Branding Up

A huge Chocolate filled (70% cocoa in case anyone feels like sending any) Happy Easter to all our lovely clients! As well as eating chocs, we'll be using the loooooooong weekend to do a spot of spring cleaning and thought you might like to join us in a little merchandising audit. Here are our top tips for this 'always on the to do list' project. Dust down your business/marketing plans. What events, product launches, parties, tradeshows, customer outreach have you got in the diary for the months ahead? Lead time equals choice and though we always aim to fulfil, rush jobs are not nearly so much fun, so get planning.  Dig around in your cupboards. Which branded products have you done in the past, that might now need refreshing/updating/restocking/recycling? The 1987 corporate brochure will never be used again (admit it), but coffee mugs and umbrellas (minimum order 25 - not so subtle hint), will always find new homes so make sure you've got lots.  Look at your de...

Don't you just love that first flash of spring? The colourful flowers, baby animals, branded pens? (the onset of March Hare madness perhaps). This week we have been mostly talking about pens, in all shapes, sizes and colours. Did you know that the first patent for a ballpoint pen was issued on October 30, 1888, to John J. Loud, who was a leather tanner? Well you do now. If, like us, you're currently in a 'pen' place, then start by thinking: Which features of your company do you need to promote - the logo, a website address, a telephone number, a tag line etc.  Will these details be engraved, embossed, stickered or printed on?  Is it destined to be a disposable piece or a treasured and coveted prize?  Of course we can help you with all these decisions, so don't be shy in giving us a call if you're stuck. "Will it brand?" is our favourite question. Horace said that "the pen is the tongue of the mind" and by jove our clients brains ha...

Encouraged by the sunshine, this week Brand It HQ has been a positive hub of activity. We've... produced fab 'no tape required' gift baskets for our lovely house building clientssourced mints and bags for influential Asset Managers stocked and stored wonderful things for a Medical Giant and inspired another to look beyond pens for branded greatness. We've also made gallons of vegetable soup, (not strictly a promotional product but good for shifting those remaining Christmas pounds and instant lunch for those who pop by). Two new initiatives have also skipped through our doors this month. Firstly, we've caved to the thrill of video content and will be bringing you a 'Will It Brand?' series shortly, so watch this space, oh and feel free to make suggestions if you have a burning, (though preferably not alight) product you'd like to see branded. Secondly, my long suffering husband (AKA Allan) has now launched UP-recycling.co.uk a unique make do and m...

As they emerge from a fog of Christmas pudding vapor, smelling slightly of brandy sauce and still wearing their paper crowns, the Brand-it Gals are ready for action. Welcome 2013 and Happy New Year to all! In the blink of an eye we are almost through January and heading towards Burns Night followed by Valentines. Ah such heady memories of the anticipation of that card plopping onto the mat, heart pounding, mouth dry, only to find the banks logo winking at me. Anyway, we shall be pinning some lovely Valentine suggestions (and Burns ones too) on our Pinterest board, so do feel free to have a butchers. It’s been a busy old start to the year. We’ve welcomed the lovely Lois to the team. Though not the girlfriend of Clark Kent, we’re expecting great things nonetheless and you can follow her adventures on our twitter stream @branditscotland. We also bid a fond farewell of our precious Nina, who’s off to a permanent home at Loretto school. I’m sure they must need a little branded somethin...

Ahem, we mean to be jolly! And jolly we are at the tinsel clad Brand-it HQ (with or without the aid of mulled wine). This week we discovered that the most popularly produced promotional items are … pens, followed by t-shirts and bags but we can do so much better than that. In fact, we feel a song coming on. On the first day of Christmas Brand-it produced for me Pantone matched umbrellas and a partridge in a pear tree On the second day of Christmas Brand-it produced for me Foil printed T –shirts, Pantone matched umbrellas and a Partridge in a pear tree On the third day of Christmas Brandit produced for me Die stamped pin badges, Foil printed T –shirts, Pantone matched umbrellas and a partridge in a pear tree On the fourth day of Christmas Brand-it produced for me Recycled pencils, Die stamped pin badges, Foil printed T-shirts, Pantone matched umbrellas and a partridge in a pear tree On the fifth day of Christmas Brand-it produced for me Hand painted baubles, Recycled pencils, Die s...

Despite it being an official bank holiday in Scotland (since 2007 don’t you know), we at Brand-It will be as busy as ever this Friday, creating gorgeous bespoke gifts. Look no further for inspiration than our St. Andrew's Day Pinterest board. We’re very excited about our latest project - fabulously traditional hand painted baubles for Pocklington School. What began as a photo of the school in the snow, has magically transformed into individually boxed little glass wonders. Is it too early to put our tree up? This week we also delivered new uniforms to the food fanatics of Zittos in North Berwick. According to Trip Advisor they’re ranked #4 in the area, so while you’re partaking of their delicious festive cheer, make sure to mention how great they all look in their freshly supplied purple attire. While we get back to our basket wrapping (you did read last weeks blog entry, didn’t you?), we’ll leave you with a fascinating fact. In 832 AD, Andrew is said to have appear...

Aaaaarrrggggghhh, less than 5 weeks to go until Santa arrives!!! Need inspiration? Our Christmas Pinterest board is brimming with ideas. We also love the cardboard bicycle and the bearded hat (Movember made simple) and promise to keep our eyes peeled for more fabulous-ness right up to the big day. So what happens when you’ve found the perfect gift and your mind turns to wrapping? This week, Nina (the clever girl) showed me a brilliant way to wrap gift baskets, which involves no tape at all and we thought it so fabulous we had to share. Cut your cellophane to about 2.5 times the size of your basket  Centre the cellophane under your basket  Bring all sides of the cellophane to meet at the highest point of your basket, folding in the short sides first (another pair of hands is useful here)  Holding the cellophane tightly (to take most of the slack out of it), turn the basket clockwise (this is the trickiest part)  The cellophane can now be secured with a twis...