Corporate Gifts Blog

There are many theories relating to the origin of our company name ‘Stupid Tuesday’.

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‘Were you having a particularly bad day when you named your company, and was that day Tuesday?’ say some.

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‘I know, you only work on Tuesdays’, say others.

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Yet others speculate that ‘Stupid Tuesday’ was chosen because it is more contemporary than the Boom Town Rats, ‘I don’t like Mondays’.

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In reality, the reason we named the company ‘Stupid Tuesday’ is none of the above. In fact, the answer is a rather arcane one to which but a privileged few know the answer! What we are certain of, however, is that the name has an extremely high level of recall amongst customers and suppliers alike and we never have to explain to people who we are after the first time we contact them.

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So, in an uncontrollable outpouring of spontaneous generosity and magnanimity, we will give a free gift box containing two special edition mugs and lots of pens to anyone who can guess the real origin of the name ‘Stupid Tuesday’. All you have to do is go to our website and email your answer …. here!

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According to a study in the US by the Promotional Products Association, promotional products show ’staggering’ levels of recall and reaction.

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The study showed that 94% of persons interviewed recalled receiving a promotional product in the last two years and 89% could remember the name of the company being promoted. It also found that 83% liked receiving promotional products and 48% would like to get them more often. Indeed, the promotional products were kept by 69% of people.

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In fact, according to the findings,  recall rates of promotional products are higher than TV, print and online advertising. In addition, consumers made a purchase after receiving a promotional product more often than viewing a print ad, TV commercial or online.

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This is good news for the hard-working team here at Stupid Tuesday and shows that our endeavours in supplying quality branded promotional items are reaping rich rewards for our clients. Call us on 08450 998796 if you’d like your own company to benefit from high levels of recall.

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Source

Whilst we at the Mug Shop are working hard, day after day, nose to the grindstone, designing and supplying great looking mugs, glassware and tableware to the world at large, it’s really nice to receive feedback from satisfied clients. Of course, we receive many such testimonials but the one we reproduce below is so gratifying that we just had to share it through our blog.

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So, I’ll say no more but simply allow the testimonial speak for itself.

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Hello Stuart

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Helen has just told me the mugs have arrived.

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We have been so impressed with all the help and advice and quick, friendly responses from both you and Jill throughout the process. It feels as though I have been dealing with friends, and yet it has been very professional.

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Having never ordered anything like this before, we needed advice! Jill did a really clever job of adapting the drawing by one of our sponsored children in Uganda to make it fit the mug. We hope we shall sell them quickly to raise much-needed funds and will definitely come back to you for another set.

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We will stay in touch and will send feedback from people. Thank you for all you have done. We wish you the best in your business – you deserve to do well!

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Regards, Margaret Stevens (Teso Educational Support Scheme)

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If you would like to experience great quality products and exceptional service too, call us on 08450 998796 or visit our website.

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How does breakfast benefit you? The eleventh annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week 24-30 January 2010 is the ideal time to find out! Taking place 24-30 January the week is a real opportunity for everyone to get into the healthy breakfast habit and celebrate the rich wealth of breakfast foods found across the country.

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Health professionals all agree we should start the day with a healthy, balanced breakfast. Breakfast really can benefit your energy levels, concentration, mood and can even help you manage your weight.

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Of course, there’s no better accompaniment to a good breakfast than a steaming hot mug of tea or coffee. Here at the Mug Shop we heartily concur and we have a splendid range of mugs, cups and teapots to go with your breakfast.

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As well as the widely-used and very popular mug types such as Sparta, Atlantic, Cambridge and Sandfield recent additions to our collection include the American style, retro Diner Mug, the elegant Almo Mug and for those with a more than hearty appetite, the extra-large capacity Metro Mug.

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Each of these mugs make splendid promotional gifts to give to your customers. All have a large branding area and can be printed in up to six colours in most cases. What’s more they are available within 2 to 3 weeks.

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So the next time you’re tempted to skip breakfast the simple answer is … don’t! Get your day off to the best possible start with a full English and a mug of your favourite beverage!

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Call the Mug Shop on 08450 998796 or click here for more details or a sample.

Despite having crept in mildly and fooled us with some great weather in the UK in September and October, Winter has at last shown its true colours with high winds, storms and heavy rain. So, it’s time again to dig out that trusty brollie!

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Now, no one is positive who invented the umbrella, perhaps the Chinese or the Egyptians. However, it took until 1830 before London’s first umbrella shop was opened by James Smith and Sons and it’s still in operation.

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Today, the average household is said to have an average of 3.8 umbrellas. Still, with the first drop of rain, we still continue to buy new ones, going through many different shapes, sizes and colours in a lifetime.

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In the world of promotional products, umbrellas are a major player and they are one of those products guaranteed to get your company and your message really noticed. Before you decide on which umbrella is best for you, however, there are a number of things worthy of consideration.

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First, pick an umbrella that fits your budget and, with a wide range to choose from, this part is easy. You could go for a sports model of which there are 21 different types, a walking umbrella or a telescopic brollie.

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Next, think about what you want to print onto the umbrella – logo or message or both. You can print on one panel or all panels, in one colour print up to full photographic quality – the combinations of panel colours are endless. You may also make your umbrella really different by choosing a different shaft or handle. Ask us for our advice if you are unsure.

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It’s a good thing that umbrellas aren’t just reserved for emperors and pharaohs anymore! Just where would we be without them?

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Call us on 08450 998796 for help in choosing your promotional umbrella or go here.

In the promotional product sector, artwork arrives from clients in all sort of formats. Sometimes it doesn’t even arrive at all and we may need to create a design from just an idea, or even from a drawing on a beer coaster!

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However, if you have artwork you wish to send you should know that we at the Mug Shop are happy to receive artwork files in the following professional formats: colour separated Vector graphics (Illustrator .eps), JPEG, TIFF or .psd (Photoshop files).

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But if you don’t have artwork in these formats, don’t panic!
We can also accept files prepared in desktop packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Microsoft Powerpoint. These files, however, will usually require recreating to be suitable for print and this may incur a small additional charge.

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And what if you don’t have any artwork at all, well …. still don’t panic!
Our team of in-house designers, all with degrees in fine art and design, will create superb imagery for you! If all you have is stationery with your logo, or even if you just have a sketch on paper, our designers will work their miracles and delight you with the results. Whether a computer generated image or one that is hand-drawn or painted our designers will deliver!

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We believe that we are the only dedicated promotional mug website that directly employs its own in-house designers of this calibre, that is, with fine-art and design degrees.  When this is allied with over 30 years in-house marketing and promotional experience it gives us an edge over other on-line promotional mug providers. They provide mugs, sure, but we provide IMAGE as well. After all, why spend money on a printed mug if your logo doesn’t do you justice when we can enhance it for you? Why make do with a few lines of text when a great new image will say much more?

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So, when you’re ready to send your artwork to us, we can receive artwork electronically via email to artwork@mug-shop.net. Upon receipt of artwork a digital proof will be sent for your approval prior to your order being completed.

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But, if you don’t have any artwork and you’d like us to create something unique, just for you, call the Mug Shop on 08450 998796.

Well that time of the year is fast approaching once again … turkeys will soon be running scared, and postmen groaning under the weight of parcels (that is, if they’re not on strike!). Then there’s the Christmas card ritual … we slavishly sign hundreds of cards and send out our own little piece of Christmas cheer to customers, existing and potential, in the hope that they will look kindly upon us in the New Year and shower us with lucrative new business!

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If we’re realistic, however, this rarely happens. Most of our customers will be inundated with Christmas cards, most of which will attract barely a glance before they are strung up until the New Year and then unceremoniously directed to the waste-paper bin!

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So, this year, why not ensure your message is remembered long after January 1st has come and gone by sending your customers something they will value and retain and which will keep your name in front of them all year long.

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We’re talking here about promotional printed mugs – guaranteed to be kept and used. Why not choose a Wow mug (one which changes image when hot liquid is poured in) and your message can switch between a seasonal greeting and your corporate message? Alternatively, if you want an ‘all singing, all dancing’ photographic image pick a promotional mug printed using the dye sublimation process; the results are guaranteed to make your customers sit up and take notice. On the other hand, you can choose a bone china promotional mug for that little extra style and value. Ask our advice if you’re unsure.

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Printed in one to six colours, or even photographically, your chosen promotional mug will mark you out from your competitors in the eyes of your customers and maybe they will shower you with new business after all!

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Call the Mug Shop for advice on choosing the right mug for you …. on 08450 998796

Despite that mythical creation of the internet-age, the ‘paperless society’, it seems most of us still resort to pen and paper from time to time. We write ‘to do’ notes at the beginning of each work-day, the shopping list at the weekend, greetings cards at all times of the year; I could go on.

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So, when it comes to choosing a promotional gift for your clients, you can’t go far wrong with a promotional pen such as the Top Pick metal pen pictured left. This pen, for example, is a top quality metal promotional pen which, because of its high perceived value, really says ‘you care’ to your clients. What’s more, with a massive five lines of text which can be laser-engraved onto its body, the Top Pick promotional pen gives you an unrivalled ability to spell out all the important parts of your corporate message.

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The Top Pick is just one of a great range of quality metal promotional pens we stock, all of which are capable of being laser-engraved with up to five lines of text. Our range also contains a selection of complementary products such as metal letter openers and metal keyrings, so if you’re really feeling creative, and a little more generous, you can put together a ‘gift pack’ comprising several corporate items and offer them in one of our special gift boxes.

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And, just now, we have a fantastic offer on another of our metal pens, the Pacesetter (left) – 99p each for 100 minimum quantity!! This really is great value as this pen normally sells for £1.99 each but we have limited stocks so if you’d like to order, or see a sample before you buy call 08450 998796 or use our contact details here.

In my opinion, tea or coffee tastes so much better when drunk from a bone china mug or bone china cup. What’s more, I don’t believe I am alone in this thought; ask most people and I’m sure that they will express the same sentiment. And it’s not just the taste of your favourite beverage that is so much better; the feel, that touch of quality, of the promotional bone china mug or cup makes it stand apart from its ceramic counterparts.

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This is why a promotional bone china mug or bone china cup is the ideal corporate gift when you want to make a real impression. Choose bone china and you’ll be giving something very special which is sure to be retained for years and years and used day after day, putting your corporate message in front of your clients in an superbly effective way unmatched by most other promotional gifts.

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Bone china mugs can be printed with up to four colours in much the same way as ceramic mugs, using direct screen printing, transfer printing and digital printing. In addition, some types of bone china mugs, such as the Marlborough mug, may be printed using the dye-sublimation printing process which allows any number of colours and quite complex designs and images to be reproduced on the mug. And there’s a range of protective packaging to choose from, such as polystyrene or cardboard cartons, to ensure your valuable gift arrives undamaged with the grateful recipient.

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We have an excellent range of bone china mugs and cups to choose from and you can select one of them here. Why only dream when you really can have china in your hand?

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Alternatively call our mug team on 08450 998796

One of the most damaging effects of our takeaway, ‘eat on the go’ culture is the amount of disposable material that goes with it. Paper cartons and paper cups galore litter our streets. ‘Not exactly environmentally-friendly’, I hear you say and we agree totally.

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That’s why we’re delighted to come across a brand new takeaway mug which does not cause a problem for the environment in the same way.

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This great new innovation looks just like its disposable paper cup counterparts but is actually a re-usable, heavy-duty ceramic mug with a silicon lid. What’s more, it features a double-walled construction for insulating both hot and cold liquids and this also means you can handle your hot coffee without risk of burning your hands! This Takeaway Mug, which has a capacity of 270ml, has an excellent wrap-around print area to take your logo and message and is 100% dishwasher safe.

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We think the Takeaway Mug is set to be a real winner, not least in helping to reduce landfill!

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Call us on 08450 998796 for more information.

Alternatively contact us by email.

I’ve been involved in the marketing and promotion business for more than twenty years and I’ve grown used to hearing from some companies the old refrain: ‘times are hard you know, we can’t afford to undertake any advertising, we’ve had to cut our marketing budget’. The funny thing is, most of these companies say this without the slightest sign of tongue in cheek!

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In fact, it is the precise opposite view that these companies should be taking, along with their more progressive and enlightened competitors. It is ‘when times are hard’ that the need for advertising and promotion should be to the fore. If business is difficult to find it makes sense to be pro-active and shout out your message louder rather than sit in a gloomy place wringing your hands and hoping things will get better.

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A quotation from a famous figure of the 18th Century, Thomas Jefferson, sums the matter up perfectly. Jefferson said: ‘The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time.’

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The question to be asked is, quite clearly, not be ‘can we afford to advertise’ but rather ‘can we afford NOT to advertise’.

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It goes without saying, however, that you should spend your advertising wisely, after giving great consideration as to how it will be most effective. You should be looking at specifically targeting your market with a message that not only has immediate impact but is also long lasting. This is where the strategic use of promotional products as part of the marketing mix can be so effective.

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A printed promotional mug, for example, is a gift most clients love to receive and very few are likely to discard. Even if they don’t use it for their morning brew it may wind-up on their desktops being used as a make-shift but very handy pen-pot. On the other hand, if that’s what your customers prefer, why not give them a green option.

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It’s true, there’s a lot of choice out there, so if you’re a little confused as to which of the many promotional products available is best for your campaign speak to our expert team on 08450 998796 …… or click here.

The wonderful thing about printed promotional mugs is that there is such a vast range available that you really can select ones which are ideal for your specific target market. And, if you really do take the trouble to think about what your target audience want, your promotional campaign will have all the more impact and be all the more memorable.

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For example, if your target market is building contractors you’re hardly likely to turn their heads with a delicate bone china cappuccino mug let’s face it. However, if you appeal to their legendary huge capacity for tea-drinking, then a printed pint mug will be right up their street!

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However, if you aiming at a more ’sophisticated’ target market, perhaps the glitzy world of the City, then a printed bone china cappuccino mug would not be out of place. Neither, in that case, would an elegant latte mug from our range.

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If your target audience is involved with outdoor activities, on the other hand, then your best choice of a promotional mug may be a robust, virtually unbreakable printed acrylic mug. This type of mug also goes down well in schools or to support events involving younger people. We’ve even supplied promotional acrylic mugs to a sailing event so that mariners had a sturdy drinking vessel which would withstand the roughest seas!

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So the key is … if you think carefully about your market and gear your promotional mug offer to it, your promotional push will reap rich rewards. What’s more, we’re adding great new mug styles to our range all the time!

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If you like us to advise on the right mug for you, call on 08450 998796.

Or go HERE

Sometimes, you know, the ordinary just isn’t enough for some people! It’s true in all walks of life. Why walk when you can run a marathon, why climb a hill when there’s plenty of mountains out there, why settle for reality when you have a dream?

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That’s the reason why we’ve increased our already vast range of promotional mugs to include one that is completely bespoke. And we’re not just talking about bespoke print … we mean that now you can specify precisely what shape and size you want! Fancy a square mug … no problem! A mug the shape of a ball … that’s possible!

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This, of course, opens up a whole new world of promotional ideas and means that you can truly design a mug that is unique to that very special event that you’re planning. A golf day? How about a golf ball shaped mug? A car launch? You’ve guessed it, a mug shaped as a vehicle. The possibilities are almost endless!!

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So, if you have a great idea for an unusual promotional mug which will prove a high-impact and memorable corporate gift, simply pick up the phone and call 08450 998796 to speak with our enthusiastic staff who will help you plan your project.

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Then again, if you’re happy to stay with a standard shape, our range of premium quality mugs made from earthenware, bone china or acrylic isn’t all that ordinary … take a look for yourself!

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Call us on 08450 998796 .. I’m sure you’ll find something just right for you!

View our range – click here.

You know, some days I wake up and think ‘why am I doing this?’ and then I remember why … because ‘it’s a mug’s game’! And, when I think of all the pleasure, not to mention the promotional boost, our fabulous range of promotional printed mugs has given to clients and their customers time and again, I know why I’m still in it!

Whether it’s a ceramic or earthenware promotional mug, a printed mug made from fine bone china or one made from acrylic, there are millions of them out there bringing good cheer and extra sales wherever they are used. Printed mugs create a lasting impression when they are given and your customers see your company name and logo in front of them day after day.

Some of the most popular mugs are the ceramic Sandfield printed mug and the Atlantic printed mug both very traditional and used far and wide in all manner of work-places. Acrylic mugs are used where they may be subject to heavy use as they are very robust and ideal for schools and companies involved with outdoor pursuits. Bone china printed mugs are ideal for that more prestigious customer or event.

You can print promotional mugs with one colour up to six colours using traditional methods or print photographic imagery using a process known as dye-sublimation. There is even a mug that changes colour and image when you pour into it hot liquid. These ‘heat change’ mugs are known variously as Magic Mugs or Wow Mugs.

Recently, latte mugs have become increasingly popular and we have just launched a new one, the Hillside latte mug. This stylish latte mug has a large capacity and a big print area so that your logo and message will really stand out. Take a look at our website if you want more information on the Hillside or if you’d like a free sample.

The new Hillside is sure to be a big hit – just one more reason why I’m happy to be involved in this mug’s game!

Call 08450 998796 for more information or a free sample of  the Hillside latte mug.

If you’re about to start a new business, there are a million things to consider. However, one critical item you must make time for is a logo for your company – developing an unforgettable image for your business, one which differentiates and makes you stand out from the competition, could be the difference between success and failure. So, be sure to add ‘logo design’ to your ‘to do’ list!

A great logo says a great deal about your company, its ethos and the way it operates, so let’s take a closer look at why a well-designed logo is so vital:

Well, a well-crafted logo indicates that your company is professional … it emphasises your credibility, reliability and trustworthiness. A memorable logo inspires consumer confidence whereas, in sharp contrast, a weak image will have quite the opposite effect.

A quality logo can also become one of your very best sales-people, adding weight and credibility to your sales offering and communicating a great deal about your company. By using carefully chosen fonts and colours, a professional logo designer can create an image for your company which customers, potential and existing, will find unforgettable.

Great and memorable logos have been at the centre of many companies’ success – Nike’s ‘swoosh’, McDonalds’ ubiquitous ‘M’ and of course the Apple symbol. The logos of all of these companies are an embodiment of their success.

And, once you have developed a truly memorable logo, promotional products, such as printed mugs, printed pens, branded umbrellas and so on (the range is endless) are a fantastic way to get your message out to potential and existing customers. 

By now you should understand the need for a great logo to help grow your business and you should make sure that you engage a professional logo design company, such as Stupid Tuesday, to do so. There will, of course, be an associated cost but this price could be the best investment your company ever makes!

Call us on 08450 998796

Of all the promotional items that you can use to support your marketing effort, one of the longest lasting and most valued are bone china printed mugs. Made with the finest bone china these mugs will last for years and are both dishwasher and microwave safe. The traditional, classic look and feel of bone china mugs, printed with your logo and message, gives your clients an item they will value and use daily.

Of all the promotional items that you can use to support your marketing effort, one of the longest lasting and most valued are bone china printed mugs. Made with the finest bone china these mugs will last for years and are both dishwasher and microwave safe. The traditional, classic look and feel of bone china mugs, printed with your logo and message, gives your clients an item they will value and use daily.

Printed mugs are extremely cost-effective and provide a promotional vehicle that will last and last and keep advertising your message. Does any other item offer such a cost-effective return on investment? We doubt it! Indeed, more and more businesses are concluding that printed bone china mugs is the best way to promote their message because they are in the hands of clients and potential clients, day after day!

The form of repetitive marketing that you get with printed mugs is invaluable in building your brand and there are several ways to distribute your your bone china printed mugs:

First, you can mail them out quite safely using specialised packaging such as robust cardboard boxes or polystyrene cubes. There is a cost of postage to add but given the great impact a bone china mugs makes with the recipient, you may not consider this significant.

Secondly, you can hand out your promotional mugs to existing clients is at your place of business. Try including a coupon for a printed mug to your clients in a mail shot, offering them a free mug if they call by.

Thirdly, to hit potential clients, the best place to hand them out is at a trade event or exhibition, where the audience is targeted to your industry and are interested in the products you offer. Most of the leaflet and pamphlets they collect will be ‘binned’ after the exhibition but you can guarantee that your mugs will be kept safe!

Not only mugs are available and, if you want to provide something just a little bit different, you may like to consider a cappuccino cup and saucer …. elegant and stylish and, above all, memorable!

So, the smart choice is to add printed bone china mugs to your promotional mix. They will effectively promote your company for years to come.

Call us on 08450 998796 to discuss your requirements or CLICK HERE to see our range of mugs.

Ad Loop keyrings are plastic looped key fobs that have made a real name for themselves within the promotional industry. Made from tactile PVC and plastic with a metal split ring attached, they have become popular in a great many business sectors and been used in every area of marketing.

These little promotional keyrings last forever abd are a great and almost indestructable giveaway. Strong, bright, useful, handy and cost effective Ad Loops are designed to help you keep your business details advertised.

The best seller is the original, Standard Ad Loop keyring which has a 180mm long ribbon length. With a large print area of 120mm and the facility to print on both sides of the ribbon, the standard Ad Loop is a consistent high performer.  More recent additions to the Ad loop range are Mini Ad Loops with a ribbon length of 110mm and Jumbo Ad Loops with a massive 300mmm ribbon. 

The large variety of colour options available for Ad Loop Keyrings has to be one of their main features and benefits. There are 5 coloured ribbons, 8 plastic reverse colours and 8 colours for the end-caps. There is now even a ‘glow in the dark’ end-cap which makes finding that bunch of keys a little easier. These colour options are all available on Standard, Mini and Jumbo Ad Loops.

If required, Ad Loop Keyrings may also be printed with sequential numbers, albeit at a slight extra cost. This allows the Ad Loops to be considered for membership schemes.

Ad Loop Keyrings have been used across most promotional and marketing activities and in most business sectors. You could use them as exhibition give-aways or client gifts, even in direct mail campaigns where their small size and weight will not add to postage. In fact their usage is only limited by your own imagination!

If you would like samples and prices or any other information call us on:

08450 998 796

Click here to view our range of Ad Loops

There’s nothing like that first cup of coffee or tea early in the morning, don’t you agree? And, guess what, most of your customers feel exactly the same! Throughout the business world, the first thing most people think about when they get into work is … ‘let’s have a cuppa’.

This simple truth is why sales of our printed mugs remain high. In fact, branded promotional mugs are consistently one of our biggest sellers. It’s no wonder …. no-one throws a printed mug away and they stay around on your clients’ desks day after day after day, keeping your brand and message right under their noses!

Our branded mugs come in all shapes and sizes, in a variety of colours, including pantone matching and in materials such as earthenware, bone-china and acrylic. We even have heat change mugs, widely known as Wow mugs, that once hot liquid is poured into them change colour! They are all colour-fast and dishwasher safe. Minimum ordering quantities are quite modest too, starting at just 72!

Despite the advent of more ‘high-tech’ promotional gifts such as printed USBs, printed mugs represent probably the most cost-effective part of a promotional mix repaying their outlay time after time.

Now, writing this blog is thirsty work ….. who’s for a cuppa?

Click here to view our range of quality printed promotional mugs

Research shows that companies and organisations tend to favour those suppliers who provide them with promotional gifts. In fact, companies who give promotional gifts have a much higher level of recall than those companies who don’t.  Promotional gifts also create greater goodwill and loyalty for those companies using them compared with competitors who don’t.

So, if you’re thinking of using promotional gifts to support and energise your marketing campaign, which works best?

Well, studies show that general office items like pens, mugs and desk-pads work just as well as some of the more exclusive, expensive items. This is good news indeed and means that your budget can be quite modest whilst achieving a disproportionately large impact with your clients.

Even better news is that throughout October, we have special deals on Atlantic, Bell, Lincoln and Newbury mugs.

Call us on 08450 998796

Or view our full range here