We have all come across a promotional product at some point – products branded with a logo or slogan that is usually used for marketing purposes.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that almost everybody has either used, or had in their home, a promotional product at one time or another.
The pens I have on my desk are all branded with a company logo or slogan, my take-away coffee cup was a free gift branded by a local windscreen company, my children have mini torches in their bedrooms that have an insurance business slogan across the side.
The item is useful, every time you see it you are reminded of the company, and if I ever needed a windscreen or some business insurance I wouldn’t have to look very far for the details!
And that is the aim of promotional products. We supply promotional products to businesses across the country, from pens to stress products shaped like animals – we have seen, and supplied, it all.
And they have been going longer than you may think – the first known promotional products in the United States are commemorative buttons dating back to the election of George Washington in 1789.
The UK and Ireland promotional merchandise industry formally emerged as corporate marketing became more sophisticated during the late 1950s. Before this companies may have provided occasional gifts, but there was no recognised promotional merchandise industry.
The real explosion in the growth of the promotional merchandise industry took place in the 1970s. At this time an ever increasing number of corporate companies recognised the benefits gained from promoting their corporate identity, brand or product, with the use of gifts featuring their own logo.
And the huge success of the marketing technique means the industry has continued to grow – and means we get to see all sorts of promotional items created for our customers.
If you would like to explore the promotional products available for your business give us a call on 01952 292606 or pop into our showroom on Stafford Park 4 for a copy of our 162 page catalogue and see the samples on display.
