GLOBAL GIANT IN PROMOTIONAL BAGS JOINS FORCES WITH UK’s BEST

Crazy: Bags & Halfar strike strategic alliance 

UK leading trade-only promotional bag supplier Crazy: Bags has struck a unique alliance with global promotional bag manufacturer and specialist, Halfar.

Effective from May 1^st 2012, UK distributors will have unlimited and previously unparalleled access to the full range of Halfar products whilst working with a trusted and established UK based brand.

Speaking of the move, Andy Steavenson, managing director for Crazy: Bags commented; “This is a really exciting opportunity for the UK promotional merchandise industry. 

“Driven by the economy and the need for wider product choices, the temptation for many distributors has understandably been to push work overseas.  This has in numerous cases meant passing on costs to clients or worse, having to swallow the costs; all of which has contributed to a dilution of our market.  

“Halfar is well known for quality products and has literally every product in its arsenal. With a 3-year warranty on materials and workmanship and stringent quality controls, our distributors can stay focused on what they need to do, working with a UK based supplier and keeping profits where they need to be.”

Halfar has a formidable reputation for outstanding products, innovative designs and total durability and flexibility, with arguably the most comprehensive product range available from a single manufacturer.

The strategic alliance with Crazy: Bags means the UK now has full access to the complete Halfar range whilst working with a recognised, respected and trusted UK based brand.

UK trade distributors will continue to receive the same attention to detail, swift turn-around and excellence in service from the Crazy: Bags team, with the entire Crazy: Bags and Halfar product range at their disposal.

Halfar® Expressbags will be with your customer in 5-days from artwork approval, with 2–4-week delivery for standard orders.  Samples are usually received within 2-3 days.  All samples are chargeable if not returned. Embroidery, screen, digital, off set, transfer and doming options are available.

The Halfar range is available to trade-only via the member’s only area of the Crazy: Bags website. For more information please visit www.crazybags.co.uk or call 01892 752154.

NEW 360 DEGREE PHOTOS SET TO TRANSFORM PROMOTIONAL BAGS

Crazy: Bags introduces new concept to website for members to make life easier

Leading trade-only bag specialists Crazy: Bags has launched a brand new concept in time for the New Year.  Trade members of the Crazy: Bags website can now log on to the members area to find 360 degree images of all the stock products as well as some of the wider bespoke range.

One of the first to introduce the model to promotional merchandise, the concept is another example of Crazy: Bags drive to continually enhance the products and services it can offer the industry and its clients.

Talking of the move managing director Andy Steavenson commented; “This is a fantastic tool for our industry.  We know our products and how to use them in a promotional context, but getting this across to customers can sometimes be hard.  

The 360 degree rotation gives full visibility and understanding in an instant whilst adding a fresh dynamic to how we can interact with customers, providing them with another key sales tool to help them make the sale.”

Members of the website can use the 360 degree product library, as well as having access to a host of other sales and marketing tools, price lists and special offers available for trade-members only.

Andy Steavenson continues; “As our customers know, we have a policy of listening and responding to their needs wherever possible. We made the transition to trade-only in September last year and now we have introduced our 360 degree product library. 

It is just the next step in our evolution to provide the best and right service for our customers, listening to their needs and responses and more importantly, taking actions as a result of that feedback.”

More information is available at www.crazybags.co.uk.

THE FUTURE OF PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISE IN 2012 & BEYOND

Andy Steavenson, managing director of trade-only bag specialist Crazy: Bags comments:

“The promotional merchandise market for many years has largely remained unchanged. Chinese factories only sold through Hong Kong based traders who in turn, sold to importers. National manufacturers and importers sold their products to regional suppliers, who then sold their products to distributors and by proxy, the end client.

“But in more recent years, this simple supply and demand relationship has undergone some changes, not least as a result of technological advancements in both communication and product manufacture and the increasing focus on environmental responsibility; both of which will continue to heavily influence the future of promotional merchandise.

“Function and value are the critical principles when it comes to promotional merchandise. But for some time now, so too is being socially and environmentally aware. The advent of the environmental agenda brought with it greater scrutiny; do we really need this product and what effect will there be to the environment? 

“Clients now look for evidence of green, ethical practices; actively seeking reassurance that they are making the best and right choice, to demonstrate they are acting in a socially responsible manner rather than simply promoting a green PR message.

“Carefully sourced and environmentally sustainable products that enhance brand at minimal material or environmental cost are the promotional gambit.  However, so too is the requisite proof to back-up claims, with supply train transparency frequently a prerequisite we have to meet before customers are able to place an order.  

“SEDEX, The Base Code Ethical Trading Initiative and SMETA audits are now business essential and will continue to play increasingly important roles in the future.

“The environment is not the only factor shaping the future of our market. Technology has started to change how we interact with our customers and looking ahead, this is set to continue.

“There is already an emerging trend with companies like ours, looking at how best to harness this technology to increase visualisation of products to enhance service offering and increase quote conversions and order efficiency.

“Technology and the internet in particular will also continue to drive up competition. The use of Google to research and source the best price has already had some impact on competitive trading with price, speed and quality of delivery becoming differentiators from the outset.

“We also now face the emerging trend of Chinese companies building their own websites, found in directories like Ali-baba or Hong Kong Enterprise. Already, several have started to buy Google keyword ad campaigns displaying their product range on top of Google search results.

“Whilst professional organisations like PSI in Europe or PPAI and ASI in the US try to protect the market by refusing entry of Asian exhibitors at their trade fairs, there will be a need for greater dexterity on our part to be in a position to compete.

“The extent of these factors may not be fully felt or understood for some years yet, but from 2012 onwards, we will need to keep pace with these global changes and meet them head on to be in a position to compete.

“It depends on who you listen to as to the extent of economic growth we can expect in the coming months.  It is likely that the reality will be similar to this year, with the industry needing to work hard to maximise all available budgets and reap the rewards.

THE EFFECT OF COTTON PRICES ON OUR INDUSTRY

“It’s more or less impossible to comment on the state of our industry without raising the issue of cotton prices.

“We’ve seen cotton values more than double in less than six months, with the price of cotton breaking through $2 a pound for the first time in March. Not a bad return when you consider that a pound of cotton was changing hands on the same exchange for 75 cents as little as six months ago [The Guardian; 17.02.11].

“The reasons for the hikes are well known. A heady combination of increased demand from China, poor global weather conditions, such as the flooding in Pakistan, and speculative buying on international commodity exchanges.

“But with oil and fuel prices on top, alarm bells rang throughout global governments due to the real threat these commodities pose to fueling inflation.

“How has this impacted on us? The acute awareness that people are also being hit by rises in petrol, heating and food prices focuses corporate and business attention back to budgets.

“And we all know what that means. Promo-merchandise if often lumped into the ‘disposable’ category, rather than being seen for what it is; a value for money, high return advertising and marketing tool as we proved in last month’s blog.

“But there is some good news! We have reacted early, substantially increasing our stocks of cotton products to over half a million in stock, in an effort to steady the price for our customers, whilst maintaining high stock levels for that special promotion.

“And that’s not all. Many pundits claim that the surge in cotton prices is expected to entice more farmers into devoting acreage to cotton plantations. The National Cotton Council estimates an increase of 14% in all-cotton plantings in 2011, to 12.5 million acres. As a result, cotton prices may ease later in the year as the harvest comes through, however, speculative bidders may drive the price of cotton even higher in the short term.

“So it’s not all the doom and gloom; 2011 is shaping up to be a strong year for our industry. There are success stories out there, with many of our distributors telling us that they are having record enquiry levels and achieving ambitious targets.

“I don’t think we will be out of the woods, economically speaking, for many years to come. The UK’s monumental economic implode is going to take a good few years to clear up irrespective of what colour uniform the cleaners ware!

“We just need to do as we always do as an industry; remain resilient and determined and work hard to keep things fresh, exciting and moving forward.”

PROMO WORKS HARDEST & BEATS TV, PRINT & BROADCAST ADVERTISING

“As an industry, we have known this for years; but thanks to the Advertising Speciality Institute, based in the US, we can now prove it.”

“The global study conducted last year and just published, looked to identify the promotional products used within marketing campaigns, and crucially those that are kept, across the UK, the US, Australia and Canada.”

“Across all four countries, the single product that achieved the highest usage in a month was the promotional bag, with over 1,000 impressions in a month. Looking at the UK, bags achieved an overall monthly average of 679 impressions and were kept by recipients for 6.3 months.”

“The power of the promotions was also verified, with 83% of respondents in the US able to identify and recall the advertiser on a promotional item. In the UK this figure was even higher, at 94% of respondents.”

“If you consider that 94% of recipients can recall the advertiser, that they keep the bags for an average of half a year, the nominal cost when compared to other traditional forms of advertising makes for an astonishing value vs. return ratio. It is certainly a fantastic statistic to support distributor sales.”

“But when you factor in the ‘pass along message,’ so the extended reach and visibility promotional items inherently have, the number of people seeing and recalling a brands name and/or message and the overall return is infinitely increased. In-fact the study found that this pass along effect was up 11-points from 2008.

“Without doubt, promotional products can deliver the same high-impact as the more traditional and let’s face it, more expensive advertising and marketing routes can. It offers proven influence, it is cost effective and thanks to this study, a message we as an industry need to pass along to our customers. Perhaps then the discretionary or frivolous tag so often applied to promotional products will be stamped out once and for all.”

TONS 2011 hits record breaking numbers indicating a strong market & a positive year ahead.

“January 26 & 27 saw the fifth annual National Trade Only Show (TONS) at the Rioch Arena, Coventry.

“TONS has become the UK’s leading event for anyone in and around the promo-merchandise industry. With representatives from 42 countries, 278 stands and a host of suppliers a distributors, the show has grown to become one of the most important dates in the promotional merchandise calendar.

“A record breaking 2,800 visitors came through the doors over the two-days, up 20% on 2010, indicating a strong and buoyant market and a positive year to come.

“For many it is the first time that customers can actually see the products on mass and contextualise and understand them and how they can work for their clients.

“From our point of view, it is an invaluable opportunity to enjoy some quality face-to-face time with our customers, explore and exchange new ideas, as well as showcasing some of our new products.

“It’s a great show that keeps going from strength to strength. Congratulations to Nigel Bailey and the whole TONS team for an exceptional show. We are already looking forward to 2012 which is set to be even bigger and better with the addition of a third hall.

“If you didn’t manage to catch up with us at TONS this time, have a look through our website where we will soon be showing you the latest products and colours in our range.”

For further information on the UK’s leading importers and stockists of unbranded promotional, paper carrier & eco-bags, please call on 01892 752 154 or visit us at www.crazybags.co.uk.

Two Royal Weddings and a host of promotional marketing opportunities

“It’s refreshing to be looking ahead at two very exciting national events this year. The two Royal Weddings represent some much welcome good news at a time of public gloominess and will be a real shot in the arm for the promotional marketing and merchandise industries.

“They offer marketers and promotional marketers some fantastic opportunities; especially if we learn from previous experiences when the nation has really come together in celebration; most notably perhaps when Prince William’s parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, married in 1981.

“It is this public display of good will and celebration that we can tap into and leverage. People will want to buy their commemorative mugs, bags, tea-towels and so on, as a means to join in the celebrations. The UK economy is anticipated to be boosted by the event, with estimates of in excess £620 million, according to consulting director of retail researchers Verdict Neil Saunders.

“He suggested merchandise sales could be worth between £12 million and £18 million, while tourism could expect a boost and many will buy champagne for the occasion.

“Opportunities exist for all businesses, with the key to successfully tapping into this event resting on the core principles of any marketing campaign; the right products for the right messages, whilst ensuring brand alignment.

“We have a great range of bags that offer the perfect canvas for commemorative and corporate messages, with many items available now from stock. With less than four months to the big day, now is the time to plan and purchase your items to ensure you are paying for the products you want, at the right quality, rather than express service at a time of high demand.

“This is a great chance for businesses to reward customers and employees. For example, retailers are already exploring commemorative shopping bags that balance their own brand proposition with a commemorative celebration of the day.

“The trick to remember in all of this is the same for all types of promotional marketing; ensure that you are using the right quality products that convey the messages of your campaign, your brand and your company.

“If fun and quirky is how your brand is recognised, then fun and quirky promotional merchandise will work. Keep the balance between celebration and marking an historic event and the messages and brand identity you have worked so hard to achieve.

“But buyer beware; there are official guidelines from Clarence House regarding souvenirs, gifts etc., so a quick check of the do’s and don’ts would be wise.

Guidance on the use of Royal Arms, emblems, etc, on Souvenirs.pdf
Guidance on the use of Royal Arms, names and images.pdf

For further information on the UK’s leading importers and stockists of unbranded promotional, paper carrier & eco-bags, please call on 01892 752 154 or visit us at www.crazybags.co.uk.