A consistently popular business gift item is the umbrella and given the British weather it is not difficult to work out why this might be the case. Promotional Umbrellas can form part of our daily lives and it is always worth having one to hand just in case a sudden downpour catches you out. As with many items, an umbrella is something that were it not given, would almost certainly be purchased.  Therefore this is one item, subject to budget availability, that will be very well received, certainly used and will be a lasting reminder of your brand or service.

The first consideration is to narrow down the choice that is available in this product range. As with most product areas, there is a good deal of production in the Far East, which has led to more models, colours, printing techniques as well as lower price points across most umbrellas.  Due to the lead times from China, there is still production in the UK and this does still account for a large proportion of umbrella sales given that as a client base, the market does demand lower lead times.  Should time be available, and by this delivery can be 6-8 weeks, then some great prices can be achieved on the pricier products.

In terms of models these fall quite neatly into three categories. At the lower end are the budget umbrellas, that don’t provide too much storm proofing but will do a job of keeping the user dry. These usually have fixed and standard panel colours and screen-printing is the same as it would be on pretty much all umbrellas. Full colour process is not possible. Moving up in price, and you start to see the quality and products that will have a longer lifespan. Popular lines include the Bedford (UK made) and others such as the lower end fiberglass options with limited panel colour choice. Finally at the top end price levels come umbrellas such as the Spectrum Sport and the Probrella – both competing hard for the top spot. Both have great colour choice of materials, matching handles and shafts and are storm proof.

Printing methods are great on umbrellas, normal print areas on all models can be around A4 in size and it would be advisable to print alternate panels to ensure your logo is visable to people when in use. Newer techniques now allow full panel printing and full colour process, which can provide some great visually stunning results.

Umbrellas can be a valuable Promotional tool. It is truly a product that the more you spend, the better quality and longer lasting product you will receive. Choosing the right option is very important and our dedicated sales team at Steel City Marketing can be contacted on 0114 2754150 and will be happy to discuss your requirements in more detail.

An area of the promotional gift range that is often forgotten but has amazing potential is pen pots and desk tidies. These are not only an incredibly useful item for the recipient and therefore well received, it is an advertising tool that will remain in use for years to come.  The price points, branding options and choice within the range is extensive and it is well worth an in-depth look at what is available.

Budget wise, there is usually a promotional pen pot from the low end right up to some very nice executive items that have additional features. At the low price point, items are usually produced from injection moulded plastic (with a few standard colour options available), or made from polypropylene and supplied flat packed for self assembly (which is great as a direct mail idea).  Higher up the price ladder are pen pots that have features such as digital clocks, dates, temperature features – an example being the weather station pen pot. Right at the top end are executive items, usually metallic using mixtures of matt and chrome finishes to add prestige. They often form part of a desk set with a mobile phone holder, business card holder and other, where all items can be purchased together or separately.

Interestingly (and this is always a good indication of the popularity of a product area), there have been recent additions with items made from recycled materials and whether this has been done as a simple desk tidy or more of a gimmick idea such as the wheelie bin pen pot, it shows that this is still a good product to consider.

Branding is often key to how effective a promotional product can be and promotional pen pots don’t fall short in this area either. The polypropylene version can take a full colour print to the entire visible surface, and the plastic injection moulded items either have a single print area, or can be printed to all sides (on the trio pen pot for example).  The pen pots with digital clocks / weather stations have a subtle but ample branding position, with screen printing in spot colours covering most logos (even if slight modification in the design is required).

Promotional pen pots are an underestimated business gift option, but one that can have a powerful advertising impact.  Should you wish to consider using one for your next campaign, please contact a member of the Steel City Marketing sales team on 0114 2754150 who will be more than happy to give advice, prices or arrange samples to be posted out to you.

One of the most valuable and well received items within the range of business gifts ideas is often one that is useful and something that has a function and would be purchased by the user in some form had it not been given.  Promotional clocks and timepieces certainly fit nicely into this bracket.

Desk clocks and other timepieces have traditionally been very popular gifts and have satisfied those looking for something either as a Christmas type executive item or even as a set of annual awards. Other common uses are as motivational pieces for staff, which could include incentives or long standing service rewards.

The clocks available take many formats and depending on the budget or intended recipient, there is almost certainly a number of options that will no doubt fit the bill. There is considerable choice in the metal heavy analogue desk clock, with some traditional as well as more contemporary designs. The Pillow clock remains popular and has a good engravable area. More modern designs are coming on stream, using glass or straight angles to follow the latest trends.

Digital desk clocks are fast becoming the biggest seller in this range, with additional features to have a play with such as calendar, alarms and weather / temperature. These clocks come in a selection of material finishes, from lightweight aluminium to silver finished plastic, allowing screen printing and often a varied choice of product colours.

Travel clocks are always a best selling item to consider, these are often given as an aid to business as well as personal travel, giving a constant reminder of your company or brand to the user. This particular area of the promotional clocks range does have some very low budget options, allowing a fantastic opportunity to giveaway something long lasting and useful without spending a high unit price.

As with most product areas these days, there is an eco version to everything and the clocks area is no different, with solar powered and even water powered options.

Wall clocks are the final section to consider when making the next promotional gift purchase. These fit again into the subtle reminder bracket, being a well received gift with the user having a constant reminder of your brand or service.

Should you be interested in discussing the type of clock you could be using in your next promotion, please contact a member of the Steel City Marketing sales team on 0114 2754150 who will be more than happy to take you through the many options and price ranges.