Featured Categories

Our Ranges Catergorised

more
Brand Names

Clothing & Gift Catalogues

Workwear & PPE -> (579)

Eco Friendly Gifts -> (919)

Executive Gifts -> (1669)

Mens Gifts -> (1566)

Ladies Gifts -> (1853)

At The Office -> (3866)

Caps & Clothing -> (3985)

Luggage & Bags -> (5543)

Pens & Writing -> (5437)

Folders -> (1588)

Drinkware ->

Homeware & Hotel -> (3062)

Kiff Keyrings -> (1463)

Tea & Coffee Time -> (1247)

Behind The Bar -> (1038)

Clocks & Watches -> (2178)

Computer Accessories -> (862)

Conference Corner -> (22)

Fresh Outdoors -> (1435)

GiveAways & Novelties

Gizmos & Gadgets -> (2287)

Lights & Torches -> (960)

Personal Stuff -> (1976)

Radio's & Sound -> (386)

The Golfing Range -> (733)

Tools & Hardware -> (224)

Travel Things -> (1207)

Kids, Fun & Games -> (1878)

Leather Range -> (165)

Purely Promotional -> (1668)

Smoking Section -> (258)

Sports Section -> (1178)

Stationery Supplies -> (2070)

Sunglasses & Novelty -> (500)

Covid-19 Essential Products ->
(186)

Promotional Display -> (417)

Purely African -> (1253)

Our Brands

more

Sort By Brand Names

more

Sort By:

more
Product Colour ->

Product Material ->

Receipients Personality ->

Season ->

Specific Occasion -> (847)

Sort By Price

more

Specify own range

to

Predefined ranges

Under R1.00
From R1.00 to R5.00
From R5.00 to R25.00
From R25.00 to R50.00
From R50.00 to R100.00
From R100.00 to R250.00
From R250.00 to R500.00
From R500.00 to R1,000.00
From R1,000.00 to R1,500.00
From R1,500.00 to R2,500.00
R2,500.00 and above

Sort by Personality

more

Language Selector

Currency Selector

Promotional product specialists strong in tight times. by Perkal

It may be the gift-giving season, but for Northeast Ohio companies in the promotional products trade, the tough economy and tight ad budgets have made the business about more than slapping logos on shirts, pens and golf balls.

"The industry has matured to say, `We're not just pushing product, we're pushing solutions,'' said Brian Smith, president and chief operating officer of Proforma, a provider of custom promotional products and business forms in Independence. "The people at risk are the providers of product who are trying to do it at the price points that will win them the business.''

In its most recent industry report, the Pennsylvania-based Advertising Specialty Institute said third-quarter advertising specialty sales were down 1.6% compared with the like period in 2007. Despite the recent softening, Anne Lardner, senior communications manager for the trade group Promotional Products Association International, said domestic sales in the business reached a record $19.4 billion in 2007.

"Over the past 20 years, there have been lots of ups and downs in the overall economy, but promotional products have consistently stayed up,'' Ms. Lardner said, noting that putting a company's name literally in the hands of a specific audience "gives us an advantage in a down market because you don't want to risk your advertising dollars'' going for a wider reach.

Proforma's Mr. Smith said he's forecasting 10% sales growth for 2008 and has similar expectations for 2009 despite a market where customers are trimming budgets, though he isn't seeing wholesale elimination of product giveaways.

"If someone's doing a golf outing and they used to give away three things, now they're giving away two,'' he said. "This is not a post-9/11 situation where things are paralyzed.''

Bruce Felber, creative director of Felber & Felber Marketing in Twinsburg, also is hearing anecdotal evidence of the industry's ability to weather tough times.

"The majority of promotional product consultants I talk to, they're telling me their business is still going strong,'' said Mr. Felber, who was elected in October to the Promotional Products Association International board of directors.

Mr. Felber said the term "promotional product consultants'' is a reflection of his industry's move toward a more agency-minded approach that looks at promotional products as part of an overall marketing strategy.

"`Distributor' and `supplier' are antiquated terms,'' Mr. Felber said. "None of us are sitting here with warehouses full of stuff waiting to put your logo on it.''

At The Shamrock Cos. in Westlake, promotional product sales account for about $8 million in business annually, and the company is forecasting 12% growth this year, according to president Tim Connor.

Much of those sales come from companies looking to energize their sales forces, particularly in the contracting and do-it-yourself building businesses, Mr. Connor said. There's growing interest, he said, in Shamrock's higher-end, lasting premiums such as Apple iPods and Bose stereo systems.

This article was published on Friday 27 February, 2009.

Product Search Tool

 
Use a keyword or product code to find the appropriate product.
Advanced Search
Search Help [?]

Members Login

Your Email Address
Your Password

Log in is done securely
Not yet a Member? Join now
Forgot password? Click here

Why Choose Perkal?

70000+ products from over 300 suppliers all over the world.

No Minimum order requirements on 99% of our range

Extremely Competitive Pricing We will beat any written quote!

Every Product is  Guaranteed

Our Site is 100% Safe & Secure. We use 128 bit encryption to secure our site

Discounted Pricing for Corporate and Trade Clients

We offer Branding on every product with a quick turnaround time

Served over 20000 happy customers to date

Unparalleled Customer Service

We can source almost any product from our China Office - subject to min orders

Current Bestsellers

more
Wooden Pencil
01. Wooden Pencil
R0.94

Bottle opener Keyring - Min Order 100 units
02. Bottle opener Keyring - Min Order 100 units
R4.50

Activate Mints
03. Activate Mints
R3.70

Key Finder - Whistle Keyring
04. Key Finder - Whistle Keyring
R39.80

Pop-It Bottle Opener Keyring
05. Pop-It Bottle Opener Keyring
R3.78

Penflex Ballpoint Clear Meduim Black 50 - Min orders apply, plea
06. Penflex Ballpoint Clear Meduim Black 50 - Min orders apply, plea
R1.37

Pencil with Erazer
07. Pencil with Erazer
R0.95

Executive Talking Clock-Silver

08. Executive Talking Clock-Silver
R69.00

VUVUZELA
09. VUVUZELA
R29.95

Fiesta Pen - Min Order 100 units
10. Fiesta Pen - Min Order 100 units
R3.37

Product Of The Week

Solar Torch Key Ring: 3 LED - Eco-friendly
Solar Torch Key Ring: 3 LED - Eco-friendly
Price  R49.99  
Buy Now

Featured Products

more
Kitchen Wall Clock
Kitchen Wall Clock
 R76.26 

News & Articles

New Articles (1)
All Articles (623)
Corporate Gift Articles (401)
Corporate Gift Ideas (11)
Corporate Gifts - Branding (6)
Gadget Articles (60)
Gifts in The Press (75)
Promotional Clothing Articles (38)
Webpage News (18)
General News (37)

Search Articles Text

Ads

Latest products

more
Technician 100% Cotton Conti Suit - Reflective Arms & Legs - Yel
Technician 100% Cotton Conti Suit - Reflective Arms & Legs - Yel

Our Price: R480.98

Follow Perkal

Follow Me on Linkedin Follow Me on Pinterest