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PROMOTA
Exploring new trade
opportunities
We all know that students love freebies. This month PROMOTA
discusses the importance of branded items for universities.
I
n previous articles PROMOTA has discussed Graduation Crystal, which is a 3D lasered image
new avenues for promotional merchandise inside a crystal cube with the logo of the university
companies to explore and this month, the focus also engraved inside. They are then given as
is on the use of promotional merchandise in graduation gifts and are a lovely keepsake for the
universities. Universities use promotional students and relatives.”
merchandise all year round and they are constantly Sport is another key area for branded items for
looking for new and exciting products to carry universities. Sports teams need kit with the
their brand. university branding, as well as promotional
Personalised products vary from pens to banners and mascot items to help build team spirit
teddybears and are used to attract prospective but also to represent the university at external
students and to represent the university externally. sports fixtures.
Students certainly have a reputation for being Lucy Hood, PR, Media and Promotions officer for
magpie-like when it University of
comes to freebies. Birmingham
Open days and Sport, said:
freshers’ weeks are “Branded items
two examples of are really
events which use important in our I am a firm believer that change is for the
brightly coloured department, better and I think, even though times are tough
promotional especially when for many economically, now is the time to
giveaways to attract our teams play explore the vast amount of opportunity our
students to the externally. We industry has to offer. Even though a market,
university and also want to make such as universities, may be new and
to build an exciting sure that the unfamiliar, it may be a venture which proves
atmosphere. products we fruitful for business in the long run.
Products which are choose help to All members should remember that when
eye-catching such represent the looking into exploring new avenues or new
as coloured pens, university in the products, they will always have the support and
frisbees and sweets right way. We backing of PROMOTA. With more than 50 years
are great to hand use a huge of trade experience, we are able to offer advice
out to students at variety of in many difference areas of the industry and
events such as products, from look to help out in every way we can.
these.
Purple Zebra commemorative graduation hat
the kits for the For information on how PROMOTA can support
In this sense, it various sports you, please call the secretariat on 0845 371
would be important teams to the 4335.
for promotional merchandise companies to get to branded cuddly lions which act as mini mascots for
know the university calendar to see which events university sport!” Rod Duncan
can be exploited in terms of large orders of Universities also have general branded products
promotional merchandise. aimed at students all year round. A short walk
As suggested, products are used to attract around any campus will show you the number of extending the university brand to the outside
students but they can also later be used to remind students acting as walking billboards in public.
them of their time at university. In the same way university branded hoodies and t-shirts. Promotional and branded products form a major
that freshers’ week uses promotional merchandise University shops sell these types of branded part of university life. The use of products varies
to build an atmosphere of excitement, graduation products throughout the year meaning that there enormously, from the light-hearted giveaways of
ceremonies also provide opportunities for are constant opportunities for promotional freshers’ week, to branded sports kit to build team
university branded products. merchandise companies. Embroidered clothing, spirit and finally to mementoes and executive
Promotional merchandise companies should see along with crested silverware and mugs, are items to boost the brand outside of the university.
these events as opportunities, as branded hoodies, great as gifts for those outside of the university The huge potential for branded products means
cufflinks and photo frames are becoming popular but can also be used as part of a university’s that universities are constantly looking for quality
mementoes of a student’s university career. marketing process. Stationery also forms part of promotional merchandise which they can use for a
PROMOTA member, Paul Bonning, managing this marketing approach. Simple things such as variety of purposes, giving ideal opportunities for
director of Purple Zebra, said: “We have found the pens and notepads on reception desks or gifts to promotional merchandise companies to offer
best selling items for Crystal Impressions are the corporate companies are a great way of bespoke and unique services.
| 16 | May 2009 www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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