Promotional mugs are always popular in the workplace and one designer has come up with a truly remarkable version based on smartphones and tablet computers.

Paul Spencer's iMug is aimed at being an office stress reliever and is fully interactive, boasting a range of apps.

It includes a weather predictor, a number of games, a weekend countdown and even a chart detailing how people have their tea – basically everything anyone could need to survive a working week.

Speaking to This is Wiltshire, Mr Spencer said: “It started off as a runners-up prize for a competition I was running. I didn’t want to just give away boring mugs, so I decided to think outside the box.

“It is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek look at these great hi-tech electronic devices which companies like Apple create, and the mug just shows how something quite simple can be used in a rather creative way.”

Mr Spencer is currently awaiting the results of a trademark application for the mug which may well have to change its name.

Office stress reliever mug could face a trademark battle, This is Wiltshire

Posted by Robin McCrink

Designer Wayne Hemingway is on the lookout for as many royal promotional mugs and other items of memorabilia as possible for a special Jubilee display.

He is curating a festival which will take place over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend in Battersea Park and is hoping to have a number of items showing how Brits have celebrated the milestones of the Queen’s reign over the past decades.

“A false tooth from a member of the royal family would be a favourite,” he told the Evening Standard.

“It will reinforce the British sense of fun. We are the most creative nation. One thing we are not in Britain is a nation of battery hens. We are much more free range.”

Items already collected include a host of promotional mugs, tea towels and less traditional items such as soaps with the Queen’s face on.

The festival will see a number of bands playing and a variety of portraits of the Queen, including one made from cakes, being displayed.

People are encouraged to dress like a member of the royal family.

Wayne Hemingway: Put your funny mugs in my royal show, Evening Standard

Posted by Robin McCrink

Promotional mugs featuring slogans from some of Nottingham's best-loved exports have been flying off the shelves at the Nottingham Tourism Centre.

The quotes featured on the mugs include "A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it" from Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence and "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one" which was uttered by football manager Brian Clough.

Another features the words Dancing On Ice star and figure skater Christopher Dean said after his gold medal win at the 1984 Winter Olympics: "Tonight we reached the pinnacle. I don't remember the performance at all. It just happened."

Other quotes come from Alan Sillitoe and Lord Byron.

The mugs are a great way to publicise Nottingham's great and varied history and we can see them being popular with visitors and locals alike.

And it's not just cities such products can benefit mugs printed with inspirational quotes can make the perfect gift to hand out at tradeshows and events.
 

Posted by Robin McCrink

Marketers' confidence is on the up, however, their budgets for the coming months are noticeably flat, according to the latest IPA Bellwether survey.

The study found that 38 per cent of senior marketing managers are more upbeat about prospects than in the final quarter of 2011.

However, this increased confidence does not translate into bigger budgets with under a quarter reporting higher spending power and a similar number reporting a drop in their cashflow.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit and author of the Bellwether report, says marketers remained “cautious”.

"However, with the coming year seeing events such as the Olympics, Diamond Jubilee and Euro 2012, it is likely that the year will again see an increase in marketing spend," he added.

If marketers are looking for a way to make an impact without spending the Earth then promotional items could be an effective way to get the word out.

They are cheap to buy in bulk and make a real impression with consumers, as well as acting as an advert every time they are used.

Business Confidence Jumps in Q1 With Marketing Spend up Again, IPA, April 2012

Posted by Robin McCrink

The wedding season is almost upon us and brides and grooms planning to tie the knot in May and June have just weeks to make their final preparations.

One of the things that often gets left until the last minute is the wedding favours and the gifts for the bridesmaids and ushers as it can be so tricky to think of anything that is unique and personal but does not add too much to the probably growing wedding costs.

Promotional items could be the perfect solution to this problem – they are affordable, easy to order and most certainly unique.

Why not give your wedding party promotional mugs with the date of the wedding on it to help them remember your big day or some printed bags they can put all their stuff in at the event itself?

For favours we love the idea of promotional pens – something useful and thoughtful which will a lasting reminder of the day.

Posted by Robin McCrink

Earth Day falls on April 22nd and will see people and businesses across the globe trying to boost their eco credentials for the good of the environment.

So far almost a million green pledges have been sent to the organisers from across the globe and a number of special events will be taking place on the day itself in schools, offices and homes.

We think that a great way to spread the Earth Day message is by giving out eco friendly promotional products to schoolchildren or staff – however you must be sure that the items you are giving in some way promote living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

One good idea could be to hand out cotton promotional bags to help encourage people to use fewer plastic carrier bags while sports bottles and travel mugs printed with a company logo and details of Earth Day could help reduce people’s reliance on plastic water bottles and cardboard coffee cups.

We even have eco friendly mugs made from recycled materials which could be the perfect way to promote Earth Day.

www.earthday.org

Posted by Robin McCrink

High street bakery Greggs is pushing its breakfast products with a £1 million marketing campaign.

The company's Taste Rescue campaign aims to highlights its breakfast meal deals and Fairtrade coffee.

A spokesman from Greggs told Marketing Week: “As a business, we know we have a strong breakfast offering in terms of taste and value but we are committed to encouraging new customers to sample and change their perceptions of what’s on offer.

“Equally, it’s important for us to engage our existing customers and inspire them to try the whole breakfast range, which is more varied than customers may perceive.”

So far, as part of its efforts Greggs has launched an outdoor marketing campaign which gives customers the option to smell bacon or fresh coffee, and a social media app.

We think that a great way to spread the word would be to use promotional mugs perhaps giving out a branded mug when people have bought five coffees.

Just think how tempted the recipients' colleagues will be to head to Greggs when they see the mug on a Friday morning in the office.

Greggs launches breakfast push, Marketing Week, April 17th

Posted by Robin McCrink

While promotional products are often used to tell potential customers more about you, it might be necessary to start distributing some branded merchandise around your own offices – because one in five employees don't know their company's web address, according to a new study.

Stats from DealJungle.com show that 18 per cent of workers have no idea what their employers URL is.

This is despite almost all of the 500 employees quizzed saying they were aware their employer had a website and 98 per cent acknowledging that a website if crucial to the future of a business.

Now, there's a serious point here, if you're branching out into ecommerce, or are using your company website as a point of information for customers, it's vital your staff know the full address.

To communicate it, why not print the full address on some promotional mugs or branded USBs and distribute them around the office – stick them on some desks and place them in the canteen – a great way to ensure your staff have no reason not to know the web address of their employer.

Posted by Robin McCrink

Using promotional products is a great way to really make your social media strategy stand out.

Nowadays everyone is jumping on the social bandwagon – setting up Twitter profiles, Facebook pages and LinkedIn hubs.

Social platforms are the way forward when it comes to digital marketing, a way to connect with customer instantaneously, all over the world.

But how can you make your strategy that little bit different? Given the world and his wife is going social, it's important you make people sit up and take notice.

One way to complement your social campaign is to use some promotional products to drive awareness of your online platforms.

We think these products are particularly useful when trying to let people know about your online operations who might not otherwise be aware of it.

Something as simple as sticking your new Facebook address on some promotional pens or printed mugs really works – think about giving them out at roadshows, distributing them in offices and sending them out with product orders.

These channels gives customers old and new something tangible and concrete that they can keep and use – a permanent reminder of your social media presence.

Posted by Robin McCrink

Under new government guidelines apprentices must be taken on for at least a year.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the tougher standards, which come into effect from August, are part of an effort to drive standards and improve training and workplace learning.

Under the changes, firms taking on apprentices aged between 16 and 18 must ensure they last for at least a year.

For those aged 19 and over, apprenticeships must be between one to four years, unless some prior learning or attainment has been recorded.

Skills minister John Hayes said: "The majority of apprenticeships are the gold standard in vocational training. They boost individuals’ life chances and build the skills that drive growth."

Apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular – there was a rise in the number of apprenticeship starts last year and the government hopes to get half a million people onto one this year.

They are also a great way to use promotional products. You could use printed pens and branded USBs at trade fairs to get young people interested in your company.

It's worth it too – according to research by City of Bristol College, consumers prefer companies that recruit young people.

A study by the uni found 81 per cent of people were keen to buy products from a company that supports young people by employing an apprentice.

Posted by Robin McCrink