Digital print company Snap Products has added Pierre Cardin branded premium notebooks to its range of 23 notebook lines. As official Pierre Cardin licensee in the UK and Ireland, Snap has developed the product in-house. The Pierre Cardin Exclusive notebook features a unique silk-feel hard cover, while the Pierre Cardin Fashion notebook features audacious colour selection.
The Briman Group has become an effective voice advocating British manufacturing. Mark Alderson explains its development
Welcome to the launch edition of Briman Voice. Over the coming months, this column will explore a range of topics affecting British manufacturing within the promotional industry. It seems sensible to start at the beginning and look at the formation of the Briman Group and some of the benefits its members have already shared.
It may be 50 years since it was designed, but the iconic Fisher Space Pen still looks, well, space age. This is hardly surprising as it is a genuine product of the Space Race. Astronauts had been using pencils, but these were hazardous as the lead could break and float around in the gravity free capsule.
Buying a business can be a boost to your business, but how do you know whether you’re buying a pearl or a pup, asks Mike Collins
The ambitious and enthusiastic winner of TV’s The Apprentice 2017, Sarah Lynn caught up with Product Media magazine to discuss her future plans. Sarah started her business in 2010 after travelling the world with her husband to be. She thought that many companies that were provided sweets were selling sub-standard product with poor packaging.
Promotional product agency Micromarketing has relocated and up-scaled to more environmentally friendly offices in West Oxfordshire with a new local warehouse and quality control facility. Paul Faulkner, managing director of Micromarketing, said the spacious new offices allowed the company to grow its offering of services and brought together all functions on one site, to the benefit of clients.
We asked some of the exhibitors and her are some of the products they suggested.
Briman member Sow Easy will be tempting green shoots with its custom printed Seedsticks, one of its most popular eco-friendly promotional products. The branded Seedsticks are impactful, memorable and fun to grow, helping to increase brand awareness and loyalty. Planet EcoBags will be showing its range of bags, including jute, laminated and DuraPaper, a super-strong combination of woven polypropylene wipe-clean interior bonded to a heavy brown or white paper bag exterior.
In more than 10 years in the merchandise industry I am often amazed at the missed opportunities by distributors for delivering real impact to the end user. Without design, a promotional product is just a product. A pen in an office drawer, a mug left on the shelf or a bag for life discarded to never fulfil its purpose.
The Advantage Group held its 19th annual catalogue launch and awards dinner at Sopwell House Hotel and Country Club in July. Outgoing BPMA director general, Gordon Glenister, was on hand to see the awards being presented at the St Albans’ venue. He was also recognised with a cake presented by Advantage boss Lawrence Angelow, and presented with a commemorative trophy by former BPMA president Gill Thorpe.
Outstanding Branding outlined its global vision for the next three years at a revitalised annual company conference that brought together team members from around the world. The event, titled OBcon, was the first of its kind to be held by the company. Held at Devere Theobalds Estate, the full day and night event was designed to put the global team at the centre of proceedings.
On a recent visit to the ASI (Advertising Speciality Institute) education day and trade show in Chicago I was lucky enough to meet some truly amazing industry folk. They are just as passionate and committed to raising standards, sharing knowledge with others and supporting and inspiring businesses to grow as we are here within the BPMA community.
BIC Graphic Europe has added two new barrel options to the existing palette of the best-selling Media Clic range. Alongside the current matt and frosted barrels, customers can now choose clear or polished finishes in a range of colours, giving tens of thousands of potential colour combinations.
Saxoprint is launching its new solution for resellers, Saxoprint Partners, at Merchandise World. The service provides a white label print solution, that can be branded for distributors to deliver a scalable robust print solution to their existing and new clients. With wholesale pricing, distributor discount and an invoicing solution, Saxoprint Partners will enable distributors to offer a range of printed products.
Our resident technology expert, Matt Pluckrose answers more questions on how tech is influencing product media.
A. As always technology is racing and currently the buzz areas would include the Internet of Everything, artificial intelligence, VR and AR, with 5G to come plus new updated software and hardware such as Bluetooth 5. Such changes are developing new product markets including smart home speakers (Alexa, Google home, and so on), internet/wireless security devices, self-driving cars, wearable technology – the list goes on.
With the industry’s main exhibition and networking opportunity, Merchandise World taking place in Farnborough on 12 September, it makes sense to use the gathering to share advice and air views on one of the biggest issues facing business in Britain – Brexit. The BPMA Brexit Summit takes place on the afternoon prior to Merchandise World. With Britain set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, businesses have only six months to prepare for an event that still has many question marks around it.
Awareness of NABS within the promotional industry is limited, but a deal with the BPMA means it is there to help, says Diana Tickell
NABS (the National Advertising Benevolent Society) has been working in the UK advertising, marketing and media industry for 105 years. Our century-plus of offering industry advice, support and guidance, at no cost to the employee, has helped countless people get their careers and lives back on track.
Summer has been in full swing, but the first of autumn’s major trade shows, Merchandise World, will have been occupying suppliers. With many registered it looks like the event will be a popular attraction offering promotional supply solutions under one roof at the new Farnborough International venue. Trade shows are multifaceted because they allow you a chance to hear from leading experts, meet with potential supply partners, and see all the new product on the market. If you are specifically looking for a new garment supplier and decorator make sure you come to the show prepared. Organise and set up appointments with the proposed supplier. There is an appointment diary running with most suppliers.
Sheffield branded merchandise company Steel City has urged coffee addicts to switch from disposable cups to reusable versions and raise money for charity. The Yorkshire business is raising awareness of the 2.5 billion paper coffee cups that are thrown away in the UK every year.
BPMA members have adapted to the recent heatwave to ensure that clients continue to be serviced, while staff are looked after. With temperatures in the thirties during July and August, manufacturing companies have been faced with even higher temperatures in their premises. Several BPMA members have reported adapting their shift patterns to allow staff to work in cooler periods at night and early morning, and avoiding the hottest parts of the day.
Promotional edibles company, Eat My Logo is offering discounted BPMA specific trade prices to BPMA members. The Chorley-based business specialises in branded cakes, biscuits, flapjacks and icing toppers which offer a more upmarket alternative to rice paper versions. As a member of the BPMA, Eat My Logo regularly works with other BPMA member companies. As well as a special price for its high quality edible branded goods,
© Copyright 2018 The BPMA | All rights reserved.
