Tuesday 21 December 2010

Code Promotional Merchandise Christmas Break

Hi! Just a note to say that the office will be closed from the 23rd December and we’ll re-open on the 4th January. Best wishes to you and your family from all at Code and I hope we can continue to support you in 2011.

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Promotional Hand Warmers At A Great Price!


As we watch Britain shiver under a blanket of snow and ice, maybe you can turn this to your advantage.

At Code Promotional Merchandise we can offer a great deal on promotional hand warmers. You can now get 500 of these oval shaped hand warmers printed one colour, delivered for just £575 exc VAT!!

Call Code Promotional Merchandise today on 0844 879 7323 for more details.

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Promotional Cotton Shopper Offer!

Looking for a great piece of cost-effective promotional merchandise?

At Code Promotional Merchandise we have the answer!!

We can now offer the promotional cotton shopper, 4.5oz, 38 x 42cm, 100% natural cotton, long handles at just 66p for 1,000 units printed 1 colour on 1 side.

Interested? Simply call 0844 879 7323 and we'll send you a quote!

Saturday 20 November 2010

UK Government Cancels Promotional Merchandise Framework...but the private sector responds!

In another major blow for the promotional products industry, the government's marketing and communications agency has announce that it is suspending all activity through its Merchandise and Promotional Items Framework.

Unveiled in December 2009, the current Merchandising and Promotional Items Framework was planned to be used for a maximum of four years. A total of 58 suppliers from across the UK secured a place on one or more of the five lots.

The Central Office of Information (COI) says that the suspension, which takes place with immediate effect, is being implemented to align its services with government priorities.

The COI says that all existing orders and individual contractual obligations will be honoured but no new orders will be placed through the framework. However it is understood that government departments may continue to commission orders on an individual basis although there is a government wide marketing freeze.

The suspension of a major conduit for promotional merchandise is expected to hit some companies hard. It commissioned merchandising orders worth around £3m a year on behalf of government departments and other public sector bodies, ranging from small orders to major campaigns such as Change 4 Life.

Ian Feingold, Director of Code Promotional Merchandise, an online distributor for promotional merchandise, business gifts and corporate clothing, commented that “coming as it does a week after the news of the new code of conduct announced by the British pharmaceutical industry, which effectively prohibits the use of most promotional products within the sector, it is a blow to the companies involved and the industry. However, we are seeing very positive signs from the private sector that they are again seeing the benefits of using promotional merchandise extensively as part of their marketing mix due it its flexibility, cost-effectiveness and long term awareness opportunities.”

Tuesday 16 November 2010

New USB Insert Webkey Available At Code Promotional Merchandise


Code Promotional Merchandise Ltd is pleased to announce that it is now able to offer the USB Insert Key – bridging the gap between traditional print marketing and e-marketing.

The USB Insert is a customizable USB webkey, integrated into a die-cut detachable cardboard holder which in turn is integrated into a larger printed sheet or cardboard collateral. On receipt, the user detaches the USB Insert from the die-cut, plugs into their computer and has instant access to the content which is usually an exclusive microsite.

The USB Insert is trackable (as they are uniquely coded), virus free and Windows and MAC compatible. For more information click here or contact Code Promotional Merchandise on 0844 879 7323.

Monday 15 November 2010

Promotional Adloops...always at hand!


The versatile Ad-Loop promotional keyring is a simple and cost-effective way to promote your company.
The flexible, non-scratch design allows your customers to keep your name, number and message at their fingertips.
We are offering a fantastic 5 working day lead-time on our Ad-Loop® keyrings until the end of November, so why not order yours today?
for more details.

Promotional Ice Scrapers Make Great Business Sense!

Have a read of the following blog entry from http://www.claims.co.uk/ who recently purchased promotional ice scrapers from Code Promotional Merchandise.


"With winter approaching I was thinking about a few quick and easy ways to get people looking at the claims.co.uk site, build some links to it, and do something useful.

I settled on the idea of giving away an ice scraper as they are cheap to produce and quite useful to people in the inevitable bad weather. Hunting around online points to various suppliers, types and quality. I prefer to deal with UK based companies as one of the benefits of running your own company is to decide where the spend goes, plus if there is a serious issue you have the option to ‘pop round’

Google is a great tool to discover reviews and experiences, and I hope this pops up for a search for “Code Promotional” as they were great (Hi Ian!) not only in the creation process but speedy delivery. Check out their site here – Their product had a built in tyre tread checker, a simple yet effective tool. Having spent £405 on tyres due to low tread earlier in the day this did seem genuinely useful!

A box arrived via courier, so I ripped that open and spread them out on a sheet for a quick photoshoot using my bog standard Canon 450D. The aim of this was to show that they are real freebies and I have loads to give away! There is nothing worse than faked freebies that dont exist. A few minutes later a page has been created and passed around a few people to get feedback/spellcheck.

I then start researching a few freebie style sites via google and compile a list of 16 in a text file. The aim being to seed them…

I did nothing more.

Late on on the 11th November I had a couple of “ICE SCRAPER REQUESTS” pop into my inbox, on checking the referer it turns out it was this post on MoneySavingExpert . I have previously had a few sites feature on MSE in various forms, and I know it sends a fair few visits.

By 10am there had been 2,238 requests for a free ice scraper and the demand had caused the server to keel over. The load averages tell their own story… 56.60 31.18 20.74… with one peak being as high as 240!

Its worth highlighting the work done by Mark & Nick at dedi.co.uk , who when I asked ‘whats up with the server?’ had already picked up the issue on monitoring and were managing it. Another great UK based company – probably best known to people under their Fast.co.uk ADSL brand.

By 1pm the traffic was making the server yo-yo due to stuff like the 359c ‘hot’ rating on HotUKDeals and several other sites.

What did disappoint me is some comments found from normal members of the public, describing claims management companies as ‘vultures’ and assuming the giveaway was part of some crazy plan to build spam lists. It wasnt, and as I put on the form I hate spam as much as anyone else (even taking people to court over it, and completing ICO complaints).


The stats looked like a trip to Egypt
At the time of writing (Monday 15th Nov, 1pm) this site has seen an extra 57,565 visitors than it would have normally in the same time period. Traffic is worth very little if it is untargetted, so this is more of a vanity measure than anything else. I was asked on Wednesday though if I was going to give the scrapers out around the local Halfords, a very traditional way of thinking about promo item marketing. The ‘reach’ of several hundred freebie items given out against the online version is massive and for mystical offline ‘brand building’ its done well.

Hopefully the below summary will help those thinking of conducting the same, feel free to pop comments and questions in the ‘comments’ section:

Lessons:

•Everyone loves a freebie.
•You really have no idea how many love to have freebies.
•Make the freebie relevant & useful.
•Cheeky ‘reverse marketing’ does not hurt ie. use this so you dont become a client of claims.co.uk!
•Use some ‘freebie’ keywords in content and others will seed/promo/viral it for you.
•Ensure you put ‘limited avalibility’ on the page, I intend to give out as many as possible but dont bankrupt yourself by promising everyone on earth a freebie!
•Tynt style stuff is worth doing as a couple of people C+P’ed content so the auto-appended link worked. I use a self hosted version
•Traffic to the page took out the server by about 10.30am , so ensure wp-cache or the like is enabled *beforehand*
Costs:

•£250ish for the first batch of scrapers.
•£xxx to cover more as I will feel bad if I cant give as many as I can out!
•Time of around half a day.
•It took out the server out for periods of time.
•Envelope stuffing time and postage…
Benefits:

•In theory 57,000 new people exposed to the ‘Claims.co.uk’ name.
•40+ new links, some private, some public.
•6 mentions on twitter.
•80 ’shares’ on Facebook
•The above experience gained

Read more about news by null

- http://www.claims.co.uk/news/40p-scraper-57000-visitors.html

Saturday 6 November 2010

How can promotional merchandise work for your business?

Promotional merchandise offers get value for money! You could promote your business from only a few pence per item or send a valued customer a great gift as a thank you for an order or perhaps a gift for Christmas.

Retaining custom is far easier than trying to gain a new customer and promotional gifts are a great way of doing this. For those who travel a lot, a practical travel mug is always welcomed as it can keep the drink inside at the perfect temperature for hours on end and has a great branding area that can be screen printed or laser engraved depending on the effect you are looking to achieve.

Here at Code Promotional Merchandise we have always offered great value for money which is why councils, schools and universities as we as SME’s and large organisations come to us time and time again. You will see that we do not just print the product and send it out, we look after your brand as we know how precious it can be.

We can advise which promotional products would complement your brand, from printed pens to personalised mugs to corporate gifts including metal desk clocks, personalised wine, business card holders and crystal awards.

No matter what you are looking for please do not hesitate to visit www.codepromotional.co.uk or call today on 0844 879 7323...we are here to help with all you promotional merchandise needs!

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Stock Clearance - Promotional Pocket Diaries!


We have end-of-stock clearance prices on 2011 promotional pocket diary wallets with the following features: cream comb bound diary insert, week to view, perforated corners, gold ribbon marker, 14 month diary, 24 pages of world maps, clear credit card and ticket products, available in NewHide and NewCalf black and navy blue. Until stocks are cleared all quantities between 250 units and 1,000 units are priced at only £1.25 each including one position blocking (origination, carriage and VAT extra). To order call Code Promotional Merchandise on 0844 879 7323....offer only available whilst stocks last!

Thursday 28 October 2010

Promotional Rucksacks...a great offer!


The promotional rucksack is one of the most cost effective ways for any business to promote its brand message. And now at Code Promotional Merchandise we can offer an even greater reason to use them as we can offer FREE ORIGINATION and FREE DELIVERY on our premium promotional rucksack whilst stocks last. Call the team on 0844 879 7323 today for more details and some prices!

Thursday 21 October 2010

Promotional Calendar Mousemats Make Great Business Sense!


Why not promote your brand message all year round with a promotional calendar mousemat? Positioned right in front of your customer for 8 hours a day at less than 1p per day, there is no more cost effective way to communicate your brand in the office.
Manufactured in the UK and availabe on a 3 day express if required, contact Code Promotional Merchandise on 0844 879 7323 for details on ordering 500 of these great promotional desktop ideas at just £1.18 each (printed 4 colour process, origination and carriage to be applied).

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Promotional Oyster Card Wallets Reduced In Price!


Code Promotional Merchandise can now offer a great price reduction on promotional card wallets!
This calf leather card holder is perfect as a credit card holder, promotional business card holder, membership card holder, branded oyster card holder or season ticket holder. crafted from finest calf leather, handstitched and lined in silk it is available in burgundy, black or blue.
And now we have reduced the price on all quantities between 250 units and 1,000 units to just 90p including blocking in 1 position (origination, carriage and VAT exc.)

For more details visit http://www.codepromotional.co.uk/ for details on these and thousands of promotional products and corporate gifts that can support your business.

Sunday 17 October 2010

New 100pcs minimum order quantity on laptop cases!


Due to popular demand at Code Promotional Merchandise we have reduced the minimum order quantity on the high quality neoprene promotional laptop cases to just 100 units.
We have a huge range of colours and styles (with and without handles and zips) and we now have optionson the ipad case too!

Thursday 14 October 2010

Consider promotional bottled water at your next event!


Promotional bottled water is another great idea from Code Promotional Merchandise to support your next event! we can offer high quality, still spring water (330ml or 500ml) bottled at source with screw or sports cap options. Labels are printed in full colour as standard although bespoke label designs are available at extra cost.

These size bottles are available at just 77p for 240 units or 55p for 504 units by contacting sales@codepromotional.co.uk today. Please note, origination, carriage and VAT to be applied.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Promotional Bendy Watch Now Available


Code Promotional Merchandise are now stocking the trendy new promotional bendy watch.
This silicon, digital watch is available in 12 bright colours PLUS a limited edition ‘Glow In The Dark’ option and has three branding positions available.
Indicative prices are £1.28 for 1,000 units printed 1 colour in 1 position (excluding origination and carriage).
For more information contact sales@codepromotional.co.uk or call 0844 879 7323.

Monday 11 October 2010

Promotional merchandise provides cross selling opportunities?

A key target for any business is to identify opportunities for growth that are manageable, relevant and potentially profitable. Over recent years, promotional merchandise has become a central area for many industries looking at ways to enhance their business offering.

Marketing agencies have traditionally seen promotional products as the ‘icing on the cake’ when planning a campaign on behalf of their clients. Interestingly, promotional merchandise distributors are now getting calls much earlier in the planning process. “Can we do this?” or “how long will it take to source these?” are now part of discussions between agencies and distributors, such is the strength of sourcing capabilities nowadays. To a large extent, the answer is always in the positive, knowing full well there will be a factory somewhere in the world that can support the enquiry.

We are also seeing a growth in enquiries from print groups. This avenue sees experienced sales representatives recognising potential cross sales as they either deal directly with a business, public sector organisation or intermediary. For them, the key is efficient service, high quality products that match the print service they are delivering and sufficient margins to allow the cross-sell to go through the business profitably. Hence promotional pens and promotional keyrings offer great scope due to their fit in all of these criteria.

Lately, exhibition consultants have begun to recognise the opportunities. Traditionally engaged by customers always at the end of the production planning process, the rapid reduction in production lead times by UK manufacturers allows them to make suggestions on top ups to budgets that enhance their offering.

Essentially all three groups understand that although promotional merchandise is not their core business focus, it is an area that can further cement their relationship with their existing clients.

About The Author
Ian Feingold is a Director of Code Promotional Merchandise, an online supplier of promotional products and corporate gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations in the UK, Eire and Europe. At www.codepromotional.co.uk we have access to over 80,000 products.

Frosty Ice Scraper Offer


At Code Promotional Merchandise we are offering the Frosty Promotional Ice Scraper with free delivery and free origination on all orders over 300 units.
A great way to get your brand out in the marketplace this winter!
For more details contact sales@codepromotional.co.uk or visit the website for more promotional ice scraper opportunities!

Friday 8 October 2010

Natural Cotton Shoppers


At Code Promotional Merchandise we have a great offer on Natural Cotton Shoppers. These shoppers are made from 4oz cotton, measure 38 x 42cm and have a large print area of 25 x 25cm.
They are available at just 61p each printed 1 colour in 1 position when ordered in a quantity of 1,000 and if you order in October, origination is FREE!
Other prices available on request by calling 0844 879 7323.

Thursday 7 October 2010

Code Promotional Merchandise: Bags of promotional cotton shoppers!

Code Promotional Merchandise: Bags of promotional cotton shoppers!: "If you're looking for choice of promotional bags...look no further than Code Promotional Merchandise! We have a wide range of bags for you..."

Bags of promotional cotton shoppers!


If you're looking for choice of promotional bags...look no further than Code Promotional Merchandise!

We have a wide range of bags for you to choose from in a wide range of colours, shapes and materials.

For example, the Big Shopper Tote Bag comes in Natural, Black, Blue, Red and Navy colour options with one of the largest branding areas in the market place.

Or the Enviro Sports Bag - a great drawstring rucksack suitable for targeting adults and children alike! And finally, the 100% Cotton Shopper Tote Bag which includes an eco-friendly option. And all of these options are now available in Yellow, Orange and Purple colours. To see more options, simply click here or call 0844 879 7323 today!

Friday 1 October 2010


Looking for a promotional recycled mug? At Code Promotional Merchandise we can now offer new colours for the range of promotional mugs created from recycled materials.
These mugs now come in white, red and blue to supplement the existing graphite colour, are made from 60-95% recycled material and have a print area of 170 x 70mm.
For more details call 0844 879 7323 today or visit http://www.codepromotional.co.uk/ today!

Saturday 25 September 2010

Promotional Plex Balls...a great new idea!


The Plex Ball is a great puzzle toy with 6 Sections.

Available in 13 Colours it offers up to 12 printed positions with 4 spot colours per position available.

Great for multiple branding they are available in Black, White, Red, Blue, Yellow and Green.

For more information contact the team at www.codepromotional.co.uk today!

Friday 27 August 2010

Keep your marketing in line with the latest trends!



Branded Power Balance Bracelets are now available from Code Promotional Merchandise.

With brand ambassadors including David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rubens Barrichello and the Wasps Rugby Union team, you can understand the growing interest in the Power Balance Bracelets.

Indeed, though it looks like a slim band of silicone inset with two holograms, an increasing number of sports stars are claiming that they can increase their balance, strength and agility. Power Balance is based on the idea of optimizing the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. The hologram in Power Balance is designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body.


The Power Balance Bracelet can be personalised on either side of the face if required, is available in a range of colours, come individually packed, are supported by full test certification and have an option to personalise the hologram.

For more information and pricing please contact Code Promotional Merchandise by email at sales@codepromotional.co.uk or call the team on 0844 879 7323 today.

Sunday 15 August 2010

Promotional items...which one?

At Code Promotional Merchandise we understand that a wide range of options can sometimes be great...but sometimes can be a hinderance. With so much to choose from what route should you go down. That's why we have structured the website based on our experience of how we can best support you. So visit www.codepromotional.co.uk today and choose from Writing, Drinkware, Clothing, Office, Travel & Leisure, Exhibition & Conference and Eco...we're sure you'll find what you're looking for!

Monday 2 August 2010

Our bespoke pen website just got better!

Code Promotional Merchandise has just updated its bespoke promotional pen website so that it now includes some great new features...including pen choice by colour, updated pricing breakdowns and a FREE sample request service! Simply click here and take a look today!

Friday 23 July 2010

Promotional Items For Less Than £250!


Did you know you can have 1,000 printed pens for less than £250? Well, you can!

Code Promotional Merchandise is offering 1,000 Curvy Ballpens printed 1 colour in 1 position on the barrel for just £235* including delivery to one UK address.

Email sales@codepromotional.co.uk to take advantage today or visit www.codepromotional.co.uk to view promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional desk items and many more ideas to show how promotional merchandise can support the marketing for your business.

* Price excludes VAT

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Universal Travel Adaptor


This Univeral Travel Adaptor is suitable for world travel. This compact adaptor has three sections and can be configured to suit most sockets around the world.
And this great promotional product is now available at just £4.35 each (price based on orders of 50 units printed 1 colour in 1 position).

Saturday 17 July 2010

Promotional merchandise gives the versatility that marketing demands

When planning any marketing campaign it’s vital that your activity is timely, imaginative and flexible to cope with the changing face of the marketplace. It’s another reason why promotional merchandise is now as popular as ever ranging from promotional carrier bags, world cup products of branded iPod cases.

Recent national and international trends and events have given clear indications that promotional products offer not only truly versatile opportunities but also are extremely cost effective compared to the more high impact formats of television and other media advertising.

Internationally, recycling has become a major social issue and is on the agenda of most families and businesses. Promotional merchandise suppliers have produced many variations of the carrier bag to allow businesses to continue to use the format for brand awareness campaigns whilst satisfying the need of the consumer to contribute to the environmental debate with their own statement. Promotional carrier bags are now available in a range of materials including recycled cotton, jute, hessian, denim and paper.

The World cup in South Africa provided a great demonstration of how a national phenomenon can provide a marketing opportunity to those companies that have a flexible attitude to their marketing. The vuvuzela horn was identified many months ago by the promotional merchandise industry as the ‘one to watch’ and spawned a number of promotional gimmicks such as horns, rattles, whistles and hand clappers that allowed marketers to ride on the tails of a truly global opportunity.
The iPod family is also providing opportunities. It is now possible to get branded covers for the iPod, iPhone and iPad in silicon, rubber and leather allowing large branding opportunities in one of the fastest growing retail sectors in 2010.

Promotional merchandise is constantly providing evidence that it is THE most adaptable marketing tool currently available in a marketing directors arsenal and should be considered accordingly...rather than being treated as a last minute filler that is sometimes evident judging by the short lead times we promotional merchandise distributors often have to work to!

Monday 12 July 2010

No limits for promotional mugs!

If you have large quantity requirements you can make the promotional mug as bespoke as you like (subject to manufacturing limitations of course) - we could print the mug to your logo or a specific character? Maybe even add a compartment for your spoons!!

Visit Code Promotional Merchandise today and we will be able to work with you based on your budget, quantity requirements and lead time to propose different options for your consideration. We want to work with you to make your promotion a success!!

Friday 9 July 2010

Introducing the new promotional pen website from Code Promotional Merchandise

With the launch of a bespoke new website specifically showcasing a wide range of promotional pens, Code Promotional Merchandise aims to provide its customers with more great marketing opportunities and fantastic prices.

Click here to visit our Promotional Pens Website.

The range of promotional pens chosen to show you is based upon quality and style, with a very keen eye on value for money. Whether it is a low-cost giveaway or a high-quality business gift you are looking for, our collection is bursting with new and innovative ideas. You will find an extensive range from plastic pens, recycled plastic pencils, eco-friendly pencil sharpeners, triangular highlighters with full colour printing to executive metal pens including promotional parker pens, our very own exclusive DaVinci range and even a Galileo Space Pen that writes upside down!

The site becomes another sister site to the already established website offering eco-friendly promotional products.

For a quote, simply email the team at sales@codepromotional.co.uk with all your requirements.
For a wide selection of promotional products, let Code Promotional Merchandise crack all your requirements!

Wednesday 30 June 2010

Standing out from the crowd!

I was recently chatting on a forum with regards to an accountant who had set up a new practice and was mortified that no-one was responding to his leaflet drops by signing up to him.
So I gently pointed out to him he was up against established, long-term relationships (the first thing we did when we set up the company was to appoint an accountant!) and he was offering nothing unique.

Which got me thinking about the need to always keep things fresh in your business offering and ensure that your prospects are stimulated by what you have to offer. Using my industry of supplying promotional merchandise and business gifts, all too often our customers are fixed on a set idea of what to expect...promotional pens, mugs, umbrellas, more pens, mouse mats, bags...and did I mention promotional pens!!

I believe it’s up to every business owner to stimulate their database with something new in order to secure the sale. So instead of asking the customer to buy a pen, ruler or a mousemat why not sell them as a pack? And because the cheap slide puzzle doesn’t always convey the best message about your business we are actively pushing the other promotional games -
and a bespoke version of Monopoly too.

The sales team have also noticed a good opportunity for the Summer. Yes, we can offer the branded parasols for the beach but we are actively encouraging businesses to consider options...promotional wind breakers and beach shelters are selling just as well now. And a simple one to end on...everyone has a stress ball but now we also promote squeezy balls (different texture) and water balls...just allowing a point of difference for your business.

So not rocket science...just thinking ‘outside the box’.

About The Author

Ian Feingold is a Director of Code Promotional Merchandise, an online supplier of promotional products and business gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations with products including promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional umbrellas, promotional desk top items and eco friendly promotional giveaways.

Friday 25 June 2010

FREE T-Shirt Giveaway

Summer’s here and to celebrate we have 100 FREE Code Promotional Merchandise T-Shirts to give away on a first come-first serve basis*. Simply click on this link and email us your details (size, contact name, delivery address) to the email address shown with the words ‘t-shirt’ in the subject line. No catch but when they’re gone...they’re gone!

* The offer is available on a strictly first come-first serve basis and there is no cash alternative to the prize. Entrants will be advised by return email when the t-shirt has been despatched.

Monday 7 June 2010

Promotional luggage tags at reduced prices!

The promotional luggage tag is a great promotional giveaway...and is now at an even better price!

These acrylic luggage tags are available at just 53p each when ordering 1,000 units. This price includes full colour print in 1 position and includes all origination charges. Order 2,500 units and the price reduces to 36p each or order 5,000 units and pay just 28p!

Friday 4 June 2010

There is more to life than promotional carrier bags!

It’s time for marketers to broaden their horizons when it comes to promotional products and business gifts. The depth of promotional merchandise now available grows by the day allowing companies to really use corporate giveaways and promotional business gifts to their fullest potential.

And nothing demonstrates the flexibility of promotional products more than promotional bags. Gone are the days when the promotional plastic carrier bag was the only option! Today you can choose from eco friendly promotional document wallets and promotional city conference bags through to the promotional Portland bag and the range of promotional delegate bags.

Promotional conference bags now come in a range of designs and colours and are available with both shoulder straps and as holders. The promotional rucksack has also developed and is now practical and spacious and often come with CD player pouches, opening for headphones and padded shoulder straps.

Promotional laptop bags have also developed and are now available in a range of materials. The Venture Laptop Bag is a good example of an executive, quality laptop bag made from 1680D polyester with a zipped pocket front. You can also now choose from a range of promotional rucksacks and promotional recycled messenger bags. And let’s not forget the increasing range of promotional drawstring bags and promotional satchels.

But the highest area of growth has been the promotional shopping bag. Available in either long handle or short handle options they offer great print areas and can be printed on both sides for increased message delivery. The majority of promotional shoppers come in 100% cotton but you can also get promotional recycled shopping bags and promotional jute shoppers.

So the advice to all businesses when choosing promotional merchandise is to choose promotional products that make a lasting impression on the recipients and the people they show it to. And our recommendation at Code Promotional Merchandise is to consider bring promotional bags and promotional shoppers into your thoughts!

About The Author
Code Promotional Merchandise is an online supplier of promotional products and business gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations with products including promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional umbrellas, promotional desk top items and eco friendly promotional giveaways.

Starting an online business...a few tips from a non tecchie!

Starting an online business...a few tips from a non tecchie!

As our new online business at www.codepromotional.co.uk moves into the end of its first trading quarter, I wanted to pass on a few tips, words of wisdom and experiences to my fellow start ups. Launching as a distributor in the highly competitive promotional merchandise industry sector has been a very steep learning curve!

Tip 1 – Don’t skimp on the website build!
This is not the area to do on the cheap and cheerful because, fundamentally, if the website is not built to be search engine friendly you’re wasting your time and money. So you should also choose your web builder with this in mind. Look at their portfolio and the sites they have built. Do they show signs of having any functionality that you want? How are they ranking? Do they all look the same (and so question the design capability of the company)? You’re looking for examples of good and varied designs, evidence of the inclusion of site maps and good balance between imagery and text.

Tip 2 – Consider Google in all that you do!
It’s the number 1 search engine and it’s not likely to relinquish that spot in the near future. So try and read up on how it works, about the ‘spiders’, the ‘sandbox theory’, what it likes, what it dislikes and build them into your thoughts. For example, we operate in the very competitive promotional merchandise industry. So knowing how highly fought over the keywords ‘promotional merchandise’ is we built them into our name of Code Promotional Merchandise. Only a small point but as the one of the largest retailers in the UK keeps drumming into us...every little helps!

To be honest though, get your website builder choice correct and they should be recommending and implementing this for you. When you brief them (and it only takes an hour to write out your requirements and it removes the chance for disappointment at the end) ensure you clearly state that the site needs to be built to ensure maximum seo friendliness.

Tip 3 – Get writing!
Your website is going to be searched on text, not imagery. So start writing a couple of paragraphs around the key areas of your site. These paragraphs should be your thoughts on the area, include keywords that relate to the topic and make sense! For example, we have a section on writing products that can be used for promotional means. So it highlights the type of products in there e.g. plastic pens, metal pens, recycled pencils etc.

Don’t expect the web builder to write them. They are web builders, not copywriters! And besides, it’s your business so you should know best.

Tip 4 – SEO (the dark arts!)
This is the unknown quantity at the minute for us. The website has been built to a very high ‘seo friendly’ status and we are ranking well. The question is do we commit funds into monthly SEO activity. From what we can gather this is manipulation of keywords, coding etc in order to respond to the competition and keep Google interested. The problem is you will be quoted a shed load of money with not one guarantee that it will get you onto page of Google.

It has to be your call based on your budgets, the market you are in and whether you feel you will rank naturally highly anyway. Shop around, ask for quotes...but if someone guarantees that they will get you onto page 1 make sure you get it in writing as a contract!

Tip 5 – Outbound activity
Don’t just rely of people finding you. Get yourself out there by means of eshots, article submission and news stories. The eshots do not need to be award winning design pieces...we use a an eshot manager that costs us £50 per month, allows us to build trackable eshots using images and texts, is completely compatible with data protection laws and is easy to use. Invest in a targeted email database but measure the bounces and build an acceptable bounce rate into the contract (10% or less I’d suggest).

And article writing is not as daunting as it seems...I mean, you're reading this!

Promotional desk top items - a great investment!

As marketers strive to get brand messages to the right target audience, the increasing versatility of promotional desk-top items is becoming a valuable weapon in the marketing tool kit.

Paper based promotional desk top items are the traditional route, starting with the promotional sticky note pad but even this has now evolved to allow for bespoke shapes, a wide range of colours and a wider range of sizes. Promotional note blocks are also extremely popular due to their large branding area and the added option to include a drill hole that can also carry a promotional pen or a promotional pencil.

Promotional pen pot holders have moved on from the plastic only variant! There is now a growing range of metal versions which encompass clocks, photo frames and calendars. Promotional calculators have also developed recently with larger branding areas and a wider range of colours to ensure a higher rate of retention.

For time specific promotional desk top merchandise consider the promotional calendar, available in various price ranges. For Spring, why not consider promotional seed products or promotional plants? These are now growing in popularity as they have adopted to the needs of marketing and have become easy to deliver and have great ability for message delivery.

And finally, let’s not ignore the promotional mug. Always a favourite, due it branding abilities and usefulness. After all, when was the last time you through a mug away?

So the advice to all businesses when choosing promotional merchandise is to choose promotional products that make a lasting impression on the recipients and the people they show it to. And our recommendation at Code Promotional Merchandise is to consider bring promotional desk top items into your thoughts!

About The Author
Code Promotional Merchandise is an online supplier of promotional products and business gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations with products including promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional umbrellas, promotional desk top items and eco friendly promotional giveaways.

Promotional classics just get better and better!

The classic promotional items – pens, mugs, mousemats and clothing – will always be the first items that pop into any marketers head. Why? Because they offer great value and have great longevity!

Promotional pens range from the cost effective plastic versions right through to the engraved metal pens, ideal as a corporate gift. The range of pens is now staggering (on our own website we have nearly 7,000 pens to choose from) and with this comes a level of price comparison that rivals any product. In whatever currency, choose between cheap giveaways, medium priced desk top reminders or high end bespoke gift sets. And we’ve never even mentioned promotional pencils yet!

Promotional mugs have benefitted enormously from developments in printing technologies. Gone are the days when it was single colour print options in one position on the outside of the mug. Now we have printed insides of the mugs and photographic 360 degree reproduction on the outside of the mug. Not to mention the ability to pantone match!

Promotional mousemats now come in two broad ranges – cost effective and longer lasting (thanks to the outstanding reliability of the Brite Mat trade name). And we can now be even smarter in our marketing by taking advantage of the many presentation packs now on the market which include a mousemat and two matching promotional coasters.

And finally, corporate clothing which now benefits from the ability to meet fashion trends. So you can now offer your customers beanie hats, hooded sweaters and trendy neckerchiefs allowing the end user to be able to not think twice about wearing a branded piece of corporate clothing.

So, as ever, our advice at Code Promotional Merchandise is choose promotional products that make a lasting impression on the recipients by choosing the age old classics of promotional pens, mugs, mousemats and corporate clothing.

About The Author
Code Promotional Merchandise is an online supplier of promotional products and business gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations with products including promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional umbrellas, promotional desk top items and eco friendly promotional giveaways.

Thursday 3 June 2010

Choosing the right promotional item for a captive audience at exhibitions and conferences

One of the best ways to get your business name in front of potential customers is to attend industry trade shows. When you attend a trade show, however, you are given the opportunity to prove how much better your company is compared to the others. And one of the best ways to show off your business is with promotional products.

Having a stellar promotional product giveaway at a trade show is and one of the smartest marketing moves you can make for your business is to have a set of promotional items that convey professionalism, quality and impact. Or why not try the novel route, choosing a promotional product that will attract customers and prospect to your trade show booth like bees to honey. From there, your sales team can promote your business message and demonstrate why your company is better than the rest.

What about taking your trade show giveaways to a two tier approach? Choose a range of promotional items for a core audience and then supplement the offering with a range of give-aways for the masses. Put your business name on the folders, pens, bags and notebooks that are given to each trade show attendee for widespread promotional exposure. This provides a strong business case for the use of promotional merchandise in general as it shows the marketing budget is being tactically used and segmented according to the target audience’s propensity to spend with you (so giving you more credibility across the business).

So when you’re planning the next exhibition, keep promotional merchandise from Code Promotional Merchandise in mind during budget discussions…it could prove the most cost-effective element of an often costly exercise.

It’s all about image with promotional clothing

Promotional clothing is more than just clothes; they are a sign that the individual is a part of your business and is proud to be a member of that business. And that’s why promotional clothing items must be about quality and style above all else.

Whenever your employee (or customer for that matter!) wears a piece of promotional clothing, everyone who sees this individual will see your business name as well. So when you think about how many places an individual can travel in a single day by wearing promotional clothing with your branding on it, your business will have unparalleled advertising potential.

Corporate clothing is also a potential welcome gift for your employees and customers alike. Whether you give promotional shirts, promotional jackets, promotional polo shirts and promotional caps, your employees and customers will feel like they are part of a team, employees will appreciate being recognised for their hard work and will work even harder to be a part of your company. Scientific studies have shown that companies who encourage a team-building atmosphere in their professional environment also have a lower employee turnover rate. And as recruiting new employees can be a costly expense for growing businesses, so establishing a higher level of employee retention can be crucial to the future success of a business. In a similar way, all successful companies know that their foundation is built on a loyal customer base and promotional clothing and promotional apparel from Code Promotional Merchandise can encourage a stronger customer retention rate.

How can promotional merchandise work for your businesses marketing?

Whilst not underestimating the potential audiences that can be reached through traditional print advertising, tv and radio campaigns or the now increasingly popular online advertising, the costs for these can (and usually do) run into the thousands. Compare that to the cost of some great and effective promotional items that can cost you just pennies. For as little as £1 per unit you can get an item that can be put in the hands of a potential customer that has enormous retention value, keeping your brand message in view throughout the working day. After all, how many promotional pens have you got on your desk today?

But it’s not just about customer retention. You need to be thinking about recruitment and re-activation too. To recruit, you need impact and what better way than to look at the more obscure and funny promotional items in the marketplace. From character usb’s and shaped stress products through to novelty pens and cuddly toys…the possibilities to make a statement are endless!

So, our advice at Code Promotional Merchandise is to consider the use of the promotional item, consider your target audience, give yourself a realistic budget to work within and investigate how promotional items and corporate gifts can be a key element of your marketing plans and support the long-term growth of your business.

Why allocate budget for promotional items? Let me explain...

As a marketing manager you will ultimately be asked to justify your decision making. So when the Finance Manager questions the cost of the exhibition support, let’s get the response ready!

High Retention Levels

If you get the giveaway right, then the recipient will keep it. And if you can give away a business gift that will actually save your prospect money then you really will be on to a winner. So consider a giveaway such as promotional pens (always handy), promotional mugs (never enough in the coffee cupboard) and promotional umbrellas (never going to get thrown away).

Message Longevity

No-one can suggest that a promotional item can compare with a TV advert. But what they lack in glamour they more than make up for in longevity. TV adverts are of course the most expensive form of advertising and whilst they may create a dramatic impact the majority are soon forgotten. The beauty of the promotional item is the message is retained, far beyond any cost benefit analysis threshold. Just ask yourself when was the last time you through a promotional baseball cap away|

More Useful Than an Advert

From promotional ice scrapers and promotional torches through to branded mobile phone holders and printed folders, most promotional items are useful in one way or another. As a result of this usefulness they will be retained...along with your brand and message.

Client Loyalty

Promotional merchandise is not just nicety. It can have a massive impact on your customers’ perception of you and your company. So next time they have a choice to make between suppliers, it could just be the factor that swings that order to you rather than the competition. And all because of that element of promotional merchandise that you gave away as a freebie!

To see a comprehensive range of the opportunities available to your business through promotional merchandise, simply visit www.codepromotional.co.uk today.

Frequently asked questions regarding promotional merchandise.

Sometimes the promotional merchandise industry becomes wrapped up in itself with regards to assumptions about the levels of understanding of the end user. Jargon becomes the norm and sometimes we need to step back and ensure our clients really understand what we are talking about.

What is origination?
Origination is the set up of the equipment for the job; to produce the screen in the screen printing process or to produce the disk for embroidery, it is an industry standard charge.

How should I provide artwork?
Suppliers can accept artwork in a majority of formats including EPS, PDF, Coral, Quark and Illustrator. However, if you do not have artwork, very often they will be able to advise and produce print ready artwork to your requirements, at minimal cost.

How accurately will my colours be reproduced?
There will always be endeavour to match the colours as accurately as possible. However print colours and shades will vary depending on the material, surface and texture being utilised.

What types of branding are available?
Screen printing: Used on pens, flat plastic items and PU, as well as clothing, particularly T-shirts. Ink is applied to the product by pushing it through a stencil (screen) containing your design.

Tampo (or Pad) Printing: An ink applying method, but used to especially good effect on odd or curved shapes. An increasing popular method due to the flexibility and number of products it can mark. Ink is transferred onto product by way of a rubber pad.

Engraving: Used most commonly on crystal, glass and metal products to achieve a quality, lasting finish. Laser engraving is now widely regarded as the most accurate and economical way of reproducing fine design work, although machine engraving may still be used to excellent effect.

Blocking: Used to brand leather goods in particular. A metal block (die) is pressure stamped onto the product, usually with a gold or silver foil, to leave a lasting impression of your design. Alternatively, the process can be performed without foil, just leaving your design in plain relief. This is known as Blind Embossing.

Embroidery: This is a great way to achieve quality personalisation on most clothing and headwear. The modern machinery offering speed and multiple colour possibilities, more customers are selecting this method of personalisation to great effect. A typical design is based on a stitch count of around 5 to 10,000 stitches.

Die Stamping: Usually used on metal products like stainless steel or similar products. Like blocking, metal die is pressure stamped onto your product leaving an impression of your design. It can be left plain or filled with colour.

So, as ever, our advice at Code Promotional Merchandise is to never assume the level of knowledge of your customer and always ensure that there adequate explanation of the process when you quote. That way, there will be no hidden surprises for you or your customer!

About The Author
Ian Feingold is a Director of Code Promotional Merchandise, an online supplier of promotional products and business gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations with products including promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional umbrellas, promotional desk top items and eco friendly promotional giveaways.

The budget versatility of promotional products

As any marketing manager, brand manager, sales director of MD will tell you, a key part of any outlay on marketing is getting the best value for your money. And that is precisely why many companies consider promotional merchandise to be a vital part of their marketing mix.

Consider any of the main product groups of promotional products and business gifts and you will see the versatility it can play on budgets. The promotional pen for example. The most obvious first step is to decide on the lower specification plastic pen or the more visually impactful metal pen. Plastic pens have an immense price range to work within - consider a Panther Eco pen for less than 18p or go for a Prodir closer to 30p each. So you as the company must make a call on cheap giveaway or longevity of use.

For metal pens, generally the prices start from around 85p or so and of course can go as high as £3-4 and higher. Traditionally, the higher end pricing tends to reflect a brand name e.g. Papermate, Waterman, Parker etc, normally in some form of set and presentation box.
New onto the marketplace (and adding a further dimension to the area) is the rollerball pen...more expensive than the ballpen but generally accepted to be a better writing instrument with greater longevity.

But it’s not just writing products that demonstrate the budget versatility of promotional merchandise.

Drinkware is also an opportunity. Mugs have always been a popular as they have longevity of use...after all, when was the last time you through a mug out! So consider the budget flexibility of ceramic mugs versus plastic mugs. And then through in China mugs too! And surprisingly, the range of ceramic mugs keeps the pricing structure both attractive and affordable for most businesses.

Budget adherence (and juggling) is a fundamental part of business. So when looking into brand awareness, exhibition support or new product launches, promotional merchandise offers a vast array of opportunities to ensure budgets are spent wisely.

About The Author

Ian Feingold is a Director of Code Promotional Merchandise, an online supplier of promotional products and business gifts to businesses, charities and public sector organisations with products including promotional pens, promotional mugs, promotional umbrellas, promotional desk top items and eco friendly promotional giveaways.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Promotional-Classics-Just-Get-Better-And-Better!/1565785

Tuesday 20 April 2010

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Mix-business-and-pleasure-during-the-World-Cup-this-year-/1101758
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Metal-promotional-pens---beware-cheap-imitations-/1101829
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Metal-promotional-pens---beware-cheap-imitations-/1101829

Thursday 15 April 2010

http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Mix-Business-And-Pleasure-During-The-World-Cup-This-Year!/1477882

Tuesday 30 March 2010

http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-tips-articles/mix-business-and-pleasure-during-the-world-cup-this-year-2068623.html

Friday 26 March 2010

Friday 26 February 2010

http://www.ecopromogifts.co.uk/codepromotionalmerchandise/

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Friday 5 February 2010

Starting an online business...a few tips from a non tecchie!

As our new online business moves into the end of its first trading quarter, I wanted to pass on a few tips, words of wisdom and experiences to my fellow start ups. Launching as a distributor in the highly competitive promotional merchandise industry sector has been a very steep learning curve!

Tip 1 - Don’t skimp on the website build!
This is not the area to do on the cheap and cheerful because, fundamentally, if the website is not built to be search engine friendly you’re wasting your time and money. So you should also choose your web builder with this in mind. Look at their portfolio and the sites they have built. Do they show signs of having any functionality that you want? How are they ranking? Do they all look the same (and so question the design capability of the company)? You’re looking for examples of good and varied designs, evidence of the inclusion of site maps and good balance between imagery and text.

Tip 2 – Consider Google in all that you do!
It’s the number 1 search engine and it’s not likely to relinquish that spot in the near future. So try and read up on how it works, about the ‘spiders’, the ‘sandbox theory’, what it likes, what it dislikes and build them into your thoughts. For example, we operate in the very competitive promotional merchandise industry. So knowing how highly fought over the keywords ‘promotional merchandise’ is we built them into our name of Code Promotional Merchandise. Only a small point but as the one of the largest retailers in the UK keeps drumming into us...every little helps!

To be honest though, get your website builder choice correct and they should be recommending and implementing this for you. When you brief them (and it only takes an hour to write out your requirements and it removes the chance for disappointment at the end) ensure you clearly state that the site needs to be built to ensure maximum seo friendliness.

Tip 3 – Get writing!
Your website is going to be searched on text, not imagery. So start writing a couple of paragraphs around the key areas of your site. These paragraphs should be your thoughts on the area, include keywords that relate to the topic and make sense! For example, we have a section on writing products that can be used for promotional means. So it highlights the type of products in there e.g. plastic pens, metal pens, recycled pencils etc.

Don’t expect the web builder to write them. They are web builders, not copywriters! And besides, it’s your business so you should know best.

Tip 4 – SEO (the dark arts!)
This is the unknown quantity at the minute for us. The website has been built to a very high ‘seo friendly’ status and we are ranking well. The question is do we commit funds into monthly SEO activity. From what we can gather this is manipulation of keywords, coding etc in order to respond to the competition and keep Google interested. The problem is you will be quoted a shed load of money with not one guarantee that it will get you onto page of Google.

It has to be your call based on your budgets, the market you are in and whether you feel you will rank naturally highly anyway. Shop around, ask for quotes...but if someone guarantees that they will get you onto page 1 make sure you get it in writing as a contract!

Tip 5 – Outbound activity
Don’t just rely of people finding you. Get yourself out there by means of eshots, article submission and news stories. The eshots do not need to be award winning design pieces...we use a an eshot manager that costs us £50 per month, allows us to build trackable eshots using images and texts, is completely compatible with data protection laws and is easy to use. Invest in a targeted email database but measure the bounces and build an acceptable bounce rate into the contract (10% or less I’d suggest).

And article writing is not as daunting as it seems...I mean, your reading this!

Friday 15 January 2010

Consider your audience when investing in promotional merchandise!

As we enter 2010 and begin to ride out the economic recession, this is a message to all businesses to use their budgets wisely! Promotional merchandise, promotional products, promotional items (whatever terminology fits!) is still THE most cost effective form of marketing available...but it can all be wasted if you don’t match the product with the person.

So consider these 3 audiences and ponder some of the suggestions we have....

Motorists
The humble tax disc holder has developed rapidly from the days when it used to be plain plastic backing. Not only do businesses have the opportunity for 4 colour print but it’s a premium placed visual being seen by all occupants. And now, there is also the magnetic tax disc holder for even greater opportunities. And its catching on too...one food chain has been using it as a voucher dispenser for its drive-thru customers to great effect. The ice scraper...a classic for motorists! Never likely to be thrown away, always greatly received and available in a multitude of sixes to suit all budgets. With the advent of in-car cup holders, the industry has seen an explosion for travel mugs and travel cups. Thermal cups have seen strong growth and offer a large visual area to work your message around. A strong consideration for any business with a team of drivers on the road, to be used as an employee bonus.

Estate Agents
Promotional keyrings are a massive area of growth due to expansion in materials, formats and sizes. Acrylic keyrings, shaped keyrings, floating keyrings...the list is endless! As a middleman in key holding, the estate agent is an ideal target as when they had the keys back to the new owner; it’s their marketing message that passes along the chain. And with measuring being a key part of the job, promotional tape measures make a great giveaway to this audience. From keyrings attachments to laser beam tape measure versions, all offer long-term opportunities due to their functionality.

Office Managers
Think desks, think female, think useful! Promotional memo blocks are ideal. Large branding areas, always in use and more likely you will get a request for a replacement! The range of sizes of promotional memo blocks is also a factor in their popularity. The most popular sizes are 500 sheets glued down one side.
There has also been a great deal of development in the range of promotional mobile phone holders available on the market place – plastic, metal or card. Or what about considering pen pot holders which are now also available with in-built clocks, photo frames and thermometers. And finally, you have the good old fashioned and reliable promotional calculator! Plastic, metal or embedded in wood...take your pick!

So you see my point! Always consider the end user, their working environment, their job function and you won’t go wrong.