Introducing: M-four Promotions
Managing director Judith Tinker on the year ahead for the Reading business
Give us a snapshot of the business?
M-four Promotions has been trading since 2006. Being owner-managed means we care passionately and our management team ensures that we do everything we can to have a business that is results-driven. We are proud to be longstanding members of the Ignite Buying Group and have a great team who work hard to ensure that everything we do, from answering the phone through to checking deliveries, is done with care, professionalism and enthusiasm.
We believe that we offer exceptional customer service, providing a tailored service that takes the hassle out of buying promotional merchandise. No two customers have the same way of working, so we adapt to them. We’ll go the extra mile to ensure our customers are happy and come back time and time again.
What made you join the BPMA?
We attended the very well-run Brexit Seminar in October and felt that the BPMA had moved on in a positive direction since we were last members some years back. The event gave us confidence that the membership would be a great tool come what may politically and we wanted to have the security of being backed by our trade association. It gives our customers the confidence to buy from a trustworthy and accredited company.
How are things going?
M-four is going from strength to strength and had 40% growth last year against all the odds and uncertainty in the economy. By working with an industry mentor and taking advice, we have bucked many trends. With a growing team and client base we expect more growth in the year ahead. The team is developing and expanding and this has meant we have had to change our processes accordingly. We are always learning and adjusting our systems as and when we need to. We do not have a blame attitude when things go wrong, we focus on a good client outcome and make sure we learn from our errors and move forward.
What is your favourite promotional product?
As a team we are big fans of the thermal water bottle. It is a product that everyone loves to receive; it helps reduce the use of single use plastics, and has a high perceived value. Having said that, we always do have pads and pens on our favourite lists too.
What trends are you noticing?
There is a definite trend for everything eco and sustainable. A lot of our customers are thinking about products that can be used and kept, that have a high perceived value, focussing on targeted audiences to get the best return on investment. Our customers are avoiding high quantity, low cost items that have the potential to be thrown away.
Give us a prediction for the year ahead?
We believe there will be a shift towards people buying from companies and brands that they trust, and products that are good quality, useful and can be sourced with the environment as a big consideration. UK manufactured products supplied in a timely fashion backed by excellent customer service from the manufacturer will do well. Bamboo items seem to be the flavour of the month.
