The Promo Column
Back to show business T
he past month has seen the gradual return of industry shows as postponed events have finally started to happen again. This is good news on several fronts. It signals that a degree of normality is returning allowing merchandise businesses to start doing business yet again.
There was a lot of that going on in Coventry recently where Merchandise World returned after more than two years. The show had a one-day test the water event in September at Milton Keynes, but this was close to the full Monty with around 145 exhibitors and almost 900 quality visitors. The atmosphere was very buoyant with people obviously pleased to be back and exhibitors were cautiously optimistic with some noting rising enquiries and sales of late. Of course, there are other challenges to be met at the moment – inflationary raw materials price rises, energy costs, supply chain disruption, and staff shortage – but there are some reasons to be cheerful. The main reason people visit shows is to be inspired by new and exciting product ideas and there were plenty on show in Coventry.
Premier Brands’ Circular Cup
Its Circular Cup is the world’s first reusable travel mug, made from recycled single-use paper cups.
Manufactured in the UK the multi-award- winning sustainable travel mug is 100% leakproof, the simple push lid mechanism eliminates spills and offers one-hand opening, providing total peace of mind while you’re on the go.
Every purchase of a Circular Cup is funding a sustainable solution to global waste. The mug is designed for 10 years of use and the outer thermal insulation layer of Circular Cup is made from used paper coffee cups. By switching to Circular Cup, you save hundreds of single-use cups from landfills and contribute directly to the recycling of the used coffee cups that slip through the net.
Sustainability was the key word at the show with more than 100 exhibitors showing products that were better for the planet. It’s actually quite astonishing what can be recycled.
Prime Time’s smart LED backpack
Exciting product ideas
Birmingham based Prime Time had a smart LED backpack that could turn the wearer into a dynamic walking advertising hoarding for a brand, or allow them to display their own content through a paired smart phone app. The backpack allows the user to upload images, draw art and messages, and event play games. Everything is accessed via the app which can store multiple pieces of content ready to be uploaded at will. Premier Brands was present with its range of retail standard products, including funky drinkware.
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Bagco, which is known for its environmentally responsible carriers, has made a sideways move into notebooks with a product that is made from recycled car windscreens.
Although its new A5 notebook, the Lamberhurst is made from recycled rPVB safety glass, it has a surprisingly soft feel, which has a great story.
Everything is backed up with certification, with factories are audited, and a warehouse and print facility that is carbon neutral. Another bag specialist, Jutebag has formed a partnership with Cyclo and Aware to bring a collection of recycled bags that take sustainability a step further. With Cyclo recycled fibres, textile waste from garment manufacturers in Bangladesh is procured and undergoes a
Promotional products commentator, Stuart Derrick, has just returned from Merchandise World. Here he reports on some of the new products that caught his eye.
mechanical recycling process without the use of water, dyes or chemicals. It is then blended with recycled polyester to create a brand new, coloured yarn.
This results in a highly environmentally friendly textile alternative that is part of a closed-loop production system which upcycles pre-consumer textile waste such as cutting scraps.
Cyclo also embeds tracers into its fibres to grant consumers the ability to track the entire journey of the product with Aware tracer technology.
The technology enables consumers to verify all sustainability claims which improves trust between consumers and businesses and eradicates greenwashing. Users scan the QR code on the label of bags to gain full insight into where the material came from.
At home boxes
It wasn’t just products that were on show at Merchandise World. One of the big growth areas over the past couple of years has been the at home box.
Companies managing working from home staff took to sending their people boxes of merchandise to help with their jobs or as a way of letting them know that they were still part of the team and valued. Consequently, demand for cardboard postal boxes went through the roof. Adco Products is known for its paper products and has moved into this sector with the launch of an Adbox packaging division which offers a wide range of standard and bespoke presentation boxes made in the UK. It has added screen printed corrugated presentation boxes and covered premium boxes to its range to offer eco-friendly gift packaging for the growing demand for recycled products.
The colourful boxes can be branded inside and out and do away with foam packing to ensure that the entire product is recyclable.
Adco Products’ Adbox
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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