Americano Travel mug fights the war on waste.

Every day hundreds of thousands of British people, get their take-out coffee on their way to work and discard their coffee cups into the bin. Each year millions of coffee cups go into landfill each year, building up a 25-tonnes waste mountain of coffee cups.

Chancellor Philip Hammond is investigating the potential for a tax on single-use plastic items, such as drinks bottle, cups and takeaway packaging.This is to help cut the amount of plastic waste polluting our seas and oceans.

 

This could be as much as 30p and along with Hugh Fenley-Whittingstall and the Lattee Levy, this is a good time to think about what you have your favourite hot cuppa in.

Our best selling British-made Americano Mug range offers an eco-friendly alternative to this ever-growing problem.

Available in a wide range of colours and styles the Americano Travel mug will save you money in the long run. With Starbucks chains offering a discount when a customer uses their own mug. Plus rest assured your logo will be seen every time your customers heads of for their caffeine fix.

 

For further information or a visual of an Americano mug branded with your logo please call us now on 01234 344317 or email sales@theextrastep.co.uk.

We’d love to hear from you.

There are multiple benefits of working with UK manufacturing companies.

There’s a lot to be said for our Great British Brands. The title alone carries an air of quality from Aston Martin and Harrods, to Fortnum & Mason.

We have a wide range of branded promotional products available that are made in the UK, the companies that we work with define that more than 50% of the product must be made in the UK.

This has many benefits for you, our customers.

Lead times

If you need a product quickly and it’s not held in stock we will need to import it and with general shipping times around 16 weeks, this can cause a huge problem.

How many promotional product campaigns are planned that well in advance? in my experience (which is over 15 years!) not many.

With a British manufacturer, this can be turned around pretty quickly, shipping will generally take a day once the product is made and branded with your design.

Minimum Order Quantities

The beauty of buying products that are manufactured in the UK is that it gives you more flexibility in the quantity you want to order. The minimum is based on efficient manufacturing, often as low as 120 pieces.

Collaborative Working

We aim to build good working relationships with our British Manufacturers which in turn helps us to offer you, our customers with new and exciting ideas.

 

Promotional Americano travel mug in green with purple lid and grip. Prunted with your logo

Americano travel mug with matching lid and grip.

The Americano travel mug is just one of the many products available that are manufactured here in the UK.

 

This is the most popular promotional travel mug as it is available in a wide range of colours and can be printed up to full colour with your design. There is a wide range of colour lids available and the option of the hand grip which can also be printed with your logo.

 

Bespoke cotton shopper printed full colour with your design

There are also British manufactured cotton bags, a bespoke product that can be made any size up to 58cm wide and printed full colour with your logo or design edge-to-edge. Drawstring closing or tote style handles are available to suit your requirements.

 

From branded sports bottles, post-it notes, wiro notepads, seed sticks which are based on the original 1940’s design of a matchbook to fridge magnets and confectionary; there’s something for everyone!

If you want to know more about our range of products, please call us on 01234 344317.

We’d love to hear from you.

 

The Financial Services sector is one of the main industries that benefits hugely from promotional products….

Whether you’re a stock broker, insurance company, investment banker a mortgage company, commercial bank or a credit union, promotional products are one of the most cost-effective promotional marketing solutions.

They also guarantee you a return on investment with 79% of consumers who are given promotional gifts more likely to use the firm or company’s services. Branded promotional gifts are an excellent way of influencing clients to use a company’s services over a competitor.

*Research survey conducted by the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) to 200 marketers during Marketing Week Live 2017*

Promotional products are also used in the financial services sector to amplify the firm’s or company’s level of professionalism and are used by employees during client meetings to demonstrate this.

Our top five that are loved in the industry are…


Branded promotional umbrellas

Fibrestorm Golf Umbrella – brand-able with your logo and design

In 2016, promotional umbrellas were in the top 20 bestselling promotional product ranges in the UK. Now, in 2017 promotional umbrellas are still one of the bestselling products. The Fibrestorm umbrella range is one of the most popular as it’s available in so many different  options.

There’s the value umbrellas starting from £7.60 to automatic double canopy umbrellas from £21.30. Light weight, storm proof and wind resistant, these stylish umbrellas can be branded in many different ways, giving your logo and design a real lift!

Perfect for the morning commute in Blightly for your customers and employees.


Corporate Branded Notebooks

Tuscon edge notebook with contrasting elastic closure band and page edges.

Corporate branded notebooks are getting more popular by the day. A classic promotional product that will be used by both employees and clients on a daily basis. One of the most popular and well known is the Castelli range which is an Italian brand of  beautiful style and quality. This oi one of the reasons thay are so well received  in the financial industry. With the great range of branding options available from embossing to full colour print, doming to foil blocking. Your brand will stand out and be a great reflection on your company.

 

If you want to add extra value to your branded note book we have a wide range of packaging options to choose from.

A lovely range of coloured tissue paper, presentation boxes and sleeves that can be branded with your logo, a range of coloured ribbon. This can really give your branded promotional note book the WOW factor when your client or member of staff receives it.

Click here to view our range of Castelli notebooks.


Promotional Money Boxes & Piggy Banks

Promotional cow piggy bank branded with your logo.

Promotional money boxes and piggy banks are ideal giveaways for all types of financial institutions, insurance companies and  banks. Not only can these promotional products be branded with a company logo and marketing message, but the item itself symbolises exactly what financial firms stand for; keeping money safe.

Our promotional money boxes come in many different shapes and sizes, from the traditional piggy bank to cow banks and even a house money box!


 

Cross Bailey Ball Pen

Cross Bailey ball pen engraved with your logo and complete with presentation box and life time guarantee.

This promotional ball pen is engraved to to one position with your logo and is a cost-effective branded gift for a client with high perceived value.

These promotional writing instruments come with black ink and are perfect for finance firms or companies looking to thank a client for using their services, as well as for signing important office documents.


 

Ultimate Wireless Activity Watch

Track and display your activity – time, steps, distance, calories burnt, time exercising and target goal. Syncs wirelessly to your smartphone, Syncs with Apple IOS iPhone 4S, 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and Android Samsung, Galaxy S11, Note 11. RoHS compliant

According to a recent study by an online business publication, 44% of workers say that they’ve gained weight in their job due to sitting at their desk for most of the day.

Our new Smart Watch Tracker is a stylish branded gadget with a built in step monitor, alarm and call reminder. With subtle branding options, this promotional step tracking device is a great way to keep your employees and clients active and therefore maintain a positive environment in the workplace.


 

 

Want to know more about our branded promotional products?

Please call us on 01234 344317 We’d love to hear from you!

What is the most effective form of marketing and planning?

Fact: With over 80% of internet users owning a smartphone, we live in a time where technology dominates our everyday lives. There is a looming misconception about the need for calendars and diaries in our modern day society.

Despite the introduction of digital planners and event notifications popping up on our electronic device, promotional calendars and branded diaries have continued to be in the top 20 promotional product ranges for two consecutive years (2015/2016)

Did you know that 68% of companies have incorporated mobile phone marketing into their strategy?

Now is the time to consider utilising promotional calendars and diaries. With the costs of running adverts, apps, PPC campaigns and now Facebook advertising which are specifically targeted at mobile users, the Brands’ overall annual spend has the potential to increase considerably year after year.

On the other-hand promotional calendars and diaries are a timeless and cost-effective way to ensure your brand is in front of your clients 365 days a year.

 

Why are calendars and diaries preferred among consumers over mobile phones?

According to a report published by the Psychological Science Journal using a paper and pen boosts your memory and the ability to retain information, therefore by writing an event in your calendar you’ve got a better chance of remembering the details.

Eureka!!

You will never forget that all important:

  • Birthday
  • Anniversary
  • First date
  • Insurance renewal
  • MOT
  • Renewal of utility contract
  • Dental check
  • Tax return deadline
  • School placement applications

Calendars and diaries have become an essential for both the workplace and home, where most of a persons’ day is spent sat in front of a screen in an office it’s a nice break from the digital world to get your diary or calendar out and planning your schedule.
The second you write in your calendar or diary it becomes personal and unique to you and you have the security of knowing that it cannot run out of battery be hacked or mysteriously deleted!

Promotional calendars are popular because…

  • It’s a one-off payment that secures a year’s worth of advertising promotion that won’t be scrolled past on social media
  • Personalised wall calendars ensure your brand is displayed In the workplace or at home, (the most visited room of the house is the kitchen)
  • Branded diaries are kept with you at all times
  • Each calendar or diary can be personalised with your corporate logo to ensure your brand marketing message is displayed in a stylish and effective way.

How can we help?

Here at Executive Gifts UK we have a wide range of promotional wall calendars, promotional diaries and for your sweet-toothed customers, have a look at our branded advent calendars all that can be printed with your logo.
For further information or if you would like some help with your brand ideas please call 01234 344317. We’d love to hear from you.

Bespoke USB’s

We were so excited at working on this product for a new client which was a referral from another client, they are just the best!

Our brief was to supply Robot shaped USB’s to compliment Dvelop.IT branding. We worked with a picture of a Robot they currently have and the finished product was great. We went from this:

Dvelop.IT Robot

“Working with Denise  was a breeze. She took the hard work out of a complex project and created a really impressive promotional gift that I can’t wait to get into the hands of my customers.
Everything was double checked at every step in order to ensure that I was happy and that my custom made army of robots was perfect.”

To this:

Dvelop.IT Robot USB Army

If you would like further information on our bespoke merchandise please call Denise Robinson on 01234 344317.

Friends of Bedford Hospital pay for A & E Equipment.

The Extra Step have been a supporter of the local charity for several years with Denise Robinson, Managing Director often helping out at the various fund raising events.

“This is something that I’ve been very passionate about and it never ceases to amaze me how generous people are when we are asking for donations”.

A recent fundraising campaign has paid for two new state-of-the-art ventilators for Bedford Hospital’s A&E.

Key benefits:

The equipment promises to be hugely beneficial to patients, particularly among the elderly and those short of breath.

This will benefit the staff in the A & E department by relieving pressure from  the team and therefor increasing the efficiency of treating patients

Felicity Scott, Chair of the Friends of Bedford Hospital, who hosted the campaign, said: “The charity feels privileged to have worked towards such a worthwhile goal.”

Felicity Scott, second from the right who made the presentation.

Dr Stuart Lloyd, A&E consultant, added: “I’d like to thank the Friends of Bedford Hospital and all those who donated, for making it possible for us to buy these vital pieces of equipment, which are now in use and making a great difference to the patients we treat.

“The new equipment could not have come at a better time, as there has been an increase in the number of patients we have seen with breathing difficulties.”

Want to get involved?

If you would like information on forthcoming events or how to be a volunteer please call Denise  Robinson on 01234 344317.

Original article.

Founder of carry-on business luggage and bag supplier Alistair Callender emphasised the value of a premium travel product.

We try to avoid building in gimmicks and design and deliver features that will actually add value to our products and ultimately the end user travel experience Many airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, now encourage travellers to carry a single piece of hand baggage, helping to save fuel. GATE8 have worked closely with airlines to ensure their products fit the strict dimensions levied by airlines, for example, British Airways, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Easyjet.

Travel bag

Carry on hand luggage bag in black with zip- a- way laptop compartment.

With International tourist arrivals forecast to increase to 1.8 million by 2030, many airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, are encouraging travellers to carry a single piece of hand baggage, this helps to save fuel. GATE8 have worked closely with airlines to ensure their products fit the strict dimensions levied by airlines, for example, British Airways, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Easyjet.

Their range of travel luggage is an award-winning brand and fits well with the increasing influence of fashion on promotional products and the value that travellers place on using a stylish, fit for purpose bag and influence of working trends.

Quality, secure and innovative.

GATE8 products are used by both airlines for their crew and pilots and frequent business travellers, therefore good quality construction and materials is a critical factor. With the ever increasing risk of identity theft having RFID and industry approved locks provides our users with a degree of confidence in the product they are using.

We also have a wide range of travel accessories including miniature bottles to carry your essential shampoo, shower gel etc. Also on offer are beauty travel bags, foldable toothbrushes which offer a complete travel wash solution.

Branding and personalisation.

All of the products that we supply can be branded with your name or corporate logo for that personal touch.

If you would like further information please call our friendly sales team on 01234 344317.

Free gifts and giveaways are one of the most enduring tactics used by brands, and it is easy to understand why. No giant leap of faith is required to believe that individuals will think of a business more favorably if they have been given something free.
USB's

But how many pens does one person need? How many USB sticks, journals or note books? The logic may be sound, but has over-use made promotional merchandise nothing more than a cheap gimmick? Or can it really bring in new business? Research carried out by the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) suggests that it can, the survey found that:
  • 56 per cent of respondents felt more favorable towards a brand after receiving a promotional item.
  • 79 per cent said it would make them more likely to do business with the brand in future.

The survey also asked how many promotional products do you have on your desk, over half answered they have 3 or more items on their desk, the most popular being:

  • Mugs
  • Calendars
  • Pens
It would appear that Promotional Merchandise is still very high in the marketing mix and indeed an essential at any exhibition, conference or simply to keep your brand in front of your clients.
Finished in black soft touch Belluno PU with a real leather look and feel.

For many years branded conference folders have been a key product and much sought after item to act as business gift giveaway and a great tool for advertising your companies logo.

Trends are changing and with the advent of new technology, especially tablets business requirements for conference folders have changed.

Whereas you would need the conference folder to accommodate CD’s, multiple brochures , calculators and USB loops these to some extent have been replaced by the use of apps on iPads and smart phones.

Finished in black soft touch Belluno PU with a real leather look and feel.

Black Belluno A4 zipped portfolio with integral iPad holder and display stand

However people still want to write and store their thoughts in a portable item so there is a range of simpler designs available. The A5 size is more in keeping with the look and feel of tablet cases and note books. We have a wide range of products to offer branded conference folders,  ring binders, table cases, iPad cases available in a different designs, price point, materials and branding techniques.

Bespoke- Ever considered a bespoke product? this can be made exactly to your brief and again the professional of today may need the capacity for agendas, note books, A4 pad, iPad and a stand plus it needs to be in a particular colour. Not forgetting the presentation  of your product after going to such great lengths to get this right, bespoke packaging.

Items made in standard leather and colours can usually be produced in a 5-6 week turnaround.

More details are available from our friendly team , call 01234 344317 and mention this blog to receive 5% discount on the product that you choose. (not including origination and carriage)

Another happy customer with their printed table cloth

Another happy customer with their printed table cloth at the trade exhibition