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.
Wednesday 30 June 2010
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.
* 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)