The Redbows Promotional Gifts Blog » Passing Comments

Redbows PSI Membership Approved

Rob — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:42:11 +0000

Redbows continues to grow its international reputation and reach. The company has just been accepted for full membership by the Promotional Product Service Institute (PSI) in Germany. Being elected to this society gives Redbows greater access to global promotional gifts manufacturers. This latest membership also in some way acts as a further endorsement that Redbows is a company of some standing within the gifts industry. Alongside BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) and Promota memberships, and the number of satisified comments that Redbows regularly receives, customers can rest assured that they have found a gifts supplier committed to service excellence. In this day and age success is all about positive differentation.

Face To Face With A Gifts Consultant

Rob — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:57:14 +0000

Well the other day I actually had a field visit from one of our international promotional gifts suppliers. It was actually great to be face-to-face with someone from a global manufacturer and merchandise supplier – a company with whom we normally only correspond and communicate through voice comms (mobile and telephone) and email. When you strip any relationship down, it always distills to the basic of how much you ‘connect’ with that person. We live in a world where all too often the inputs we require to ‘connect’ are missing. Even with video conference calls, video cams and software packages such as Skype, nothing makes up for meeting face-to-face. At Redbows we also try our hardest to have some ‘banter’ with all our stakeholders and clients, and try to establish a meaningful rapport. Not because we are sales people but because we just ‘love to be loved’ and connect. After all even a promotional gifts consultant is human. Nothing can digitize that. And what about the supplier? Well, I am now inspired to push more promotional pens and paper pads business their way – their rep or road warrior or whatever is the most politically correct term these days – was lovely! She also loved her Blackberry and was keen to let me know how it saved her time and helped to de-stress her day. I can see that iPhone getting that little bit closer.

Happy Birthday and Thank You

Rob — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:09:28 +0000

Well this June our promotional gifts blog is two years old. Boy that means we have been writing thoughts and ideas down for 24 months. So a big thank you to everyone at Redbows who has contributed and even authored the odd post here and they. During this time our blog has been imitated by many, hacked and plundered for it concepts and content. However, we remain vigilant and look forward to being creative and doing what we do best – effective promotional marketing for ourselves and our clients.

April Fool Anyone

Rob — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:50:42 +0000

Did anyone notice how few there were in the papers this year? I guess that I am not that surprised given the economic climate. Looking at the papers yesterday one could see that they were filled with the some of the most depressing stories around. Just for once would it not be great to get some real positivity into the press? I am a firm believer that negativity attracts nothing but…well negativity and if you want to be positive you have got to think positive. OK times are tough for a lot of people but they are full of opportunities as well. As they say one person’s problem is another’s opportunity.

The History of Promotional Gifts

Rob — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:56:49 +0000

It is funny how the growth of the promotional products industry matches that of mass manufacturing, industrial and technological revolutions. I comment on this because the first known promotional items were used in the US for the George Washington 1789 election. Apparently, commemorative buttons were all the rage back then. Later on promotional calendars and wooden rulers began to be used and the promotions industry really started to take root during the 19th Century. Our industry is now dominated by the internet and this is being used more and more as a way to present information and secure valuable sales leads. My only concern is that the quality of websites within our industry varies considerably and I find a number using ‘cloak and dagger’ methods to gain search traffic and hoodwink clients into thinking they are dealing with two or more separate organisations. All this is off course possible with database driven websites that can deliver content to any domain. However just because the technology exists do we have to abuse it? If we can be true to ourselves in how we promote our organisations, clients will benefit and standards in the gifts industry will only rise.

For Christmas Promotions Go Online

Rob — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:15:40 +0000

This Christmas I predict the UK will see the highest levels of spend – ever. We are witnessing a transformation in how we shop and this is something that few businesses have yet to catch on to. You see when I look at the high street I see two factors that are turning cash notes into electronic transactions. Firstly, there is simply too much of the same, and too much competition. Double speak perhaps. But look at clothing and home furnishings – two things close to my heart. Now look back down your high street and you can see that most retailers stock and supply almost identical items in terms of quality, price and features. Secondly, why do I want to go down the high street when I can do it online! Going shopping these days is no longer a pleasure in itself, if it means finding a parking space, dodging the traffic wardens, passing the odd speed camera and dragging three kids with who would rather be at home. I am no different to the millions of other people who now use the internet to search out ideas, then check them out physically on the high street before turning to the internet to find the best possible and most cost-effective source. Job done and there is no going back. How many times have you heard a shop assistant tell someone this year – ‘yes I know you can buy it cheaper online’. And what are the implications for my own industry – promotional gifts? Well more clients now find us through the internet than any other medium. Search for promotional products on line and we are top-ten Google and other search engines for a number of ranges. So taking things from a flip-side, would we open on the high street – no but we need to keep one step ahead to make sure we keep evolving and innovating.

Yes We Can – President Elect Obama!

Rob — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:01:45 +0000

Well the boy done good! I cannot recall such a fascinating election and just finished listening to President Elect Obama’s victory speach in Chicago. I am sure it will go down in history as the ‘Yes We Can’ statement of all time. It is time for change in the world and it looks like Obama will be the one around which it will become polarised. You have just got to admire the positive approach and the way he has connected people from all demographics. No other modern politician has acheived so much in so short a space of time. David Cameron must be anticipating the next UK general election with fervour and will expect the UK people to show the same determination to bring about change. Yes we can – it something we get to say everyday at the Redbows Promotional Gifts Store!

Network She – Networking For Women

Rob — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:11:53 +0000

I came across the Network She website the other day – a website and community exclusively for women in business. With the UK economy feeling the impact of poor banking decisions and easy credit facilities, we really do need to support the development of a new generation of businesses. I anticipate that a large share of these will be started by women in their homes who will seize the opportunities afforded by technology and the internet. All it takes is a good idea and the determination to go for it. Starting any business, even one selling promotional gifts is never easy but organisations like Network She are there to help, provide support and contacts.

Is Gordon Brown Due For A Promotion?

Rob — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:22:55 +0000

I am not what you would call a politcal person but I do think that Gordon Brown may be one of the last gentleman politicians around. I read the other day that he and his wife took their children to China for the Olympic games but no where did you see the whole family photographed as a publicity stunt. Unlike the Blairs and Camerons who open up their lives as though we are all readers of ‘Hello’, the Browns have decided to keep their children out of the limelight to give them as normal a childhood as possible. What a gift and something that for me shows that Gordon Brown deserves more respect than he is actually getting at this moment. He may have inherited a financial bubble and his gamble not to go for an election last October was probably his biggest political mistake but he knows what to value and treasure. Well done.

Personalising Drinks This Christmas

Rob — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:02:27 +0000

Would a ban on promotions limit alcohol sales? This is a hard one to answer. The Institute of Sales Promotions just reported a survey completed in Scotland by Asda. The result was that removing or limiting promotions would not lower alcohol consumption. With Christmas rapidly approaching we have added personalised wines, beers and spirits to the Promotional Gifts Store but as a holding page to say we offer them, ‘let us send you more information’. I guess this is our responsive approach and one that is more appealing in many ways to limiting promotions. We offer them, can provide them but you have to ask. Perhaps if we made alcohol less readily available in this country, controlled its consumption better and made retails, waiters and bar tenders more responsible for their actions in the sales process we would start to change our culture. In Italy if you are caught driving whilst drunk your car is crushed and the proceeds go to the State. In the US a bar tender can be prosecuted for selling you your last drink and the age for alcohol consumption is higher. And off course in France, wine is something introduced to young adults as part of the social process at dinner tables. Somehow we have to move from a nation of warm beer drinkers and I do not think we will get there by simply removing ‘BOGOFs’- buy one get one free and other promotions from alcoholic drinks.