What’s Up in Gifts and Premiums October 18, 2007
Posted by author in : Gifts , add a commentttnet.net - [2007/04/11]
We got many clues of the up-and-coming gift trends from the renowned shows of Ambiente and Tendence Lifestyle held in Germany. Here, there are three major themes in the current trends: ‘metallic’ mixed with cool metal with warm wood, ‘folklore’, a comeback of the mystery of East Europe in natural shades and opulent colors and ‘white’ enabling a white-white field of tension between romantic decorations and chic modern styles. A brand-new mix-and-match look with Asian, oriental and Mediterranean styles sets the trend in gift-giving items. For example, we see the figure of Buddha alongside Moroccan screens and colorful Alpine farmer furniture stands below mussel shell lampshades. ‘Water’ is a crucial theme in many of the spring and summer collections while the new aqua trends include such items as baskets and carpets of sea grass or fish motifs on towels, tableware and floor mats. Natural theme is evergreen. Hot as summer sun are topical shapes and materials such as branch-shaped candlesticks, dishes in tree-trunk look, laminated coconut shells and jellyfish shaped bags and lamps, also dancing with organic forms in vogue for china and glass.
Consumers are looking for romanticism, security and warmth, something like rich décors grace porcelain, glass, textiles and furniture. Even though the shapes last to be plain, the décor and details often impress us a Baroque feeling, frequently seen on glass and mirror components. The mounting nightmare of inflation brings nostalgic elements back. Rich shapes with floral patterns and pictures of angels on vases, plates, cushions or screens are still fashionable. Light tones such as white and green are welcome. Green in all variations plays a leading role on the palette. Black is a must as it comes to luxurious ambience in combination with decorative patterns or sequins and tulle. We see a return of old-styled gifts from Biedermeier era and accessories from our grandmother¡¦s era, including well-decorated biscuit dishes and elaborately printed tablecloths. The original ideas for premiums lies on their charm of giving things away for free, helping spark some kind of ongoing relationship with recipients- one in which the name of the company or product sticks in the mind. Here we see a soaring demand from premiums and giveaways sector as the expenditure of corporate advertisement partly shed to cheaper promotional giveaways and incentives. These gimmicks are in possession of all-pervasive influence penetrating to the full spectrum of our daily life, contriving some commercial missions, and usually coming to fruition. There is a widespread increase in smaller ad hoc pieces. The slogan of premiums is quite simple- it’s free for all. However, they are no more than the servants for brand names. Industry players are requested to diversify product lines so that they can accommodate their customers’ needs by personalizing with given logos and/or messages.
Electronic gadgets are always fun, and new technology, adding the bonus of more variety in designs, features and sizes. Flash dish drives, mp3 players, LED flashlights, clock radios and calculators are available in nearly any shape, size or combination. Mousepads in particular have become popular in the premiums sector. Not only are they lightweight and affordable, but they offer an ideal platform for corporate messages and logos. Thanks to updating technology, makers regularly launch new products to help them retain their premiums market share and offset thinning profit margins on older models, whose prices are declining by 5 to 10 percent. Ergonomic mouse are popular as they reduce fatigue and discomfort associated with repetitive motion, great for gaming and surfing. Cordless mouse, optical mouse or hybrid mouse are stealing the hearts of receivers. The premiums market accounts for 30 to 50 percent of production for most manufactures of electronic goods. Some companies supply to this market exclusively with hundreds of low-price electronic novelties.
In use of miniature components, a key chain is added with multifunctional features such as key lock light, laser pointer, quartz clock, calculator, message recorder or vibrating or sound-emitting plush-animal toy. Besides, multifunction key chains are in fancy designs with more gender-neutral and practical usages. The newest products include musical items in molded resin, and window units that are palm-size calendars or photo frames.
PC Accessories Landscape
Posted by author in : Gifts , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/08/02]
The latest survey shows that the prime buyers for computer accessories fall on young side, popular on both men and women in their 20s and 30s. For most buyers, price is major decision-making concern. Others like ergonomic design, quality and reliability are also crucial.
Generally speaking, PC peripherals as gifts include mouse, mouse pads, monitor glare screens, wrist rests, foot rests, arm rests, document holders, keyboard trays, desks and chairs. Among all non-electronic peripherals, optic disk storage boxes are the best sellers. Others like document holders, cordless mouse, game joysticks and armrests are also the focus. Thanks to more and more affordable LCDs for PC users, PC peripherals are subject to the trend. For example, monitor shelves, copy holders/mouse holders attached to monitors, screen filters are disappearing as the conventional CRT monitors retract from the computer desks.
PC specialty stores are not the only choice for peripherals buyers. Now even supermarkets, mass merchandisers and office supplies stores are targeting this big pie. Office franchising has taken the place of conventional PC specialty stores as the biggest outlet for non-electronic peripherals. The fever of on-line shopping also travels to this territory as lower price and more options are offered. Price-first policy and excellent PC familiarity and adequacy are two key points in explaining the consuming behavior. Before going to specialty stores, some smart buyers tend to browse the website, referring to real-time newest production information.
Ergonomic Designs Are Kings
Normally, PC-users have to stay in front of computers for a certain period of time either to complete their jobs or play games. In this case, the science of ergonomics that is used to design an appropriate computer working environment becomes crucial to PC-users. Accordingly, PC peripherals are designed to avoid a number of computer-related health problems owing to repeated and long-term uses of PC. These discomforts include eye and vision problems, stress, aching backs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even more. Recently, the clinic studies report growing cases of carpal tunnel syndrome among PC-users. This decease occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being aggravated, normally be attributed to repetitive use of the hand and/or wrist on operating mouse or keyboards. Nowadays, the ergonomics has widely applied in the designs of PC accessories for the user-friendly benefits on effort-saving and more comfortable operation.
MOUSE
Owing to the necessity of repeated use, mouse have become the No.1 killer for wrists of users. By clinic survey, improper use or poor designs of mouse may often cause discomfort or injury or even above-mentioned carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic mouse reduce fatigue and discomfort associated with repetitive motion, great for gaming and surfing, which are quite welcome among young generation. The latest sales reports show that cordless mouse, optical mouse or hybrid mouse are stealing the hearts of users. Also welcome are the mouse in any natural and neutral wrist position, even in mid-air, up to forty feet away. The benefits of smoother tracking, more precise cursor movement and ultra fast response cannot be emphasized too much.
MOUSE PADS
“Less stressful” is basic concept in designing mouse pads. Ergonomic mousepads with a built in gel-filled wrist-rest can reduce the strain on the user’s wrist and reduce the chance of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The high quality tracking surface won¡¦t wrinkle or fray. The bonded rubber underlay will always remain flat and the edges are recessed below the tracking
surface to prevent the mouse from fouling. The best-seller feature a cloth surface with a shiny, heavy duty, non-slip rubber or EVA bases for user-friendly benefit. Others with polyester surface that traps mouse for improved tracking are also echo-friendly. Mousepads for promotional purpose are still prevalent in incentive market. Corporate logos and slogans are unshakable on the free stuffs.
WRIST REST
The purpose of the wrist rest is to elevate the surface in front of the keyboard, reducing the degree of possible wrist extension, repetitive strain injury, user fatigue and aching joints and improves productivity, and providing a soft resting place when not keying, causing the greatest increase of pressure in the carpal tunnel. The stylish modes are made from soft comfortable hypo-allergenic material, featuring sloping edges to allow user to comfortably adjust working position. Impact dispersion recesses deflects as leant on and rebounds under normal typing to ensure ideal support.
DOCUMENT HOLDER
Use of document holders can help to prevent neck strain and reduce eye fatigue from looking up and down or turning your neck between the documents and computer monitor. The new document holder is an ergonomic addition to your computing work area. It can be used for typing or studying, or it can be used to rest the keyboard.
ARM SUPPORT
This device supports forearm, providing comfortable arm, shoulder and neck support with unrestricted motion, relieving from muscle strain and tension in the neck and shoulders due to long-time use of PCs. Studies have shown that muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can be significantly reduced by using an armrest. Arm support with pad is height adjustable and swivels 360 degrees. Highly nimble and adjustable are significant to appeal user’s attention.
Incentives Promote Warm-hearted Wills
Posted by author in : Gifts , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
The basic ideas for incentives lies on their charm of giving things away for free, helping spark some kind of ongoing relationship with recipients- one in which the name of the company or product sticks in the mind. Especially, when global economic climate continues to worsen, job fear to soar, income to shrink and oil price to skyrocket, marketers have to resort to tools in helping them optimize their resource to impress their branding image on consumers.
Here we see a rising demand from incentives and giveaways sector as the expenditure of corporate advertisement partly shed to cheaper promotional giveaways and incentives. These gimmicks are in possession of all-pervasive influence penetrating to the full spectrum of our daily life, contriving some commercial missions, and usually coming to fruition. There is a widespread increase in smaller ad hoc pieces. The slogan of incentives is quite simple- it’s free for all. However, they are no more than the servants for brand names. Industry players are requested to diversify product lines so that they can accommodate their customers’ needs by personalizing with given logos and/or messages.
More and more buyers signal to spend money on promotional activities and expect a lot in return. Nevertheless, the industry players those who can’t bring added value to the table will no longer have a seat. Incentives, a tough business, always render people with its very competitive price wise. After alternating years of tremendous highs and lows, we saw new players in and old out of business so drastically. All the winners stick to two easygoing principles: cheaper and faster.
Generally speaking, giveaways can be categorized into the three: renewable gifts, useful tools, and reference. However, almost anything free can be a giveaway, from pens, memos, staplers, keychains, mouse pads, mugs, placemats, calendars, watches, candles, tress balls, caps, T-shirts, radios, laser pointers, picture frames, filing-cabinet magnets and much more.
In plastic giveaways, popular are green products like recycled paper goods, PET recycled fiber goods, chemical-free goods, non-additive goods, natural goods, gardening goods and aroma-therapeutic goods.
Pens are great incentives as they are a must to not only students but also people of all ages. People are rare to cherish a fax copy or an e-mail. If needed, they may print it out and save it, yet, totally different from a card or a piece of paper handwritten. For office use, a great emphasis on ergonomics is never out of fashion. The pens with soft grips make for a light and fluent style of writing. Erasable ballpoint and felt pens in triangular designs are welcome among school children and trend-conscious young generation.
Plastic or acrylic tends to outsell metal as the material of choice for kitchen giveaways. Popular are green products like recycled paper goods, PET recycled fiber goods, chemical-free goods, non-additive goods, natural goods, gardening goods and aroma-therapeutic goods.
Absolutely, calculators won’t miss the great chance for promotion purpose, especially boosted by fierce price-cut. Aside from electronic functions, latest calculator releases also feature flip-top, computer-shaped and arched desk-set versions. Instead of making greater demands on the calculators’ memory, new functions offer non-keypad features. Most items perform basic calculations as well as function as a regular and world-time clock and alarm, calendar and thermograph. Other units also work as a countdown timer, pocket radio, phone-number index and Euro converter. Designs are inspired by the highly popular personal digital assistant, and recent releases imitate PDAs with features such as a touch screen, a stylus, added memory for a data based, and scheduling function.
Novelty meets practicality in keychains that are also voice recorders, calculators and sound- or light-emitting devices. A growing number of multifunction keychains are battery-powered devices with electronic instead of mechanical functions. Moreover, more functional designs, including quick release, LED-embedded flashlight, add values on products.
Living in stressful modern world, people love to relax themselves by enjoying the candlelight meals as well as by the help of aromatherapy products. Viewed as a relatively affordable and accessible fashion accessory for the home, in the US, about 7 in every 10 households loves to use candles in their house. More designs come in Christmas figurines, musical fruit shapes, scented models, and heat-resistant wax candles with dried flowers pressed onto the surface. Candles of red, especially natural wax color, is a comeback trend.
