Inspired by London fashion week we’ve decided to go all haute couture by putting together our very own catwalk collection! Chic is the theme so if you want to present a stylish impression of your company, try these promotional items for size:
1. Fruit of The Loom Organic T-Shirt
Made from 100% certified organic cotton, this casual tee from FOTL offers effortless, laid back style. Unbleached and undyed for a natural finish, it comes with options to add an embroidered logo for a super cool company advertiser.
2. Natural Cotton Tote
We’ve been raving about tote bags for some time now and this natural cotton jute ticks not only the style boxes, it has a fab size print area to boot.
3. Latte Photo Mugs
Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of coffee? Especially when it’s served in this super chic latte mug! Available in grande and regular sizes, this mug can be personalised with your photographic image for an extra creative promotion.
4. Pink Make Up Bag
This stunning leather make up bag is hot to trot in vibrant pink and certainly destined for the ‘will keep’ pile. Highly recommended as a ‘Thank You’ gift for key clients.
5. Recycled A5 Card Cover Notepad
Rustic appeal can be used to describe this charming notebook, which is made from UK recycled waste paper and cardboard. Available in A4 and A4 sizes, the front card can be printed in up to 4 colours for great branding potential.
6. Orb Silver Plated Cufflinks
Complement any sharp suit with these silver plated cufflinks, presented in a gift box for that extra special touch. An impressive gift for today’s modern execs.
7. Glass Water Bottle
Not the average water bottle; this distinctive glass water holder is ideal for creating a talking point and especially suited to sports, catering or health promotions. Available with a white, red or blue bottle top it’s also geared up for jubilee celebrations!
The new spring season will soon be here and with that brings warmer weather and the opportunity for fresh new promotional activity. The big colour trend of the year is PANTONE’s tangerine tango so expect to see accents of reddish orange filtering through into advertising campaigns and promotional products. For brands looking to maximise this vivacious colour – and create an on trend promotion – consider a printed t-shirt in sunset hues. Not only will this offer high impact advertising; the vibrant colour is likely to be an instant mood lifter!
For logos that may not work so well with orange, one option is to use accent colours instead; many products are available with sideline hints of colour, so a good way to subtly incorporate the trend.
As the weather heats up a classic theme for a spring promotion is that of the great outdoors. Combine this with the Olympics arriving in London later this year and the scene is set for plenty of sports related souvenirs. Popular product choices include promotional pedometers, sports bottles, skipping ropes and body fat analysers; all ideal for customers looking to get in shape in time for summer. But don’t forget those April showers – a printed umbrella can be a highly appreciated giveaway for customers caught in the rain.
For an eco angle on spring promotions, seed pots are hot on the trend radar (not to mention something a bit different). Ideal to be personalised with high quality images, seed pots are a high retention item since they will be kept at least as long as the seeds take to grow. And far from being expensive, they offer a very efficient ROI through extended brand visibility.
Lastly, button badges have made something of a fashion comeback over the last six months and are set to remain popular well into the spring season. Traditionally associated with charity and awareness campaigns, the recent ‘on trend’ angle means they’re ideal for youth, music and fashion promotions. Or they can also be used as a novelty giveaway to promote slogans, messages or new products.
So, whether zesty orange, a sporting flavour or a back to nature promotion is on the agenda; spring clean your promotion for a memorable season of advertising.
The Oscars are the most prestigious awards within the film industry and the Oscar trophy a symbol of excellence recognised worldwide. Likewise, the Brits have become synonymous with exemplary music talent. Imagine building a similar prestige around achievement awards within your business…
Either as part of a reward scheme, or as a singular recognition of performance, there are great benefits to initiating a reward and recognition programme for your workforce. Employees commonly express a preference for cash bonuses rather than gifts; however it is often the case that people will work much harder to gain recognition! To give an award is to give the gift of prestige. Cash simply does not have this ‘trophy value’, nor does it fuel the desire to obtain something unavailable anywhere else.
The classic and most popular recognition gift is the engraved trophy. Indeed, heavyweight glass branded trophies can be visually stunning and personalised with the name of the recipient. Another option is to combine tradition with practicality by giving a cut glass decanter, goblet, or paperweight. And don’t forget to hold an authentic awards ceremony – the Hollywood hype will reinforce positivity throughout the company!
If your business wants to look beyond employees, and thank ‘all those people who made it possible’, then valued customers can be given a thank you gift as a reward for their loyalty. If cost is a concern, there is a wide range of trophy branded items that don’t run to a box office budget. For example, engraved hip flasks, shot glasses or a quality desk clock all make suitable promotional gifts. The branding can also be incorporated as an integral part of the product, and can even add to the desirability of the reward.
Employees and customers both play the same role in your business – so give them the opportunity to take a bow and receive their awards.
Valentine’s is just around the corner and with that brings the opportunity to show clients and customers just how much they’re valued. It’s also a good way to acquire new business with some cleverly targeted marketing campaigns. Here are out top 10 giveaways to hand out this Valentine’s…
- Love your customers?
1. Valentine’s Message Bugs
Message bugs are a popular year round advertiser, but they’re an extra fun way to show client appreciation at Valentine’s. Choose from a themed bug holding a heart and personalise with a message telling clients how much you love working with them!
2. Chocolate
Personalised chocolate makes a great ‘Thank You’ gift and, well, who isn’t impressed by chocolate? Just be sure to select a good quality brand and personalise with a message that is fun rather than sentimental.
3. Personalised lip balms
Personalised lip balms are a cheeky way to re-activate lapsed customers, provided the messaging is right. Why not distribute as part of a mailer with some creative copy such as ‘Can we kiss and make up?’
4. Memo Holder
If you want to send a gift that extends well beyond Valentine’s then a personalised memo holder is an effective idea. Simply add a removable note, tailored to Valentine’s, but keep the holder generic so they’ll re-use once the day is over.
5. Pamper Gift Set
‘We like to pamper our customers’ is what this gift says and a stylish way to make an impact. If you want to score extra points make it eco friendly and free from animal testing.
6. Tiny Terracotta Plant
This novelty plant is a move away from the usual chocs and hearts, but it’s a fun way to target prospects. Simply personalise with your company logo and add a message that says ‘We’d love to help your business to grow’. Then send to warm leads.
8. Heart Magnet
It would be easy to talk about how a promotional magnet will magnetise your customers but we’ll avoid the obvious pun. Instead we’ll mention what a budget friendly idea it is…
9. Balloons
Subtle? No, Fun? Yes. Balloons are hard to ignore, but a nice gesture for your customers. They’re also budget friendly so perfect for smaller businesses.
10. Message Bear
Finally, who can resist a cute and cuddly teddy? Not us. And hopefully neither will your customers….
Social media and promotional products may not be the most obvious pairing but when used together they can be a powerful combination. Here are our top tips on how to use branded merchandise with our favourite social networking sites.
Twitter
1. Reward your top tweeters with company candy
And by candy we’re talking goody bags filled with company giveaways (not necessarily of the sweet variety). Send these to your top followers and hopefully you’ll get lots of mentions. Not only are you establishing a good relationship with a potential customer but you are also helping to raise awareness amongst their (hopefully army of) followers.
2. Use branded gifts to incentivise re-tweets
Once you’ve built up a good number of followers, ask them to re-tweet your messages. This will help your posts to go viral and drive additional awareness. There are a number of ways to incentivise re-tweets (cash prizes being one) but if you’re looking to drive your brand and not just opportunist traffic then promotional products are an effective tool. One idea is to reward re-tweeters with a branded coffee mug, jute bag or t-shirt; however for the best results try to make your incentive a bit more unique. Remember, you want your offer to stand out amongst all the other twitterings so different often works best.
Pinterest
1. Turn your giveaways into image sharing content
Businesses choose to utilise promotional gifts for many reasons but an often over looked benefit is if they end up on image sharing sites, such as Pinterest. There are many ways to achieve photo sharing status; from posting a photo on your blog of a cool branded product; to offering company merchandise for purchase on your website. Take inspiration from Allison and Busby, whose giveaway bag became such a hit at a book fair that it became a part of their product offering! And now it can be shared virally online…
You could also send your best customers a premium branded product, which hopefully they will be so happy to receive that they’ll want to take a quick snap and post to their favourite virtual pin board.
Facebook
1. Offer promotional prizes for fans
Facebook isn’t all about ‘Likes’ but by choosing to like a business, users are expressing an interest in a particular brand or company. Therefore, attracting as many people to ‘like’ your Facebook page as possible opens up the marketing potential to a pretty captive audience. Some businesses naturally attract a strong following but even those that do quite often incentive users to like their page. And that’s where promotional products can be pretty handy.
As an incentive to become a fan, a simple idea is to give away a branded product – perhaps a limited edition item or something that represents your business well. If you run an ecommerce site you could even tie it in with a sales promotion i.e. ‘like’ our page and receive a promotional gift with your next purchase.
It’s as simple as that!
Gone are the days of unflattering itchy uniforms and ill fitting polos that are worn once then discarded. The range of promotional clothing available today is more extensive and on-trend than ever before. Here is our guide to the ‘must-have’ items for winter 2012.
1. Beanie Hat
It’s been a fashion staple for a couple of years now and with celebs still sporting the look, a beanie hat is a must for the winter months. Combining practicality and style, promotional beaniesare available in an extensive range of colours and can be embroidered with your logo for a quality finish.
2. Rugby Shirt
Popular with both men and women, a rugby shirt exudes that classic, laid back style which is perfect for winter comfort wear. Comfort wear also means extensive usage, so a promotional rugby shirt, embroidered with your logo, becomes a walking billboard for your brand.
3. Pashmina Scarf
If you’re looking to associate your brand with quality and style then a pashmina scarf is the perfect way to do it. Stylish enough to be worn every day, it can be personalised with your message or design. And when people ask where it’s from, your business will be the name they reply!
4. Winter Fleece
It wouldn’t be winter without a fleece but first banish all those thoughts about ill fitting styles and bobbly material. The latest range of personalised fleeces have come along way, offering figure flattering cuts and colours to suit most brands. They’re also very handy when the temperature drops so any recipient wearing a logo’d fleece will advertise your business wherever they travel.
5. Promotional Sweatshirts
Cool, comfortable and practical, sweatshirts are one of the unsung heroes of the winter wardrobe! Suitable for outdoor activities, or relaxing around the house, your logo on a promotional sweatshirt will get plenty of viewing during the winter months.
Agree/disagree? Tell us what you think…
Add the USB people to your corporate family
We’re a big fan of technology here at Ellenell and it comes as no surprise that USB sticks have been voted the most useful promotional product in a recent BPMA survey. Handy, portable and small enough to carry around, they’re a great gadget for virtually anyone working in an office (and beyond).
But when it comes to making your logo stand out, we’re big fans of The USB people – the award winning, patented and best selling USB sticks in the shape of people!
The reason we think this product is so great is that it combines the three most coveted elements of a successful marketing product – memorability, practicality and retention.
Indeed, you can choose from a set of standard characters – including a doctor, nurse, construction worker and even Santa! Or for a more personal promotion you can design your own custom version.
The new ‘rubber’ series is a recent addition to the range, offering an edgier version of the original design (trendier hair and shades if you will) so a great way to get ahead of the competition – literally.
Then there is the ultimate in luxury – a VIP option available in solid metal, gold, silver or gun metal finishes so perfect for businesses wanting to make an extra impression.
Available in memory sizes ranging from 512MB to 8GB we think these cool, custom gadgets are set for even bigger things in 2012……
- Winter Warmer!
The nights are drawing in and the weather is getting bleak – but winter and the festive season can provide a sunny future for promotional gifts. There is a good range of products ideally suited for winter promotions, with several clear leaders in popularity.
On the First day of Christmas, a company gave to me… ice scrapers, so I could see. When branded ice scrapers are used as a promotional gift, their usefulness may not be immediately valued – until the car windscreen is covered with snow or ice early one morning, and the driver remembers the handy giveaway that was left in the glove compartment. The situation is saved, with a logo in prominent position. Many garages and mechanics regularly use ice scrapers as a way to ensure their contact details are retained for occasions when more than just an icy windscreen is the issue.
On the Second day of Christmas, a company gave to me… reflective slap bands, so I could be seen. Even if drivers have a clear view of the road, it is always good practice for pedestrians to wear something reflective to increase their visibility. Slap bands can be printed with a company logo, message, and contact details. Worn around the wrist or ankle, they are a highly portable and visible way to advertise, whilst also having a serious road safety function. They are inexpensive and as such, are a great giveaway for adults and children alike.
On the Third day of Christmas, a company gave to me…. a thermal mug for my cup of tea. Thermal travel mugs are a great all-year item, but are particularly popular on cold winter mornings as a caffeine kick-start to the working day. In a range of colours, thermal mugs can be printed with a logo and contact details; very portable advertising!
On the Fourth day of Christmas, a company gave to me… hand warmers, absolutely free! Promotional hand warmers can be campaign-specific and available in a variety of shapes and themes. Re-usable, and small enough to be kept in a handbag or pocket, gel hand warmers will be appreciated in the cold weather and this feeling of gratitude will be associated with your branding. They might also be lent to others, proving an even greater audience for the advertising campaign.
On the Fifth day of Christmas, my company gave to me…. a fleece jacket, so snuggly.Employees, as well as customers, benefit from being shown how much
- On trend with a promotional fleece
they are appreciated so providing a good quality warm uniform or item of branded workwear will increase staff morale immeasurably. Many people wear their fleece jackets out of working hours because they are so warm and comfortable for winter so even more advertising for your business. Items such as fleeces are often embroidered, giving a quality reproduction of the corporate logo.
Whatever the nature of your business, don’t let your advertising hibernate over the winter; embrace the potential of the season!
In homage to our favourite reality TV show (sorry Strictly it was a close call), we’ve decided to go all X-Factor, asking the question ‘Does your promotion have the wow factor to win over your audience?’
- 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 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 giveaway, 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’!
- Ready, steady…go! 2012 – a year of sport
2012 is set to be a year of sport, with a real buzz in the air over the forthcoming Olympic Games in London. This is bound to be reflected in the promotional industry, and a huge upturn in sports-related products is predicted. The marketing opportunity within this theme is vast; from giveaways such as personalised sweatbands and drinking bottles, to t-shirts and other sportswear, and health-related items such as promotional pedometers and bmi calculators. An upsurge in spectator items is also likely to occur, such as promotional vuvuzelas and thundersticks for cheering the team along! What better way to get your logo noticed than placing them on products seen by crowds of people?
Environmentally friendly promotions are still high on the agenda for a large percentage of companies. Many products are available with a fair-trade and recycled alternative, from pens from recycled paper and mousemats from tyres, to organic cotton bags and power savers for the pc. Using eco-friendly products sets a positive image for your company, in addition to being of real environmental benefit.
Safety items, some with a fun and quirky twist, are also set to rise in popularity. ‘Novelty’ products might include reflective slap bands printed with company details, flashing lights to attach to clothing or bags, and even strength balls emblazoned with a logo. Thermal mug orders are rapidly increasing amongst office-based companies, as Health and Safety now precludes the use of traditional open-topped mugs.
Of course, trends may come and go, but the staple favourites will always have a strong presence in the promotional industry – trolley coin keyrings, printed pens, and lanyards. Lastly, don’t forget – when autumn arrives, orders need to be placed for diaries and calendars 2013!