#HKGifts: Highlights from Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair 2016

The recent Spring Trade season has been host to some fantastic exhibitions and shows during the past months. This week from 27-30 April is host to the 31st annual Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair. Hosted by HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council) it marks one of the world's largest gifts fairs, and hosted bountiful ideas for gifts and premiums. 

Thousands of new and exciting designs and products are being exhibited with products such as figurines, decorations, outdoor and travel goods, stationary, technological gifts and products for parties and festivities are just some of the innovative items on offer at this show. So don't miss out on your chance to be involved, and don't forget to follow hashtag #HKGifts on Twitter. 

This show has already given fantastic insights into pavilions from China mainland, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Products demo's and product launch pad opportunities and opportunities to attend buyer forums and attend a wide variety of presentations regarding business opportunities, and premium retailing.

Some highlighted products from the show on HKTDC's website so far include Biodegradable pens, multi-functional suitcases with chair and table set, magnetic bottle cap catching openers, and mood globes and these are only a few of what has been and still is on display!

Furthermore, the 28th April announced the partnership of HKTDC with search engine giants, Google, in helping Hong Kong's small and medium sized enterprises to internationally tap into on-line marketing channels to help expand global trade and business opportunities to better connect with global traders and suppliers. 

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia.Promogift blog had a fantastic time at attending this trade show earlier on and learning about all what HKTDC has to offer as well as the development and potential in the gifts market. We would like to thank HKTDC for running this innovative trade show and making it a perfect success. Look forward to the next ones.

Trade Fair month: GSHK and HKEF 2016

Trade fair month has been upon us this spring in China and whether you're into them or not, there has been some great exhibitions on show. Over the past two weeks, electronics have been the main theme for these shows with Hong Kong Hosting both the Global Sources and Hong Kong Electrical fair.

These both being two of the largest electronic fairs in Asia and the world there has been a great range of products, ideas and innovative thinking presented to thousands of visitors.

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The trade fair is held at Hong Kong’s Asia World Expo and focuses on the sourcing of electronic products across the world. The Global Sources electronic fairs were broken down over two weeks:

Week 1 - Focused on the sourcing of home, office, auto security and general components. Having a huge selection of Chinese companies offering a range of products from hoverboards to TV's and radios.

Week 2 - Mostly looked at the sourcing of smaller items, covering the topics of: smartphones, tablets wearables and accessories. This week had many different high tech products such as drones and phone watches. With China being one of the leading countries in phone technology, this was the perfect place to present them all.

Situated in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, HKEF essentially creates a meeting place for companies seeking new markets as well as recognition of brand quality. This is an environment in which innovations and technology thrive, attracting more than 3,500 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions in 2015. With those figures alone it is the world’s largest electronics marketplace, acting as a prime trading hub for finished products and components.

Promogift blog had a fantastic time at both of these trade shows learning about all the sourcing from Global Sources as well as the development and potential in new electronic markets with HKEF. We would like to thank both companies for running these trade shows and making them a success. Look forward to the next ones.

Top 3 Promotional Product Blogs for April

Delta Marketing Group

Delta Marketing Group is a great marketing company with some very interesting promotional blogs. Our Favourite one that has been recently published is Best Promotional Handout Idea For 2016: Digital Rewards.

This blog gives a break down of why companies should use digital rewards over physical rewards at trade shows and other events. While suggesting that they are Eco-friendly, add value and leave a good impression, this blog is hard to argue against and that is why it's in promogift blogs top 3 for April. There is also a few examples they have found to help you develop your ideas further.

Bic Graphic

Bic Graphic produce some really enjoyable promotional blog to read. Our favourite has been their collaboration with Cool Gear in BIC Graphic Expands Partnership with Cool Gear - Supporting Fitness and Hydration Trends.

They discuss the usefulness of this new product and it's flavour burst function targeting "those who enjoy a little flavor in their water". They then go on to emphasise the importance of staying hydrated, giving us some interesting links to educate us on this topic.

Halo

We've always enjoyed blogs from Halo, and now with the new release of Game of Thrones, we haven't been able to stop reading their blog on How Game Of Thrones Uses Promotional Products.

This blog discusses a range of products available to all GOT fans. Some of the products discussed vary from innovative creations to those only the true die hard fan would wear. It is organised into an interesting set of categories ranging from drinksware to even apparel and how they can benefit your brand. Our favourite product from the blog has to be the umbrella with the sword handle.

PromoGift Blog would like to thank Delta Marketing Group, Bic Graphic and Halo for some amazing reads this month. If you are interested in any of these topics or blogs please follow the links.

House of Fraser and Elizabeth Arden Gift With Purchase Collaberation

House of Fraser and Elizabeth Arden have collaborated to bring you a fantastic gift with purchase. House of Fraser have always been a number one source of supplying branded make up, perfume and clothes.  This means that they are a hot spot for any company in these industries to promote themselves with a gift with purchase.

This exclusive makeup and skin care pack comes with a range of stylish make up solutions. These came along with a bright and very attractive, branded make up bag to hold it all in. This gift with purchase gives customers the chance to store not only Elizabeth Arden make up but all the other make up they own under that brand name.

The exclusivity of this product means that it is only available between 21st April to 7th May 2016, giving anyone who likes House of Fraser and Elizabeth Arden an exclusive amount of time to get their hands on these promotional gifts.

To be in the chance of getting this gift with purchase all you need to do is buy any Elizabeth Arden Skin care products at your local House of Fraser store.

Canton Electronics Fair 2016: What's Been Happening

The 119th China Import and Export Fair; otherwise known as the Canton Fair held biannually in Guangzhou, has kick started with its first phase (April 15-19th 2016) and here is an exciting look at what's been happening at the Electronics Fair which has already attracted over 100,000 visitors with more phases to come!

This Fair is a comprehensive one with the longest history, the highest level, the largest scale, and with the most complete exhibit variety so don't miss out on the next phases. With the broadest distribution of overseas buyers and the greatest business turnover in China, it offers opportunities to see exciting, new and innovative products from around the world. 

During phase 1 there were numerous activities including fan meetings, the i-share Awards for Canton Buyers, and international market forums including India and Egypt.

Let's not forget the huge home appliances and electronics summit giving all the chance to see some amazing innovative products, including digital entertainment, computer products, communication, kitchen appliances, and electric lighting to name a few as well as promo gift ideas such as measuring tapes and USB cords perfect for your marketing campaign! 
With over, 24,514 enterprises to showcase in 60,233 booths get ready and prepare for phase two from April 23-27, 2016 to see more exciting products from consumer goods, home and gifts! 

Promotional And Corporate Gifts To Suit Every Type Of Employee

Many businesses like to hand out corporate gifts to their employees for a variety of reasons, from rewards for exceptional performance and thank you’s for hard work through to Christmas and birthday gifts. It’s important to ensure, however, that the promotional gifts you have selected will suit the employee in question. The good news is that there are gift ideas to suit all types of employee.

1. Car Enthusiasts
Whether they have an old car that they’re doing up and enjoy watching the Grand Prix, some of your employees might be really into cars. Some of the corporate gifts that they are likely to enjoy include: in-car chargers for USB devices (such as iPods and phones), smartphone holders, tire gauges, boot organisers, sunshades and emergency kits.

2. Outdoors Lovers
If your employees prefer to spend their free time outdoors, gifts that encourage these sorts of activities would be appreciated. These could include: golf gear (such as balls and bags), health and fitness items (such as pedometers, towels and wrist bands), and even picnic gear (such as cooler bags, picnic sets and binoculars).

3. Tech Heads
Employees that like to keep up to date with the latest advancements in technology are likely to appreciate IT-related promotional gifts, including: power banks (for charging on the go), USB drives, iPad and iPhone accessories, laser pointers, computer accessories, fitness watches, and other technological items (such as hubs).

4. Social Butterflies
If your employees always seem to be invited to various events and have a rich social life, gifts that allow them to continue this lifestyle are always appreciated. These could include: balloons, bar and counter mats, confectionary, drinkware accessories (such as bottle openers), stubby holders, and even games.

5. Travel Fanatics
When your employees spend a lot of time travelling, whether for business or pleasure, corporate gifts that make this as comfortable as possible are a great choice. Think high quality luggage locks, luggage tags, toiletry bags, luggage, travel wallets, toiletries and other accessories (such as power point adaptors and travel pillows).

We would like to thank Novel Tees for this insight into how their company works and what they can offer you. For more information on their promotional products and the complete range of products, please follow the link.

Novel Tees is a 100% Australian owned and operated company that specialises in the provision of promotional products. They can be effortlessly customised with your logo and branding. They have around 5000 different product lines currently available, ensuring that you will be able to find the perfect gift to suit each and every one of your employees.

Promotional Mascots

We walked around both Hong Kong Electronics show Wednesday and Thursday.  One Chinese factory has a range of Mascots displayed and they caught my eye.

A Chinese company in a sea of Chinese companies should look to do something more elaborate or unique since the generic panda is just not so memorable. Replicated all the time.  We love plush in general though so a bit torn.

What are your thoughts?   Any hints on choosing your mascot, designing it, and best materials for manufacture.  

Calling out our experts here...  

Outstanding Branding LLC Opens Its Doors

Multi award-winning distributor of promotional merchandise, Outstanding Branding, has reached another milestone as it has now opened an American division of the company in New York.
Outstanding Branding LLC was created after a high demand for a global solution from their current clientele as a number of them have a global presence and in particular, in America.

It has always been an important part of the Outstanding Branding Business Plan to strategically grow the US operation, and the company can say with confidence that their service will be even further enhanced as they have secured a warehouse in New York which will be able to meet the demands of storage and fulfilment of their American clients.

The organisation are already members of the Advertising Specialty Institute which further strengthens their offering as they have unlimited access to all of the best-in-class recommended suppliers for the full US product range. In addition, last month it was announced that Managing Director Sarah Penn was selected as one of the ASI Counselor Magazines ‘The Hot 25 for 2016.

 This prestigious list features the top 25 promotional merchandise professionals who are “shaking up the industry today and making it a unique, successful, challenging and innovative sector” and as a result of this, they have founded partnerships with distributors in the States.

Outstanding Branding’s Company Values of Respect, Understanding, Creativity and Professionalism make them an innovative and forward-thinking proposition in any country, particularly America. These Values, coupled with the company’s focus on customer service, Corporate Social Responsibility and a unique solution for any organisation’s branded merchandise requirements, has already proven successful as they have already signed a major technology company in New York as the first to benefit from their offering.

Sales Director Andy Thorne comments, “It’s another huge breakthrough in Outstanding Branding’s 6 year history. We had an opportunity to sign a client in New York, so why not incorporate OB LLC and build up another location. Our clients love our approach to business which is transferable across the globe. The USA office is only the beginning as we realise that our clients want a global solution. So we will continue our partnerships around the world but also look at having our own presence to give the levels of service our clients have come to expect. I read a quote from Richard Branson about exporting your business globally and it was regarding timing, the bottom line is that there is no time like the present. We have recently had meetings with clients in Dubai, and next month Hong Kong and Australia. It’s exciting times and gives our staff some amazing opportunities.”

We would like to thank Outstanding Branding for another insight into the success of their company. For more information on their promotional merchandise and the complete range of products, please follow the link.

ASI: UnitedHealthcare Offers Promos for Autism Awareness

This April marks the honour of Autism Awareness month, and for this national charity Jaden's Voice held the grand opening of its new office in West Philadelphia. 

This grand opening and open house included politicians, educational seminars and plenty of fantastic promotional products to raise charity and autism awareness. Each attendee was given a promotional bag of products full of free branded goodies for children to use during the event.

This soft plush toy in the shape of a dog and named Dr. Health E. Hound is just one way to promote a good cause and increase brand awareness. 

There were many other promotional products including; a colourful informational booklet, a giant place mat printed with a balanced diet diagram, a matching plastic place as well as a car charger and crayons. All of the products were branded with UnitedHealthcare's brand logo for great brand exposure.

Matthews from Jaden's voice mentioned “We need to train people so they’re accommodating and understand how our families are impacted.” Here Jaden's Voice help to advocate children with autism in under-served communities, and provided financial assistance to families and help in teaching parents how to live with the disorder.

We would like to thank ASI Central and UnitedHealthcare for the provided information. If interesting in knowing more on this, please visit the Advertising Specialty Institute Website. The full report can be found here. 

Global Sources Exhibition: Smartphones, Tablets, Wearables and Accessories

The great Global Sources exhibitions continue with the smartphones, tablets, wearables and accessories next week. Starting on Monday 18th April and finishing on Thursday 21st April, there will be 2,500 booths presenting their products and ideas with the potential of a promotional trade show gift from all of them.

There will be aid and advice to help companies start up in Hong Kong. As well as this, all the visitors using the same upper badge coupon will receive a free trade show gift from Global Sources themselves.

Trade Show Season is Here In China

Trade fair season is fast approaching in China, and the whole month of April is going to be a busy one. With a variety of items, from gifts and premium products, to electronics and hardware; thousands of businesses will be setting up shop to promote their company. 

Whether it's through free promotional gifts at their trade fair stall or being a promotional product company themselves during the "gifts and premium" dates, it is bound to be a reoccurring theme through out all the trade shows.

China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is held biannually in Guangzhou every spring and autumn, with a history of 59 years since 1957. This year is the 119th fair and is planned to be even bigger than the last.

The Fair is a comprehensive one with the longest history, the highest level, the largest scale, the most complete exhibit variety. It also has the broadest distribution of overseas buyers and the greatest business turnover in China.

Last year's canton fair Statistics: 
60,228  standard booths.
Business Turnover (National Pavilion): 27.01 Billion USD.
Number of Overseas Buyers: 177,544 buyers.
Number of Exhibitors: 24,700 exhibitors.

China Import and Export Fair Complex covers a ground area of 430,000 square meters with the structural area of 395,000 square meters. With 13 exhibition halls on the first and second floors, Pazhou Complex has an indoor exhibition area of 130,000 square meters and an outdoor exhibition area of 22,000 square meters, being the largest exhibition center in Asia. 

Here is what is happening at Canton Fair over this month:

With huge results like these, this month of trade shows in Canton Fair is an exciting one, having a wide range of industries coming together to promote and establish their companies further it is no wonder this is the largest fair in China. 

Outstanding Branding Achieves Investors in People Gold Accreditation

Multi award-winning distributor of promotional merchandise, Outstanding Branding, is elated to announce that they have just been awarded Investors in People Gold Accreditation.

The Investors in People Standard by their own definition is “the sign of a great employer, an outperforming place to work and a clear commitment to sustainability” and is supported by a rigorous assessment methodology and a framework which reflects the very latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry.

Traditionally most organisations will achieve accreditation in the order of Bronze, Silver and Gold. However, Outstanding Branding being Outstanding Branding, wanted to push the boundaries and achieve Gold on their first attempt. A tall order some might say, however due to a mutual respect of their core Company Values across the team, they achieved what they set out to do.

Assessor Claire Dolph comments, “Outstanding Branding Ltd should be commended for its genuine commitment to continuously developing the way in which it manages and develops its people. The organisation lives and breathes its values and has successfully created a community within its workplace where everyone proactively shares responsibility for the success of the organisation regardless of role.”

The company has now joined the 1,472 organisations in the whole of the UK who has Investors in People Gold Accreditation, and on their first application makes this achievement even greater for the company. Gold Accreditation proves that Outstanding Branding can demonstrate excellence in developing and supporting staff and are committed to values, personal development and social responsibility.

Managing Director Sarah Penn comments, “To achieve Gold standard at the first assessment is simply an incredible feeling. Andy and I have always worked hard to make sure that we train, develop and support our staff, and have our core Company Values embedded in everything we do as a company and as individuals - but to have this recognised by such a highly respected external organisation as Investors in People is fantastic. We won't rest on our laurels however and will be using the feedback from our assessor to make sure we continue to improve as a business and as a team in any way we can.”

We would like to thank Outstanding Branding for this insight into their great achievement. For more information on their promotional merchandise and the complete range of products, please follow the link.

Lee Kum Kee Partners up with Film Studios to Create Promo Merchandise

With the release of Kung Fu Panda 3 soon approaching, Foodbev Media has recently published an article regarding famous Chinese sauce brand Lee Kum Kee partnering up with big film studios, Twentieth Century Fox and Dreamworks Animation as part of its campaign ahead of release.

Being targeted in supermarkets mainly across Western Europe, Lee Kum Kee are promoting their 'Let's Panda' campaign, with the spirit of ''Eat like a panda have fun like a Panda'' to raise awareness of healthier Chinese eating.

They are offering a gift with purchase. By buying three or more of Lee Kum Kee's products you will receive one of four collectible Kung Fu Panda branded noodle bowls.

They are also offering a photo-competition offering customers the chance to win more movie merchandise including aprons, lanterns and recipe notebooks - as well as the chance to win a family trip to a European country to see real Panda's! 

Why offer gift with purchase promotional merchandise for a movie release? 

• Gift with purchase promo's are great for increasing brand exposure and awareness about both the movie and the product promoting it. The collectible element of this gift also allows customers to engage with the brand to form a positive relationship.
• This free gift will foster tremendous awareness and remind people about Chinese culture which in the future will increase sales when customers want to cook Chinese food for example. 

Blog Content for Guest Blogging

We always get a similar question when talking about guest blogging. "Can we use the content from our site". Because of this we decided to blog about it ourselves and let everyone know how we work when it comes to your company sending us blogs to post.

We like to promote your company's individuality as much as ours, so why not promote it through a simple blog post?

As a unique and original promotional blogging sight we like to keep our posts as similar to how we are set out - Original. With such a fantastic range of guest blogs coming in every day, we love to receive the most unique and forward thinking.

If you are interested in sending us a guest blog, we follow the main guideline of not having it the same as the one on your web page. Whether it's changing a few words, shortening sentences or just writing the whole thing differently, we are more than happy to receive and share them with our hundreds of readers. 

Here are two guest blogs we thought were fantastically unique and interesting:

Managing Director Receives Global Recognition

UK Cycling Events T-Shirt Campaign – Branded Promo Gift

Innovative Marketing & Design: Corporate Gift Ideas for Your Employees

On the other hand if you would prefer us to write the blog for you and add that little bit of a unique spark to your guest blog on our page, we can also offer that as well.

For more information on promoting your company on our blog, please visit our guest blog page and begin your connecting with us today. Also if you have any more quires regarding guest blogging we would be more than happy to help.