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Trade Only National Show 2015 Brings the Industry Face to FaceThousands of show-goers flocked to Coventry for the ninth Trade Only National Show making the event the most successful ever organisers have announced. The show - held on the 21st and 22nd January at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK saw nearly 3,000 visitors through the doors over its two-day run. The BPMA Annual Awards Dinner organised by Trade Only on the middle night of the show saw nearly 700 guests enjoying a glamorous industry gala with an electrifying performance from top dance band Carte Blanche. Almost 150 delegates attended the BPMA Education Day, endorsed by the show on the 20th which included sessions by Dee Blick, Warren Knight, Paul Bellantone, Rod Brown and Michel van Bavel. Nigel Bailey, Event Director for Trade Only said “It has been as always an amazing few days. This show has become one of the very top promotional product trade shows in the world. With over 75% of space now reserved for 2016, we are already hard at work planning to make next year’s event even better."0Read More
HAPTICA® Live 2015 - with Heart and HandsGood marketing rarely just appeals to the mind – it seeks the way to the heart of the target group, it arouses emotions. And the most direct route is often not via the brain, but indeed via the hands. Touching things brings a feeling of trust - we namely perceive things that we have touched to be real and genuine. An effect that turns haptic advertising – which will be presented in all its facets for the third time on March 25, 2015 at the HAPTICA® live ‘15 at the Palladium in Cologne, Germany – into a particularly high-impact marketing discipline. The condensed format of the "Experience of Haptic Advertising" provides the trade visitors from the marketing, communications, purchasing and sales sectors, from advertising agencies and from the promotional products trade with inspiration for the intelligent implementation of haptic advertising in one single day. Numerous best practices and lectures demonstrate how the potential of this form of advertising can be put to use for corporate communications. The exhibition of the prize-winners and award ceremony of the Promotional Gift Award 2015 give further insights into the practical application of haptic advertising. The visitors can additionally find matching product ideas, novelties, classics and trend-setting products as well as possibilities for custom-made designs at the stands of over 90 exhibitors, who will be exhibiting in both halls of the Palladium. Marzipan by Niederegger, terry cloth items by Vossen, barbecue utensils by Rösle, stainless steel design by Blomus, cuddly toys by Sigikid and Swiss knives by Victorinox, in addition to seed bombs, pasta shakers, individualised shoes or tongue tattoos and examples of classic haptic advertising such as notebooks and cups, umbrellas and writing instruments, through to promotional textiles are waiting to be implemented as promotional products (the exhibitor list is posted at www.haptica-live.de). The HAPTICA® live ‘15 opens its doors from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on March 25, 2015 at the Palladium in Cologne, Germany. Following this, there will be an opportunity for networking up until 9.00 p.m., where drinks and finger food will be served. Participation is free of charge, however it is necessary to pre-register at: www.haptica-live.de/anmeldung The organiser of the HAPTICA® live is the German publishing company, WA Media, publisher of the trade magazines "eppi magazine", "Promotion Products", "HAPTICA®" and "Werbeartikel Nachrichten" and organiser of the Promotional Gift Award. 0Read More
Press Release: Callaway GolfCallaway announce appointment of both Tomlinson Golf & Yob Golf as exclusive Corporate Partners for 2015 corporate gift business. 0Read More
PSI 2015 - Dynamic Launch Into the New Promotional YearPSI 2015 can already be called a successful launch into the new business year. After three highly diverse days, the trade show closed its doors last Friday. It once again succeeded in generating new ideas and momentum for the promotional products marketplace. PSI are delighted to use this opportunity to thank you for being among the 873 exhibitors from 38 nations and 16,290 trade visitors from 85 countries who turned PSI 2015 into an absolute highlight! Major “returners”, including international market leaders such as PF Concept, Mid Oceans Brands, Macma, Senator, Klio-Eterna Schreibgeräte, New Wave and Promodoro Fashion, as well as nearly 100 new “shooting stars” served as unmistakable beacons for the new momentum that’s propelling the international promotional products market forward. “The PSI Show puts a human face on the market and gives a voice to the industry. This year’s PSI underscored that point in an impressive way” said PSI Director Michael Freter. PSI hope that you had a successful show with lots of new trade show contacts, and that you’ll return to the office with plenty of suggestions for your customers. Here’s a brief overview of their trade show highlights: • 50 exclusive PSI first product premieres and of course especially the winners of the PSI First Award, mood rooms, Macma and Prinopa. Congratulations once again for that achievement! • Consistently well-attended special areas, including the Halle13-area, the Textile area with the integrated PSI catwalk, the PSI gusto tasting pavilion, the technology forum, the demonstaration area, and many more. • The well-attended PSI after work event, which provided you with an opportunity to experience “networking at its best” together with our exhibitors For first impressions of the trade show and the PSI final report, please visit www.psi-messe.com. Be sure to return for additional facts and figures on PSI 2015 to be published shortly. Already planning your visit next year? If so, PSI look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back in Düsseldorf. The next PSI will take place from the 13th to 15th January 2016.0Read More

Company News

What’s new
or changed…

Outstanding Branding Website RelaunchAn Outstanding Brand New Website is Unveiled Sarah Penn, Managing Director of Award-winning and British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) Charter Distributor of promotional merchandise Outstanding Branding, announced today that they have introduced a fresh and re-energised website. Now outstandingbranding.co.uk, the new site has undergone an impressive and substantial makeover which is sure to attract and retain more visitors than ever before. Since Outstanding Branding’s inception five years ago their mission statement has been to help their clients out perform their competition by outperforming their own, and by being original and inspirational in everything they do. This was the thesis which created their original bold website and one which has allowed the company to grow year-on-year. After assessing the old site and its design, Outstanding Branding noted it was time for a complete revamp and so invested heavily into its new design and performance, using the latest cutting edge technology available. The revitalised site features enhanced and to-the-point content, of which is presented in a clean, contemporary and engaging style. Incorporating the company’s brand colours, the nature of the site moves away from the text-heavy and sometimes irrelevant format, and instead re-harmonises webpage real estate in favour of true OB-style content. The site also welcomes a heavier focus on video content to allow visitors to the site to engage with it like never before. All of these elements; along with the improved search functionality and easier navigation; allows the end-user to obtain the information they require in better-than-before timing. To celebrate the website re-launch, the company is producing a number of their own branded merchandise for clients, including the ever-popular OB mouse mat which features a fresh new design to reflect the website and a 12 month calendar. Penn comments, “Our new website marks a fantastic step for the company. We have invested heavily in the design and function of our site to allow the user experience to be one of ease and pleasure whilst obtaining all of the information they need on our products and services.” More information on Outstanding Branding’s promotional merchandise is available at www.outstandingbranding.co.uk, where details of the complete range of products and services offered can also be found.0Read More
Top Motorsport Aviation Airline Flies High with Recognition ExpressWhen Southend Airport based specialist airline Jota Aviation wanted stylish branded accessories to match their new cabin crew uniforms, they turned to local company Recognition Express. Promotional goods and clothing expert Recognition Express in Rochford has built up a reputation for sourcing and manufacturing “hard to get” or low volume branded items. As the company had already produced the registration plates for Jota Aviation’s latest executive jets, it made sense for the motorsport and VIP charter specialist to ask them to quote. The task led the team at Recognition Express on a voyage of their own – designing and sourcing the enamel lapel badges and overcoming technical challenges to screen print uniform scarves and ties. Explained Recognition Express director Graham Marshall: “Jota had an idea of what they wanted but were unsure if it was possible to have custom-designed products in small quantities. We sourced off the shelf tabards, scarves and ties and hand-printed them to give them a unique look. Printing the silk scarves proved to be very tricky but with a bit of lateral thinking we got the job done. The scarves were very long - 55”/ 140cm – and this was an issue as they were too big to fit in our print press and printing multiple passes is never very successful. One evening I was wrapping some food at home and realised that aluminium foil would be ideal for holding the transfers in place whilst allowing the heat to penetrate! With tin foil wrapped tightly around the scarves they were much easier to handle and minimised the risk of the transfers moving as we moved the scarves through the heat press multiple times. The ties were simpler as they were transfer printed, but not without their own challenge." Continued Graham: “The process uses transfers applied in a heat press. We needed to find a way of applying the transfers so that the ties were not marked by the heat so we cut a tie-shaped piece of metal that slid into the “tube” of the tie. This stopped the seams from showing through. For the “Jota Wing” enamel badge they showed us a valuable old lapel badge that aircrew wore many years ago and we designed a new badge with that style in mind but brought up to date. We are particularly pleased with how these have come out.” Recognition Express also provided ID cards, name badges and luggage tags. They also personalised unbranded items sourced directly by Jota from other suppliers enabling the airline to ensure all items carried the same stylish corporate identity. Said Jota Aviation cabin services manager Jo Bourne: “We are a niche airline providing a very select service and our image is very important. The challenge we faced was to source top quality branded items but in low quantities and at a sensible price. As a local company ourselves we like to give business to local suppliers wherever possible so to have Recognition Express practically on our doorstep is a real bonus. Their service is excellent. Nothing is too much trouble and all of our new accessories they supplied look great with our uniforms.”0Read More
Benefits of Promotional Products - Go Promotional0Read More
Melissa Chevin Joins A.T. Cross to Expand Business Gift DivisionInternational writing instruments brand A.T. Cross has appointed Melissa Chevin as Global Business Gift Marketing Manager. Joining the team with a wealth of industry experience, Melissa’s key role will be to define and implement innovative solutions across the business gifting portfolio, enabling A.T. Cross to further support its customers and present an even stronger product offering. Melissa’s appointment is testament to A.T. Cross’s dedication to the promotional merchandise category. Along with the brand’s recent acquisition of the Sheaffer brand, A.T. Cross is looking to strengthen its business gift offering with a greater portfolio of product solutions than ever before. Melissa will also build on the exceptional customer service levels that customers have come to expect from the A.T. Cross brand portfolio, including Franklin Covey and now Sheaffer. Recognised and trusted for designing stylish, superior quality products to reward, recognise and motivate, Cross writing instruments and accessories have long been symbols of success and achievement; the ideal way to express appreciation and esteem for valued clients and colleagues. "CROSS is an outstanding global brand with a reputation as a quality manufacturer of writing instruments and accessories, which is second to none. I’m excited to work for a company with such a rich heritage and iconic brand name and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead.” Melissa Chevin, Global Business Gift Marketing Manager, A.T. Cross Melissa Chevin will be based at the A.T. Cross European Headquarters in Luton, UK.0Read More

Product News

What’s hot and
what’s not…

New Ladies Clutch Purse from The Leather Business
The Leather Business have launched a new ladies purse. It is made in high quality full hide Eco Verde leather and will be stocked in black. It measures 19cm x 10cm x 2.5 cm and opens up to reveal an internal zipped purse section and two banks of credit card slots and two additional pockets.

MD John Thorp commented:
“We must have shown the purse to at least 60 ladies at a recent trade event and we have had a very enthusiastic response, everyone liked the purse. It’s a cross between a purse and a clutch, it sits so well in the hand and has the advantage of a high perceived value. It is always difficult to find an item suitable for the executive lady so we hope this might fill a gap in the market.”

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Hull Frost Ice Scraper from Easy Gifts0Read More
New Contour Argent Pencil from The Pen WarehouseGet straight to the point with new pencils from The Pen Warehouse. The Pen Warehouse is augmenting its choice of pencils with two new models for 2015. The Contour Argent Pencil follows the sculpted styling of its companions in the best-selling Contour range and is now available with a black rubberised grip as well as the blue option. The Contour Argent Pencil is a mechanical pencil which boasts the same large 35 mm x 10mm print area which has made the Contour range so popular. An imitation gemstone on the top of the Black Knight Gem gives this pencil a luxury twist. The high grade black wooden pencil can be printed with a spot colour and there are four different coloured gems to choose from. The Black Knight Gem is the latest addition to the Black Knight range which also includes the Black Knight WE (With Eraser) and the Black Knight NE (No Eraser). To order call The Pen Warehouse on 01252 400270 or email sales@pens.co.uk0Read More
Dartmouth Conference Folders from Snap ProductsAn open and shut case for conference folders from Snap Products. Pioneers of digital print, Snap Products have added a range of conference folders to their collection of promotional gifts for 2015. The Dartmouth Conference Folder range has a premium look and feel thanks to the lightly grained pvc and can be full colour digitally printed in one of two prominent positions on the front of the folder. The Dartmouth Conference Folder is available as an A4 or A5 folder with or without zip. The impressive print area measures 130mm x 170mm on the A4 folder and 110mm x 160mm on the A5 folder. Personalisation can be placed either on the centre or the bottom right of the front cover. The folder features a USB holder (USB not included), a business card pocket and is supplied with a 20 page recycled paper notepad. Now distributors can sell these business accessories from as little as one piece online to consumers and small businesses with a www.no-minimum.co.uk bespoke website. To order branded conference folders and accessories, call Snap Products on 01252 796860 or email sales@snapproducts.co.uk. More information about the Bespoke No-Minimum website can be found at www.no-minimum.co.uk/bespoke. 0Read More

Special Offers

Great offers on
great products…

Cold As Ice Offer from Great Central Plastics
You’ve probably noticed the weather has been getting colder, in fact it’s downright freezing! But it’s not all bad news because Great Central Plastics Ltd has thought of a way to brighten your day, even on the coldest mornings. For this week only, when the weather in Coventry drops below -3°c, Great Central Plastics will give you 10% off your Ice Scraper order when purchasing over 1000 pieces. Call them on 01327 264277 or email them at sales@promotional-plastics.co.uk quoting COLD AS ICE, for more information. Offer valid between 19th and 23rd January 2015. T&C’s apply.
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3 Day Express Service on Contour Ballpens at The Pen Warehouse0Read More
Hand Warmer Promotion from ThermopacksHand Warmer Promotion To Warm The Heart Thermopacks are offering UK distributors a whopping 25% discount on all heart shaped hand warmer orders placed between 19th – 23rd January. The offer is for the product filled with red solution and a one colour print. Ordering over these dates will ensure delivery by February 11th. Contact sales@thermopacks.com to confirm prices. 0Read More
Sportsline Bottles Offer from High Profile0Read More