Promotional Pens

[DragonKing]

hi all im new to this site but am in need of some Promotional Pens, i have looked around and most sites want me to order over 100, does anyone know when i can order 40 - 50??? would prefer to deal with a UK business as im setting up my own company and would like to help other UK companies.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Vistaprint do pens and for them the quality actually isn't too bad - http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/custom-...=ContextualLeftNav_Category_Promotional+Items

 

[ZedS]

VistaPrint do good pens and magnets, would never recommend their business cards though. Try Etsy or Cafepress too, no experience with these but it might help you.

 

[PetGoodsOnline]

Hi,

Does anyone find it useful to give out pens / mugs / other promotional material to customers / clients. Do you feel it makes a difference in regards to new orders etc.

Just interested on other peoples experiences.

Thanks

 

[Uwe (Invoiceberry)]

I personally (from a receiver point of view) think that pens are a waste of money. I might use the free pens I receive from other companies or banks but I will only look at them (and their branding) if they don't work => BAD ADVERTISEMENT

Mugs are definitely better (but also more expensive/less common) since I drink plenty of coffee all day long and often use several different mugs a day.

I think it is better to spend a bit more on a promotion present than give cheap "crap" to any person on the street.

Think about how much extra business 10 coffee mugs to good leads/existing customers can generate and how much business 100 pens can generate?

 

[Multi-store]

I personally (from a receiver point of view) think that pens are a waste of money. I might use the free pens I receive from other companies or banks but I will only look at them (and their branding) if they don't work => BAD ADVERTISEMENT

Mugs are definitely better (but also more expensive/less common) since I drink plenty of coffee all day long and often use several different mugs a day.

I think it is better to spend a bit more on a promotion present than give cheap "crap" to any person on the street.

Think about how much extra business 10 coffee mugs to good leads/existing customers can generate and how much business 100 pens can generate?

I actually disagree. I like the cheap crap, its typically more useful. Think bigger though. if you buy 50 pens you'll soon run out, and like someone else said how much impact can you make with 50 pens. Also if you buy 50 (at a high unit price) then want another 50 you pay the premium twice. You're better off getting yourself 250 pens that are a little cheaper, the amount you'll save per unit will make it worth your while.

 

[StuartDavidson]

hi all im new to this site but am in need of some Promotional Pens, i have looked around and most sites want me to order over 100, does anyone know when i can order 40 - 50??? would prefer to deal with a UK business as im setting up my own company and would like to help other UK companies.

I got sent some a demo pen from vistaprint when I incorporated a new business. I didn't ask or need it, but it looked pretty cool

 

[Jetbusters]

I ordered thousands of these for a previous business venture!

Although I like the idea of using them as a promotional tool, it's nigh-on impossible to quantify their ROI, aside from asking people, "did you contact us because you saw our logo on a pen?"

In saying that, it's still getting your brand out there, which can't be a bad thing.

 

[sueparker]

Try the company 4imprint.
They've always given me great customer service so maybe have a chat with them to see if they can provide less than 100 on this occasion?
You design your artwork and they use it on each item and they don't just do pens, they have all sorts of items that you can personalise.

 

[Sports Trophy Co]

The companies require a minimum of 100 because of the setup costs in producing the printing plate etc. They also use expensive automated machinery that sort and line up the pens for printing as manual pad printing is tedious and slow so it is not cost effective.

I have a machine for helping me print small runs of golf balls and can also print pens and things.

 

[Petpetpet]

Hi,

Does anyone find it useful to give out pens / mugs / other promotional material to customers / clients. Do you feel it makes a difference in regards to new orders etc.

Just interested on other peoples experiences.

Thanks

I'm pretty sure it can only help. Not only does my customer get a penny change - THEY GET A PEN!
That would fill anyone with joy, and they'll associate good things with my shop. It may not make me a millionaire (in fact I'm £60 down on the pens), but I'm sure the 'kindness' of a free gift will help my till in some way.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Never hurts to try I guess. Mugs might be a bit pricey though, so I think it's better to start with the pens. We all take them from different places anyways and there's never enough pens!

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi,

Does anyone find it useful to give out pens / mugs / other promotional material to customers / clients. Do you feel it makes a difference in regards to new orders etc.

Just interested on other peoples experiences.

Thanks

I get several pens from various companies does it make any difference to me no not really just saves me buying pens not that I use them very often now at all.

 

[The web design girl]

Hi! I think it can depend on your type of business. I run a web design company and a free tacky pen makes us look really bad! We would need an expensive looking pen, therefore defeating the object! Perhaps things like these are better as gifts to customers who will then be reminded of you and come back at a later date or recommend you to others.

 

[BusinessDeli]

What about stationery pads, those square pads where you tear off a page for every note? Logo and branding (contact details) on every page of a stacked pad where every page may (it won;t but it could in theory!) go around the office. Loads of promotional potential and I always need notepads, I have a plethora of pens.

 

[The web design girl]

That could be a good idea Andy, but then it's still just one office?!

 

[BusinessDeli]

Different pad if you go out to client meetings etc... Also, if you get the pads into large organisations then there are always numerous departments all with their own projects needing your services. The further you spread the word the better, the more offices you get the pads into the better still
With a larger pad (more sheets) it also helps to manage the longevity - the longer your brand is in front of people the better to establish it (that said the impact fades over time, similar to seeing a sign too frequently).

 

[CPSMedia Carl]

I have to echo what many other members have already said, I personally buy all of these type of promotional materials from vista print.

Good tip: Get them on the phone when you are half way through your order, everything I have ever bought I have managed to get the price down loads by getting them on the phone, they make all there money by adding on extras, but in my experience they will keep lowering their prices just to get the sale.

 

[jdluckhurst]

Although I like the idea of using them as a promotional tool, it's nigh-on impossible to quantify their ROI, aside from asking people

I have always thought they were rather corporate and pointless - useful for us that tend to lose pens and need a spare one but yes the ROI must be pretty hard to quantify! Although maybe I'm not open minded enough to love promotional products

 

[Jeff Nev]

Hi,

Does anyone find it useful to give out pens / mugs / other promotional material to customers / clients. Do you feel it makes a difference in regards to new orders etc.

Just interested on other peoples experiences.

Thanks

I haven't used them personally myself, but when I have received them they come in very handy and whether I actively look at the brand name or not, subconsciously I am aware of it. I have said to my wife, 'Oh hand me that Barclays pen won't you', so they are making you conscious of their brand without actually doing very much. Plus you get a pen!

If the pen is a cheap, rubbish pen however, it can make the brand look bad. At the same time, if it is there when you quickly need to scrawl something down, it is serving its purpose of being useful, and you attribute that to the brand!

Mugs go that step further, you hold them for longer, wash them up, see them in the cupboard etc. so they are more involved. Many people have a favourite mug, so I would guess perhaps these could be more effective, but of course more costly.

Hope this helps!
Jeff

 

[Unshoesual]

I think it depends what your business is and what you're wanting to achieve from giving out pens? If it's a 'thank you' to your customers, might not be worth it. I tend to pick up pens and put them in my handbag and then I always know I have one! Can't tell you who they're by though!

One of my (shoe) suppliers has given me some branded brollies to hand out to customers which I love but would be expensive.

I give all my customers a branded chocolate bar. Chances are, they will eat it before they leave the shop or in the car home but they always comment on what a nice gesture it is. I sometimes see pictures on social media of their purchases with the choccie bar in it. A lot of them will say things like 'a girls two best friends' etc.

I'd have a look at what else is out there that's a little different to a pen

 

[MattZS]

I think pens are so overdone most people don't take much notice to the branding, I would possibly look at less common branded products and try to be more creative about it. Try to give something that isnt a throw away product, most of these pens dont seem to last long and will soon be binned.

 

[schwarzberg]

hi all im new to this site but am in need of some Promotional Pens, i have looked around and most sites want me to order over 100, does anyone know when i can order 40 - 50??? would prefer to deal with a UK business as im setting up my own company and would like to help other UK companies.

I just looked at your site. The homepage is good but the menu fonts look like something out of an Irish or German beer festival and your spelling and/or grammar are bad:

Plus we can plan SEO audits on a monthly or every 3 months...

Are you not British?

 

[Maple Sourcing]

My experiences:
1) I got a promotional pen from someone, I used it few times, most of time it sits in my drawer. I did look at the website letters printed on it, but did not put in my computer to check out the website, I do not see big advertising function for a small pen, as no much room to tell other people what the company is about if simply looking at the website letters.
2) I got a mug few year ago, it's amazing as it turns color when filled with hot water, I loved it and used it a lot of time.
3) When I visited a factory, the factory boss invited me to try their fresh new teas, it's amazing, I liked the taste! Then when I left, the boss gave me a box of tea, I enjoyed it and recalled this factory quite often.

So, it seems people care a lot if the giveaway is really useful or not, if people love it, they will remember it for long. Of course, cost is a big concern, the fresh new teas are quite more expensive than a pen.

Back to the topic, I do not think pen is a good idea, as no much space to show your advertisement (a printed website is far from enough), mug will be better especially if the mug has some fancy functions or design. My suggestion will be to prepare different giveaways, try to guess which your customer really likes, and give the right giveaways to the right person.

 

[PetGoodsOnline]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I like the idea of the note pads. Its something i use all the time in the office and it keeps whoever's brand in my office while im having meetings etc.

 

[japancool]

I'm pretty sure it can only help. Not only does my customer get a penny change - THEY GET A PEN!
That would fill anyone with joy, and they'll associate good things with my shop. It may not make me a millionaire (in fact I'm £60 down on the pens), but I'm sure the 'kindness' of a free gift will help my till in some way.

I often take pens from Barclays. It does not make me look at them in a better light one tiny bit.

 

[johno123]

I have worked as a promotional gifts supplier for around 15 years. The effectiveness of the gift is dependent on the recipient. A good gift supplier will take the information about your target audience and suggest a range of gifts that are within your budget. The larger promotional gift suppliers will not do this as it is a numbers game for them. This is OK if you are experienced in buy gifts and know what your customers want. If not you could easily waste your money. Pens are effective but it is a cheap option and really is based on giving out large numbers and bombarding the market. The most effective item for creating brand awareness and getting you logo recognised in umbrellas. The large print area is ahuge plus and the retention rate is the highest of any promotional gift.

 

[Jennie@FreeAgent]

I'm actually a bit old school when it comes to branded pens - I love them and do notice the branding on them. At FreeAgent we get our pens from thebrandzone.co.uk and they're pretty nice - I was impressed when I started here.

 

[Love2travel]

I think pens in large quantities can be good for your business. Just to get the name out there and so people will sorta know about your company in the back of their head. But don't expect sales to come from them.

 

[BristolRemovals]

Would certainly suggest vista print and find some voucher codes on Google before and get a bargain.

 

[DanielMckay]

I always get my promotional pens from 123Print , no complaints. I've used Vista before and had problems with the engraving

 

[integrity Rules]

I always get my promotional pens from 123Print , no complaints. I've used Vista before and had problems with the engraving

Thanks, a choice to look at , if I consider pens as promos.
I was thinking that one way to use the pens could be at a promo event, whereon hands over a pen , anytime someone signs up to give their e mail details ….
That ay theres a context for giving the pens away too.

 

[RP Branding]

I'd be more than happy to go through any ideas you have for promotional products/giveaways

Pop me an email, we also have an online search website with a range of products on (admittedly it's currently being worked on!)

[email protected]

 

[MojoPromotions]

In terms of quantities, we'll always do our best to try and meet your quota and we always have products that we can get in of lower units when needed. Sometimes you'll find it's more cost effective to place larger quantity orders though! Take a look at our website mojopromotions.co.uk or give me a shout if you have any questions!

Thanks,

Ellis