At this time of year plans are well and truly underway for the year ahead.  If you’re in retail you’ll be planning months down the line with summer clothing.  In other sectors however, December can be a quieter time of year which can be used effectively for reflection and making solid plans for the year ahead.

We like to think that spring is a good time to take stock of how you appear to the world outside.  So here’s a short check-list to review so you can put your best foot forward in 2013;

• Physical location – signage, window displays, paintwork.
• Stationery – business cards, forms, invoices, order books, receipts.
• Website – about us, news, content, services, products, blog (draft some posts if time permits), functionality – make an order, ensure it works as it’s supposed to!
• Profile – update your social media bios, google yourself, consider customer surveys.
• Brochures – you may not need to update them frequently but if it’s been a while, consider whether they’re still valid e.g. are your social media links included, are the images still appropriate?

It’s one of the busiest times of year for people to re-think their health and fitness regime but we think it’s equally important that you take this chance to give your business appearance a little makeover too.

And of course, if you need any help on refreshing your look Axis PPM are here to help.

When you’re marketing your business, there are many channels available to you and often the split is made between how much to spend online or offline with in latter years an increasing share of the spend moving online, particularly in terms of social media.

Often however it’s forgotten that keeping your brand first and foremost in the mind of your customers doesn’t necessitate frequent updates to Facebook or a series of nights out to entertain – there is another option…

At Axis PPM we’ve worked with clients across all sectors for many years on branding – and not just their corporate image, stationery or logo, but in helping their brand remain foremost in their customers mind.

And how do we do it? Quite simply the secret is promotional products!

If you’re reading this post from an office chances are you’ve got a supplier branded mousemat or mug sitting next to you? Perhaps  given our changeable weather there’s a couple of umbrellas held aside with either your own or your customer’s logo splashed across it?  You might even have attended an event lately and arrived back laden down with everything from post-it pads to pens?

Promotional products are all around us at work and even at home because they work.

And although we can provide you with anything from a keyring to a personalised bottle of wine, it’s worth considering the longevity of the gift you’re considering.

• If you opt for a branded diary it’s got a shelf life of a year or so, depending on how early you drop it off – while it won’t last years it does enable you to update your message on an annual basis and it’s the gift that delivers every day of the year too.
• Umbrellas are wonderful and can last years – and remember golf umbrellas are not just welcome on the golf course, look around a city centre in the rain and you’ll spot many branded brollies vying for pavement space?
• Keyrings are simple and cost-effective but always come in handy – and your brand is there when the recipient opens the front door or pops into the car.
• Post-it notes – how did we ever do without these ingenious little pieces of paper that can work for anybody from the office to home? You can have them printed with your logo or contact information and you’ll find these are always welcome and they do tend to make their way from desk to desk too spreading your name even further.
• Mugs or cups – the morning cuppa or coffee with clients, every office has its selection of cups or mugs and generally most of us have a particular favourite which sits prominently next to our computer displaying a suppliers brand name to everybody who stops by.
• T-shirts – everybody wears them at some point and we always find that they’re warmly received in a business. Choose a novelty version for a gift, one for a round of golf or dress up your team for an exhibition in a suitably branded option – guaranteed to make a strong impression of your brand.

These are just a small sample of the everyday  promotional gifts that we supply every day to clients who range from sole traders to multi-national corporations.  Budgets and businesses will vary widely but our team are experienced enough to select an option to suit your requirements or to advise if you’re not quite sure what’s appropriate.

You’ll find details of the extensive range we offer by clicking here - and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the prices too!

Drop us a mail to sales@axisppm.com with your phone number and we’ll call you back to discuss.

 When you think of promotional gifts for business a couple of options quite probably immediately spring to mind such as umbrellas, t-shirts, pens or mugs – always popular because they’re practical and they tend to be used, ensuring that your brand stays front of mind.

How though would you decide what’s the best option for you?

In this post we’re going to share a couple of pointers that might come in handy when you’re deciding what may or may not be an option for you.

• Budget – how much have you got to spend?  Gifts can vary dramatically in price but if you have an idea of what you can spend you have a starting point.
• Message – what exactly are you hoping to communicate?  Will it be simply a web address or phone number? Do you want to list the services you offer?  Are you hoping to just add your logo? Is it part of a product launch or specific marketing campaign? Is it a customer incentive?
• Audience – who are you distributing your gifts too? If you’re attending a trade fair pens are handy takeaways that can make their way back to the office desk. If however you’re delivering a Christmas thank you gift to the MD of a select group of customers it might be more appropriate to opt for a diary or a festive hamper.
• Novelty – sometimes you just want something distinctive that stands out as your own and this doesn’t necessarily mean increasing the budget either as something as simple as a quirky post-it note can be memorable.  If however you wish to spend a little more options such as wine or champagne can be personalised and are more affordable than you might think.
• Event – some gifts are simply more suited to certain occasions e.g. golf balls for a day at the golf or t-shirts if you’re taking the team on a sporting day out.  Conferences are typical events suited to a handy folder or simply branded pack of mints.

Check out our new dedicated Promotional Umbrellas page and upload your logo for a 3D preview

Go to www.axisppm.buy-umbrellas.co.uk