Hotline.co.uk, Promotional Products Blog

Promote your brand and sporting prowess with promotional polo shirts

Promotional polo shirts are becoming such a fashion statement nowadays amongst both the younger generation and the older generation.  You see them everywhere!  Men and women wear printed or embroidered polo shirts as casual accompliments to jeans during the day when shopping etc and men wear them as a smart alternative when going out in the evening. The printed/ embroidered polo shirt has become the new ‘buttoned up’ shirt and it looks like its popularity is going to soar even more as time goes by!

Promotional polo shirts also give a sense of unity in the workplace.  If you have ever played a team sport then you know that a unified shirt really makes the difference.  Promotional polo shirts have the same effect in the workplace.  They bring a team together, raise morale and make a company look more professional and ultimately raise standards within the working environment. There are many different types of polo shirts to choose from.  You may require a short sleeved T shirt that is easy to wash and doesn’t need to be ironed.  Or you may require a higher quality printed polo shirt that has a particular collar ideal for a working environment in front of a crowd.

The Hotline Group would highly recommend the ‘Premium Pique Polo Shirt.’ A shirt for any occasion whether it be a formal or an informal event.  This particular polo shirt provides superb value for money and includes stylish cuffed sleeves and side vents.  Prices are from £6.69 and include a 12 colour embroidered design.

World Cup promotional products fever

World cup promotional products were displayed all over South Africa last week when England played Slovenia.  Promotional flags, colourful banners, ear piercing horns, printed balloons, promotional T shirts, printed caps and promotional lanyards – it really was promotional product heaven!  No amount of promotional products though, could save our bacon when the time came for England to play Germany!  We played a disappointing game which resulted in a 4-1 defeat!   Upson and Lampard scored goals however Lampard’s goal was disallowed despite the ball clearly crossing the line.  What a DISASTER!

Now the England players are facing an early flight home to a bitterly disappointed crowd!  The world cup is officially over for England!  So what promotional products may have helped the team progress higher up the table?  Lets take a look...

1. A promotional pens (such as the Stealth Printed pen) that Fabio Capello could use to help him actually write down some game plans and strategies for one of the biggest games that people have been waiting for, for the past 4 years.

2. Promotional Jelly Beans for Rooney, to try to insight some enthusiasm and energy into the game.  Where did the Rooney spirit disappear to?  Perhaps he needed some sugar to kick start his game!  Or even an alarm clock to wake the team up an d remind them they are playing in the world cup!

3. A printed promotional Beanie for Fabio to pull over his face when he finally realised that his job was on the line!

Fingers crossed in four years time we will have a better success rate; it did hurt losing to the Germans, however we beat them in the Big brother World Cup! (that just sums everything up!)

Ace promotional gifts for Wimbledon 2010

Take a look at our top four promotional gifts for Wimbledon 2010.

1. Accuracy Ballpen:  Not only will this ball pen give luck to the English tennis players (and hopefully accuracy), it will also give you the opportunity to get your favourite Wimbledon players autograph at the end of the match.  This fantastic ball pen offers a silky metal body, rubber grip and heavy feel made for that lasting impression.

2. Sports Promotional Bag: When watching sport there is always that over whelming urge to go out and play straight after.  Now you can grab you promotional sports bag and run.  This classic sports bag can be embroidered with your company name and logo, so you can carry your message everywhere you go!

3. Budget Sports Umbrella:  With all the hot sun we are experiencing you may need to go undercover and the Sports umbrella is the ideal promotional product to take to the courts. Available in a variety of colours and with its immense print area it will be hard not to notice your company name!

4. Embroidered Promotional Polo Shirt.  Why not invest in a Polo shirt to support your favourite player.  Prices start at £5.45 and you only have to purchase 12 as a minimum.  These polo shirts are 65% Polyester and 35% cotton.  Comfortable for both sport, pleasure and business!!

Hotline's winning promotional gifts line up . . .

The World Cup is an unforgiving beast and many well known teams have fallen victim to it and failed to get past the group stage (bad luck France and Italy!). Fortunately England have made it through (just) and this was partly down to a changed line up of players. The solid line up has meant that they could have maximum impact on the pitch. You can make sure that your campaign is a winning one if you choose from our winning line up of promotional gifts that can generate added impact to your campaign. Check out our team below . . .

In goal we've got the Pique Polo Shirt - a durable, long lasting and stylish garment. Across the back we have the ever warm Thermo Mug, great value Promotional T-shirt, stylish Value Polo Shirt and economistic Bio Carrier Bag! Through the middle we've opted for the ever present Manhattan Mug, the sophisticated Latte Glass, the reliable City Conference Bag and the Economy Cotton Tote Bags that seem to get all over the place. Up front and hoping to make a huge impact are the Campaign Pens and Twist Value Pens - promotional pens that aim to do the job at hand.

Over all a very good, solid and effective team. Make sure that you select the right printed products to ensure success in your next campaign - call us now on 0844 888 4400.

This Summers Printed T Shirts recommendations

The summer is finally approaching and the Promotional T-shirts, sandals (hopefully minus the socks!) and shorts are starting to appear at a rapid rate. There has never been a better time to order your promotional T shirts with the Hotline Group.  Perhaps you want to hand them out as a freebie at an exhibition or show, give them away as promotional gifts at the launch of a new product,  do you have a team of junior athletes that need a boost of confidence for a big event or are you simply planning your best friends stag/ hen weekend away up North.  Promotional Printed T shirts are a great form of communication and a great way to promote brand awareness.  They are the perfect message carrier and are available in a variety of colours, sizes, materials, prices.

T shirts are often used as company uniform, whether it is in a garden centre, on a building site or as part of a school uniform.  They are a superb invention because they are comfortable, hard wearing and look smart – especially the stylish Polo shirts which are now available.  Even designer names have established a trend where polo shirts are concerned, Ralph Lauren is one example and is probably the market leader.

Getting a batch of promotional T shirts printed couldn’t be easier!  Simple browse our website for you chosen garment.  This month we would highly recommend the ‘Value Printed T shirt’ made form 100% cotton with a taped neck and twin needle stitching for added comfort and support.  This particular printed T shirt comes in a variety of colours and looks fabulous on both males and females.  Place your order online and tell us the key details e.g colour, quantity and what how many colours you would like your promotional T shirt in.  Next one of our helpful artworkers will give you a ring for a chat and send you a proof of your design, then all you need to do is sigh it off if your happy and bobs your uncle, they will arrive on your doorstep ASAP.  No fuss, no worries!!

Put a spring in your step with printed and embroidered t-shirts

Statistics from the USA show that ninety one percent of Americans profess to owning a ‘favourite’ T shirt and over seventy percent of men and fifty percent of women have more then 10 of this popular promotional clothing.  It seem to be that the trendy T shirt is slowly coming back into fashion.  T Shirts used to be worn because they were comfortable or they were easy to pull on without being restrained or were the ideas garment to wear down the gym.  Now you are seeing Rap superstars such as Jay Z and 50 Cent outwardly showing their love for this superb piece of clothing and showcasing their designs and slogans.  The world of T shirt popularity is taking a turn for the better.

So what colours are the most popular and ultimately the most worn?  I ask because why would you want to purchase a bulk of promotional T shirts that don’t go with anything?  It immediately cuts you brand awareness potential in half and is a waste of an investment in these difficult times.  A surprising statistic claims that thirty four percent of people state that their favourite coloured T shirt is white, with black and blue being the next most popular choice.  So that stat gives you a heads up for your next marketing campaign if you are thinking about using promotional T shirts.

With spring approaching at a rapid rate, it is the ideal time to purchase your low cost promotional T-shirts.  People are starting to get exciting about the thought of summer moving in and are starting to strip off (even it is sill 1 degrees with the sun shining!).  It is time to print or embroider your company logo onto your chosen T shirt and start the marketing ball rolling.  If you are opting for a lightweight t shirt it is recommended that you have your logo screen printed on the promotional T shirt and if you are purchasing a more heavy weight garment it is advisable to have your design embroidered.  Your sales representative will advise you according.

With so many low cost and great value for money T shirts provided by the hotline group you are sure to see your money go a lot further! There are many other promotional gifts available too.

Promotional gifts at the Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics came to an abrupt end recently and all I could feel was great disappointment for this winter event to be over!  Ok... we didn’t win much but what a treat to watch.  All I could see were promotional products and sponsorships everywhere! Promotional water bottles, stylish embroidered fleeces, printed flags and plenty of ice scrapers.  Every opportunity to advertise a logo, name or slogan was utilised!  If your company name features on any of the products shown on the TV, you were certainly one of the lucky ones!

So this magnificent event only features every four years and the fantastic Amy Williams did us proud!  She won the Skeleton Bob event and is the first solo winter Olympics gold medallist in the last 30 years – Now that is an achievement!  Now what promotional product would I send her as a ‘congratulations’ promotional gift?  Let’s head away from the printed ice scraper, as I know that is what you were all thinking (it is more of a promotional giveaway than a promotional gift).  I’m thinking perhaps a new embroidered beanie cap, a pair of printed gloves or even a personalised jacket of some description.  I’m afraid a promotional snow board is out of the question!

Perhaps she would prefer a few promotional mugs of hot chocolate instead to warm up after all that intense training?  I think I would!

The best products to use as promotional giveaways

Hmm.. the best products to use as promotional giveaways? People always want to know what the best promotional products are and which are the most successful where brand awareness is concerned.  The answer to this question is simple – just pick one of the following and you are guaranteed to see success bloom in a matter of weeks.  The most important factor to consider is what the product is actually being used for and what time of the year it is.  You must think of its usability.  What would be the point of investing money into a promotional item that the customer has no interest or use for?  Promotional items such as promotional mugs, printed T shirts and promotional pens are ideal as they are constantly used throughout the year.  Pick any of the following three and see the results instantly.

Promotional mugs:  You see them everywhere, in the office, in the staffroom, at home and even in shops and schools.  They are not the cheapest promotional giveaway on the market, however when you weigh up their shelf life, it all seems worth it in the end.  As with anything, there is always a budget busting cheaper option and an executive stylish alternative.  People become very attached to promotional mugs and can keep using them for years and they become a highly effective advertising tool.  I would strongly recommend the Manhattan printed mug or the stylish Griffin mug.

Promotional Keyrings: I would say that 90% of people in the UK possess a key ring of some sort.  It may be a key ring brought on holiday, one given to them as a promotional giveaway or one that has been lying redundant around the house for the past couple of years and has suddenly come into use.  Popular  promotional key rings at the moment include the Ad loop keyring, the value printed keyring and the liquid keyring.  All different in appearance and budget yet all highly effective from all angles.  Just think of them as a personal message carrier carrying your logo and contact details from place to place for people to see!

Promotional bags:  Everyone is going ‘ saving bags’ crazy.  You go into a supermarket and they ask you if you want a carrier bag for you 1002 items brought and you feel bad that you haven’t brought your own ones in! It’s ridiculous!  However there is a solution you can offer your clients - a printed cotton tote bag which they can use for years to come.  We could coin it ‘a bag for life!’ but I guess that would be copywrite.   Carrier bags, tote bags, ruck sacks, cases etc all have a huge potential where advertising is concerned because of their huge print area and the fact they are carried around from location to location.  Take a look at our selection of bags today!

Should I print or embroider my promotional clothing?

Screen printing or embroidery?? That is the question! This is always a question which reveals itself when customers place orders for promotional products especially promotional clothing.  People always want to know what is the difference between screen printing and embroidery and which methods suit which garments more.  So here are the basics of it!

Screen printing is perfect for single colour printing on garments such as promotional T-shirts.  It is an affordable way to present a coloured design on a piece of promotional clothing.  Screen printing involves a chemical emulsion of your chosen colour being placed on a mesh surface and being transferred on to the garment. A separate screen is required for each colour which accounts for your screen charge.  This method can work with more them one colour however multiple colours is not recommended as this becomes less economical.  This technique produces a high quality result at an affordable price and is considered a superior method in comparison to transfer printing.  It is more precise.

Embroidery, on the other hand, is where coloured threads are sewn into a garment from a digital design using a hi-tech cosmopolitan sewing machine.  This method is more expensive then screen printing but does produce high quality results and style.  This method should be selected if you are thinking about a design that has more than one colour included or is considered a full colour print.  This technique is used mainly on heavy weight promotional garments such as polo shirts, jackets, caps and knitwear.  The advantages are set up costs are low and a full colour embroidered design can be complete in one single operation.  It provides a long lasting look and colours can be added at no extra cost.

Never hesitate to contact our friendly team if you have any further questions or queries and we will be more than happy to help.

Promotional Gifts for all seasons

It is always worth considering what time of year it is when thinking about specific promotional gifts for your marketing campaign.  For example no one will want a personalised beach towel in the middle of winter or an ice scraper in the sizzling summer!  If you are spending your budget on promotional gifts, it is essential that you think it out properly and consider all the external factors. Your campaign certainly needs careful consideration.

Winter:  Popular printed products and promotional gifts for this time of year include the classic storm proof umbrellas, printed ice scrapers and beanie caps to wear in the icy cool weather.  All these products can be printed with your company name and logo or can be tailored to your product launch or tradeshow with a message or statement. These are products that people will always need and if they see your company logo and contact details you have killed two birds with one stone.

Spring:  Spring is a difficult time of year to gauge; you get a sense of summer however it is still not warm enough for ‘summery’ promotional products.  So what could you use?  Promotional umbrellas are the obvious choice.  They can be printed on all 6 panels and can match your corporate colours perfectly.  Perhaps you are better off going for a smaller umbrella that can fit easily into a handbag or brief case.  The second choice for a spring promotional gift is Promotional mugs, ideal for that well earned cup of coffee or hot chocolate – a quick pick me up in the  middle of the day!

Summer:  Promotional gifts for the summer are endless; personalised beach towels, printed sun screen, can openers for those beach parties and BBQ’s, printed Frisbees, drawstring bags and classic polo shirts.

Autumn:  Autumn has the same connotations as Spring, it is still warm, yet you can feel the winter approaching.  It is the time of year when the summer clothes are put back in the cupboard and the promotional sweatshirts and printed coats come out in preparation for the winter months. Novelty promotional gifts are a great way to start the depressing season to mask the fact the warm weather is evaporating and the icy winds are on their way in. Perhaps a nifty due action/function pen or a fancy alarm clock for those dark mornings.