can make a really well received gift for your client as well. Normally printed or embroidered on the exterior, the items offer many optional extras such as calculators, ring binders and business card holders.

Umbrellas

Umbrellas make a useful addition to any car boot and offer a large print area. And don’t forget, Golf Umbrellas are also available to be personalised for lovers of the sport!

Other personalised novelty items and gadgets I have seen in recent months include Digital Desk Clocks, Marker Pens, Pen Sets, Torches and even Swiss Army Knife Sets!

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