Pop-Up Shops

We love wacky branding ideas; guerilla marketing that stops and smacks you in the face (not literally). That’s why I was pleased to hear that Unilever is planning to open a number of Marmite pop-up shops as it looks to establish the brand’s positioning in new areas.

Last year Marmite opened a limited-edition pop-up shop on Regent Street, and is now set to launch new pop-up shops in 2011.Matt Burgess, managing director of the brand, admitted it is plotting further launches:

“We are looking at 2011 and it is under serious consideration. But it needs to be slightly different than before. It needs to be a new location, unusual location and bespoke.”

The pop-up shop in London was open seven days a week and stocked more than 100 Marmite-inspired promotional products. Marmite if you’re listening, Gift Selection can supply you with a full range of branded items!

Branded Seeds!

The US Supreme Court has made the controversial decision to allow the bio-tech company Monsanto, to sell genetically modified seeds before safety tests are completed.

Environmentalists had argued that there might be a risk of cross-pollination between genetically modified plants and neighbouring crops. They also argued over-use of the company’s weed-killer Roundup, the chemical treatment the alfalfa is modified to be resistant to, could cause pollution of ground water and lead to resistant “super-weeds”.

Monsanto make alfalfa, a grass like plant used as animal feed, which is the fourth most valuable crop in the US. Monsanto says claims its products were dangerous amounted to “bad science fiction with no support on the record”.

You may be wondering what the devil all this has to do with promotional products; well not a great deal, but you may not be aware that Ecoproducts2order offers branding bags of seeds (that are GM free). Branded bags of seeds, are a great low cost promotional item, that can be used as an innovative mailing idea.

Branded bags of seeds is just one unusual item that ecoproducts2order can offer, call their friendly team of promotion experts today to discuss your next promotional marketing campaign.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental concerns are rising, as more than 80% of the massive Gulf of Mexico spill is still escaping into the ocean almost a month after one of BP’s oil rig exploded. Tragically 4,000 barrels a day are still spewing into the sea, despite an attempted fix using a tube to funnel oil to the surface.

Yesterday their CEO Doug Suttles, said the four inch wide tube which is inserted into the broken pipe by underwater robots is managing to catch 1,000 barrels a day. He said “We are throwing absolutely everything at this” – I wouldn’t say a four inch tube everything, but what do I know. Unfortunately the oil spill has already spread over ecologically sensitive reefs and other ecosystems, while BP as said they will pay “necessary” clean-up costs and will award damages for “legitimate” compensation claims.

If you’re the sort of kind hearted sole who feels the pain of the Earth when unfortunate situations like this occur, then you will appreciate great quality eco friendly promotional products.

Eco friendly promotional products from distributers like ecoproducts2order come in many forms, from low cost classic cotton shoppers, to up market water powered gadgets. If you want to show of your business’s eco friendly credentials, investing in green promotional products will be a great way to get your brand across.

Bespoke USB Sticks

You can buy twist style promotional USB drives from the world and his wife these days, but now you can order completely bespoke moulded PVC USB drives from Gift Selection & Gadgets2order.

Their new ‘yourMemory’ USB sticks, go one step further (more like a leap further) by offering your organisation a personalization process to fully reflect your image and corporate identity. Thanks to the versatility of soft PVC, the creative possibilities for your organisation are endless. Practically any organisation can benefit from such a personalised product, either as an upmarket product for management, prize winners or as an item for re-sale.

Despite being fully customizable, the minimum order quantity is just 100 pieces. Now you can order bespoke promotional items from the Far East – but don’t have to live with the large order quantities. As usual a full range of memory capacities are available, gift boxes are as standard, and further accessories are available such as lanyards too!

Creating an entirely custom made USB stick may seem like a complicating and daunting project, but the friendly team at Gift Selection will ensure the process is as stress free as possible.

New Antibacterial Pens

Pens2order have just added a brand new antibacterial pen to there range of promotional writing instruments, which is sure to become a talking point within the promotions industry.

Their antibacterial pen is a combination of the best Anglo-German technical and manufacturing expertise and has taken two years to develop, undergoing rigorous research and testing. The active agent is UV proof and water-insoluble, scratch and water resistant. Plus the active agent in this promotional pen will not adversely affect the skin when in direct contact.

The active agent has been tested against the most virulent bacteria and viruses to the following standards; BS EN20645, FDA, BPD, HSE, FDAS, EN71/3 & EN71/9. As soon as the pen comes into contact with bacteria it begins the process of destroying them through starving the nutrients. On the majority of surfaces, bacteria will flourish and be easily transferred, not so with the Antibac pen.

The pen is great for promotional means, as the antibac pen can be screen printed in multi-colour. The active agent is also present in the printing inks used for branding to ensure the antibacterial effect is not compromised!

Promotional Gifts in the Car

Tyred of the same old promotional products? We have recently been quoting on some branded digital tyre gauges, which are certainly out of the ordinary.

A branded digital tyre gauge from Gift Selection is great promotional product for any organisation linked with motoring or transport in particular. One would probably keep their branded digital tyre gauge tomorrow in their car, which would help to reinforce your organisations corporate image.

If you’re looking for a practical corporate gift that someone is going to keep (well forever really), then a branded digital tyre gauge could work out well. Depending on the quantity; a branded digital tyre gauge work out at around the seven pound mark.

If you’re thinking along the lines of car themed promotional products, then Gift Selection has all manner of useful promotional items. Ranging from the very inexpensive printed air fresheners, mid priced options like the tyre gauge – to luxury items like Dunlop car tool sets.

Promotional Smoothie Bars

Although known for their branded confectionary, it isn’t just printed sweets and chocolates that sweets2order supply. They’ve also started to stock more healthy promotional items too - the latest addition being their delicious printed smoothie bars.

This healthy promotional snack is a 110g Baked Fruit Flapjack bar, topped with a layer of yoghurt. This low fat yet tasty snack is available in various flavours, with a digitally printed label to the wrapper. Please note that these promotional smoothie bars have a; minimum order quantity of 1600, a lead time of two weeks and a shelf life of eight months.

If your businesses has a health or nutrition element to it and your looking for a quirky promotional give away - printed smoothie bars are something that is a little out of the ordinary, that should keep many people’s attention focused on your brand.

Aprons Aprons & More Aprons

Yesterday we have been working with a client who has asked for some embroidered aprons for her cafe. Promotional tabards and aprons have always sold well within the industrial sector, as they are used surprisingly often. Bespoke aprons are used by catering staff, warehouse staff as well as domestic engineers.

Personalised aprons from Gift Selection are extremely hard wearing, and are designed to have freedom of movement as well as easy access to the pockets. Promotional aprons are available in practically any colour you like, so just ask our friendly team if you’re looking for something specific.

If you’re comparing prices when looking for promotional aprons, the cost is based on the stitch count. Be sure you’re getting a like for like quote, as stitch counts will vary considerably from one logo to the next.

iPod Promotions

Everywhere you look there are those little white headphones following you around. It seems the world and his wife has an iPod these days, as the revolutionary MP3 player goes from strength to strength.

Promotional iPod accessories would be an ideal marketing solution, if you’re looking to bring your brand right up to date. Printed promotional iPod accessories are available at a range of prices from a very inexpensive promotional iPod cover, to impress speaker systems. To protect your iPod there a whole range of promotional items to choose from iPod; skins, socks, covers or cases. My favourite promotional iPod gadget is the voice recorder – now you can record your thought wherever you are!

Gadgets2order is one business that has a brand new range of promotional iPod accessories, that would appeal to any music lover. If you had a particular promotional iPod accessory in mind which you can’t see on their sit, then get in contact and they will be able to source it for you.

Eco USB Flash Drives

Printed USB flash drives are a popular promotional item for all kinds of businesses. Promotional flash drives have for a long time been a staple marketing tool, as a quality trade show giveaway or as a mailing item. Promotional flash drives have come along way in the last few years, with many new materials being available other than regular plastic.

Gadgets2order has recently seen a massive overhaul of its promotional USB drives, and now offers many great flash drives in new materials. Natural looking wooden USB drives are becoming more and more popular, and gadgets2order has an attractive selection. Whether you’re interested in wood USB flash drives for an environmental point of view or from an aesthetic one, they still make eye catching promotional office items.

Other environmentally friendly flash drives are one’s made out of bamboo rather than wood, which have a particularly nice feel to them. If your business is looking for an eco friendly flash drive that is a little unusual, gadgets2order has recently made available recycled paper flash drives too.

Using natural products like wood and bamboo, as well as recycled products like paper and plastic for promotional items is obviously kinder on the environment. But promotional flash drives are eco friendly in perhaps more surprising ways. Click here to read another article explaining the eco benefits of using promotional flash drives as a corporate gift.

Whether you’re looking for a pale wood USB flash drive or one with a darker or coloured finish, their friendly team will be able to advise you appropriately.