Winning Ways - Promotional products formed a key part of the presidential campaign

President Obama recently signed an order detailing cuts in federal spending, as part of a strategy to help the US economy. The aim is to reduce ‘wasteful’ expenditure by reigning in on travel, mobile phones, laptops and, more controversially, promotional merchandise. Now the sentiment is not something many will argue with – budgets do need to be brought under control to hit the target of a 20% reduction in spend within federal agencies. However, the proposed cut in promotional merchandise is a rapid turnaround in thinking. The entire presidential campaign was managed through clever and careful marketing techniques, with promotional items playing a large part in this. Now they are being considered wasteful?

Indeed, the Barack Obama presidential campaign is a perfect example of promotional branding, flooding the country with the official Obama logo until it was embedded in the very subconscious of the nation. The design was bold and easily recognisable, but versatile, and used across a range of everyday products. However, this was just the start. Brand ‘Obama’ was promoted further via a dedicated online shop selling hundreds of everyday branded goods – all proudly declared as ‘made in the USA’. The aim was to create a feel good factor amongst patriotic Americans, whilst at the same time perpetuating positive brand associations. And it succeeded.
Cleverly, Obama also forged links with popular on-trend designers to create items with a higher perceived value than would be usual; allowing the Obama logo to reach the eyes of thousands in the slipstream of these coveted designer products.

From babygrows to hooded sweatshirts, and even dog bandanas, the range of branded products really was designed to appeal to all. Picture the scenario of the ‘average American’ who could wake up, drive to work in car adorned with a printed bumper sticker, walk the dog (in a promotional dog collar and jacket), drink coffee from an Obama printed travel mug. Before returning home to cook lunch in an Obama branded apron. Ok, maybe a bit extreme. Of course, no-one would buy all these products, but the scenario certainly showcases the extent of the marketing campaign.

President Obama’s decision to cut spending through the axing of promotional items is all the more questionable given the benefits that his own range of merchandise delivers. Without doubt, the campaign reaffirmed the value of promotional products and the value it can bring to many businesses – at a fraction of the cost of ‘above the line’ advertising.
So take a step back and consider if Obama would have been successful without the use of promotional memorabilia? To quote the words of his slogan, can he ‘do it again’ without the help of his branded friends? The jury is out.

Promotional sports items are set to have the x-factor in 2012!

Within the promotional industry, there is always a core range of favourite promotional gifts including mugs, keyrings, and promotional pens. Periodically, however, individual items take the sector by storm; they stand out from the norm and offer a great way to differentiate your brand. 2011 for example saw a craze for silicone wristbands – ideal for adding a company logo and contact details. With a high retention value and the potential to reach a large audience through being worn on a daily basis, wristbands are a financially savvy way to implement your marketing.

2012 is of course an Olympic year and sports-related themes are set to be high on the agenda. Think silicone sports watchbands, sports bottles and energy drinks. In fact, any health and fitness related products will be in high demand next year, adding that extra x-factor to your campaign.

Alternatively, you could choose a traditional promotional item, with a twist. How about the promotional equivalent of the X-Factor ‘dark horse act’ – the banner pen? This traditional ball pen features a surprise extending advertising banner in the barrel, perfect for giving your message extra emphasis. Or how about the ‘novelty act’ – perhaps a stress toy, shaped to fit your business? And not forgetting the ‘over-25’s’ – ceramic printed mugs have been used in promotions for years, but why not add an on-trend twist by choosing the anti-bac coated mugs?

However you decide to promote your business, there can be no doubt that choosing the right promotional gift will giving your marketing campaign the real X-Factor and ‘make it your own’!

A sweet way to thank your clients for their business throughout the year!

Christmas means different things to different people, but one obvious thought that springs to mind when we think of the festive season is … gifts!

Traditionally Christmas is a popular time for businesses to exchange gifts; these corporate Christmas gifts are different to other marketing products – they’re not advertising tools designed to be distributed en masse, they’re well selected tokens given to clients as a ‘thank you’ for their support and business throughout the year.

Unfortunately though, the message of goodwill can be lost in the frenzy of gift giving and unless you offer something different that enables you to stand out in the crowd, your Christmas gift may not have the memorable and long lasting effect you intended. Up-market, luxury business gifts will have a high retention value, ensuring your clients continue to hold on to your gift beyond the festive season!

Popular choices for Christmas business gifts would be items such as leather products (folders, desk diaries, wallets etc.) and, increasingly, technological items (such as USBs, lap-top bags, digital cameras and mobile phone cases). Traditional Christmas business gifts such as glassware and luxury finished clocks continue to have a place on the corporate Christmas present shopping list. Well known or top brands show your client that you appreciate their business; consider giving Cross Pens, Victorinox Maglite Torches, or Pierre Cardin clothing.

For those whose budgets won’t stretch to the top end business gift, there are alternatives! Christmas decorations make fun, quirky gifts. Everyone loves to decorate their workspace during the festive period. Put a smile on your clients’ faces by giving branded decorations they can use to adorn their surroundings. Items such as personalised baubles, Christmas stockings, snow globes, advent calendars and printed Christmas tree decorations all make excellent festive goody bag fillers that will promote your brand throughout the season. Christmas chocolates could also be a relatively inexpensive gesture that will definitely be appreciated! Chocolates or their boxes can be personalised with a logo to add a smart touch to this appetizing Christmas gift that isn’t meant to be shared!

With festive stock starting to appear on the shelves of supermarkets, now is the time to be considering your choices of Christmas corporate gift. But choose wisely! A well chosen personal gift, bearing your logo, will stand out; it will be well received and continue to be used well into the New Year!

Trolley Coin Keyrings make a great unusual promotional gift

Ask someone to name a ‘promotional product’ and most people would immediately respond with ‘promotional pen’ or ‘promotional mug’. There are, however, literally hundreds of more unusual promotional products available now.
By choosing unusual promotional gifts, you are ensuring that your company or organisation stands out in the crowd and is remembered in the minds of the recipient. In our fast moving world, the new, the unusual and the innovative product is always going to be attractive.
There are plenty of affordable unusual promotional products on the market; trolley coins are always a popular choice and now available as a cheaper, plastic option. Magnetic combi keys are very popular; a radiator tool and meter box key combined into a magnetic advertising product– a modern, practical twist on the traditional fridge magnet. Printed pedometers have now become a firm favourite, echoing the current trends for a healthier life style.
Some of the more unusual promotional products have filtered over from the States, the world leaders in promotion and advertising! Thunder sticks have replaced whistles and the ubiquitous travel mug competes with the traditional coffee mug.
In this technological age, USB sticks are always well received as a promotional giveaway, but why stick to traditional shapes? Printed USB sticks are now available shaped as people, cars and even syringes!
Edible giveaways always go down well. Look out for cool mint cards, personalised sweets and promotional bottled water. Promotional clothes need no longer be simple T-shirts and baseball caps, consider instead printed flip-flops and sunglasses! And let’s not forget one of this year’s best sellers – the printed plastic piggy bank!
So when you’re next considering promotional gifts for your company, take time and care. Don’t necessarily make an obvious, traditional choice. A more unusual, more appropriate item, complete with your name, logo, and contact information, could truly help you to market your business and raise sales.

Promotional Summer Items

Summer has arrived early this year so why not increase the heat of your next promotional campaign with summer promotional gifts and giveaways?

Some of the most popular promotional items include sports bottles, promotional sunglasses, printed cool bags, personalised lip balms and printed T-shirts carrying your very own logo.

Other summer promotional gift ideas include: printed beach balls, and frisbees. These cheerful, colourful gifts are always well received and sure to be an effective way of getting over a message or promoting a brand. However, if you are looking for something slightly more unusual, low about a printed flip-flop? Your logo can be moulded out of the sole, which would mean that the image is left behind all over the beach!!
Another promotional item, rapidly gaining in popularity, is the ‘inflatables’ group; printed lilos and swimming rings/arm bands have been around for a while now, but did you know that you may now be able to get an inflatable version of your product? Printed inflatables are cost effective, easy to store and flexible – a great promotional item!

Depending on what you want to achieve, there are many choices and the premise that ‘the more you spend the more you get’ is not necessarily true. Traditionally printed pens/pencils and promotional keyrings have worked very well and with literally thousands of these popular products available, we’re sure that there’ll be one or two that will reflect your organisation and fit your budget.

More recently, other ‘budget promotional products’ have taken over in popularity, especially those reflecting our interest in health and fitness and in our attitude to environmental issues. For example, one budget promotional item that has seen a rise in popularity is the printed pedometer – this is an item with a long shelf life, a high retention value, it’s small, light and easily distributable – a true winner! Ethically sound products such as biodegradable plastic carrier bags, and cotton shoppers are always well received and can be manufactured to meet very low budgets.

So, to summarise, if you’re looking for promotional products, and you have a limited budget, fear not, there is an item out there for you! A little can go a long way!!

How about a personalised bear? Corporate logos and goodwill messages can be stitched directly onto the bear, or printed onto a t shirt or sash.

Promotional confectionery can also be personalised. How about sending a stylish box of chocolates or a fun tub of sweets, to wish your valued customers a Happy Valentine’s Day?

Personalised foil or latex balloons are a simple and cost effective way to maximise your advertising potential in February. With a range of shapes and colours, your balloons can be appropriately themed for Valentine’s Day in the same way as any other seasonal event.

Whichever promotional gift you choose, you’ll love advertising your business on Valentine’s Day!

Promotional Bags of Style!

Promotional bags with logos come in all shapes and sizes, and at a price to suit every budget.  At the freebie/giveaway end of the promotional bag market is the ubiquitous printed carrier bag – for years a staple item amongst many advertisers. Recently the promotional industry has seen demand increase for eco friendly printed bags as businesses become more environmentally aware. The general trend towards eco friendly promotional gifts has also seen an increase in the sale of cotton shoppers, especially since supermarkets have started to reward their customers for reusing their bags. How many cotton/jute printed shopping bags have you seen up and down the high street over the past few years?! If affordability is a key factor in deciding upon a promotional bag then another favourite is the printed drawstring rucksack. Fashionable and ever popular, especially with younger audiences, they’re also small and light enough to store and distribute easily.
At the more corporate end of the market is the printed conference bag and promotional laptop bag. These logo bags often have a very high retention value as they’re not only very useful (who doesn’t have a lap top these days?) but they are smart, attractive and likely to be retained by any recipient.
Promotional bags with logos – a vast range of styles and colours and costs – something to suit everyone. A practical promotional item with a long shelf life and high retention value – brilliant!