3rd Sept: The International Suite, Manchester United FC 26th Sept: The Inspiration Suite, Village Hotel, Elstree - The Big Promotional ...
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3rd Sept: The International Suite, Manchester United FC 26th Sept: The Inspiration Suite, Village Hotel, Elstree
The Big Promotional Trade Show and The Big New Products Trade Show are new products
organised on a not-for-profit basis, by the trade for the trade and feature more than
50 of the top suppliers of promotional merchandise and services from the UK & Europe.
Both show formats offer a huge The exhibitions take place All events are designed to
range of different products with The at venues throughout the cater for bona fide distributor
Big New Products Show designed UK and Ireland during the companies only where
to highlight the thousands of new year for the convenience promotional merchandise is
products that are released for the of visitors and to the primary business; a strict ■■Promotional paper prod-
crucial quarter-four and Christmas maximise attendance. door policy will be in place. ucts specialist Adpads will
be showing a number of new
sales period.
items at the shows, including
a clip-in ruler, a school book
set and new packaging.
These new products fol- ■■Calendar specialist Terminic
low on from a relaunch of the will be showcasing a number
Visit the shows to see a comprehensive company’s website earlier this of its best-selling products at
range of products and services providing year. the shows. These will include
the latest innovative ideas and marketing both litho and digitally-printed
solutions available to the industry.
Meet your key suppliers Directors, owners, managers,
Adpads is part of Adco,
originally launched as Stuart
Artpads in the 1970s, trading
as a general printer. In the 80s
Mellow makeover options, as well as some really
handy desk calendars.
in a relaxed atmosphere
with time to talk and
learn. Discover new
sales and administrative staff
will all benefit from spending
quality time with suppliers
it began to specialise in mak-
ing advertising pads. for a best-seller
REGISTER NOW ONLINE AT ranges and the very latest committed to providing the The business was renamed The Pen Warehouse and Both pens are available on
www.thebigpromotionaltradeshow.co.uk Adpads in 1989 and after a a five-day lead time, with a
products from right across best possible support to their Snap Products will be high-
management buyout in 2003, three-day express service also
the world and those distributors in all aspects of the new owners David Fletcher lighting their latest ranges of
promotional items, as well available.
manufactured in the UK! buying process. and Howard Smith formed
Adco Products Ltd. as the new Business Solu- As end-user demand for
tions online digital marketing eco-focused products contin-
platform. ues, The Pen Warehouse has
also added three new sustain-
The Pen Warehouse has giv- able products to its popular
Neal Beagles Karl Pearsall Exhibitor Simon Adam en two of its best-selling ball-
Managing Director of Roantree from Original Thing Managing Director of WCM&A eco-friendly promotional writ-
pen ranges a ‘mellow makeo- ing instrument range.
“ “ “
A very useful visit. The industry I completely We are delighted with both the quality and ver’ to produce a collection of
■■Stricker is using the Man- appealing new pastel colours, The hand-machined bam-
needed a mid-season and underestimated the extent quantity of visitors today and have been
chester and Elstree shows perfect for distributors looking boo Contour Bamboo and
regional event and these shows of the show, the number particularly pleased with the large number Garland Bamboo ballpens
to launch a new brochure for to inject some colour into pro-
fill that brief. The show today was of big hitters from the of company’s who have taken the opportunity the Winter/Christmas period, motions. have been introduced along-
an ideal opportunity for us to bring industry exhibiting surprised to send multiple numbers of staff. Everyone side the Supersaver WE pen-
along existing staff and also to me, so my intended short who stopped off at our display was interested
packed with new items and
gift ideas for the season. The Contour Pastel Ballpen cil. All three products are A perfect way
has a popular curved shape made from at least 70% sus-
introduce our new starters to the
industry. A very good day indeed.”
visit turned into an extended
and educational day!”
and took the time to acquaint themselves
with our company and product range.”
Founded in 1944 and head- with chrome trim and a plas- tainable material. to get away
quartered in the Portugese tic grip that matches the barrel
city of Coimbra, the company colour. A large 60mm x 8mm The company’s Business The Prime Time Company
has more than 800 employees maximum print area for spot Solutions marketing platform will be showing off the Marco
and works with clients across colour designs provides a is aimed at digitally driving dis- Polo, described as the ulti-
80 countries and three conti- wealth of branding opportu- tributor sales growth. Devel- mate two-in-one backpack.
nents. nities. oped in-house, this integrated
marketing services platform This product converts from
Stricker’s UK team is based For even better value for combines the expertise of a backpack to a garment or-
in Reading – the company also money, the Supersaver Pastel the company’s leading digital ganiser simply by unzipping
has offices in Madrid, Barcelo- Ballpen offers a smooth, un- marketing files and branding it. The Marco Polo is spacious
na, Warsaw, Brno, Prague and cluttered design with a slightly services in one user-friendly enough for one complete out-
Sao Paulo, as well as procure- smaller print area of 45mm x portal, providing a ‘one stop fit, shoes and a few other trav-
ment offices in Shanghai. el essentials, making it per-
BIG BIG
20mm. shop’ for distributors.
THE THE
fect for a weekend getaway
or business trip. It also has a
promotional
TRADE SHOW
new products
TRADE SHOW
■■Bio Laboratories will be tak-
ing the wraps off a number of
tic bottles, perfect for any
handbag and ideal for all of
padded laptop compartment.
Also on stand will be the
By the trade for the trade By the trade for the trade new products at the shows. life’s little essentials. The bags
are available in three standard Trident+ and Trident 2+ USB
First up is the Eco Lip Balm, sizes, and bespoke sizes are charging cables. These have
18th March 2020 – Glasgow 22nd April 2020 – Surrey 2nd September 2020 – Manchester a handy little product in a been made to stand up to the
Venue TBC also possible.
The Argyll Suite, Glasgow Crowne The Esher Hall, Sandown Park push-up container made of rigours of life on the road, be-
Plaza Hotel, Congress Road Racecourse, Portsmouth Road environmentally sourced card- ing tested for 12,000 bends.
Glasgow G3 8QT Esher KT10 9AJ board. The Eco Lip Balm Finally, there’s the Mental
contains no plastic and is Health Care Handy Can. This Another gadget sure to
1st April 2020 – Dublin 30th April 2020 – Manchester 23rd September 2020 – Slough compostable. is a relaxing mental wellbeing prove popular is the Twist mul-
The Ballroom, Red Cow Moran Hotel The Point, Emirates Old Trafford The Buckingham Suite, kit in a handy can that includes titool. It features eight tools
22 Naas Road, Fox-And-Geese Lancashire County Cricket Club Heathrow/Windsor Marriott Hotel Bio Laboratories’ RPET a sleep balm, sleep mask, roll- which can do everything from
Dublin 22 Talbot Road, Manchester M16 0PX Ditton Road, Slough SL3 8PT Cosmetic Bags, meanwhile, on pulse point and natural re- tightening screws to opening
are made from recycled plas- laxing foam bath. a can of something refreshing!
3
new products new2019
Sustain They’ve got you covered
your Reflects UK is an established supplier
in the British promo market and offers
engraving and full colour printing, all
offered with quick lead times.
clients’ a comprehensive range across vari-
ous product categories, including of- The company will be presenting
a number of new products, includ-
interest fice, leisure, home, travel, technology
and time. ing desktop organisers with wireless
chargers, drinks bottles, ‘three in one’
The company’s factory and ware- charging cables and metal straws.
house in the German city of Cologne
hold excellent stock levels, backed up
by great service from Reflects UK’s of-
fice in Birmingham.
With the current emphasis
on reducing waste and being Products are fully certified and Re-
more environmentally con- flects UK also offers a range of print-
scious, Senator has been ing facilities, including pad print, laser
thinking about how everyone
can use more sustainable
products in their advertising DRINKWARE
campaigns.
The company has respond-
Spotlight on fabulous gifts BAMBOO COLLECTION
ed by further expanding its bi-
oplastics range to include the midocean will be using the
Skeye Bio, a twist action ball shows to highlight more
pen which uses renewable raw than 100 items in its ‘More sales@reflects.uk | www.reflects.uk
materials (PLA, based on sug-
than Christmas’ end of year Tel: 01217262555
ar cane).
selection for 2019.
SMARTWATCHES
Fitted with a Senator long-
Technology products and
life magic flow G2 refill and
accessories feature prom-
produced with green electric-
inently in the selection
ity at the company’s manufac-
and include a number of
turing plant in Germany, the
‘bamboo-look’ wireless charg-
Skeye Bio is designed to be a
ing units.
market leader in eco-friendly
production and longevity. The The Capsula, meanwhile,
Skeye Bio has already won the combines a desk light (with
PSI Sustainable product of the three different ‘types’ of light),
year 2018, the reddot design a wireless charging unit and a
award 2019 and the Green Bluetooth speaker.
Good Design award 2019.
Clean lines and natural ma-
Meanwhile, Senator has re- terials are to the fore through-
interpreted the award-winning out the catalogue, exemplified
design of its Signer Liner met- in ` range of wood-clad power
al ball pen into a plastic variant banks.
called the Headliner.
Natural materials are also
featured in midocean’s writ- box. Bags and travel accesso- On stand, there’ll also be a
ing instrument offering – for ries, food and drink and spe- chance to talk about the com-
example, the Quercus set fea- cial Christmas items are also pany’s new Yourchoice range
tures comfortable cork barrels all included in midocean’s lat- of bespoke items. Why not
and is also presented in a cork est collection. stop by and see for yourself?
■■This year, Pencom has been focusing on its in-house en-
graving department, enabling the company to become highly
competitive on lead times and techniques available.
Customers can now choose from chrome engraving, two-
tone engraving (which can use colour and different depths
■■There’ll be a starring role on of engraving to create unique effects) and 360-degree en-
the Booth Brothers stand for graving, branding all the way around the pen barrel.
the Susino Auto Vent, a new A new section in the company’s catalogue is the ‘Pow-
and cost-effective umbrella er Products’ range – a ‘go to’ selection of affordable metal
available in six colourways, and pens for customers in a hurry.
produced at the company’s
carbon-neutral factory in All the pens in this range are engraved in-house so they can
South Yorkshire. be turned round super-quick. Gift sets are also available.
4
conversation: the organiser new products
■■Laltex Promo is one of the
most established names on
Promotion, professionalism
the UK branding scene, and
as always, there’ll be plenty of
new stuff to take a look at on
stand.
and a feel for the industry
Among them will be some
new products aimed at keep-
ing up with drinkware trends,
including bamboo and col-
lapsible mugs, double-walled
stainless steel drink bottles
and many more.
If you’re looking for someone to put a twice a year. I really do believe that.
great promo products show together, Other developments include
“There are also times when we really a number of new colours on
you’d probably be looking for some- need to be face-to-face with our custom-
one with a long, proven track record Laltex’s popular lines, giv-
ers to explain to them why prices are mov- ing an even greater choice
who knows the industry inside out. ing up. They need that because they in turn for branding needs, while the
have got to make a good case to sell to company is offering a swifter
It would be difficult to think of their customers.” service thanks to its invest-
Bags of choice
anyone who fits that profile better than
Gerry Thomas. As the powerhouse behind However, Gerry admits that in an age ment in new printing ma-
Plastech Print and one of the best-known of Amazon-style instant gratification, chines.
faces out on the show floor, Gerry has an even getting people out to experience the
instinctive feel for getting the best out of a above can be challenging. Industry-leading promotional merchandise supplier Bagco
■■Hainenko is using the
series of shows. has (as MD Nigel Pearce puts it) ‘a hell of a lot of new prod- shows to launch its new Elis
“We are getting to the situation where ucts’ launching in September and available for early viewing range of twist-action ball pall
This knack has been demonstrated for some people really just don’t like to go out at The Big New Products Trade Show.
years through Gerry’s long involvement in of their offices. It’s a real shame – especial- pens, from the prestigious Ital- ard colours, with the option
masterminding the Promotional Showcase ly as I’m sure they go out of their offices to Nigel said: “All of the items we are launching this autumn are ian manufacturer Stylolinea. to Pantone match for precise
series of roadshows. try to sell to their own customers! eco, sustainable or recyclable, which is a reflection of the direc- corporate branding.
tion we see our overall range heading over the coming years. Elis combines some clas-
“We had a group of 20 suppliers who’d “So we’re trying to counter this mental- sic shapes with a sinuous clip The range also offers many
been doing these shows for a number of ity a little by making the show experience Additionally, Bagco will continue to donate 5% of the bag cost and an extremely wide print refill options from a standard
years, and then another group got togeth- “Of course, they’re fairly simple road- always more attractive for them by using of all Newchurch and Seabrook recycled products to the marine area to maximise impact. The economy refill to a high quality
er to form the Promotional Supplier Part- shows – essentially table-top events – but high quality venues in convenient loca- pollution charity Plastic Oceans UK. pens are available in 34 stand- gel ink product.
nership. Eventually, someone suggested with so many of the bigger exhibitions, so tions, putting on some decent food etc.
we try putting the two groups together for much is just visual dressing anyway.”
a number of shows, so in 2018 we did just “Essentially, we’ve got to push back
However, the relaxed and informal against a push back. But saying you’re too
that.”
atmosphere doesn’t mean there aren’t busy to come to a show is crazy, in my
The formula proved popular enough for standards to be maintained – and pushed. view.
the pairing to come together again in 2019 “In the old days, you could just turn up “Of course, everyone is very
for another series of roadshows – shows with a few things that you’d slap on a ta- time-conscious these days – but that’s why
with a very specific USP. ble, or in a shell scheme, and get away with we’re essentially bringing the shows to
it. Now, people are looking for something them.
“The thing that makes them different is
much slicker.
that they’re not a commercial operation – “Distributors have only got to take a
they’re being put on by the suppliers. Our “You have to be so careful with these ta- few hours out of the office, not days as you
strapline is ‘by the trade, for the trade’. ble-top shows that they don’t end up look- sometimes have to when you go to a big
ing like a jumble sale. exhibition, and that proximity also makes
“I’ve now got three people helping me
to do this and of course their expenses and “We’re trying to create a professional it easier for them to take more members
time are being paid for – but other than atmosphere by making sure that every- of staff along with them too.
that, there’s not a profit element in it at all. body has a logo table cloth, that they’ve “At the end of the day, there really is no
And the cost of exhibiting is still a fraction got a banner announcing their presence, substitute for seeing the products in per-
of that of the commercial shows. so you are creating your own little office. son, handling them for yourself and having
Similarly, everyone is properly badged and a direct conversation about them with the
“In fact, we don’t even consider those we have a reception desk. supplier.
bigger shows as competition – they’re
something very different. We’re very much “Those little extra bits of professional-
“I love the customers who come and see
trying to give our visitors a different expe- ism are vitally important. They do mean
me and say: ‘Ooh, that’s interesting – I’ve
rience, and that’s really what it’s all about. that the cost of the shows has gone up a
got a customer who wants something like
little – but it’s still nowhere near that of
that…’ For example, I did a write on-wipe
the big commercial events.”
off whiteboard with a pen for somebody,
Gerry reckons that one of the major at- with some advertising around it. I’m sell-
tractions of this style of shows is the space ing that to so many customers now, who in
they allow for relaxed but detailed conver- turn are going out to their customers and
sations. offering it as an alternative to a notepad
For more information on “I know I’m an old geezer but there
near the phone.”
Promotional Showcase, contact is still no substitute for face-to-face. It For Gerry Thomas, it’s all about the
Gerry on gerry@thebpts.co.uk doesn’t need to be every week, but you’ve winning formula – and he’s convinced this
got to see all your good customers once or series of shows has it.
6 7
new products new products
Bonanza
You name it, they of bottles
have a solution Listawood has just in-
troduced a
new range of Pan-
brand
Badgemaster’s name badg- Pantone-matched to a client’s tone-matched thermal
es help businesses provide own brand palette. bottles in a choice of
a branded badging solution finishes from just 90
If your client is looking for units, despatched in
for their employees. The a more ‘organic’ feel, Badge- only 10 days.
products offer a choice of master’s wooden badge could
colour combinations, badge be an excellent choice. They The company can
shapes and various text op- can choose from sustainable also offer a stunning
tions to accompany a logo. oak or eco-friendly bamboo, full wrap photographic
and other woods are also print from as little as 30
All of Badgemaster’s prod- available – just give Badge- bottles.
ucts are finished to the highest
quality and are manufactured
master a call.
Names, job titles, artwork
A taste of the season The stainless steel
body ensures that drinks
in a purpose-built facility, of-
fering industry-leading turna- and logos can all be engraved Confectionery specialist The Sunray Gift Tin. This includes stay hot or cold for extend-
round times. into the wood using state-of- Sweet People will be show- caviar, milk chocolate and ed periods of time, while the tumblers can be decorated
the-art laser engravers. The casing its new winter collec- Champagne truffles, all brand- screw-on lid prevents any with your client’s choice of
The company also recently engraving gives the text and tion. ed with a full-colour domed spillage. Pantone colour from only 90
acquired Plastech Print and logo a slight ‘burned in’ effect label. pieces.
will now be offering PTP items to provide a subtle contrast of This includes the Eco Kraft Meanwhile, a selection of
to the trade, as well as the dark and light. Cube – filled with foiled choc- high quality, double-walled tu-
For something more sea- lip-shaped tumblers has been For those who require
original Badgemaster line-up. olate balls, this eco product smaller volumes, the tumblers
The latest offering from sonal, The Snack Tin is filled added to Listawood’s range of
is plastic-free, branded with a can also be finished with a
A core product in the Badgemaster is chalkboard paper wrap and can be recy- with mini buttered mince pies, sustainable drinkware.
again branded with a full-col- full-colour print from just 30
Badgemaster range is the badges. Resembling the cled. Supplied with a clear, clos- units. Stop by the stand to
reusable Instabadge, an effi- chalkboards of school days our domed label and finished
Security conscious cient and cost-effective solu-
tion for an ever-evolving work-
force. This fully customisable
gone by, these are perfect for
informal settings such as bars
and restaurants. Simply use
For a touch of luxury, try the with a gold embossed sticker.
able lid for use on the go, the discuss your requirements.
Xindao will be offering show visitors an exclusive sneak peek at reusable name badge is avail- a dry-wipe marker to
its new Bobby Tech and Bobby Pro anti-theft bags. able in two sizes and can be personalise.
There’ll also be the chance to take a look at a number of items
in Xindao’s just-launched Winter catalogue.
Highlights include a leak-proof copper vacuum insulated
bottle, a 10,000mAh aluminium pocket powerbank, a magnet-
ic-closing laptop sleeve and an anti-theft RFID car key pouch.
■■The Leather Business will
use the shows as a launchpad
for its new range of genuine
recycled leather, The Reco
Collection.
Unlike traditional ‘bonded
leather’ (which uses scraps
off the floor pulped with glue,
thinly sprayed on to a board), finished with any given colour. ■■If you want to get ahead, get
this product is actually made Different textures can also be a hat. And if you want to get a
from fibres from the original added. hat, why not stop by the Euro
hide using a new, patented Cap stand?
process. The Leather Business offers
more than 80 standard UK Among the offerings on
Up until this new process stock leather products which show will be the brand new
was developed, these fibres can be supplied in as few as Digital Pom Hat.
would have been thrown away. five working days from 25
Now, they can not only be re- pieces branded. Its factory is The outer is polyester, ena-
used, but the resulting product SA8000 and four-pillar SMETA bling unlimited branding op-
can also be called ‘leather’. and SEDEX audited. tions thanks to dye sublima-
tion printing, while the inner is
These fibres are combined The company also offers a conventional knitted hat.
with natural latex (glue from bespoke manufacture from
the rubber tree, with no chem- as low as 50 pieces in all The Digital Pom Hat is made
icals added) in a unique pro- materials. Options include in the UK and even the pom
cess, formed into sheets of contrast stitch choices and can be customised! There’s a
different thicknesses and then Pantone-matched colours. low MOQ of just 100 pieces.
8 9
OV N T
15 OD
conversation: the exhibitor
PR
0
ER EW S!
UC
Changing landscape and
a new set of challenges
When it comes to promo product – I believe people still want the experience
shows, Martin Markey is pretty much of actually seeing these products and dis-
looking for one thing – quality of cuss them with the various suppliers.”
enquiries. Another factor which has changed is cus-
“Smaller scale shows definitely allow for tomer expectations – although, says Mar-
more extended conversations, it’s as sim- tin, it’s not always as straightforward as it
ple as that.” might seem.
Martin’s company Plusfile has been “Sure, price is always going to be im-
pretty much a constant at shows of all portant; lead time is always going to be
sizes and styles over the years, so he important – but who’s got stock is equally
should definitely know. important!”
Plusfile is among a group of 11 compa- That change in turnaround expectations, QUALITY ENGRAVED GLASS & CRYSTAL GIFTS & AWARDS
nies which around three years ago formed however, is undeniable. “Going back 20
the Promotional Supplier Partnership years, I seem to remember that your aver-
(PSP). age lead time used to be four to six weeks.
Now, it’s more like four to six days!”
“In many ways, the original idea was
similar to Promotional Showcase,” Mar- As well as its participation in the ‘Big’
tin recalls. “We got together and put on series of shows, the Promotional Supplier
table-top events in hotels.” Partnership has also been blazing a trail in
an increasingly popular trade phenomenon
Natural synergy, and discussion between – direct visits to distributors.
Martin and Bagco’s Nigel Pearce, led PSP
to join forces with Promotional Showcase “We realised some time ago the advan-
for The Big Promotional Trade Show (this tages of putting on training mornings actu-
autumn rebranded as The Big New Prod- suppliers who were in control of the pro- ally in distributors’ offices.
cess. “That was very important – we want-
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF GLASS
ucts Show).
ed to make it as cost-effective as possible “There’s 11 companies in PSP. We will
“The original idea would be that there for the suppliers. This is a not-for-profit set go into a company and basically, the dis-
would be 30 of us – the Promotional Show- of shows, we believe in giving as good val- tributor doesn’t have to travel anywhere.
case people and ourselves, plus 10 guest
suppliers. So, there would be a limited
amount of good suppliers which the dis-
ue as possible for everyone exhibiting, and
this series has worked well for us.”
That gives us a chance to speak to pretty
much everyone in the company. AND CRYSTAL GIFTS AND AWARDS IN EUROPE
tributors would want to come and see, and As someone with a huge amount of in- “It’s basically down to the distributor
dustry experience, inevitably Martin has we’re going to see as to how long they
in a slightly more intimate environment
than, say, the Ricoh or one of the other observed a great deal of change in the way
the it works, and shows are no exception.
want the event to last – usually, it’s three
or four hours and we provide lunch as well.
FREE VISUALS | FREE BESPOKE END USER WEBSITES
bigger halls.
One of the key aspects of the plan from “If we look back over the last five years, “But the great point is that these events FREE END USER CATALOGUES | £1.3M STOCKHOLDING
Martin’s point of view was that it was the in all honesty, from a supplier’s point of aimed at everybody, from directors all the
view, we just feel that there’s not as much way down to administrators, who wouldn’t
footfall at the bigger shows. normally be allowed to go out to shows.
“And where there is the footfall, it’s “In this setting, we can actually discuss
often just people galloping around in a sin- new products with everyone and we’re
gle day, even if it’s a two-day show. They finding it a very effective way of commu-
just want to whizz round as quickly as nicating.
possible.
“This model offers the same opportuni-
“You don’t really get any quality (there’s ty for those extended conversations we’re
that word again) whereas at the smaller already having at the shows.
shows, you at least get the time to discuss
the products properly with people.” “Another consideration is that end us-
ers’ requirements are these days a lot
And that, says Martin, is vital. more ‘eco’ driven. So next year, all PSP
For more information about members will be SMETA-audited, and we’ll
the Promotional Supplier
Partnership, contact Martin on
“I’m a bit old school. There’s such a huge,
diverse set of products out there now and
be the only roadshow group where all the
suppliers have that accreditation. Tel: 01642 225799
a lot of people are just used to buying off
martin@plusfile.co.uk the screen. Personally – and I think we’ve “The industry us changing – and we’ve e-mail: sales@crystalgalleries.co.uk
proved it both with PSP and these shows all got to change with it.”
w w w. c r y s t a l g a l l e r i e s . co. u k
10
new products people
With plenty of stock, this
selection’s a clear winner
Crystal Galleries’ selection
of glass, crystal and crys-
talite tableware and giftware
is sourced from many of
the leading manufacturers
throughout Europe. Innovation is ■■Senator has appointed
Shane Davies as Managing
■■Promo industry veteran Nick
Clewlow has recently joined
The company has extensive
warehousing at its base in
kind to planet Director of the company’s UK
operations. Shane served for
■■The Pen Warehouse and Snap Products have welcomed two
new arrivals, both of them named Hannah! Hannah Bonell (above
Reflects UK as Sales Manag-
er. Nick has clocked up more
Middlesbrough, where it holds Juniper Products will be dis- 17 years in the Metropolitan left) Is the new Field Sales Manager for Northern England and than 20 years in the industry,
stock in excess of £1.5 million playing a wide range of real Police, with more recent posts Scotland, while Hannah Whitman takes on the same role for and will be at the Manchester
at any given time. and faux leather products at in at National Express. South West England. and Elstree shows.
Crystal Galleries has been the shows, including its ingen-
established for 35 years, is a ious ELeather.
■■The Pencom team aka The Pen 10 ■■Xindao has a new Sales Representa- ■■Crystal Galleries has added two new
family owned and run busi- ELeather is a soft, leath- became the Pen Eleven recently with tive. Sophie Kelembeck has been busy faces to its line-up. Callum Chisman is
ness which prides itself on the pieces are hand-crafted from styles to add to the options al- er-based material created from the arrival of Anastasia Peters-Broom as introducing herself to the company’s on the quotes desk while Isla Clifton is
service levels and reputation perfectly clear optical crystal ready available. high quality, unused leather fi- Sales Administrator. customers. working on the trade orders desk.
it has built up over the past glass, thanks to their lead-free bre through a unique process.
three decades. nature. The process to make The company also recently The leather is recycled from
As part of the company’s this range is fascinating and revamped its website, which tannery waste and uses a pat-
expanding range, Crystal Gal-
leries recently launched a 36-
is centuries old. The awards
feature a generous engraving
has received a very positive
response from customers.
ented process to combine the
fibres without the use of un-
new products
page supplemental catalogue area and the option to add an friendly adhesives that can be
featuring more than 150 new optical crystal base. Usage is increasing month harmful to the environment. ■■United Brands of Scandina-
products and showcasing the on month, with many custom- Instead, it users water in a via supplies the highest quality
latest techniques and glass- This year has been one of ers activating trade logins and ‘hydroentanglement’ process and most functional garments
ware. Among the newcomers innovation at Crystal Galleries, using Crystal Galleries’ online that locks the fibres within a Sweden has to offer.
are the Crystalart Awards. with the team developing an checkout facility to place plain high performance core.
These modern and unique exciting range of decoration glass orders. The company’s wide range
The end result is a stronger, of New Wave Group brands
lighter and high performance means there is a stylish solu-
■■The autumn and winter are typically a busy time for material. ELeather reclaims tion to any clothing enquiry.
exhibitions, company events and campaign and prod- thousands of tons of leather
uct launches. With that in mind, Desktop Ideas has waste from landfill each year United Brands is using the
chosen this quarter to update its offering of some of and creates 90% less waste Manchester and Elstree shows
the latest and best promotional technology solutions. than traditional leather. The to launch its Autumn/Winter ■■Preseli is committed to do- The company has used UPS
product is manufactured in the 2019 clothing collection. ing as much as possible to Carbon Neutral air courier ser-
There are new options in personal audio, UK and is REACH-compliant. keep the environmental im- vices for incoming shipments
portable power and lifestyle accessories. Two This includes the Harvest pact of its business activities from Hong Kong for some
of the company’s own new favourites are the Also proving a hit is Juni- Brinkley, a full winter park to a minimum, while continu- years now.
Digital Nomad PD Laptop Power Bank (big per’s J-Tec range, providing jacket with an ECO bionic fin- ing to provide a quick, reliable
enough, as the name suggests, to charge your innovative solutions for those ish made from recycled PES and competitive service for its More recently, it has also
laptop) and the Mr Bio sustainable charging cable, must-have tech gadgets. padding. You can also check customers. started using the same service
made from recyclable materials with no PVC. out items from United Brands’ for outgoing dispatches to
These products are finished This commitment includes both the UK and the EU.
other famous Nordic ranges.
Meanwhile, the best-selling Squid Power Bank in a contemporary fabric tex- using carbon-neutral air couri-
now handles both wired and wireless charging for ture, reducing the risk of the er services, offering the option Preseli also offers custom-
phones and tablets, while the Octopus Booster allows end user dropping their valua- ■■With 50 years of experience in the of sea freight, environmentally ers discounted pricing for im-
users to transfer power or data between devices. ble items. production and customisation of pro- friendly alternatives, reducing porting goods by sea, which
motional pens,Erga offers high quali- waste and adding eco prod- is a more carbon-efficient
ty products and design coupled with ucts and alternative options to mode of transportation than
■■If you’re looking to update your the option to use your own URL. innovative and traditional printing its product range. air freight.
website and generate enquiries on- techniques.
line, SourcingMachine.co.uk reckons One of the latest additions to the
it has the perfect solution. Its skin Sourcing Machine system is the Un- Options available range from mon- ■■Perennial show favourite
sites now come with free set up. limited Web Shops function. ochrome or multi-colour silk-screen CHX Products will be unveiling
printing, to digitally printed creations. an updated range of its popu-
This gives users the ability to set up
Among the features which come as a personalised web shop for each of Erga also offers many options for lar button badges.
standard are mobile-friendly design, such products on the market.
their customers, no matter how large 3D customisation, as well as the tac-
full SEO functionality and free product or small, and allowing them to place These will be available in all
tile softness of its ‘Velvet’ material.
sourcing. repeat orders. the common sizes and most On another note, CHX has
The Erga stand will be well worth importantly, says CHX, they recently developed the oppor-
The sites come preloaded with This system promotes loyalty and dropping by for anyone looking for will be ‘priced to sell’. The tunity to make custom shape
more than 120,000 products, most gives your customers a strong reason something unique in promotional company also claims to offer keyrings and badges, with no
with detailed pricing, and there’s even to keep placing orders with you. pens. the quickest turn-around of tooling fee.
12 13
conversation: the visitor
Bright ideas on doorstep
make show a must for Jo
As far as Jo Shippen is concerned, the expectations are way in advance of where
local angle is what makes The Big New they were even a decade ago. The Hatters
Products Trade Show a definite date in approach is to drill down into the informa-
her diary. tion.
“If we get an email come in and it’s es-
Jo, whose Stockport-based company
sentially a shopping list, I know there are
Hatters is celebrating its silver anniversary
a lot of distributors who will basically for-
this year, loves to get out to shows – but
ward that list on to the suppliers – and I
location can sometimes be problematic.
don’t think that’s fair. We have a duty to
“That’s why it’s really great when the go back to that client and find out exactly
show is on our doorstep,” she said. what it is they really want and narrow the
search down.
“It’s always been frustrating for me that
a lot of the big shows have traditionally “People don’t realise how long it takes Find out more at
Minimise your carbon
BIG
been ‘Southern-centric’. That does make it to do a proper job. If I do five quotes for THE
difficult for me. At those sort of distances, somebody, I want to know that the half
day I’ve taken to pull those quotes togeth-
I can’t take four people from my team to
the show – I just can’t afford to do that,
particularly when you take accommoda-
er has been beneficial. I want to know I’ve
got a fighting chance of getting the work.
footprint with promotional
TRADE SHOW
tion into account. I’m personally not interested in transient
business; I’m interested in building rela-
“But with the Big New Products Trade tionships and rapport with people.
Show calling at Manchester, I can have two
“I think that’s where we’ve got into a bit
of us go over in the morning and let anoth- “Others will go to shows, see the prod- of an industry situation, because people
er two drop by in the afternoon.” ucts, wait till someone rings up and asks are not being brave enough to say: ‘Actu-
As far as Jo is concerned, it’s not all for, say, mugs, and give them the bog ally, I’m not going to quote you on those
about the products themselves, either. standard product. We’re not order-takers. 20 things you’ve just sent over, with three
We want to enhance products and make price breaks – because I need to know
“If I go to a show, I’ll want to go around them the best we can for our customers so what you actually want.
and say hello to everybody. Now, I know they think: ‘Hatters really gave us some-
some people will say to me: ‘Oh Jo, you thing special.’ “For some reason, budget seems to be
just go around the room, kiss everybody that thing people always seem frightened
and have a chat’. But actually, that’s as im- “Going to shows is also a bit of a PR thing to talk about. Often people will ring you up
portant to me as seeing the products.” for me, if I’m honest – to show your face and say: ‘I want a pen.’ When you ask what
and let people know you’re still there!” their budget is, often they’ll say: ‘I haven’t
Rolling up at the show is also a way of got one.’ But by actually mentioning costs
And still here they most certainly are, 25
showing the suppliers some love, Jo says. and through a series of the right questions,
years down the line. What’s been the key
you eventually find out they actually do
“It’s tough for the suppliers – so what to Hatters’ success?
have a budget!
you want to do is try and make it as good “We’re strong at being a consultative
for them as you can, so they want to work “And actually, it’s not about spending
company. What we do well is build rela-
with you. It’s got to be a partnership.” every penny of their budget – it’s about
tionships with people, sit down with them,
giving them the best value.”
As for the products, is it all about the give them good advice and help them. This
‘latest and greatest’ – or are the basics has been our saving grace, in many ways, It’s also about innovation at Hatters.
more important? because like everyone else, we’ve been Last year saw the company move into an
through some tough times, including two entirely new area of activity.
“I think it’s a bit of both. At Hatters, we recessions.
tackle shows in a slightly different way. We “We’ve always outsourced everything,
go to these events to get ideas, then go to “We’re also very pro-active. So, for as all distributors do. But we had a specific
our client and say: ‘We’ve seen this – do example, if I see a client is using a cheap contract last year which the client wanted
you like it, could it work for you?’ coaster and it doesn’t look great, I might delivered in a different way. So, we actual-
send them a glass one in the post and say: ly found a warehouse, with offices, and we
‘Have you thought about this?’ In a sense, have gone into storage and fulfilment and
‘We’re not order-takers. We want it doesn’t then matter if they come back doing our own engraving as well.
to enhance products and make
to me and say: ‘Oh, it’s not in my budget,
“It was a massive leap for us as a com-
2018
Jo.’ At least I feel I’ve done something in
them the best we can for our offering them that extra option.” pany, but it sent out a strong message that
while we were 25 years old, we were not
customer.’ Such an approach, Jo believes, is even sitting back and putting our feet up. We
more important in an age where customer have to keep evolving to stay relevant.”
For more information visit us at www.preseli.biz contact us
14 by phone on 01352 730 006 or email us at sales@preseli.biz
BIG
THE
new products
TRADE SHOW
By the trade for the trade
The Big New Products Trade Show is the promotional merchandise event to get to
this autumn! You are all very welcome to join us.
• Discover new ranges • More than 50 of your key suppliers and brands
• See all the latest products • Register now to save queueing on the day
• Convenient locations • Refreshments provided throughout the day
• Free parking
Directors, owners, managers, sales and administrative staff will all benefit from
spending quality time with suppliers committed to providing the best possible
support to their distributors.
Manchester 3rd September 2019 Elstree 26th September 2019
The International Suite, Manchester United The Inspiration Suite, Village Hotel Watford/
Football Club, Sir Matt Busby Way Elstree, Centennial Park, Centennial Avenue
Stretford, Manchester M16 0RA Elstree, Borehamwood WD6 3SB
Show open: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Show open: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
REGISTER NOW
www.thebigpromotionaltradeshow.co.uk
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