According to figures cited by This is Money, the UK is among the world's five most charitable nations and the amount people are giving to good causes is actually rising rather than dropping.

It has been suggested that despite facing their own hardships people are realising that others are in worse situations and want to do what they can to help.

Angharad McKenzie of WaterAid, told the news provider: "Of course, people are experiencing the impact of the recession, but in some cases this seems to be focusing supporters’ minds on what is important to them."

"Life is difficult here, but elsewhere in the world 4,000 children still die every day because of dirty water. Perhaps our supporters are asking themselves whether they could really make better use of £2 a month."

To help reward donors and encourage more people to give in what is undeniably a tough climate, charities could try sending out promotional gifts to raise awareness of their cause.

To help reward donors and encourage more people to give in what is undeniably a tough climate, charities could try sending out promotional gifts to raise awareness of their cause; small gestures such a printed mug or a pen can act as a timely reminder of your cause and inspire people to make a donation.

Financial crisis has created a kinder Britain: We are giving more and finding better ways to do it, This is Money
 

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE – DIRECT MARKETING
OTE 20,500 plus benefits

Due to recent sales growth, 4imprint is looking to recruit an additional Account Executive for their UK / Ireland sales team, based in Trafford Park, Manchester.

The main purpose of the role will be to deliver exceptional customer service, ensuring sales enquiries, orders and quotes are dealt with promptly and efficiently.  The ideal candidate will be highly driven and enthusiastic with a real passion to achieve and exceed sales targets as well as the ability to spot opportunities to “up sell” and “cross sell”.  You will be responsible for dealing with existing customer accounts as well as email enquiries and inbound telephone calls from new customers. Some outbound telephone calls may be required.

Using the 4imprint catalogue and website as your main selling tools, you will be able to identify products that suit customers’ requirements and ensure that their orders are processed and delivered on time.

With strong communication and influencing skills, you will have a natural flair for sales, you will have previous experience in developing and managing customer accounts and enjoy the buzz of working in a target driven team working to tight deadlines. Sound administrative, organisational and IT skills are crucial for success in the role but more importantly you will have a proven track record in developing new and existing business over the telephone and via email.

Other key tasks will include resolving customer claims and keeping the customer database up to date in terms of contact details and marketing preferences.

Hit your peak performance and career progression and financial reward won’t just be a possibility – it’s a certainty! There are no limits to your earnings if you can rise to the challenge!

Applicants should have at least 12 months sales experience in a customer focused environment and previous telephone sales experience is highly desirable.  In addition applicants should also have, exceptional communication skills and personal effectiveness with the ability to plan and organise effectively in a busy pressurised environment where tight deadlines are crucial.

If you fulfil all of the above criteria please apply in writing or via e-mail with a full CV to Joanna Woodstock-Burgher, 4imprint, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester M17 1DD or jwoodstock@4imprint.com The closing date for applications is 05 June 2012.

4IMPRINT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Giveacar, a not-for-profit social enterprise, said nearly a quarter of donations made through the service to animal-based charities were to those that support dogs.

Animal charities regularly use promotional items to help spread the word about what they do and use branded merchandise to support their campaigns and initiatives.

After dogs, charities that support horses receive nearly 12 per cent of donations and cats received 11 per cent.

Donations to animal charities accounted by 13 per cent of the total.

Giveacar works by donating money from the sale of old, unwanted cars, which are given by their owners on the understanding that the proceeds go to charity.

Alan Chance, Giveacar's director, who oversaw the survey, said: "English donors do indeed seem to give animal welfare a higher priority than many other causes – reinforcing last year's Charity Market Monitor survey which indicated that whilst overall donations were declining, donations to animal welfare causes were on the increase."

"Dogs Attract More Charitable Giving Than Any Other Animal". Dog News.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

If you think it might be ‘bad’ – just take a minute to think back to your childhood when you were learning to walk and talk. As children we all fell over and muddled our sentences but of course we just developed our skills and adjusted the process until eventually we succeeded.

This Blue Paper named Making a Success from Failure details how failure often creates opportunities to improve systems, internal communication and much more. In a nutshell, a setback can be a prime time for growth.

Whilst research this topic – I came across lots of great quotes – here are a few from Edison (inventor of the lightbulb) that are thought provoking!

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

So – please don’t fail me – download our latest Blue Paper & have a read!

Making a Success from Failure, New Blue Paper from 4imprint

(Manchester, UK) – Making a Success from Failure is the latest Blue Paper from promotional items distributor 4imprint.

‘Making a Success from Failure’ investigates how businesses define and communicate failure within their organisation. It explores how to create opportunities during a setback or crisis by encouraging a policy of openness and identifies 7 principles that can help you learn from failure in order to succeed in the future.

The paper looks at how failure can create opportunities to improve systems, internal communication and growth. Examples of failure that have led to success are all around us - James Dyson made 5,127 prototypes of his cyclone technology vacuum cleaner in the 15 years before it first came to market.

As Cheryl Jackson Leafield, Marketing Manager for 4imprint in the UK and Ireland says:  “If the likes of James Dyson, Sir Clive Sinclair and Steve Jobs can fail as spectacularly as they did and go on to become huge business successes, we definitely have something to learn about both failure and our attitudes to it”.

Success and Failure Essential for Business Growth is available now as a free download, visit www.4imprint.co.uk/BluePaper/Failure

ENDS

14.5.12

About Blue Papers

Blue Papers are in-depth, ‘how-to’ articles covering a variety of topics to help organisations to succeed. They are available to download free at 4imprint.co.uk/bluepapers

About 4imprint

4imprint Direct Limited is part of 4imprint Group plc that serves more than 100,000 businesses with its innovative promotional items and corporate gifts throughout the UK, Ireland, USA and Canada. Its promotional product offerings include personalised gifts, promotional pens, Post-it Notes, printed mugs, keyrings, printed cotton bags, mousemats, drawstring bags, sports bottles, printed USB Flashdrives, diaries & calendars, printed T-Shirts and much more. 4imprint’s ‘no quibble’ guarantees include the promise that if the personalised goods are not despatched on time they’ll be free! For additional information, visit www.4imprint.co.uk

These high quality memo holders offer you a prominent branding opportunity and the client a handy holder for urgent paper work, a photograph or to-do message. Available in 6 colours these new giveaways are just fab … and what’s more there’s an eco-friendly Page Up too that’s made from recycled materials.

But rather than dainty cucumber sandwiches and cakes, this version includes items such as pork pies and thick fish finger sandwiches.

“It’s well known that ladies are partial to afternoon tea,” Kristie and Coralie of Camden-based design shop and café, Drink, Shop & Do, told the Evening Standard.

“But when it comes to bringing along your man, we find he usually needs to be coaxed. To solve the problem we devised ‘Man’s Afternoon Tea’, to ensure satisfaction for both sexes.”

A number of eateries now provide a more filling version of afternoon tea, complete with large mugs of tea rather than dainty cups.

To capitalise on this growing trend companies could try handing out promotional mugs to embrace this new group of tea drinkers.

The teaboys: afternoon tea is given a macho twist, Evening Standard

Posted by Robin McCrink

Last year everyone was trying to get their hands on a royal wedding mug to celebrate Wills and Kate's nuptials and now it's the turn of Jubilee mugs.

A number of reports have suggested that schoolchildren at a number of schools across the country are being given mugs to commemorate the event, however, some local councils have deemed the mugs too expensive and a waste.

A number of businesses may be struggling with the same quandary at the moment, however, we think that the benefits of giving staff a little treat is well worth the initial cost.

Giving out promotional mugs not only marks the momentous occasion, it shows staff that you care and want them to take part in the celebrations.

Plus if all staff members have a new mug there'll be less battling in the office kitchen at 10am.
 

Posted by Robin McCrink

Pottery designer Emma Bridgewater has helped create 500 collectable mugs for Cedar Farm to help mark the occasion, reports the Chorley Guardian.

The mugs, which will be on sale in the farm gallery, feature a variety of different designs including a pig, a cedar tree and some blue chickens.

One of Cedar Farm's owners and founder Julie Bailey told the news provider: “It was fabulous going to the factory – just lovely.

“We have the same ethos as them at the farm. We are proud to be British, and we promote British farming and living in the countryside.”

The farm is also hosting a party in July to celebrate turning 25.

Giving out promotional gifts is a great way for companies to celebrate a special occasions such as the anniversary of when they first opened.

Giving out a limited number of the items to special customers will thank them for their custom over the years and keep them interested in your products.
 

Farm celebrates in style in 25th year, The Chorley Guardian

Posted by Robin McCrink

Back in the 80s – I can recall my mum dashing home from an evening out panicking I’d been ‘exposed’ (!) to Tom Cruise in Risky Business … so when I saw these brilliant promotional sunglasses Tom Cruise (and I guess my mum!) was the first person I thought of!

These Retro Sunglasses include a print to the glasses or onto the protective pouch – and I’m sure they’ll be great choice for anyone planning a summer or retro themed promotion.

Paul Hitchens, brand consultant with Verve.co.uk, said that with so much competition out there small businesses "cannot afford to be shrinking violets".

However, they need to be careful that the brand they develop is reflective of their business and the impression they want to create.

Copying other firms can be a real mistake and your business will not stand out from the crowd.

"Be true to yourself and don't try to emulate your competitors. Every market is full of me-too brands trying to capitalise on the halo of the market leader's success. Tomorrow's super brands will be those brands that think and behave differently and offer relevance to their customers," Mr Hitchens commented.

One way to inform customers about your brand image is to give out promotional gifts which feature your logo and contact details. Useful items such as pens and mugs will ensure people remember your company every time they use them.

Adfero interview with Paul Hitchens, brand consultant with Verve.co.uk

Posted by Robin McCrink

The price of posting an item first class has now gone up to 60 pence from 46 pence while a second class postage stamp will now set people back 50 pence rather than 36 pence.

And while the Royal Mail claims that the stamps still offer value for many, there are many who will disagree.

Commenting on the rise, Adrian O’Gara, OpenText UK’s director of field marketing for Europe, said: "For businesses, customer communication through traditional direct mail has never been more expensive."

"This is the biggest postal cost hike since 1975, and it has huge ramifications not only on direct marketing campaigns and budgets, but also other customer communications such as invoicing, as many businesses continue to rely on this traditional form of paper billing," he told the Drum.

However it is unlikely that businesses will give up on direct mail as it remains one of the best ways of keeping in touch with customers.

We say just ensure that your post is even more effective by including a free promotional item. Just make it a small one like a pen so it does not cost too much!

Stamp price rise will prompt 'shift from direct mail', The Drum

Posted by Robin McCrink

If you’re looking for a few clever ways to help your students explore their future, we’ve pulled together some ideas designed to spark career creativity in the classroom.

Primary and middle school students

It’s never too early to start youngsters thinking about careers. If you work with Year 8, you might already invite parents and volunteers to come into school to talk with your students about their careers.

With budget tight for many schools online resources are more valuable than ever and the Government funded National Careers Service website has a mass of information and useful links for the 13-19 year age group.

You might even take some inspiration from the US based social studies teacher Tamara Willis who creatively turned her classroom into a ‘business’ for six weeks. Students applied for jobs, ‘hired’ other students and conducted meetings to address rules and business issues. ‘Wages’ were paid that reflected performance and even taxes were deducted!

Secondary school/college students

In many schools and colleges Department Heads and senior teaching staff have developed links with local businesses to offer a range of opportunities for students to gain first-hand experience in potential careers. Work experience, practice job interviews, CV guidance, business ethics discussions, site tours, subject and language tutoring and mentoring are just a few examples.

Why not encourage students, as part of a class project, to produce their own business cards that they can hand out at Careers Fairs and to potential employers. Your school/college could team up with a local business to provide all students with branded promotional items such as Business Card Holders and All-in-One Notebooks to jot down career ideas and business contacts; or how about folders students can utilise to take their CV and certificates to interviews.

For more in-depth advice from people in the know, why not invite business people to roundtable discussions that help students understand:

• the skills they’ll need to land their choice job
• how the interview process works
• wage/salary and lifestyle comparisons – so students
consider whether their lifestyle and career choices match up
• work experience, intern and apprenticeship opportunities

Giving students a glimpse into what they’ll need to do to attain the career of their choice can both motivate and engage them – a benefit to students AND educators!

Available in 2 sizes (A5 and Jotter – which is similar to A6) these recycled paper notebooks come complete with a pen (made from recycled materials) and each have a pop of colour to the spines – hence we called them Colour Pop Notebooks!

Included in the set are 2 of our best selling promotional items –the set includes a printed Calypso pen, a promotional pencil as well as a ruler, eraser and of course the frost pencil case itself.

We think this set will be well received by all recipients (kids and adults alike); and from just 100 units and a price that includes a 1 colour print on each item – we think it’ll be popular with those tasked with ordering too!

A recent blog post in the Independent by Nat Guest highlighted just how annoying it can be when people make their marketing of a product too gender specific.

For example not every product aimed at women has to be pink and not all items which people want men to buy have to appeal to their masculine side and emphasise strength and toughness.

Ms Guest also identified that the most over the top marketing of products is normally when an item would 'traditionally' be aimed at a women but a company is trying to gear it towards a male audience.

For example shower gel and bubble baths may normally be viewed as aimed at women so one for a man would tend to come in a dark coloured bottle and use strong bold words to describe the scent.

"This sort of gendered marketing does nobody any favours.  And it’s now so prevalent that we barely even notice its presence. It perpetuates the ‘Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus’ idea and makes it increasingly difficult to empathise with one another," Ms Guest writes.

To avoid patronising and gender-based marketing when giving out promotional products it is important to think carefully about what you are giving out and how it is designed.

Items such as promotional mugs and eco-friendly cotton bags are suitable for both men and women and can be decorated in a simple yet appealing way.

This is also a good cost saving exercise – if your promotional items appeal to everyone then you'll be able to save cash by ordering in bulk and reusing whenever you need to.

Gendered marketing: It’s not just for girls, The Independent

Our PP shopper bags are really popular –so we’re interested to see how well PP carrier bags are received – they come in 5 bold colours including a super bright yellow option – that’s bound to get you noticed!

4imprint’s Promotional Products offering continues to expand

(Manchester, UK) – With excitement building throughout the country for all things red, white and blue this summer, promotional products distributor 4imprint has added an exclusive new mug to their ceramics range, the inside of which is available in red, white or blue!

Featured along with almost 3000 other promotional items on the 4imprint website, and alongside 300 of the most popular products in the new Summer 2012 catalogue, the London Mug has a splash of colour on in the inside and a bright white finish on the outside that is perfect for showcasing a company logo or message. 

Cheryl Jackson-Leafield, Marketing Manager for 4imprint UK and Ireland comments “The London Mug is a fantastic addition to our expanding range of exclusive promotional products which includes pens, bags and notebooks. As well as the London Mug, we’re also excited to announce our exclusive Malmo Travel Mugs are now available in red and purple – two bold new colours that should complement any marketing campaign.”

In a 2011 report published by the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA), board director Stephen Barker observed that “Usefulness is one of the core reasons for people retaining promotional merchandise and is a key factor in it being used time and time again, providing an ongoing reminder of the brand that gave it.”

Cheryl Jackson-Leafield, Marketing Manager for 4imprint UK and Ireland  agrees, “Promotional items such as the BOSS ORIGINAL HIGHLIGHTER  that’s also been added to our range is sure to be appreciated and used by the recipient whilst simultaneously offering the client company daily advertising exposure.”

And finally, just in case the desired hot, warm summer does arrive – other new promotional items online and featured in the new catalogue include beach balls and sunglasses and there’s even a free sports bottle with every sports bag offer for anyone planning on sports themed summer promotion.

See the complete range online at www.4imprint.co.uk or request a copy of the 4imprint summer catalogue online or call 0845 054 4405 to request a copy.

Ends

1.5.2012

About 4imprint

4imprint Direct Limited is part of 4imprint Group plc that serves more than 100,000 businesses with its innovative promotional items and corporate gifts throughout the UK, Ireland, USA and Canada. Its promotional product offerings include personalised gifts, promotional pens, Post-it Notes, printed mugs, keyrings, printed cotton bags, mousemats, drawstring bags, drink bottles, printed USB Flashdrives, diaries & calendars, printed T-Shirts and much more. 4imprint’s ‘no quibble’ guarantees include the promise that if the personalised goods are not despatched on time they’ll be free! For additional information, visit www.4imprint.co.uk

BPMA research paper
http://www.bpma.co.uk/CommonPages/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=434