Archive for March, 2010

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3 Promotional Gift Ideas for The Technology Industry

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Mouse Mats

CompuGift is the Most Popular Promotional Mouse Mat Supplier in the UK!

Whether you are a retail business or a supplier working within the technology industry, it is fairly safe to assume that you wouldn’t mind more exposure for your business. Exposure equals more awareness of your brand and services, which will translate into higher sales. If this is something that appeals to you, then you might want to start handing promotional gifts to your clients and customers if you are currently not. Promotional products serve the dual purpose of raising awareness of your brand and showing your customers and clients that you appreciate them.

A USB flash drive is a fantastic promotional gift for the technology industry. If you work within the tech sector you undoubtedly know what a USB flash is and how it is widely used. The USB flash drives of today are not restricted to the shape of a small stick- there is now a wide array of shapes and sizes available. The larger shapes are more desirable for a promotional USB Flash drive because there is a larger area to print your company logo and URL address. The USB Flash drive can also be manufactured with preloaded company information and presentations.

Mouse mats are another logical promotional product for the technology industry. Practically everyone uses them and the large printable area has room for as much information as you would like to convey about your company, products and services. Promotional mouse mats are a very appreciated gift because they are constantly being replaced due to wear and dirtiness. Every time someone clicks the mouse on your promotional mousemat they will be reminded of your organization.

Stressballs also make a great promotional gift for the tech industry because of the amount of stress that can occur in a busy work environment. Promotional stress balls can be made in all kinds of industy-related shapes such as a computer, computer mouse or printer. Stress balls also have a higher rate of retention with their recipient, meaning they are less likely to be tossed aside and more likely to be used. A stress toy is often kept right on the desktop of its user, constantly reminding them and anyone else in the workplace of your company and it’s services.

There are many other types of promotional gifts that you can choose from. Your competition is no doubt handing your clients the standard promotional products like pens, mugs, and notepads. Such products are excellent and very popular but why not separate yourself from the others and give promotional gifts that are industry related and show that you are more creative and understanding of their needs. For more ideas about industry-related promotional gifts, contact CompuGift today.

Posted By Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Mouse Mats, Promotional Stress Balls, Promotional USB Products | No Comments »

7 Corporate Badge Varieties for your Business

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Corporate badge

Just one of the many badges available at CompuGift

There are many reasons for wearing badges.  The police, military and fire department are all obvious big users of badges but there are many other businesses and organisations that use badges.  Many clubs and businesses will offer their members and/or employees special recognition badges so that they can wear there award on their jacket displaying to all what they have accomplished.  The hotel and travel industry also use them both to display that the person wearing the badge is an employee and often to convey their position in the company. Less expensive name badges are used at trade shows and exhibitions.  Whatever type you require, you will find it here.  Of course we are just at the other end of the phone if you have any questions about any of the promotional gifts and corporate wear we supplier at 01642 782455.

Button Badges

Button badges are trendy and cool!  They have long been popular in business and to promote clubs, bands, charities, health awareness campaigns and political parties.  They are an economic way of getting your message out to the masses.  Button badges are usually round but they are available in several shapes and sizes.

Name Badges

Name badges are available in a variety of materials such as plastic, aluminium, gilt and brass.  They offer a smart way of letting people know who is part of your team.  They are also often used as visitor badges at exhibitions and conferences.  Your logo and be screen printed or in some cases engraved on the front.  Name badges can either be order with individual names already printed on the front or ordered plain so that you can add names at a later date.  The choice is yours.

Soft Enamel Badges

These little badges look fantastic.  They are usually made out of soft die stamped copper and then filled with acrylic enamel that can be Pantone matched to your corporate colours.  These are mid-range badges that can be purchased in small quantities and work perfectly as employee recognition awards. The metal can be hand polished and colour coated in a number of ways.

 

Top Quality Hard Enamel Metal Badges

These are similar to the before mentioned soft enamel badges but they are manufactured using heavier, better quality metal.  Once die stamped into your preferred shaped, they can then be colours filled with hot glass enamel.  These heavier top quality badges will last a lifetime and are the perfect choice when only the best will do. The metal can be hand polished and colour coated in a number of ways.

Full Colour Metal Badges

Unlike the soft and hard enamel badges where colour is added into recesses after the badges have been stamped, full colour metal badges are best when pictures are required.  Full colour pictures can be printed and then encapsulated on the top of the metal badges with amazing colour quality.  Stainless steel and aluminium are the most popular metals used for large quantity runs. You can then add special brass or nickel finishes that look great.

Sand Blasted Badges

Sand blasted badges work excellent as corporate medals and jewellery.  These metal only badges are sand blasted and then die stamped with logos or other designs.  The raised metal can be polished to contrast with the lower cavities.  They are both discreet and attractive and are an ideal alternative to the before mentioned enamel colour filled options.

Soft PVC Badges

The rubberised finish of the eye-catching PVC badges has an almost spongy feel. They are perfect for reproducing cartoon characters and spot colour designs with a 3D appearance.  These badges have been used on numerous occasions to produce colour accurate reproductions of cartoon characters that can be worn on a jacket.

Flexible Transparent PVC Pouch

These are clear PVC pockets that can house card inserts. They are perfect for large exhibitions and conventions.  Most come with die cut holes that can be attached to lanyards or other lapel clips.  You can also ask for fitting to attach the badges to a jacket.

There are numerous fittings available to attach each of these badges to clothing.  At CompuGift we can help you find the best badges for your requirements.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Corporate Badges | No Comments »

Make an Impression on Your Target Market With Promotional Products

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Promotional gifts can be a powerful tool in marketing your brand and products. It is very important to consider your target audience when choosing what kind of promotional products to hand out. There are many choices available and sometimes it can be difficult to decide what kind of promotional gift can have the biggest impact with your specific demographic. A promotional product that is ignored or tossed aside due to irrelevance of the interests of its recipient is a waste of your time and money.

Think about your customers and who they are- perhaps you are the proprietor of a shop that sells skateboards and skateboard accessories. Pick a promotional product that complements the lifestyle of the young and active, such as a promotional sports bottle. If you have a store that specializes in healthy foods and supplements, a stress toy in the shape of a fruit or vegetable would make and excellent promotional gift, tastefully imprinted with the information and logo of your shop.

It makes sense to hand out a promotional product that is sure to be used and appreciated. Promotional plastic pens are universally well-received among the general population but may not make much of an impression upon the upper class. If you deal with high-end clientele then think of things that they can use. Promotional golf balls can help keep you on the minds of your customers while they are on the golf course. Executive desktop items such as a paperweights and letter openers will be handled on a daily basis, reminding your customers of your products and services. It is wise to choose promotional products that utilize as little plastic as possible for this type of clientele.

Stress balls can be crafted to represent any type of organization and can be a promotional gift that is utilized every day. People are more likely to hold on to this promotional product and keep it close to them in the workplace for quick access, displaying your company information to its recipient and those around them. Stress toys can be made in just about any shape, so your music store can hand out stress busters in the form of a musical note or instrument. Your computer training business can distribute stressballs made to resemble a computer.

There are thousands of different promotional gifts available to help promote you business or cause. If you are having a hard time choosing which promotional gifts would best appeal to your target market, ask your supplier of promotional gifts for some suggestions. A promotional product company that has experience will be able to help you pick out the right promotional gift that will be a hit with your customers.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Gifts, Promotional Stress Balls | No Comments »

5 Predictions For the Promotional Gifts Industry in 2010

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

I have been part of the UK promotional gifts industry for over fifteen years. In that time I have worked on both the trade and distributor sides of the industry and have seen many companies large and small come and go. In fact I once worked for a large manufacturer of promotional ring binders that recently closed its doors due to competition from smaller manufactures and importers of less expensive Far East manufactured products.

In the past few months some of the biggest names in the industry have ceased trading and this trend is bound to continue due to smaller, more switched on companies who can make decisions faster. These small companies do not have the same high overheads or bureaucratic hurdles that are making it difficult for larger suppliers to compete.

So here you have it: my predictions for the rest of 2010 in the business gift and promotional merchandise industry.

Promotional Gifts Will Become Even Less Expensive

That’s right and perhaps not for the reasons you may think. As competition gets harder, many companies will try to sell on price. They will inevitably fail. The companies that will bring the prices down are the smaller companies who excel in certain parts of the industry. Those who specialise and import their own promotional product lines will build top quality sites around those products. They will sell their products direct to the end user cutting out the middle man and saving the end user a lot of money.

There Will Be Many new start-ups

As larger promotional gift suppliers, the big names in the industry, find it increasingly difficult to compete, they will have no other choice but to let their staff go. Some will certainly go out of business. Many of the newly unemployed will start up on their own: the best of whom will find their own new niche in the industry and excel there.

Social Media Will Be a Necessity

Any promotional gift supplier wanting to thrive this year and beyond will find social media to be an important part of their daily business. Those who discover article marketing, blogging, Facebook, and Twitter will find such outlets to be an invaluable part of their business. Social media is great for building stronger relationships with your new and existing customers

E-commerce Sites Will Become Increasingly Important

Those who invest their time and money in good quality internet shops for promotional gifts will be the most successful. You can now have an amazing site built for a fraction of the price it would have cost just a few years ago. The large companies with the one time huge budgets are no longer the only businesses who can promote themselves with such useful and attractive sites. In fact, many will find it difficult if not impossible to compete with their smaller competitors.

The Ability to Properly Optimise These New Sites Will Be Paramount

Those who properly understand search engine optimisation will do much better than those who do not. Promotional gift suppliers who use black hat tactics to propel themselves higher in the search engines will begin to finally lose favour to those who provide information on their site that is aimed at making the shopping experience more enjoyable and easier for their customers.

The business gifts industry, like most industries has changed forever. The internet has brought with it new ways of conversing with each other and more inexpensive ways of promoting different promotional products.

Feel free to leave a comment. 

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Gifts | No Comments »

Use Promotional Products To Gain More Exposure For Your Facebook Fan Page

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Today just about everybody uses Facebook for social networking and reconnecting with long-lost friends, relatives, and classmates. You may have set up a fan page on Facebook for your charity, business, club or band and have been wondering how to gain a larger followship. Promotional products can increase your visibility and let more people know that you are out there. Your fan page has the ability to help you grow your business and promotional gifts can help you to get more people joining your page.

One of the best promotional items for anything that has to do with the internet is a custom mouse mat. The mousemat is used by practically everyone that uses a computer and they are often replaced due to wear and soiling. They are thin, light and easy to store so that you can carry them around to hand out as you go about your daily business. Practically anything can be printed on a promotional mouse mat and they can come in different shapes to make yours unique. Your target audience will be seeing your message with each click of the mouse.

The USB flash drive is another useful promotional gift that can pack a huge amount of information in a tiny package. Available in materials such as plastic, rubber, metal and even wood, there are a multitude of shapes and colors to choose from. Promotional USB flash drives have the ability to be made with your information and even media files preloaded on them, so if you are a band you can hand preople your music in the form of a small stick that has your name printed on it. Because of their size, the promotional USB flash stick is even easier to carry around and hand out than the promotional mousemat.

Of course, there are some very affordable promotional products available if you are on a budget. Personalized pens can go a long way for a small per-unit price. Virtually everyone uses them and will hold on to them, especially if it is a unique styled pen.  Promotional key rings are another low-cost item that can have a huge impact, since practically everyone uses keys. There are plenty of other budget items available to promote your fan page. At CompuGift we can give you a lot of fun ideas about how certain products can better tie in with your fan page.

You may have joined Facebook because it is fun or you may have joined strictly for business purposes. Whatever reason you had to make a fan page, you want as many people following your page as possible. Promotional products have the power to bring more people to your page and deliver the results you are looking for.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Facebook, promotional pens | No Comments »

2010 World Cup Promotional Pens with Get your Business Noticed and Remembered

Friday, March 26th, 2010

If you are looking for ready made promotional pens with a football theme, you will most likely be disappointed.  Yes, there are a lot of gadget pens on the market that have a little plastic football at one end or a cheap looking football player near the clip whose eyes bulge when you squeeze his head but such gifts are a waste of money.  Gadget pens are looked at for a couple of minutes and then put aside.  As adults we can only find bulging eye balls on our writing instruments interesting for a few seconds before we are off to more important and pressing matters.

With the 2010 World Cup just a couple months away, you should be looking to use the games to your advantage while at the same time offering your customers a pen they will surely use.  Here I would like to tell you about some of the possibilities you have so that your 2010 World Cup promotion will not only go down well but keep your customers thinking of you and your business long after the World Cup is over.

Mix-n-Match Pens

Some of the best manufacturers of promotional plastic pens are Lecce, Senator, Prodir and Bic.  All of these manufacturers supply good quality pens that have large capacity refills so your pens write for a long time.  Another service they offer is the ability to design your own pens.  You can choose the colors of the barrel and time which can be matched closely to your business colors or the colors of your country’s football team.

Full Color Printing Onto Pens

 

If you really want to make a big impact, why not choose one of the many pens that can now be printed in full color.  Many have a wrap around digital print that offers you more space to print your logo, design and details.  Use you own football design or ask your supplier to assist you in this area. 

Metal Pens

Do you have top clients who are as football mad as you are?  If so, the World Cup is the perfect time to present them with a metal gift pen to commemorate the games and to show your clients how much their custom means to you.  There are a lot of good quality generic brands to choose from or you could go for one of the top brands such as Parker, Cross, Waterman or Lamy.

If you really want to get the most out of your marketing, please consider the quality of the pens you purchase.  Pens that are gimmicky usually end up in the bin.  Good quality plastic or metal pens can last for months or even years promoting your brand all along the way.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in promotional pens | No Comments »

What are the Best Ways to Promote My Restaurant?

Friday, March 26th, 2010

If you have every asked yourself ‘What are the best ways to promote my restaurant?’ then this article is for you!  You will surely know that there are many ways promote your business such as newspaper advertisements, PR and special offers.  These are all excellent ways of getting people in the door but have you ever considered promotional gifts and promotional items?  These are products that your customers can use or your staff can wear to get your name out and build your brand.  In this article, I will introduce some of the best.

Least expensive gifts

If you are on a tight budget or you just are not sure if promotional gifts will work for your, why not start by trying out a few low cost gifts.  It is always best to find gifts that people will use daily such as pens, keyrings, fridge magnets, pencils and highlighters.  Each of these products can be purchased very inexpensively and printed with your logo and details. 

Mid-range expensive

If you have already seen promotional gifts being used by your competition, then you will already be aware of how well they can work for you.  Promotional pens are the most popular promotional gifts in the UK.  There are a lot of inexpensive models as mentioned above but there are also mid range and executive pens available for printing your engraving.  Pens are excellent promoters because they are used daily by almost everyone. Other fun options include stress balls in the shape of your specialty food, t-shirts printed with your logo and perhaps a fun slogan or a gift that fits in with the area you do business, for examples gloves if you are in the snowy mountains or sports bottles if you are hosting a hot summertime outdoor BBQ.  At CompuGift, we can suggest hundreds of ideas. 

Upmarket gifts

Perhaps you have a lot of business customers and you want to keep them coming back with their staff and top clients.  If you see a business customer regularly then it is probably time to let them know how much their business means to you.  Popular upmarket gifts include metal gift pens, golf umbrellas, polo shirts, travel car mugs and picnic blankets.  Printed t-shirts and polo shirts can be worn by your staff as well.  Purchasing in larger quantities will result in a lower unit price. Again, we would be happy to recommend gifts that will fit in with your theme and budget.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Gifts, promotional pens | No Comments »

Why Stress Toys Make Great Promotional Gifts

Friday, March 26th, 2010

We are all a bit stressed lately, be it about work, money or just life in general. How would you react to receiving an item that would help you to deal with your stress? More than likely it would bring a smile to your face. This is why stressballs make excellent promotional products for just about any business, club or charity. They can be handed out to your customers and suppliers alike and are always appreciated as a gift. Give them out at trade shows or other events. When your organization’s logo and information are printed upon them they have a much more powerful effect.

The stress ball is a small item that people squeeze to help deal with physical and mental stress. Because they also help with circulation, doctors sometimes recommend them for their patients that suffer from arthritis. They are available in over a thousand stock shapes and can even be custom made to truly represent your organization and its products or services. By giving the promotional gift of a custom stress toy you will be demonstrating your appreciation in a unique way that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

One of the problems with many promotional gifts is that they are often tossed away, along with your message. The stressball is one of the few promotional products that have a high rate of retention with their recipients. When you hand someone a custom stress reliever they will immediately begin to hold and squeeze it. Often times it will sit parked upon its recipient’s desk or displayed at arm’s reach, exposing your message to everyone else in the vicinity.

You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to choosing your promotional stress buster. Pick out an item that represents your cause or organization. A health charity can raise awareness of its cause by giving out health-related stress toys such as a human heart or brain. A building company can use a house-shaped stress reliever to promote their business. The are many food-related shapes available for restaurants, from fruits and vegetables to plates of food. It is easy to be creative when choosing custom stress busters as a promotional gift and your company information will be accented with a three-dimensional shape.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Stress Balls | No Comments »

USB Flash Drives- Separate Yourself From The Competition With This Great Promotional Gift

Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Promotional USB Stick

Just one of the many promotional USB stick available at CompuGift

You are no doubt finding yourself increasingly aware of how fierce the competition is in today’s world. Everyone is vying for the attention of your customers in more ways than ever; promotional pens, mugs and stress balls are constantly being handed to them. It’s time to start thinking about how you can stand above the competition, and one of the most innovative ways to do that is to give the promotional gift of the increasingly popular and highly useful item that is the USB flash drive.

USB flash drives are being used now more than ever. Most technological products become obsolete after a few years due to the rate of innovation, but the USB flash stick will remain to be a useful item for years to come. In the past few years the increase of storage capacity and reliability of flash drives has made them a must-have item for many people, which makes them a perfect promotional gift. USB flash sticks not only can have your company’s information printed on the outside, but can contain a wealth of information on the inside.

The small, sleek USB flash stick comes in a vast array of shapes and colors as well as different materials. The standard shape is the thin stick made from plastic, but other shapes have been incorporated in it’s design. They can be oval, round or square. The exterior can be plastic, rubber, metal or even wood. Some USB flash drives have a keyring hole or loop so that they can be carried easily on a keychain. The design you choose for your USB flash stick will be complemented by your organization’s logo imprinted directly on the exterior.

By giving the promotional gift of a custom USB flash stick you will be making a much larger impression on the recipient than with a standard promotional gift. Because it is a highly useful item it is much less likely to be tossed away or forgotten about, making sure that your promotional gift does what it is intended to do; keep the brand and message of your organization on the mind of your customer or client, and also let them know how much you truly appreciate their patronage.

A USB flash stick makes an excellent promotional gift because it is a modern way to promote your message. They can be pre-loaded with a company presentation that can help to better inform the recipient of your services. People will appreciate receiving a USB flash stick because it is the perfect vessel for storing documents, photos and even video clips that can easily be shared from one computer to the next. Each time the USB flash stick is used your customer will be reminded of you and your services. Make your message more powerful by contacting CompuGift Promotional Gifts and find out more about how USB flash drives can increase the visibilty of your organization.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Gifts, Promotional USB Products | No Comments »

3 Types of Promotional Folders That Can Promote Your Brand

Saturday, March 20th, 2010
Just one of many promotional folders at CompuGiftPromotional folders are popular throughout the corporate world. There are three main types that are seen at conferences, in board rooms and in shops which are those manufactured in leather, PU and PVC. Here I will explain each so that you can make an informed choice when ordering folders for your business or organisation.

Leather Folders

Leather conference folders are usually the most expensive and appealing. These are the folders you see at top conferences and in boardrooms where it is obvious that no expense has been spared. That said, there are also a number of inexpensive leather folders on the market which may be of interest to you. Bonded leather folders, or the more modern term ‘eco friendly leather folders,’ are both popular and inexpensive. Bonded leather is made by reforming used leather from other products. It smells and feels like leather because it is leather. It is not top quality but if you are on a budget or are running an eco friendly campaign, bonded leather folders could be the best for your business. If, on the other hand, you want the best, there are hundreds of nice leather folders on the market that can be embossed or blocked with your logo. Some are still manufactured in the west but most are now made in India or China and imported.

PU Folders

Folders made out of polyurethane (PU) are a less expensive version of top quality leather folders. These are usually manufactured in the Far East and look fantastic. Many have special pockets and zip-around features that are asked for often. Most PU folders and for that matter leather folders come in black, brown or navy. They are purchased in very large quantities so you cannot have them in the colours of your choice such as your own company pantone.

PVC Folders

PVC folders lost favour a few years ago but they are now making a comeback. The reason for losing their popularity was that they were often more expensive than the ‘nicer quality’ imported PU folders and they could not be manufactured with zip around features without being completely priced out of the market. One thing they do have on the imported versions, however, is that they can be made to order. If you want conference folders manufactured in your own company colours, then PVC is the way to go. Increasingly, business people are choosing to do just that!

I hope this blog has been of interest to you.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Posted by Dan Toombs

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Posted in Promotional Folders | No Comments »

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