Members of the bpma ran activities across the country to support this year’s campaign.

The industry got behind the third Promotional Products Week (PPW) in September to raise the profile of promotional products and encourage their use within the marketing mix.  Activities throughout the week engendered many thousands of media impressions as member companies swung into action.

It saw the release of new research from the bpma into marketers’ attitudes to branded merchandise, which revealed the pen was still respondents’ favourite promotional item. See page 37 for more on this research.

Join the bpma at one of the highlights of the promotional year: the bpma Christmas Lunch on December 11.

Members and guests are invited to celebrate with us in London’s West End with good entertainment, great company, and excellent food.  And perhaps stay over for some Christmas shopping or take in a show or a spa package!

There is a new venue this year: the luxury Cumberland Hotel (pictured) at Marble Arch. It opens with the drinks reception at 12.30pm, with lunch at 1pm. Dress code is lounge suits and money will be raised in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) has revealed it is to use its significant presence in the inaugural edition of The Print Show to help its members from across the UK gain valuable exposure.

Taking place at Birmingham NEC from October 13 to 15, The Print Show will give printing companies the chance to view some of the latest technology on offer. They will gain access to a plethora of useful information that could help them expand their business into new markets.

The second bpma Annual Conference, “Future Proof Your Business”, has been hailed a success, with many of the sessions filled to capacity.

More than 220 delegates, experts and speakers defied strikes and traffic chaos to attend the event at the Park Inn Heathrow on July 9, with many staying on for the bpma Annual Business Awards Dinner the same evening.

The proceedings were opened by the chairman of the bpma, Matt Franks, who called for support of an independent association that could prioritise its core values and help grow and expand the industry and the use of promotional merchandise as part of the general marketing mix.

Outstanding Branding has declared the return of its end-user show, The Outstanding Promo Show, a huge success.

Held at the Tower of London in May for the second time, it attracted merchandise buyers from the company’s nationwide clientele, with a theme of unlocking the power of promotional merchandise.

Over 30 of the organisation’s top suppliers exhibited a variety of promotional products to inspire creativity for future marketing campaigns. Features included branding workshops, free prize draws and a goody bag worth over £150.

Promotional Products Week is returning in September to nationally raise the profile of promotional products and encourage their use within the marketing mix. 

The bpma wants companies to recognise the value of promotional products and understand the many different ways they can improve brand awareness. Taking place from September 14 to 18, it follows PPW’s successful launch in 2013. It will showcase promotional merchandise at its best, highlighting its essential role in the marketing mix and explaining why it is continually used by marketers keen to make an impact.

The bpma will be hosting a UK Pavilion at the PSI Trade Show which will open its doors for the 54th time in Düsseldorf in January. The pavilion will be made up of business pods, aimed at small and first-time exhibitors, but the bpma is always happy to facilitate introductions to the right people at PSI for those looking for larger stands.

Nigel Bailey, Event Director at the bpma, said: “The bpma UK Pavilion will be at the heart of the British presence at PSI 2016 and we will be supporting a ‘buy British’ campaign at the show. We will also be hosting a drinks reception at the show and other activities to be announced in the next few weeks.”

The bpma’s launch of its new exclusive national member-only exhibition has been very successful that 80% of stands for the 2016 event had already been sold by June. The bpma Show will be co-located with a relaunch of its popular Education Day together with the prestigious bpma Annual Awards Dinner.

The first edition of The bpma Show will be on September 14 at The Wing, Silverstone with the associated events at the nearby Whittlebury Hall.

Fluid Branding achieved such overwhelmingly positive feedback after hosting its first-ever Yorkshire Merchandise Show that it plans to repeat the event next year.

Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Leeds in May, it featured hundreds of new and exciting brandable products, with account managers on hand to offer advice and guidance. There were also seminars presented by bpma Director General Gordon Glenister on creative ideas and demonstrating how promotional products can deliver a great return on investment. 

Excitement is building in the industry as final preparations are being made for the second bpma Annual Conference. Titled “Future Proof Your Business”, the event takes place at the Orbiter Conference Centre, Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, London Heathrow Airport on 9 July.

Event Director Nigel Bailey said: “The conference is designed to help industry companies to build resilience and growth into their business and to encourage companies to look at continuously reviewing and questioning their plans to ensure they are getting the best out of their businesses. Places are limited so if you have not booked places, I recommend that you do so as soon as possible.”