Hotline.co.uk, Promotional Products Blog

How to use printed trolley coins

Printed promotional trolley coins (or trolley tokens) should win a Nobel Peace Prize!  They are the most useful and innovative promotional products on the market today.  They can be used instead of a pound coin or Euro and avoid the need to carry appropriate change for trolleys at super markets,  in gyms and for lockers. This cost effective coin substitute can be printed on both sides with your company logo/ message and can be pantone matched to suit your corporate colours exactly.  The robust tough enamel means they are a highly durable promotional product which will last for years to come, hence the reason they were in the top 10 for promotional products of 2009.  They can be attached to your key ring resulting in them staying by your at all times.  They are a great addition to any fundraising event or promotional giveaway launch.

These collectable printed items make the perfect inexpensive promotional gift or giveaway. They are lightweight in nature and a novelty to use.  Their popularity skyrocketed when supermarkets started to introduce coin operated trolleys and with the increasing use of credit/ debit cards, the pound coin was becoming redundant in wallets and purses.  A great advantage with these promotional items is that they can be printed in full colour or can be engraved.

So... why not send your valued customer a promotional gift in the post and you will be able to see for yourself the benefit they bring.

Promotion your business with printed lanyards

Lanyards are a great way to promote your business and project your company name out into to the wider community.  Promotional lanyards have been around for donkey’s years yet they are still proving to be a popular and effective advertising tool which is used all over the world.  Lanyards have evolved dramatically over the years and now not only hold swipe cards, identification cards , keys and tools but also mobile phones, USB drives and MP3 players.   They are a popular choice and common sights within schools, universities, conference centres, trade shows and businesses.  They aid security threats and provide a useful way to avoid the loss and protection of valuable objects such as the ones mentioned above.

Due to the advances in technology these days’ promotional lanyards can now be tailored to your company specifications.  They can be printed expertly with your company name, logo and contact details in your corporate colours or just a catchy message or slogan which will catch the eye of your target audience.  They come in a variety of coloured ribbons, fabrics and materials and include a useful safety catch if they are being given to children.  Not only can you choose these vital major details but you can also choose the type of clip and catch.

Lanyards are a great way to get you brand out there and everyone will appreciate these promotional items, whether they are promotional giveaways or business gifts.  They are an elegant resolution to a problem that plagues us all at times.  There is nothing more frustration then losing your keys, ID card or USB drive at the vital time in which you require them.  Hang them around your neck and you’ll never realise how you coped before without one!

Promotional gifts the options are endless

We all know what promotional gifts are, but the way we use them is a different matter all together!  What would be the point of purchasing a fantastic promotional item for an important client but not considering the needs of the client and as a result selecting the incorrect one and wasting valuable funds?  It would be a disaster waiting to happen!  The main advantage with promotional gifts is the fact they can be personalised and tailored to your specifications.  Business gifts are certainly something you should include in your annual budget because the return you get on them is immense and priceless in itself!  Here are some suggestions as to how to use promotional gifts in the correct way.

1.     Brand awareness is the key reason behind promotional gifts; companies need to feel as though they are getting some kind of return.  It is a sad fact that very few of us do something for nothing these days, especially in business – it is just not common sense.  The main advantage here is that you are keeping your brand in the view of your client at all times, constantly reminding them of your wonderful products and services.  You are leaving a positive lasting impression on an appreciated customer – therefore encouraging them to use your company again.

2.    They also enhance your company image.  We all know what is like to receive something for free.  This feeling is associated with thoughtfulness and kindness.  Two great attributions to be accompanied with your company name.  Promotional gifts do this in an instant!  Business gifts may also help you to bring back lost customers as a token of goodwill and generosity.

3.    Promotional gifts can also act as a portable billboard, telling customers of a new product ‘coming soon’ or a newly opened branch.  If you decide to use gifts such as promotional mugs, customers will use this day in and out. They also announce change everywhere you go.

4.    They can also be used internally within your company to boost employee morale by presenting them as incentives.  Employees thrive on recognition of their efforts and a promotional gift does just this!
Have a look for yourself and decide which promotional gifts are best suited to you company.

How to be creative with Printed Pencils

Who would have thought a wooden stick with a piece of lead in would be such a popular promotional product used by all.  Printed pencils have evolved over the years and today they are staring to move away from the traditional stripped pencil with an eraser to neon mechanical pencils with supersonic nibs and comfortable finger grips.  The great thing about promotional pencils is the fact that everyone has their own preference, some prefer the traditional style and others prefer the more funky designs.  Printed pencils are something that we have all grown up with and have learned to love.  They were the first writing instrument we all learned to write with and we still all write with them today.

Although printed pencils are small, they have a great print area which will comfortably fit your company logo, name and contact details. You can choose the colour, design and type of pencil to suit your event / occasion.  You can also choose from a triangular, hexagonal and round pencils depending on your particular writing style.

Here are a few suggestions to take a look at.  Click on the link below to see our top three promotional pencils of 2009.

1. Cosmic Mechanical pencil
2. Balmain Pencil
3. Accuracy pencil

Things have come a long way since the dark ages and promotional pencils are still popular, cost effective promotional products that are appreciated by all.

Print your message on Promotional Bags

Corporate events are a great way to expose your logo and obtain some free advertisement for all to see.  You could purchase some promotional pens, some printed desk pads or even some novelty promotional giveaways but do these promotional products really present your company logo enough for people to remember who you are?  If you’re looking for mass brand exposure, then promotional carrier bags are the way forward!  Not only do they boast a fantastic print area for your logo, message and contact details, they also are a useful item that can be reused over and over again.  After a corporate day at the golf course or a day at the races, it is nice to receive something from the host at the end of it.  Themed promotional products are popular and they look professional when placed in a personalised carrier bag.  Not only will the client remember the fun fuelled networking day, they will also remember your contact details and what a fantastic event it was.

If you attend tradeshows and exhibitions regularly then you will know that printed carrier bags are an essential item due to the simple fact that it would be an impossible task carrying around heavy brochures, samples and business cards all day long.  It is important, as the purchaser, to decide on the correct size, shape, colour and price.   Get the combination right and this promotional tool could be your saving grace in these tight financial months.  The main advantage with carrier bags is the fact they are an inexpensive advertising product, yet highly visual for all to see.

If you thinking about purchasing printed promotional carrier bags for your event please speak to one of our experienced team and get the ball rolling.  We offer some great credit crunch deals which will  always provide you with value for money whatever the promotional product.  Click here to contact us!

Promotional mugs are big sellers this winter

Ok... so printed promotional mugs can seem a little boring for a promotional giveaway but at this time of year a hot mug of coffee or tea is something that most people crave!  It is a fact that most people have a favourite mug in the staffroom cupboard and they become quite attached to it, selecting it each time they want a fuel boost.  How many hot drinks do you have a day? How many times has the logo on the mug been in your eyeshot?  Quite a few, I’m guessing!  Also a promotional mug is not ‘just for Christmas!’  They are a robust, durable and attractive promotional products that will last for many years to come.

There are many different types of promotional mugs which all have a purpose.  Perhaps the mug you drink out of at breakfast is not the type of promotional mug you would prefer to drink out of at work.  Perhaps you prefer a printed bone china mug during the day because of the extended heat retention! Perhaps you prefer a ceramic mug at the start of the day because you can drink the liquid quicker.  Other popular types of mugs included plastic mugs, recycled mugs, acrylic mugs, porcelain and glass.

Porcelain and ceramic mugs appear to be the most popular option for many of our customers.  This maybe because of their robust nature and heavyweight status. They are reusable, easy to clean and keep liquids hot for longer.   If you are worried about breakages then a hard plastic mug maybe the answer. They are also cost effective, simple to customise and easy to order, they can be on your doorstep within days – now there’s a thought!

The most popular promotional mug in December was the personalised printed photo mug. These high quality mugs are printed using digital photo images which wrap around the entire mug emphasising visibility of your company image/logo. Click her for more information.

Low cost promotional pens are leading the way with advertisers in 2010

At the beginning of January everyone is very conscience about saving money and hunting down a bargain or two.  Numerous new Year’s resolutions are made and good intentions are aired for the year to come.  For many companies cost effective advertising is high on the agenda.  Without question or doubt promotional pens should be the number one choice for an effective low cost promotional item.  It is impossible to believe that printed promotional pens can cost as little as 5 pence per pen, yet the advertising potential is mind blowing.  Think about how many times the printed pen is seen during a week or even in just one day.  How often do you have a day where you don’t require a pen?  The amount of days I’m sure is minimal.

There are endless advantages to using promotional pens as an effective advertising tool.  One of these reasons being that they are highly cost effective promotional products which are accepted by all; children, adults, students, managing directors, farmers etc.  Secondly, promotional pens are a lightweight product which can easily be included within mail shots, be placed into promotional goody bags at tradeshows and given away at product launches.   Everyone, no matter who they are, are always grateful for an extra pen and if it has a useful number or set of contact details printed on it – all the better!

Promotional pens don’t have to be of the cheap variety either.  They are a perfect business gift for a colleague at Christmas or can even be sent as an executive business gift to say thank you for a sale or brand loyalty.  Promotional pens come in all shapes and sizes too; plastic pens, metal pens, recycled material, novelty pens, multi-functional promotional pens etc.

I would recommend promotional pens as ideal low cost promotional giveaways that is appreciated by all and always achieves a return on its purchase.. Browse our website today for more ideas and suggestions.

Advertise on your customer’s desktop with Printed Post Notes

Promotional post it notes or printed sticky mates are an essential desktop item in any office, home or briefcase.  They are just as important as your promotional pens or printed calculators and serve a vital service.  They are ideal for writing a reminder, attaching items to documents and files and taking messages.  They are a promotional item that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your promotional event, exhibition or product launch and these uses are endless!  You don’t just have to have a thin pad of post it notes, you can have a pop up dispenser, cube shaped pad and different sized pads cut to shape depending on your event.

The actual printing on the post it note or sticky mate is down to your preference and design.  You can decide and consult with our artwork team as to what will maximise your brand the most. Calendars can also be printed if you prefer! They don’t have to be in full block ink but can be printed so they are visible but not interfere with your message.  A highly useful addition to your desktop sticky mates.

Why not combine your post it notes with promotional printed pens, promotional pencils or printed carrier bags.  Check out our website today for ideas for your next fundraising event.

Printed Fridge Magnets are a bigger seller in 2010

Printed promotional fridge magnets are a popular feature in many family households.  They can be used to post items such as shopping lists, reports from school, reminders and precious pictures from the children.  They are a great way to advertise a company message, name, logo and contact details.

The first fridge magnet was developed in the 1970’s by William Zimmerman and over the years they have become a popular collectable. It has been estimated that 80% of American households have at least one promotional printed fridge magnet – that’s pretty impressive considering the size of the place!  Another statistic that may persuade you to purchase a printed fridge magnet for your promotional event is that a typical magnet has a life span of 5-10years (I’m not sure how they worked this out – how do they recall when it dies?).  However the most interesting statistic is that the number of times a printed magnet is viewed on a daily basis, which is 40! So, if you do the maths - thats 14,6000 impressions a year – what a great advertising opportunity!!

The title for the most amounts of magnets ever recorded is kept by a women known as the ‘Magnet Lady’ Louise J Greenfarb from Nevada.  She has collected over 40,000 magnets and has entered the Guinness book of records as a result!

So which printed magnet from our collection will be the 2010 biggest seller i wonder?  I predict the A1620, an ultra thin, highly practical fridge magnet which is pleasing to the eye!  Magnets are great promotional items because they are small and light, they can be attached to brochures and posted or given away in promotional goody bags.  They are a great way to remind people of your company name and contact details!

Use promotional giveaways to drive sales

Where has all this snow come from?  One minute it was mild and sunny and the next minute people were stranded in a snow blizzard!!  I feel for those people without gas and electricity and for those people in Oxfordshire who are experiencing temperatures of below -15!  Oh well, I guess we should make the most of it.

There are many promotional giveaways that you could tie in with the current climate and many of them are promotional items that are useful and sort after in these treacherous conditions.  The most obvious promotional gift would have to be the printed promotional ice scraper.  It is one of those things you have in your car all year round yet it is the most useful thing on the planet when Jack Frost decides to immerge. You can also opt for the recycled version which is just as good but helps save our planet too.

The second most obvious promotional business gift would be the fashionable beanie.  It is surprising how warm you are when you head is covered and with these embroidered caps you can display your company name and contact details to all!  Think about how many times you look at a person’s face when you are talking to them.  This is how many times people will be glancing at your logo!

Promotional giveaways are also a fantastic way to incentivise employees especially in these dia times.  Office/department competitions are a great way to motivate employees and create a feel good factor around the office.  As we all know a happy team will drive sales to the maximum.  It is surprising how such an inexpensive promotional item can create such great team morale even if it is just a promotional mug, alarm clock or mobile phone accessory!