Thirsty work is good work.
The very best promotional products are things that people like, use and keep. After pens we do more travel cups, mugs and bottles than anything else, simply because they work. If something is useful and memorable it’s a good thing to stick your brand on.
This month we’ve mostly been thinking about drinking.
Not the kind that gets you sozzled in a sunny pub garden, but more the kind that nourishes and rehydrates you. The last few days of warmth and sunshine have been a tantalising glimpse of Summer, and although it’s probably a bit of a false dawn, we’ve taken delivery of several large orders of water bottles for thirsty clients.
The very best promotional products are things that people like, use and keep. After pens we do more travel cups, mugs and bottles than anything else, simply because they work.
The Purple Patch team’s kitchen shelves are good evidence of the popularity of the promotional drinking vessels. We’ve got stainless steel hiking bottles in various capacities and styles, plastic sports bottles with all sorts of motivating slogans, and a few with spiffy features like filters and ice blocks.
We’ve got enamel camping mugs, coffee travel cups, neoprene stubby holders (ask an Aussie what they are), Thermos flasks (just as good at keeping fluids cool as hot), Klean Kanteens and even nicely branded wine bottle coolers.
This isn’t just because we are in the promo goods trade, it’s because we were given them. They are all very useful, so we use them. All the time.
We also did a pop quiz, and we can remember the brand name on each one and why and where we got them. Case closed. If something is useful and memorable it’s a good thing to stick your brand on.
If you’re thirsty for success (I know, I know), give Georgie a call to discuss which drinking vessel will deliver the best results for your company.
Drink up grumpypants
Summer is here, which apparently means we’ll all soon be getting irritable, fat, stupid and possibly going bald. We really rather like a warm summer, but if you believe the scaremongers dehydration can cause everything from bad breath and car accidents and to obesity, hair-loss and irritability.
Summer is here, which apparently means we’ll all soon be getting irritable, fat, stupid and possibly going bald.
We really rather like a warm summer, but if you believe the scaremongers dehydration can cause everything from bad breath and car accidents and to obesity, hair-loss and irritability. Apparently up to 75% of us can suffer from ‘Chronic Dehydration’ in hot summers, putting us on a nose-dive to an angry, obese and dried-up premature death.
The charmingly ancient website Got Water has some bleak news. “Dehydration can also be linked to hair loss - not enough fluids to carry proteins to the scalp.”
It has some stern advice; apparently drinking coffee after drinking too much alcohol “does nothing more than make you a wide-awake drunk.” On the bright side, however, it reveals that “Drinking ice cold water actually makes you lose weight because fat calories are burned to bring the water temperature up to internal 98.6 degrees F.”
Which is rather exciting news, even if the practical realities of this might not stand up to much scrutiny.
So here’s our take on this. Yes, everyone knows that when it’s hot and you’ve got a mild sweat on, drinking water is jolly good for you. Drink more water and you’ll be skinnier, less grumpy and have a smarter brain under your better hair.
All you need is a great reusable water bottle – preferably with your team or company’s logo emblazoned in unmissable colours – and everyone will feel and look great. And that’s a scientific fact.
Call Georgie to organise yours before the heat and dehydration overwhelms your rational brain.
Ask don’t tell, help don’t sell.
We’re pretty sure that everyone is a bit fed up with sales and marketing blurb that’s all ‘buy, buy, buy… deal, deal, deal’, so we were really struck by these wise words, “Ask don’t tell, help don’t sell.”
We’re pretty sure that everyone is a bit fed up with sales and marketing blurb that’s all ‘buy, buy, buy… deal, deal, deal’, so we were really struck by these wise words, “Ask don’t tell, help don’t sell.”
Everyone would prefer to be asked nicely, rather than told forcefully, so there are no products and no promotions here, just a couple of questions. We’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
What’s the most effective promotional product, gadget or idea you’ve ever used or received?
What do you think makes your brand stick in your customers’ minds?
Is the pen mightier than the sword (discuss)?
Who’d win in a fight, Boris or Trump?
Do you prefer dealing with a friendly expert or a faceless corporation?
To finish we have to say that we can put your good name on pretty much anything so we’d simply like to ask, how can we help you and your business?
Multi-sensory fiddletastic brand boosters.
As addictive as a Rubik's Cube, but far less frustrating. These clever three dimensional toys demand to be picked up and played with - giving 'multi-sensory-boost' to your brand and messages.
A lot of very clever people have done a lot of deep research into what makes a brand stick in their customers’ brains and the boffins have concluded (in a nutshell), that the best promotions are those that deliver a ‘multi-sensory experience’.
The more senses involved the better the message sticks, so when these clever little toys crossed our desks we had to stop and give them some serious physical and mental manipulation.
As addictive as a Rubik's Cube, but far less frustrating, these clever three dimensional puzzles demand to be picked up and played with - giving a real 'multi-sensory-boost' to your brand and messages. There are three main surfaces, but the twisting, opening, and re-arranging make it feel like a million more.
It’s very hard to write a post about something thrillingly fiddly and pick-up-able without using the phrase ‘everyone loves a good fiddle’, but that sounds a bit smutty for something as scientifically rigorous as this, so I shan’t use the word fiddle. Again. But they do though don’t they?
We’re looking into scratch and sniff options, and lickable surfaces, but for now it’s just the previously neglected fiddling senses that get a big brand boost.
This was written on April the first, but it’s not a joke. These are powerful tools to promote your brand and company. Here’s some solid and serious science from the good people at Magic Concepts.
MULTI SENSORY BOOST
Touch. Click. See. There mutually reinforcing perception channels increase the neural activity of the user’s brain by up to 1000%. Every time the user folds the cube, it increases message perception and retention.
The desire to play and focus attention generates positive motions, openness and the willingness to get involved in something. Users understand your message more quickly and remember it more positively.
So, give Georgie a call to explore your multisensory brand boosting options.
Stupendous Spring discounts. 40% off Gill Goodness.
Spring has officially sprung and so it’s time again for another great Purple Patch deal. Get over 40% off RRP when you order your logo or brand on a selection of great Gill jackets, ready for sunnier days and warmer water.
Spring has officially sprung and so it’s time again for another great Purple Patch deal. Get over 40% off RRP when you order your logo or brand on a selection of great Gill jackets, ready for sunnier days and warmer water.
It’s not complicated. Get your team or crew kitted-out properly with matching branded clobber of the highest quality, and because we’re lovely, we’ll slash the price almost in half.
Any questions? Nope? Then choose your ideal Gill gear from the selection below and give us a call before the snowdrops wither and the daffodils retreat for another year.
GILL RACE WATERPROOF JACKETS, SMOCKS & GILETS.
The Gill Race Collection has been designed, tested and race-proven so choose between a waterproof or softshell jacket, smock or gilet, and whatever branding floats your boat on the front.
GILL KB1 RACER JACKET.
The KB1 Racer is the next generation of waterproof protection for the performance keel boat racer. Designed for those needing trustworthy wet weather protection without excess weight, apart from the extra micrograms of a spiffy logo on the front.
All prices are Ex-VAT, include a one colour print on the front chest and require a minimum order of five items. Limited colours and sizes available so hurry, hurry, hurry.
Call Georgie today 02380 454628
Give your customers a Springtime sugar-rush
Nearly everyone loves sweeties and those that don’t, love chocolate. Official statistics show that 100% of everyone feels deeply positive about people who give them sweeties and/or chocolate.
We live in a kingdom of rains. February is officially the drizzliest, greyest and most depressing month of the year so now it's gone, it’s an excellent time to send your customers something that will bring them a ray of Springtime sunshine.
Nearly everyone loves sweeties and those that don’t, love chocolate. Official statistics* show that 100% of everyone feels deeply positive about people who give them sweeties and/or chocolate. Take a quick straw poll of the people in your office and try and find anyone who disagrees.
So, it’s clear that if you want to win the hearts and minds of your customers there’s literally nothing better than a surprise package of sunshiney, sugary goodness.
Jelly beans, Smarties, Refreshers, Mint Imperials, Cola Bottles, Chewits, Love-hearts, Skittles and chocolate footballs can all be boxed, wrapped and packaged with your company’s logo and cheery messages to ensure that your clients know exactly who is brightening their day.
Easter is soon upon us of course, so chocolate eggs and bunnies should be dominating your thinking – large or small, classy or twee - and we have the perfect packages for them too.
Give Georgie a call now to discuss your choice of saccharine success-makers and let us help you bring some warmth and positivity to your customers’ lives. They’ll remember you well.
02380 454628
*[this might be a Vic Reeves type statistic]
Pens, pens, lovely pens.
We probably do more pens than any other promotional item - not just in numbers, but in variety too - and there's a good reason for that. People like good pens. People use good pens and people keep good pens.
We probably do more pens than any other promotional item - not just in numbers, but in variety too - and there's a good reason for that. People like good pens. People use good pens and people keep good pens.
No one does a vast amount of writing these days (we're all typists and thumb texters), but we do take notes in meetings, scribble on post-its and sign the occasional cheque. And when we do that we prefer something smooth and precise; a tool that makes our handwriting legible and sophisticated. An instrument that lays down the ink with precision and style without too much smudge and squiggle. So if you are giving a pen you need to make it a good'un.
We can supply all the classic brands, but we particularly love Prodir pens, not just because they are superb writing tools, but also because of their beautiful packaging. They are Swiss, and as they say 'a generous slice of Switzerland is built into each one of our ballpoint pens.' So everyone knows what that means - no, not chocolate and cuckoos - just the utmost care and attention to detail.
Have a quick look at this fifteen second video - warm words on the front and superior scribbling sticks inside.
Give Georgie a call today on 02380 454628 and put your brand on a particularly powerful promotional present, [there are more examples below - click on the pictures to enlarge].
Customer story number 1 - Busy Bees
Busy Bees Nurseries are not only the largest provider of childcare in the UK, but also one of Purple Patch’s longest standing and favourite customers. It's one of those great companies that was founded by people with passion and purpose and their story is pretty inspiring.
Busy Bees Nurseries are not only the largest provider of childcare in the UK, but also one of Purple Patch’s longest standing and favourite customers. Over the last twelve years we’ve sourced hundreds of thousands of promotional items and gifts for them, from trolley-coin key-rings, mugs, crayons, pens, balloons, bags to egg cups, caps, t-shirts, bunting and even Busy Bee facemasks.
Busy Bees is one of those great companies that was founded by people with passion and purpose and their story is pretty inspiring.
In 1983, three families, all involved in care and education, decided to take matters into their own hands after they were left frustrated by the lack of quality childcare available for their children. They sold their homes and each put everything they had into starting their very own nursery, a place where their children and others could grow in a happy and safe environment. In March 1984, the first Busy Bees nursery, ‘The Rocklands,’ was opened in Lichfield, Staffordshire UK.
From this first nursery, the company has gone from strength to strength, operating 238 nurseries across England, Scotland and Wales. Busy Bees have expanded to Singapore and Malaysia and have future plans to grow their global family.
A logical step was to share their expertise, so they founded the Busy Bees Early Years Training Academy to provide high quality training across the Early Years’ sector, and Busy Bees Benefits to deliver money-saving employee benefits nationwide – particularly as a government approved way for working parents to pay for childcare.
Marg Randles, Managing Director and Co-founder said, “We started Busy Bees because we wanted to provide exciting, innovative care for our children, in an environment that presented plentiful opportunities for play, interaction and development, simply because we wanted them to have the best possible start in life.
We recruited staff with passion, enthusiasm and a never ending commitment to the children. Parents were always assured that their child was happy, because their interests were nurtured, and their individuality respected.
We continue to preserve this ideal in all of our nurseries today, by employing dedicated staff who share our vision and who are passionate about shaping a future generation.”
We love the ethos and integrity of Busy Bees and they’re a great showcase for what good people with ambition, hard work and dedication can achieve. Below is a small gallery of some of the work we've done for Busy Bees, and don't hesitate to contact Georgie to see what we could do for your company.
