What’s Really Behind the Custom Drink Bottles Craze?

Custom drink bottles are becoming ubiquitous in Australia, and today we’re investigating the primary driving forces behind this persistent trend. Go to any event, and you’re sure to see branded drink bottles; visit a local business, and there’s an excellent chance you’ll be offered a free personalised water bottle before you leave. If you’re a marketing professional and would like to know why custom drink bottles are everyone’s go-to choice these days, the information you seek can be found below.

Promotional Benefits

Before we investigate the reasons behind the demand, let’s consider the promotional benefits that personalised drink bottles offer, of which there are several:

Decorated with your corporate name and logo, a branded water bottle acts like a miniature mobile advertising hoarding, seen by dozens of people every time it is used in public. Custom drink bottles can be distributed to target audiences in various ways, but many organisations find they are most effective when used as giveaways at industry events, business conferences, expositions and exhibitions. The positive feelings recipients associate with branded water bottles when presented with them at large events makes them even more effective as a marketing tool: when people feel good about gifts they receive, they tell their friends how they acquired them and what they represent.

Personalisation Appeals

In a world where so much of what we buy is mass-produced, the appeal of personalised water bottles is easy to understand. If you have a branded water bottle that none of your friends have, it can be a source of pride as well as a practical object that is used daily. A branded drinks bottle will not be unique, of course, but it will stand out from all the commercially available bottles in retail outlets, making it more interesting and more valuable to people who enjoy such things. Limited runs of special designs can be employed to enhance the appeal of branded drink bottles further.

Practical Advantages

Personalised water bottles have plenty of practical appeal too, and it is this, more than anything else, that is driving demand. Imagine the many ways you could use a custom drink bottle in your own daily life:

• Commuting/Travelling – Sitting on a suburban train on a weekday morning, you’re sure to see dozens of your fellow commuters reach for a reusable water bottle at some point during the journey. Reusable water bottles are also very useful when travelling by air. With your own supply of fresh, clean drinking water, you don’t have to pay exorbitant prices for tiny bottles at airport concession stands.
• Sports – If you like playing sports in your leisure time, you’ll understand how useful a personalised water bottle can be. Fill up before you leave and you can stay hydrated throughout the game, as well as on your journey home without having to stop and buy water.
• Gym – Most decent gyms provide free water, but if you don’t enjoy drinking out of paper cones that are impossible to put down, a personalised water bottle is a much better hydration solution.
• School/College – If you’re a student interested in marketing, you probably know dozens of classmates who carry their own water bottles. Carrying one that’s unique makes sense at school because it avoids the possibility of mix-ups.
• Office – If you’re an office worker, you need to stay hydrated, and if you are under pressure, reaching for a personalised water bottle is way more convenient than having to walk to the nearest water cooler.
• Home – Even at home, many people use a personal water bottle. If you don’t like tap water and are not keen on the idea of going through multiple disposable bottles a day, buying in bulk and filling a reusable bottle is a convenient solution.

With such broad appeal and diverse applications, it’s not difficult to understand why branded drink bottles are the promotional product of choice for many companies in Perth, WA. Almost everyone understands the importance of hydration in the 21st century, and many of us are keen to minimise our carbon footprints by avoiding disposable water bottles.

Marketing Strategies

There are many effective marketing strategies involving the distribution of personalised drink bottles. If you would like to try one, the following are among the most frequently employed:

• Local Sponsorships – Custom drink bottles can be used in conjunction with sponsorships if you are looking for a comprehensive, highly effective brand promotion strategy. Imagine the exposure your organisation will receive from sponsoring a local football competition and giving away hundreds of branded drink bottles to the supporters at each match.

• POS Giveaways –  Giveaways of branded products in retail outlets often work well in Western Australia, and personalised drink bottles are an excellent choice for this type of campaign. When given to existing customers as part of a loyalty reward programme, custom water bottles act as a constant reminder of your organisation’s existence and everything it offers.

For more ideas, please contact us by phone or email. As promotional product specialists in WA, we’re ideally placed to observe the latest trends in the industry.

Environmental Benefits

In addition to being convenient for modern city dwellers with busy lives, personalised water bottles are environmentally friendly. By refilling a reusable bottle every day instead of buying water in disposable bottles, people can reduce their carbon footprint significantly. You may also like to consider issuing them to your workforce to reduce the volume of plastic refuse generated by your commercial activities. Such initiatives can boost a company’s environmental credentials as well as help us as a species to reduce the negative impact we have on the natural world.

Sourcing Custom Drink Bottles in WA

Whether you’re looking for the perfect giveaway for your next corporate event or a great way to show your customers how much you appreciate their continued support, branded drink bottles are an excellent choice. For a competitive quotation, contact the team at Bladon WA. As the state’s leading promotional products supplier, we have a wide range of high-quality, customisable drink bottles.

Vector vs. Raster Files: Why We Needs Vector Files at Bladon WA For Promotional Products

When creating promotional products, the quality of your design can make or break your brand’s image. At Bladon WA, we prioritise excellence in every product we produce, so understanding the difference between vector and raster files is crucial. So, let’s dive into the specifics of each file type and answer the question posed in the title: Vector vs. Raster Files: Why We Need Vector Files at Bladon WA for Promotional Products?

Understanding Vector and Raster Files

 To understand why we use vector rather than raster files for graphic design, you first need to understand how each file type works:

Raster Files

Comprised of individual pixels, raster files are widely used in the creation, interpretation and reproduction of digital images. They are perfect for very detailed images as each pixel can represent a different colour or shade. Among the most common file formats that use raster images are JPEG, PNG and GIF files. The main disadvantage of raster images is the pixelation that can occur when trying to enlarge them. They are also known as bitmap files, as each file is like a map, containing the coordinates for each pixel in the image.

 Vector Files

 Rather than storing information about the location of pixels that make up an image, vector files contain references to points on a picture, together with the lines that connect them. These references are in the form of mathematical equations and algorithms. When a vector image is resized, the resulting image is created by adjusting the figures used in the calculations. Because of this, vector images do not pixelate like raster files when enlarged. Vector file formats in common use today include font files, PDF files and Adobe Illustrator (AI) files.

 Why Vector Files Are Essential for Promotional Products

                                                                                           at Bladon WA

Our clients rely on us to produce perfect lettering and images on every promotional product we supply. To be able to do this, we must use vector files as they offer a number of key advantages over raster files:Scalability and Quality – The ability to resize images at will is crucial for companies that utilise a diverse range of promotional products in their marketing operations. If you need to print the same logo on a pen, business card or beach ball, it’s imperative to be able to resize the image you use without it distorting or degrading in quality. Crisp, clear images and lettering ensure you always make the right impression with your promotional products from Bladon WA. 

• 1. Flexibility – Working with vector files makes it much easier to change individual aspects of your images and logos. If, for example, you wish to change the colour of one part of a corporate logo, this can be achieved faster and more easily by editing a vector file than a raster file. It is also easier to adjust the layout of images containing one or more distinct objects when the images are created and saved in vector files.
  1. Higher Quality Printing – To achieve precision when printing, you must have an image with accurately drawn, clean lines, such as those contained in vector files. This is even more important when printing on media other than quality printing paper. For the best results when applying images and lettering to plastics, fabrics and metals, vector files are essential.
  1. Efficiency – By using vector files, we’re able to simplify and accelerate the production process for all kinds of promotional products. Client change requests are swiftly implemented and all editing operations are performed quickly and accurately with vector images. If you prize speed and efficiency, vector files are indispensable.

  Professionalism – Consistently sharp, detailed images, lettering and logos across your promotional product range will ensure you always present a professional image. If credibility is important to your organisation, vector files are the only practical choice when creating and manipulating images for promotional products.

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  At Bladon WA, we strive to deliver the highest quality promotional products, to represent your brand in the best possible light. Understanding the difference between vector and raster files, and the key advantages vector files offer, enables us to produce scalable, flexible, precise, and professional designs. If you’re ready to create promotional products that make a lasting impression, contact us today to get started. Let us turn your branding dreams into reality with the perfect vector designs for your needs.

CMYK vs. RGB vs Pantone: Understanding the Colour Moudels For Printing And Digital Design 

Whether you are a graphic designer, marketing professional or small business owner, it’s vital to know and understand the differences between the three colour models in common use today. Join us as we explore each model and discuss the differences by comparing CMYK vs. RGB vs. Pantone. Understanding the colour models for printing and digital design in more depth will give you greater control of your palette and greater accuracy in colour reproduction.

What Is RGB?

RGB is a colour model primarily used to facilitate the interpretation, reproduction and display of images on computer monitors and smartphone/tablet screens. It is an additive colour model, which means new colours are formed by adding the three primary colours together in different combinations. As more colours are added, the tone becomes lighter, i.e. tinted.

What Is CMYK?

CMYK is a colour model used in colour printing processes. It is a subtractive colour model, which means colours are subtracted to make new, darker colours. Printing ink makes white paper less reflective, so the more ink used, the darker the resulting colour.

What Is Pantone?

Unlike RGB or CMYK, Pantone uses a standardised colour reproduction system that utilises an 18-colour palette to create colours that are accurately described with a unique (machine-readable) code.

The Key Differences Between CMYK, RGB & Pantone

We can summarise key differences between CMYK, RGB & Pantone as follows:

• CMYK is a subtractive colour model used in the printing industry.
• RGB is an additive colour model widely used in the electronics industry to interpret and represent colours on TVs, monitors and other screens designed to show still or moving images.
• Pantone is a colour-matching system that uses a solid spot-colour palette rather than individual dots or pixels (these solid colours are created with the CMYK colour model).

Which colour model or system you should use will depend mainly on what you are doing and, to a lesser degree, your priorities.

When to Use Each Colour Model

If you are not sure which colour model or system to use, these guidelines may come in handy:

• When creating images for websites and apps, i.e. images that must be reproduced on digital screens, use the RGB colour model.
• For projects focused on the creation of printed materials such as magazines, posters and books, use the CMYK model.
• When designing logos and headed stationery, it is best to use Pantone colours to ensure uniform results.

Help From the Colour Specialists

At Bladon WA, we understand the importance of colour accuracy and consistency in representing your brand. Whether designing for digital or print, knowing the difference between CMYK, RGB, and Pantone ensures your promotional products stand out with vibrant, precise colours. If you’re ready to create products that leave a lasting impact with perfect colour representation, contact us today. Let us help you bring your brand to life with expertly crafted designs tailored to your needs.

5 Ways to Promote Your Brand With Personalised Drinks Bottles

In today’s blog post, we examine 5 innovative ideas for promoting your brand with personalised drinks bottles in Australia. Whatever part of the country you wish to target, custom drinkware is a great way to get your marketing messages across and make more people aware of what your organisation has to offer. From Perth to Sydney, and all places in between, people of all ages carry reusable drinks bottles so they can stay hydrated wherever they go, without leaving a trail of litter.

5 Innovative Ideas for Promoting Your Brand With Personalised Drinks Bottles

With eco-friendly, personalised drinks bottles, you can promote your brand in these 5 creative ways, all of which have proven to be highly effective:

• Enhance Brand Visibility With Staff Giveaways – One of the simplest yet most effective ways to market your brand with customised drinks bottles is to gift them to your employees. When the bottles are used in public places, such as gyms, parks, shopping malls, and on trains, planes and buses, they will act as mobile advertising hoardings, promoting your brand to people from far and wide. You may also wish to gift them to potential customers if this is a practical idea in your line of business.

• Participate in Trade Shows and Events – B2B suppliers will find that trade shows and industry events offer excellent opportunities for brand promotion with personalised drinks bottles. B2C suppliers are likely to see good results from giveaways at local sports competitions, school fairs and other community-focused events. In addition to improving brand visibility, such giveaways can lead to profitable new business partnerships as more companies become aware of the products or services your organisation provides.

• Support Eco-Friendly Initiatives – Thanks to their inherent environmental friendliness, reusable drinks bottles are the perfect promotional products for eco-conscious organisations in Australia. Gifting just one person a stainless steel or glass drinks bottle could mean several hundred fewer single-use plastic bottles being manufactured, used and thrown away. If your brand is closely associated with environmental causes or your organisation is keen to boost its environmental credentials, personalised drinks bottles might be the marketing tool you’ve been looking for. With a growing preference for eco-friendly brands among Australian consumers, reusable drinks bottles are a great candidate for all types of retail marketing campaigns in the country.

• Seize Sponsorship Opportunities – Amateur athletes and professional sportspeople need to stay hydrated. With personalised drinks bottles, they can hydrate in style and promote your brand simultaneously. By sponsoring local teams and events, you can get your drinks bottles into the hands of people who will use them regularly, in places where many other potential customers may see them. Sponsoring local sports teams can also help foster a greater sense of community between your organisation and the residents of the area in which it is based.

1. Reward and Retain Loyal Customers – Custom-branded drinks bottles make great gifts for customers and can be integrated with loyalty programmes to reward people and organisations that continue to lend their support to your business. You may also like to consider special limited edition bottles for those customers who have provided the most support over the years, or perhaps a special gift set with useful accessories for your most valued clients.

Whichever promotional ideas you pursue with your personalised drinks bottles, it is important to keep your brand image in mind when selecting individual products and customisation options.

Variety and Customisation Options

When ordering personalised drinks bottles for your next Australian marketing campaign, you will find there is a variety of materials from which to choose, including:

• Glass
• Food-Safe Plastics
• Stainless Steel Alloys

Depending on the material from which your bottles are made, decorations may be applied by printing, embossing or engraving. We recommend selecting materials and decorations that complement and reinforce your desired brand image.

Conclusion

Personalised drinks bottles can be a very effective marketing tool for Australian companies that want to increase brand visibility, bolster their environmental credentials, enhance relations with the local community and make more people aware of what they offer. To discuss your next move, contact the experts at Bladon WA. Together, we’ll achieve great things.

How We Can Integrate Promotional Products Into Our DigitalMarketing Campaigns

Marketing is a perpetually evolving industry, and keeping up-to-date with current methods can often be a tricky task. Today, we want to discuss the benefits and possibilities of fusing digital marketing with physical promotional products. The outstanding results people experience with promotional products are unmatched. However, in a digital era, distribution methods aren’t as simple as they once were. This doesn’t mean we should be without the tremendous benefits of physical promo goods, but we need to get a little creative. When we get it right, it is possible to reach a much wider audience, enhance brand support and retention and foster a positive experience for all involved. 

The Benefits of Using Physical Promo Products with Digital Marketing products

When combining physical and digital marketing, it is likely to experience numerous benefits. However, some stand out above the rest. Four of the primary benefits you’re likely to experience are as follows:

Increased Brand Visibility – Both marketing methods are brilliant tools to enhance the visibility of a brand. A successful online presence means internet users will regularly see your company name, while physical promotional products will give your brand continued visibility offline. 

More Engagement – Promo giveaways are great for driving traffic on digital platforms. A physical reward can drive people to interact with your brand. Additionally, using personalised URLs or QR codes on your promotional products will also encourage people to engage. 

Building Stronger Relationships with Customers – When someone receives a high-quality and practical promotional item, they are more likely to value it. This is a brilliant way to build trust and loyalty. Additionally, running an online giveaway helps both the brand and the customer to communicate more freely.

Creating a Memorable Experience – One of the main reasons why we carry out marketing campaigns is to be noticed and remembered. Online giveaways amplify a brand’s reach and give customers an interaction they will remember for a long time.

The Perfect Strategies for Integrating Digital Marketing and Physical Promotional Products

Harness the Power of QR Codes – Developing a QR code for your brand is a brilliant way to enhance access to your online platforms. It is useful to take advantage of QR codes at any given chance. They can be used on all your promotional products, websites, apps, and advertisements, as well as at events such as trade shows.

Run a Social Media Contest or Giveaway – Social media giveaways and competitions are fantastic tools to promote customer engagement and loyalty. There are hundreds of ways this can be done, enabling each one to be tailored to a specific target market. The more unique and interactive a giveaway can be, the more it is likely to be successful. 

Start Regular Email Campaign Incentives – Regularly sending out emails to offer new and existing customers a promotional gift is the perfect way to encourage them to sign up for newsletters, open an account, and participate in online surveys. 

Partner with Influencers – Influencers play a massive role in digital marketing. Whether they are local or international, teaming up with influencers will demonstrate the quality of your brand, increasing visibility to a much wider audience. 

Host or Get Involved with Virtual Events – Physical promotional products can be used before virtual events to encourage individuals to participate. Additionally, a physical reward for participation in online events and activities is also good for engagement and interaction. 

Reward Customer Loyalty – It is crucial to remember that promotional products should not only be reserved for new customers. Running online loyalty programs will encourage people to keep using your brand, strengthening the relationships you have with them.

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about how promotional products can enhance the visibility of your brand and promote customer loyalty, contact Bladon WA today. Our team will be able to give you the guidance you need to run a successful marketing campaign to boost your brand. 

Screen Printing – A Tried & Tested Custom Branding Solution

First invented by Chinese artisans almost two thousand years ago, screen printing is the process of passing ink through a fine mesh ‘screen’ with a stencil on it, stretched over a frame. These ancient geniuses used woven silk to create this mesh; hence, the process is sometimes called ‘silk-screen’ printing. The ink can only pass through the screen in areas where the tiny holes in the mesh are not blocked, creating the image on the object as it does so. 

The benefits of screen printing for promotional products

Screen printing is perfect for use in many ways, which we will highlight shortly, and is particularly good when creating custom-branded promotional products and giveaways. It is fair to say that screen printing is unrivalled in producing pristine, precise images, enhancing brand recognition and exuding quality. This drives customer engagement and promotes a sense of premium quality that people begin to associate with the brand in question. Some other benefits of screen printing include:

• Durability—Screen printing ink is exceptionally durable and is especially permanent on fabrics. Items with screen prints can be washed up to fifty times before seeing degradation in the print. 
• Vibrancy—The colours available with screen printing inks are a significant draw, as the range is genuinely impressive and covers almost any hue. 
• Cost-effectiveness—Because the screen can be used repeatedly to produce the same design, screen printing is a dream for bulk orders and products that need to be identical. Once the design is made fast on the screen, the only materials required are the inks that will be passed through to create the image. 
• Versatility—Depending on the type of screen printing ink chosen, designs can be added to almost any surface, porous or not. It is particularly good at putting designs onto fabric but can adorn everything from vinyl, metal, and wood to plastics, ceramics, and even glass. The sophisticated printers can produce images on a wide range of different products using the same screens. Unusual sizes or shapes cause no issues so designs can be applied to almost any product. 
• Creative design possibilities—The scope of designs that can be transferred onto your promotional products is limited only by the artists’ imagination. 
• Accuracy of results—Because the end product is an exact copy of whatever image was taped to the screen, the end result looks spectacular if the design does. This is not a case of taking a drawing or logo and transferring it into an embroidered design that comes close to the original; effectively, it is the original. 

The most effective design styles for screen printing

Although multi-coloured images can be created using repeated passes with different coloured inks and slight changes to the design, single-colour, bold designs are undoubtedly superior. Not only are they easier to produce, requiring only one image and one pass with the ink, but they are almost always more striking visually.

 Many companies choose to apply the colour most commonly associated with their brand, but if this is not a consideration, powerful colours look perfect. The colour of the promotional object that receives the image is also a crucial consideration; the Bladon WA team will walk you through it in detail before any printing commences. 

Integrating screen-printed products into your marketing strategy

As innovative promotional strategies go, screen printing your brand or marketing message onto promotional products is hard to beat. Because the nature of the objects is almost without restrictions, your design and marketing team can let their imaginations run wild and select any weird and wonderful objects they wish. The Bladon WA team are standing by to offer inspiration and assistance when required, and together, we can create a sensational range of printed promotional materials. 

Best-selling screen-printed products at Bladon WA

In our experience at Bladon WA, the best-selling promotional items people want to apply screen prints to include:

• Tote bags
• Drinkware
• Novelty items
• Lanyards 

You can use our fast screen printing services in Perth to customise a vast range of products, so please spend a few moments browsing the site to see just how extraordinary your options are when creating promotional products with us.

Conclusion

When creating memorable, top-tier promotional products, screen printing is unmatched in almost every way. Some features of screen printing we find especially compelling include:

• Speed of application
• Repeatability of design
• Competitive pricing
• Efficiency

Screen printing is streets ahead of the alternatives for larger orders of branded merchandising or promotional gifts. The factors mentioned above make it the perfect choice for large-quantity orders where the end results must be uniform. The fact that screen printing also represents one of the most cost-effective ways to custom brand products makes it a virtual no-brainer in terms of applying images to almost any item.

Contact Bladon WA

If you want more insights into the benefits of screen-printing your designs onto promotional products, please check out our screen-print services today. We can offer all the information, advice, and guidance required to create a bespoke set of premium products that will beautifully represent your brand and exude the quality your company deserves.

5 Reasons to Spend Your EOFY Marketing Budget on Branded Products

It is around this time every year that marketing directors start to panic about their budgets, and not for the normal reasons that people worry about their spending habits. As the end of the financial year (EOFY) draws closer, marketing managers and directors worry they are not spending money fast enough. If the entire annual budget is not used, there is a very good chance that next year’s budget will be smaller. So why spend your EOFY marketing budget on branded products? Well, that’s what we’re about to discover.

5 Reasons to Buy Branded Products With Your EOFY Budget

There are many options to consider when you have an end-of-year marketing budget surplus that you have to use or lose, but branded products (also known as promotional products) offer the most bang for your buck:

1. Branded Products Lead to Greater Brand Awareness – A large-scale branded product campaign can significantly boost brand awareness not only among your target demographic but among members of the general public as well.
2. Grateful Recipients Make Loyal Customers – People like to be remembered and they also like to be appreciated. Present them with a branded product as a gift, and your generosity is likely to be repaid with their loyalty.
3. Branded Products Provide Lasting Exposure – Of all the things you could spend your EOFY budget on, branded products have the most potential for long-term exposure.
4. POS Promotional Giveaways Can Boost Sales Immediately – Branded gifts that are presented to customers when they make a purchase have the potential to boost retail sales.
5. Branded Products Help Build Better Business Relationships – If you want to nurture your existing business relationships and encourage new ones to flourish, there are few better ways to achieve your aim than through the giving of branded products.

With all these benefits, it’s easy to see the attraction of branded products at any time of the year.

How to Use Branded Products for Best Results

There are various ways in which promotional gifts can be used at the end of the financial year, including :

• Gifts for Clients to Show Your Appreciation
• Rewards for Employee Productivity/Innovation/Effort
• Trade Show Giveaways
• Product/Brand Promotions

The most effective ways to use branded products will depend on the market you are operating in.

Trending Branded Products to Consider

If you would like to enjoy all the benefits promotional giveaways offer, you may like to start with some of the most popular products in our current range:

• Urban RPET Umbrellas
• Universal Travel Adapters
• Reveal Cable Sets
• Australian Place Jar Candles
• Motor Caps
• Deliver Food Containers

For more branded product ideas that often work particularly well at this time of year, we invite you to browse our catalogue at your leisure. If you need any help, please feel free to call during normal working hours or message us at any time. The team at Bladon WA is ready and waiting to provide you with all the help you need.

Boost your event impact with your very own customised merchandise

Anyone who runs a business should strive to leave a lasting impression on all. There are many ways to promote our products, but one of the most effective ways to stand out is customised merchandise. Customised promo products act as a prompt for people to look back and remember what you can provide. They create a sense of belonging and unity and let potential and existing customers know how much you value them. Today, we want to discuss the multiple benefits of dishing out customised products at events, the most suitable events to attend, the best-selling promotional products on the market, and some key considerations before investing. 

The best events to dish out your customised merch 

You can distribute customised merchandise at many types of events to maximise the exposure of your brand and product. Some of the best to attend are trade shows, business conferences, corporate events, charity fundraisers, product launches, and local community events and gatherings. If your business aims to attend as many of these as possible, you will reach a diverse range of potential customers and clients, spreading brand awareness where it has the most impact. 

Why it is worth taking part in an event to elevate your business success

When you participate in events to promote your business, you meet several requirements of successful brand exposure. Here are a few of the primary reasons why taking part in these events can elevate your business success: 

Increasing your brand’s visibility – Events provide the perfect platform to showcase your business exactly how you want to. Audiences will always drop by to see what you do, and when you gift them customised merch, you will stick in their minds. 

Endless opportunities to Network – The more events you attend, the more chances you have of networking. Whether you aim to network with customers, clients, or industry professionals, these events are the place to do it. 

The perfect place for market research – Events allow the opportunity to gather ample feedback and gain a better insight into preferences and market trends. This is a fantastic way to identify growth areas and innovation opportunities. 

Top-selling products for promotional events 

Now that we have covered some of the best events and how they can enhance your business success, we should discuss specific branded products. Choosing customised merchandise can sometimes be challenging and long-winded. There are so many fantastic products on the market we thought we would share some of the most popular promo products to narrow it down. 

#1: Reusable Drinkware – You probably would have noticed a craze around Australia right now. Everyone seems to be upgrading their reusable drinkware, so getting there first with a branded alternative is a great way to get your name out there. These products are used daily and stand the best chance of being noticed by others. 

#2: Useful Tech Gadgets – We always seem to need more tech gadgets daily. Whether it is a USB flash drive, USB hub, or a portable speaker, an additional bit of tech is always appreciated. These products are perfect for leaving a lasting impression on those receiving them.

#3: Branded Apparel – A sure way to use Australia to your advantage is to give out promotional clothing like t-shirts, hoodies, or hats. We are an outgoing bunch, and it is always nice to change into something fresh in our warm climate. Branded apparel is almost guaranteed to be used again and again. 

Additional ways you can use your promotional products 

Besides distributing customised merchandise at promotional events, there are also several other ways you can use them to enhance the visibility of your brand. Here are a few additional ways to engage with customers, clients, and employees and boost your business with promo products. 

Give a gift to your employees – Rewarding them creates a positive work environment and encourages people to do better. A higher level of care can lead to a boost in productivity. Additionally, your employees will spread your brand whenever they use your customised merch. 

Showing customer appreciation – When someone uses your business repeatedly, it is worth sending them a branded product to acknowledge their custom and show your appreciation. 

Offer incentives and rewards – This could be for employees or customers. When there is a target to aim for and a prize to claim, people will work towards it. It is also a way of creating a fun and interactive environment within your business. 

Find out more about what customised merchandise can do for you.

When investing in customised merchandise, there is a lot to consider. You need to ensure you have the budget, you’re reaching your target audience, your product reflects your brand identity, and that you’re investing in a quality and durable product. It can seem like a bit to take on, but don’t worry, Bladon WA is here to help. We are one of Western Australia’s most extensive promotional merchandise and branded product distributors, so get in touch. We would happily advise you on the best merchandise for your business.

How promotional products can help improve employee retention

How promotional products can help improve employee retention

Nowadays, it can seem challenging to keep employees engaged. Even with a competitive job market, employees’ interest can fade at the slightest thing. With the cost of hiring a new employee being up to tens of thousands, it is something that every company needs to work on. Employee retention goes beyond salary, holiday, or remote work benefits. Workers need to feel confidence and pride in their company. They need to feel like part of a team. So how do you encourage them to stay?

Research suggests that promotional products can help a great deal, whether a new bag, jacket, or some new tech. As simple as it sounds, it is a tried and tested method that can motivate a workforce and promote employee retention massively.

Improving their confidence in your company

Promotional products can have a tremendous impact on employee confidence in the company. It shouldn’t stop with a welcome goody bag, either. Internal marketing has been proven to boost engagement. If you don’t know what your employees want, try giving them a choice or voting on a new product. Allowing them to be part of the decision will also work in your favour.

Instilling a sense of pride

As well as internal marketing, external marketing also works excellently. For example, the more often your employees see promotional products outside of work; they will feel a great sense of pride.

Encouraging them to stay 

It is all good to gift an employee once in a while, but what will make them want to stay? As mentioned before, it might go beyond a pay rise. Try offering an anniversary program or reward system. Anything that gives an employee recognition for their dedicated work can go a long way.

What types of products work?

So you have set a budget, but you’re still unsure what products your employees might want. Here is a list of some great promotional products for employee retention.

• Summertime essentials – Give your employee something they can and will use out of work. This can range from picnic blankets and cooler bags to bottle openers and beach towels. If you can think of something that you would use on a day out with friends or family, then your employees will undoubtedly use it too. 

• Things for the office – This one may seem obvious; however, there is so much you can do with it. There are some quality products out there that can genuinely wow your employees. A high-quality compendium can go a long way, depending on the line of work. If that isn’t necessary, there are plenty more items, such as laptop bags, tablet stands, filers, folders, or diaries. 

• A smart bit of tech – There are heaps of affordable gadgets out there that are sure to impress any employee. Imagine receiving a wireless phone charger or Bluetooth earbuds from your employer. A promotional product like this will show your employee how much they mean to the company. 

• Eco-friendly promotional products – You can also go for something a little bit different. These days many people are conscious of their impact on the environment. You can try an eco-friendly product to show employees how much you care about them and the planet. This kind of promotional product can work wonders, instilling a different sort of pride in your workforce. 

• Think of something we all need but don’t think to buy – A lot of essential items seem to find their way to the bottom of our shopping list. It’s like receiving a good pair of socks at Christmas. Consider treating your employees to something useful like an umbrella, oven gloves, kitchen towel, or tote bag. You’ll receive a lot of appreciation, and it is sure to boost employee retention.

Try out a work event

Work events are fantastic at creating close bonds amongst colleges, and it is the perfect place to give out goody bags of promotional products and prizes. As well as being fun, employees will associate their new products with having a great time at a company event. Instilling a sense of togetherness in your company will increase productivity and encourage employees to stay where they are. 

Furthermore, try and make an event once or twice a year. Having something to look forward to and to chat about on lunch breaks is a great way to keep up motivation in the workplace. 

If you want to know more, take a look for yourself

At Bladon WA, we offer a wide range of products for any occasion. We have an experienced team to help you decide what is best for your company. Head over to our site and explore the wide range of promotional products in Perth that we have on offer. Don’t worry if you aren’t based in Perth; we are happy to ship Australia-wide. 

How to choose the right promotional products for your target audience

The vast majority of marketers are very aware of the need for quality promotional products to increase market exposure, but a certain degree of planning is essential before you go ahead and place your order. Before you decide on what type of promotional products in Perth to purchase, you need to take into account your target audience. Please see below for a brief rundown of the things you need to consider when choosing the right promotional products for your brand.

• Who is your target audience? You should have a pretty good idea of who your target audience is if you’re selling any type of product or service, but we’ll highlight some key considerations for clarity. 

1. Age – Ensure that any promotional product you choose is suitable for the age group you are targeting.

2. Interests – Again, if you are selling a certain product or service that is leisure-related (hobbies, sports, crafts etc) you will know that your target audience is interested in these things. If you are selling into businesses, particularly corporate entities, you will need to do more thinking. Branded golf tees? Executive toys? This can be more challenging. If you are at a loss, try and build a rapport with a customer and try to find out (discreetly) some of their interests. 

3. Sector – The sector that your target audience is situated in can also play a part in your decision of what type of promotional products you order. Simplistic examples could be something like branded water bottles for a sports team or some emblazoned USB sticks or mugs for an office-based company. 

 The above points represent the main factors when acquiring targeted promotional products for customer acquisition but many other factors need to be considered, some of which we’ll look at below.

Promotional Products and your Brand 

Of course, it’s important to choose a promotional product that is suitable for your target audience but just as importantly it needs to fit with your brand as a company. Although it may be tempting to opt for the newest promotional product to arrive on the market, if it doesn’t fit with your company brand it might create a point of conversation for all the wrong reasons.

Don’t go too cheap

Although every company has a certain marketing budget, it’s important not to head to the very cheapest end of the promotional products line to source your marketing tools. Whilst something cheap and cheerful may be good enough and taken in good humour by your employees, the intended message might not resonate with your potential customers or investors quite as well. People from any walk of life can spot a cheap and/or shoddy product and this is certainly not a good reflection on your products or services. Recipients could equate your cheap promotional products with the core services or products you supply as a company. Reputable and long-standing companies such as Bladon WA will be able to recommend not only effective promotional products for reaching your audience but also quality products that are within your marketing budget. 

Your Exhibition Stand

First impressions really do count and nowhere more so than at a trade show or expo, where you will want people to gravitate towards your stand so a well-thought-out and well-designed exhibition stand is essential. Experienced exhibitors will know exactly how to set up your stand and display your promotional offerings effectively. If someone within your company has prior expo/trade show experience be sure to ask them for advice rather than go it alone. Ultimately, you can select the most effective promotional products for your target audience and brand but if your stand is not up to scratch this effort is essentially wasted.  

Try and mix it up

When matching promotional products to your target market, it is important to vary your offerings regularly. What might have proved a successful and effective marketing product one year might not be as well received the next, particularly if you are giving away exactly the same item! Brainstorm with your colleagues and see what ideas you can come up with while of course still adhering to the parameters of your target audience and your business brand. If you still can’t come to a final decision, ask your promotional product supplier for some recommendations, they’ll be happy to share their knowledge with you. 

Select useful Promotional Products

A useful promotional product will always triumph over a throwaway gift. By sourcing products that are valued by the recipient you will be presenting them with an item that they can use every day rather than left in a box somewhere or thrown in the bin. Although items such as branded pens are great promotional tools and can be used in conjunction with other offerings, limited-life items will not bring a tangible return on your investment. Although promotional products such as branded coffee mugs may be considered something of an old-fashioned offering, you can guarantee they will be used (and displayed) for the foreseeable future. Decent promotional mugs are rarely lost and certainly won’t be discarded after a single use! There are a number of promotional products that can be used time and again, check our product pages if you need inspiration. This said, items such as toys, keyrings, stickers, and fridge magnets all have their place in the big wide world of marketing and promotions, you just need to pick the right occasion and the right target audience!

Bladon WA – Providing both the Promo Products and Advice you need

Here at Bladon WA, we offer much more than simply just selling high-quality promotional products, we also try to assist our customers in every way possible. We realise that not all our clients may have the necessary experience to make an informed choice as to what type of promotional products best suit their sector or target audience. Our extensive experience as a promotional products supplier allows us to provide tailored advice and product recommendations on request and answer any questions you may have. Get in touch today to find out more about choosing the right promotional items for your marketing objectives.