ALL ENQUIRIES: 0800 086 2840

  • Mastercard
  • Maestro
  • Visa

for orders & advice call on: 0800 086 2840

Author: jask Media

The Benefits of Work Uniform

Different companies have different policies when it comes to their employees’ appearance at work. Some allow them to wear their own clothes, but others opt to provide a uniform for all staff. Each of these policies has its own set of benefits, and this article will look at the plus points of a work uniform for all staff.

Consistent Image

Wearing a uniform signifies that everyone wearing it belongs to a particular organisation. Seeing the same uniform throughout a company shows unity, consistency and evokes a sense of team spirit. This is particularly helpful in customer-facing environments such as retail companies; customers will be able to identify who works for the company and therefore who they can ask for help.

Association

If staff are all wearing the same uniform, regular customers and clients will begin to associate aspects of your company with those colours. For example, they may associate your uniform with excellent customer service and attitude, so they know what to expect from those wearing your colours. This also works as a form of advertising for your business, and word of mouth from happy customers is a great way to spread the name of your business around.

Employee Mindset

If staff are wearing a uniform they are more inclined to feel like part of a team. Wearing the official colours and badge of your company, they will feel the need to meet certain standards so as to represent your business and their colleagues as well as possible. They will associate their uniform with being at work, helping them to get into the mindset of working.

Equality

Setting a uniform policy means that staff don’t have to put time and thought into what they are going to wear to work. If there were no uniform rules, individuals may feel like they have to impress their co-workers, which could lead to potential disharmony in the working environment. With a uniform, each person will be wearing the same outfit so will not be judged on what they wear.

Protection

For people employed in certain sectors, uniforms also serve an important practical purpose. Where handling of dangerous materials is concerned such as chemicals or heavy machinery, the correct uniform is vital as it is designed specifically for that environment.

Above are just a few benefits of employing a uniform system in the workplace. Promoting your company name is essential if your company is going to grow, and here at Banaman we are experts in providing promotional materials to assist you in enhancing your company’s reputation. We can print your company name or logo on hats, hoodies and t shirts for your staff, and we also offer brilliant prices on promotional products such as mugs, keyrings and stationery. Our dedicated design team can add your logo to promotional items quickly and efficiently, and with no minimum order, our services are perfect for both small and large businesses. If you would like to know more about our services, get in touch today via phone, email or the contact form on our website and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Three Fun & Funky USB Stick Designs

USB sticks are now commonplace in every office environment. Ideal for storing and transferring important files, they are available with a wide range of storage sizes and styles, so using a USB stick can make your working life much easier. However, the small size of USB sticks can be a drawback as well as a benefit. As they are similar in size to keys, they can be easy to lose. However, if you get yourself a unique, stylish USB stick, you might find you can keep track of it more easily. There are hundreds of cool, quirky designs available to suit your tastes.

Folding USB Sticks

Folding USB sticks are useful in a few ways – they help your memory stick stand out from the others, but the folding end, which tucks away the actual USB connection prevents any dust or dirt getting into the device, which could cause it to fail. A folding USB stick is a great way to make your device more memorable without compromising on safety or practicality.

Film Roll USB Sticks

For a clever and quirky way to store your documents, film roll USB sticks are a great choice. Meticulously disguised as a roll of camera film, these USB devices are a fun way to keep track of those important files. It is very unlikely you’ll have rolls of film hanging off your key ring our lying around your office, so if you do see one, it will more than likely be your memory stick. The design doesn’t limit the storage space either, so whether you need 1gb or 32gb, this faux-film roll is perfect!

Double-Sided USB Sticks

A common annoyance that occurs with USB drives is them not slotting into your computer the first time, despite you being absolutely sure that you’ve turned the stick the right way up. If you do happen to get the stick the wrong way round, trying to shove it into your computer can damage both the USB drive itself and the USB port on your computer. However, with double-sided USB sticks, that problem is no more. Both practical and safer for your devices, these USB drives can save you a lot of trouble and frustration!

Above are three examples of fun and quirky USB sticks that serve as an alternative to a standard one. While there is nothing wrong with a plain USB stick, they can be very easy to lose, especially in an office environment that is likely to have several USB drives in it already. These devices stand out from the crowd and will allow you to keep track of yours, rather than worrying where you put those important documents. At Banaman, our online store is packed with unique USB devices to ensure you don’t have to worry about getting flash drives mixed up again! Have a browse through our site to find out more!

5 Unique Gift Ideas to Impress Your Clients

Personalised Stationery

Although this may not seem like the most exciting gift that you could give to a client, personalised stationary works well as both a present and a promotional tool. From pens to mugs, these gifts will be used on an almost daily basis by your client, ensuring that your business and its name is always in their mind. Due to the very low production costs of personalised pens, pencils and small notes, you can give these to your clients for free without worrying about losing money.

Food & Drink Hampers

Hampers make for excellent gifts, particularly when Christmas is drawing closer. There is a huge range of hampers available to suit different tastes and budgets. Giving clients a hamper will show that you have put time and effort into the purchase; hampers suited to different clients’ tastes will show a personal touch that will be more than welcome. You don’t need to break the bank for hampers, either: small sets are available for £25.

Letter Openers

You might think this is a bit of a strange choice for a gift for a client, but a letter opener can be a surprisingly useful gift for a client. While people may not think of buying a letter opener themselves, if they received one as a gift they would be surprised at how helpful it can be. Also, as it is an unusual gift, when your client uses the letter opener, they will remember who they got it from, keeping your business fresh in their mind.

Digital Photo Frames

A digital photo frame is another wise choice for a gift for a client; something that they can keep on their desk every day, and the digital function means it is more versatile than a standard photo frame. As with all personal gifts, they will be greatly appreciated by the recipient as it shows that little bit of extra thought has gone into the purchase. Digital photo frames are available from as little as £15, and come in a range of styles and sizes.

Flowers or Plants

If you’d like to give your client a gift that really shows a little bit of extra individuality, giving flowers is a great idea. Flowers can be a welcome addition to anyone’s desk, injecting a bit of colour to the office environment. While flowers might not be a suitable gift for every client you have, they will be warmly appreciated should you decide to give them to some of them.

Above are just a few ideas for gifts that you can give to your clients. Whether they’re Christmas gifts or just a gift to say thank you for using your business, these offerings will be a welcome surprise and only serve to boost your relationship with your client. At Banaman, we are able to provide top quality promotional products such as keyrings, mugs and stationery. There is no minimum order, so whether you’re a small business or a large one, our expert team can provide you with all the promotional products you need to gift to your clients. We offer an express delivery service across Grimsby, Scunthorpe and the Yorkshire & Lincolnshire region so if you would like to find out more about what we can offer you, give us a call or send us an email today and we’ll be happy to help!

Personalised Bottles

Make your Business More Festive this Christmas

As the festive season approaches, you might want to start looking at ways to bring some of that Christmas spirit into your office or business. Every workplace has their own Christmas traditions, whether it’s secret Santa, a Christmas jumper day or just putting up a few decorations to add a more festive vibe to the working day. Any little addition to your office can boost morale and make your workplace much more welcoming and friendly.

Putting up decorations around the office seems like an obvious choice, but even subtle additions to your workplace can have a great effect on morale. Couple this with a ‘Secret Santa’ idea, and you will soon see the Christmas spirit spread round your office. Set a price limit for the gift buying so staff don’t feel pressured to spend too much, and as the names of the buyers and receivers are drawn out of a hat, it can be a great way to introduce staff to people they may not have met yet.

Christmas Gifts

Christmas mugs and coasters are a great way to bring more festive cheer to your employees without breaking the bank or affecting the way your business runs. In a lot of workplaces, people might have their own ‘favourite’ or personal mug that they use every day, so adding a new one to their collection will be greatly appreciated. You could conduct a survey around your workplace to gather some opinions on Christmas ideas, or put up potential designs for people to vote on.

One of the main advantages of Christmas mugs and coasters as a gift for your workplace is the price. Mugs are very cheap to produce and can be produced in bulk easily, meaning you can provide them for both large and small workforces. Whatever your chosen design is, whether it’s your company logo or an entirely new Christmas idea, our skilled team at Banaman can apply it to a range of different kinds of mugs, from traditional coffee mugs to more resilient travel mugs, ensuring each one is adorned with your chosen design without any compromise on quality, no matter how many you need.

Here at Banaman, we have a dedicated and skilled team of experts who will provide you with the best possible service from start to finish. We can provide an excellent 24 hour service, and there’s no minimum order so even if your business is a small one, you can still take advantage of the excellent products and services that we offer. Our mugs are incredible value for money, so you needn’t worry about breaking the bank to bring the Christmas spirit to your workplace. All mugs can be adorned with full colour printing that is finished to the highest quality, so there are no faded or peeling designs in sight.

To find out more about our promotional mug offers, or to find out what else we can do for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! Simply give us a call or drop us an email and we’ll be more than happy to help you.

Business Cards in Grimsby

How to Create a Business Card People Will Hold on To

Creating a business card for your company can be a great way to spread the word about your business, providing the cards are produced correctly. There are a number of steps and factors you need to take into consideration when making your business cards, and we’re going to look at some tips to ensure you and your business get the maximum benefit.

 

 

Your business card should not be designed to solely get your company name and logo out there. As well as introducing your business, the card should clearly outline what it is you can provide for potential clients and customers. It should be the right mix of informative and concise; space is at a premium so get the key information on there.

 

 

This almost goes without saying, but the design of your card is equally as important as the information that is printed on it. You want your card to stick in people’s minds, and that can be achieved by a combination of perfect design and well written information. A unique design that relates to your business and doesn’t compromise the text will ensure people remember who you are and what you do.

 

 

Including a picture in your design can bring a little something extra to your card. A photo that relates to your business and doesn’t detract from the overall design can work wonders. Choose your photo carefully, how does it relate to your business? Also, the quality of the photo is crucial, make sure it is high resolution; pixelated images look unprofessional and cheap.

 

 

While it is certainly recommended that you stand out from your competitors in terms of design, the size of your card is something that should remain unchanged. Most wallets have compartments designed to hold business cards, so if your card is of an unusual size, people may not be inclined to hold on to it.

 

 

 

While the size of your card needs to be conventional, the shape needn’t be. If you can design a card of unusual shape that will increase individuality without compromising information or size, then you’ll find that your company will be one that is easily remembered by potential clients and customers.

 

 

 

This may sound strange, but the material you use for your business card should be of premium quality, and not just card. Don’t use cheap material just for the sake of saving money; a little more expenditure can reap the rewards. If you use material that easily folds and rips, it completely ruins the look and feel of your card and it will soon find itself in the bin. Make sure you use the best available cardstock, ink and colouring to ensure a totally professional look.

 

 

As we mentioned, it’s important for your card to stand out from the others. However, not every design is suitable for every type of business. For example, businesses in the more creative sectors may want to incorporate colourful and quirky design, whereas a minimalist approach may be more appropriate for other companies. Consider the ethos and theme of your company when choosing colours and design.

These are just a few tips about creating the perfect business card. Although in this age of technology a simple card may seem outdated, if done correctly it can still be a brilliant addition to your promotional devices. There are many examples of superb business cards floating around, why not make yours one of them?

 

Top Tips for a Memorable Business Flyer

To ensure a reasonable return on investment when it comes to business flyers, you need to go the extra mile to stand out from the crowd, as well as including key pieces of information to ensure that a potential consumer reads on rather than simply putting it into the recycling bin. Read on for our top tips for a memorable business flyer…

Attention grabbing headlines

The best journalism starts with a great headline, and you shouldn’t approach your business flyer any differently. Of course you want your business name to be a focal point, but to grab people’s attention you need to make sure within the first few seconds they can easily assess if this is a service they would be interested in and are intrigued to find out more.

This could include calls to action to entice them to read on, a discounted offer, or better yet, employing the same tactics many online bloggers use to grab attention. For example a reader is statistically more likely, by 36%, to read the content if a number is mentioned within the headline, such as ‘10 reasons to choose super-loft conversions’, which is quickly followed by a direct address at 21%, ‘Why choosing super-loft conversions is right for you’.

And so that brings us to the length of your headlines – short and sweet is the key. Avoid superlatives and be succinct and your reader is more likely to read on. With this in mind, you should be able to come up with a memorable and enticing headline.

Simplicity is best


As with any advert or text based promotion, the design is just as important as the content. If the design is busy, overcrowded, or simply unclear of its purpose, it can instantly turn away a client. A clean design suggests you conduct your business in the same way – prompt, clear and professional. However that doesn’t mean you need to stick to black and white, readers respond to selective use of colour. An attractive flyer is kind to the eye and can invite positive attention. A bold font can grab attention, but keep the theme clean and simple throughout.

The same goes for the writing style, if it is stuffed with buzzwords, superlatives, or you’ve utilised too many industry terms that the everyday person might not have a full grasp of – you will equally put them off. At this stage you need to outline who you are, what it is you do, and the services you offer. A wall of text is off putting, as is a confusing and over-complicated writing style – the text should match your design – clean, clear and succinct.

Correct grammar and punctuation

If your grammar and punctuation are not correct, you are likely to turn a potential consumer away. It does not reflect well on your business if you do not have the time to spell check your work. Hiring a professional copywriter to check your work or someone equally capable within your own business to take on the task will always be worth your while. A poorly written business flyer can ruin all of the hard work that went into creating a clean design and a catchy headline.

With these core tips in mind, what could a business flyer do for your business?

Bespoke T-shirt Printing for Corporate Events

If your business is in the process of organising a corporate event, you may want to consider the addition of bespoke t-shirts. Investing in t-shirts with your company logo has many benefits for your staff and can bring a real sense of uniformity to the day. Read on to learn more about the benefits…

Clearly defined teams

If you have chosen to organise your own corporate event as opposed to it being outsourced, a large part of the organisation will be mixing people together who don’t normally interact during the day to day running of your business. As such, providing a bespoke t-shirt with a team name or in different colours helps to clearly define which team is which, as well as giving a sense of team spirit. Your employees are likely to be more enthusiastic as it will feel well organised, and will encourage healthy rivalry between teams.

Increase staff morale

As any employer will know, there’s more to job satisfaction than pay, holidays and health care. There are a variety of ways to increase staff morale and as a result, job satisfaction, and in this context we’re talking about investment. Investing in your staff lets them know you are interested in their development and value their involvement in the company, from junior staff members to managers.

One way to do this is to provide them with a personalised t-shirt. This can be printed with their individual names, team name or simply the company logo. It is not a high value item, but as it will be theirs to keep, it will make them feel valued and involved – particularly if your workplace does not have uniforms, as they will be a novelty.

A keepsake

If your event is a success and everybody has had fun, as well as achieved any goals you had in mind – be it team building, encouraging innovation, or simply company relations – having a t-shirt to keep will make for a nice keepsake of the day. Many corporate events will include freebies such as pens and bookmarks, but for organising your own event, a t-shirt is a low cost, attractive, take home item.

Appropriate clothing

Sometimes it’s nice to keep your corporate day under wraps and your staff in the dark, and because of this – despite stipulating appropriate dress before the day – there will always be members of staff who choose something either too formal or not practical enough for the activities you have in mind. In which case, a bespoke t-shirt with your company logo is ideal!  Having appropriate clothing will encourage participation and leave your employees free to fully commit to the day without worrying about any wardrobe malfunctions.

 

With this in mind, why not get in touch with a professional printing company to find out about the range of t-shirts and polo shirts available for your corporate event. Many professional printers will be able to offer you options to suit all budgets and requirements, from high end embroidered cotton polo shirts to inexpensive printed synthetic t-shirts.

Chefs hats

Promotional Products: The Ideal Marketing Tool

Regardless of your target market or the products you provide, well-chosen promotional products can be the ideal marketing tool. They can increase your brand recognition and create a dialogue between your company and the consumer, leading to a higher return on investment than many business owners realise. Here at Banaman, we are the experts when it comes to promotional products, but don’t just take our word for it; we’ve put together this article to demonstrate the ways in which promotional products can market your business, as well as consumer reactions compiled through market research.

As mentioned above, one of the most effective uses of promotional products is to spread brand awareness and recognition. There’s a reason thousands of people shop exclusively at Sainsbury’s or Asda and never switch: people trust what they know and once they have put their trust in a brand they can become incredibly loyal customers.

The first step towards being chosen by a customer is being recognised. For example, at a trade show for home improvements you might have pens for your building firm that specialises in loft conversions. The consumer might not need a loft conversion at that moment, but because they have been exposed to the logo and company name they will have the information at hand should they wish to use it in the future; thereby creating a simple way for small and large businesses alike to promote themselves through customised, inexpensive promotional products.

Promotional Products

The products or services your business supplies might be fairly rigid. The beauty of promotional products is that you can continually renew, invest in, and change which products you give away, and from the first day you trial this method you can begin to hone it for maximum return on investment, such as where and when they are most effectively employed and which consumers are the most likely to need your product or services in future.

They also present an effective method of return on investment. Objects such as pens, mugs, canvas bags and keyrings are valuable to your customers as they can be used time and again and will always be useful. Because they are useable and useful, you can create a lasting impression that can have a positive effect on your brand. However, a word of warning: choosing a cheap product that breaks easily or does not work full stop can be more detrimental than simply never using promotional products at all.

A well-chosen promotional product leaves a positive impression of your company. In a marketing study it was found that 76% of consumers felt favourable towards a company after receiving a promotional product, and 52% did business with the advertiser as a direct result. In terms of statistics for the products themselves, 73% used it at least once a week and 71.6% recalled the advertiser which appeared on their promotional product.

With this in mind, why not give it a try?

Personalised Jute Bags Grimsby

Ideas for a Conference Bag Giveaway

The purpose of a business conference can vary widely; you might be holding a training seminar for a collection of staff from another business, or be hosting a guest speaker which attracts a number of local businesses. Whatever the case, choosing your conference bag giveaway contents carefully will help to promote your business, as well as contain any useful information about the event itself to ensure it is retained once the conference draws to a close.

Business cards

For a low cost, high value item, business cards are excellent. They may have become usurped through the use of social media and websites when it comes to marketing your business, but if your conference delegates have your details to hand after they’ve left, they are more likely to utilise them. Useful information to have on your business cards includes all contact details including any websites you may run, plus the company’s branding. Be that a logo or through the colouring you use, it must be recognisable as belonging to your business.

A high quality branded piece of stationary

It is not befitting at a corporate event to choose flimsy promotional items which your intended audience will not want to use. Investing a little bit extra in an attractive, quality item helps to convey the quality of the product or services available from your business. Stationary is a staple item of any office, and as such is likely to take a place on desks or at home long after the event is over. This helps to spread awareness of your brand, and if you include something short like a phone number or website address, contact details will never be far away should your service or products ever be needed.

Promotional Leaflets

If gift bags are given at the start of the event, leaflets can be a great way to include a schedule of the day’s events. Leaflets help to make sure everybody stays on track, and knows at what time and where events will be taking place – especially helpful if you intend to have a lunch break or hold events in separate rooms. And to ensure the message of your conference is taken home, promotional leaflets are the perfect way for attendees to review any essential information or a summary of the day; and because they’re made of paper they can be recycled once your conference delegates have gleaned all of the useful information from them.

Printed Gift Bags

This may seem obvious, but you will need a bag to actually hold your conference giveaways, otherwise people will have to stash them in pockets, or worst still not take them home at all. The variety of gift bags available range from inexpensive plastic bags, which vary in thickness and quality, to the more expensive but slightly more luxury canvas bags. The key theme is variation, only you know which type of bag is most appropriate for your function, but thankfully there will be something to suit all budgets.

Novelty Items: Lollipops

If you’d like to breathe some life into what can turn out to be a stuffy corporate environment, why not try something a little less ‘business’ and a little more memorable? Branded lollipops are a great way to go. They are low cost, carry your branding, and almost always go down well! And because they don’t fit in with the usual business giveaways they make you memorable, not to mention the fact that everyone enjoys a sweet treat. There are lots of novelty items out there, but beware of being ‘naff’, it won’t go well with your company’s image or branding. Making careful but memorable choices is key; some businesses have included everything from printed teabags to stress balls.

 

For quality conference bag giveaway items you can count on Banaman. We have specialised in promotional products for over 20 years, so should you need any help and advice regarding any of our products, even if it’s just what might be the most effective for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

 

Not sure what you need? Call one of our friendly advisors on: 0800 086 2840