Fortress Hong Kong, a retailer in consumer electronics and appliances, is currently offering a great range of promotional gifts to kick start sales for the new year.

For every purchase of a large household appliance like a washing machine or an oven, customers are given options to redeem electronic items for extra cash.   For example, adding an extra HKD$89 (USD$11.50) to get a Hairdryer. – Similar to the Purchase with Purchase Promotions.

They are concurrently running a Gift with Purchase Promo, suitable for those who do not wish to spend extra; a choice of free gifts, depending on the order value, such as:

• Snoopy Towel
• Campbell cleaning set
• Monopoly game and gift set

This promo attracts not only adults but also the children with the Monopoly set and other licensed gifts.  We love that they are using the localised board game – Monopoly set with all the Hong Kong streets.

Product storage, reconditioning, consolidation and shipping is key to fulfilment of any order – especially when multiple shipments are leaving China to various destinations around the world.   ODM work with a number of warehouse fulfilment agents in China to group shipments together and send out to the various destinations simultaneously.

Benefits of storing goods in a centralised location: Efficient and Cost-saving.

Instead of a company shipping products from China to their home market and then redispatching around the world we can do this directly saving both time and money.

Products are stored in standard warehouse rack so that items can be picked out easily. Each shelf level can be sub divided into a few unit locations and a code assigned to it.  Based on the location code, the products will be picked, packed and mailed out to clients immediately.

ODM’s warehousing partners in China ensure that:

• All product storage is insured and safe.
• Warehousing facilities are state-of-the-art
• Technology and innovation in the inventory storage, distribution management and shipping logistics industry.

Aside from the traditional warehouse utility, other serivces also include:

• Product assembly and Quality Inspection pre shipment
• Labelling/Bar code technology
• Product refurbishing and repacking from multiple factories
• Consolidation and de-consolidation of shipments
• Transportation services
• Product Receiving

Our Buying Office in China takes care of this order fulfilment process for key clients and this is a very important part of our service to MNCs.

Used on logo badges, stickers, keychains, pens or any item that has an edge, epoxy coating is a great option for giving a product that elegant and glossy appearance.   It significantly increases the perceived value of plastic products enabling a clear and multicolour logo or message to be displayed on the product.

Epoxy resin is commonly used as coatings through a process known as Epoxy doming. Epoxy doming involves applying epoxy on a surface that has an edge. Surface tension prevents the epoxy from flowing off the edge, and when the epoxy hardens, it leaves a clear, waterproof resin dome covering the surface.

When pressed, this epoxy resin dome will dent and recover to its orginal shape. It protects the underlying logo print from scratches and gives it a 3D effect. This durable epoxy coating is also UV resistant, hence will not turn yellow or lose its gloss over years of exposure in the sun. Epoxy coating works well with most kinds of printing and can be creatively applied to a part of an item to make it stand out through spot doming.

Note: Epoxy resin is a resultant substance of mixing a thermosetting epoxide polymer with a hardening agent through a process known as curing. This epoxy resin is waterproof and extremely versatile. It has wide applications as it is able to acquire many properties endowed by various industrial treatment processes. Depending on whether it is fast or slow setting, Epoxy resin can be rigid, flexible, transparent, opague or given a color.

Retailing at Carrefour supermarkets in China, Maxwell House is having a gift with purchase promotion for their coffee – A stainless steel travel cup is given away with every pack (38 sachets) of coffee purchased for 36RMB (USD$5.26)

Designed to use on-the-go, this stainless steel thermal cup is perceived to be an upper scale promotional item due to the material used along with the better finish- Attracting more customers.

Drinking tools and accessories are one of the best promotional gifts for beverages due to its practicality and this is why ODM is so keen to promote the Tea Tool invention.   So many clients ask us to develop desktop promotional products and tea and coffee related gifts are a key option.

Promotional specs for this promo:

• Easy opening- Screw cap top
• Durable- Stainless steel material
• Choice of colours available- Red & Blue
• Logo printing on both the body and cap of the cup

Packaging adopted by this promo- Transparent plastic wrap, an affordable way enabling customers to see and feel the merchandise, at the same time taking up less space on retail shelves.   Other packing options can be considered- window box display, blister packing etc.

ODM has also recently commented on similar promotions in Israel for coffee.

Mannings health and beauty stores in Hong Kong are having a Contact lens solution gift with purchase promo. This promotional pack consists of 2 bottles of contact lens solution with a dog-shape towel as the promotional product.

An unconventional way of presentation, this promotional item is rolled into a shape of an animal and opens up to be a small face towel- handy for any purpose. The clear PVC display box easily shows customers the kind of gift they will get should they purchase the product.

A black tag with printed logo is sewn onto the towel for brand recognition.  It is clear that lots of thought went into this promotion.

Promotional towels like these are popular when given out as gifts and ODM can provide an assortment of towel designs to match promotional themes.   This is quite a bit more advanced than the traditional compressed towel or T-shirt promotions.

Can be customised into any shapes, designs and styles; all with logo printed on so the usage as customised promotional product is endless.

The UK Intellectual Property Office have launched an online tool to assist the inventor or entrepreneur with assessing the commercial prospects for their new idea.  Inventors often come unstuck having secured the IP for their new idea, and do not know where to go next.  The tool has been designed by commercial experts to advise on how to get your commercial thoughts in order, and hopefully earn a return.  Its all about turning your IP into a viable business plan.  By following a series of 25 questions, the tool generates a report to help you to do just that.

The tool starts by checking the status of your IP, and how best to protect your idea if you have not done so already.  It then offers you three options on how to exploit your IP – use your resources to build a business, finding a partner to invest in your idea, or the licensing route to earn a stream of royalties.  Take the IP Health Check today to strategically map the road ahead.

ODM offices will all be closed tomorrow for New Years Day.   It is a great day to reflect on last year and to look forward to the future.

2009 has been a very busy year for our group and all our staff worked really hard.   We have expanded our teams and now have staff in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and the UK.   ODM launched many new product lines and services, developed multiple websites and embraced new media.   We exhibited at new trade shows such as the HK Electronics show.  Many new clients signed up with ODM and they have worked more closely than ever with us thanks to innovative IP and new product development initiatives.   Strong initiatives have been taken to improve partnerships with key factories and this will continue.

Next year we will be launching more inventions than ever before with Mindsparkz and would encourage all our clients and friends to subscribe to our blog on top right of this page or follow us on twitter to keep in contact and get all our latest news..

Have a great year in 2010.  It will soon be the Chinese New Year also and looking forward to seeing what the Tiger brings.

Below we have listed some of the main trade shows for promotional products in January 2010.  Sorry we can’t visit them all but will get feedback from our clients in these countries wherever possible.  Click here to see where we will be.

Europe

• 7-11 Jan - Dorekthesi / Athens / Greece
• 13-15 Jan - PSI Düsseldorf / Düsseldorf / Germany
• 20-22 Jan - Promotion trade / Milan / Italy
• 20-22 Jan - Promotion expo / Jönköping / Sweden
• 25-27 Jan - Asia Expo / London / UK
• 26-27 Jan - Werbemittelmesse / München / Germany
• 26-28 Jan - Expo reclam / Madrid / Spain
• 27-28 Jan - Norges Varemesse / Oslo / Norway
• 27-29 Jan –  Remadays / Warsaw / Poland

North America

• 3-5 Jan –  Orlando ASI fair Orlando / USA
• 8-9 Jan - Imprint Canada Show Toronto / Canada
• 11-15 Jan - PPAI / Las Vegas / USA
• 15-17 Jan –  Orlando Gift Show Orlando / USA
• 15-18 Jan – California Gift show Los Angeles / USA
• 30 Jan-4 Feb – New York gift fair / New York / USA

Other countries

• 30 Jan-2 Feb 2010 -  Sydney Gift Trade Fair / Sydney / Australia

Mega Baeer, a supermarket in Israel is having a promotion for coffee powder. Packed in a simple box with cut-out window, this offer priced at ILS$2.99 (USD$6.04) includes 4 bags of coffee with 2 coffee glasses as the promotional item.

In Israel coffee is a very popular beverage, hence the significance of giving away a pair of coffee glass is to share the drink with a friend or family.

Nicely packaged in box with see through window, this modern design coffee glass is made of a material strong enough to withstand high heat- suitable to contain hot water. In addition, a logo is embossed on the coloured band around the glass for brand recognition.

Marketing managers planning their summer campaigns are considering outdoors promos for next summer.   One product we are promoting is this Foldable Promotional Hat that can be used for any outdoor events, sports sponsorships, festivals etc.

Ideal as a sun or rain hat, it is handy, lightweight and does not take up much space. – A highly visible promotional headwear suitable for anyone. 

Available in a cowboy style hat, this product has a spring-frame that can be twisted and folded into a handy storage pouch. – Works in a way similar to a foldable sunshade.

• Material: Polyester
• Size: 30cm X 40cm X 10cm
• Printing: Silk Screen Printing or 2D Embroidery

ODM makes a wide range of hats and caps; customising for clients logos, fabric colour and design on both hat and the pouch.

If you are planning to launch a range of promo products for upcoming outdoor events, ODM has some more suggestions for you. For the larger scale products:

• Inflatable Mascots – be seen.
• Promotional Tents – use as a shop front.
• Beer Table and Bench – for outdoors catering.

For smaller scale products (giveaways), check out our blog post on Making Noise & Being Seen.    With the Soccer world cup coming up this summer now is the time to finish planning for all the festivities.