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Theindustryhad anotherimportant face to face gathering inJunewhenit assembled forthe first
BPMA Sustainability Conference
As thelastissue, which focusedon sustainability, demonstrated, oursector hasmuchtobeproud of when it comes to adopting change, embracing innovation, andthinking creatively about howtodealwiththe biggestchallenge that theworld is facing.
TheBPMASustainability Conference wasanopportunity to gettogether, shareideas andlearn from each other, as well as some amazingexperts
in thefield. It’s fair to satthatalot of interestingconversations started that day, which we look forward to hearingabout andreporting on developmentsin Product Media.
As an industry,the StepForward Pledge,whichwas outlined at theevent, represents an achievable waythatwecan allmoveforward on ourjourneystobe better businesses andleave alegacythat showsusatour best
Read thereportofthe eventinsideon page 10 anddon’t worryifyou missed this one. Thereisanother in theplanning which will be even bigger, better and moreinformative
Elsewhereinthisissue,catch up on thelatest developments in theworld of stationery andpens. It is actually really
interestingtosee howthisproduct segmenthas gone on itsown journey to deliverproductsthatare moreinline with theneeds of clients.Asone of the biggest areasofpromotional spend, this is important, anddemonstrateshow changing ourproductsdoesn’t have to be at thecostoftheir desirability or commercial success.
With so much positive stuff happening in oursector, it wasalsogreat to be able to sharesomeofitwithinternational guests from otherglobal trade associations(seepage33).Thisisa global business so maintaining links with colleaguesfromaroundthe worldis always valuable.Long maythatcontinue.
CareyTrevill
BPMA
CEOLiverpool-based Wild Thang welcomed customerstoits new £2mdevelopmentduring its recent 2023 Expo
Morethan200 customers from over80different companies attended theevent from acrossthe UK andIreland.
The company’snew HQ and manufacturinghub wasconceived in 2019 butfaceddelaysand challenges duetothe pandemic, so theExpo wasevenmorespecial.
Customers were treatedto breakfast andlunch in thecool kitchenrestareabeforeembarking on atour of thebuilding andits production facilities.
Visitors sawWild Thang’s branding capabilities in action, including screen printing andembroiderymachines,laser engravers, and digital printers
Fourteen tradesuppliertablesdisplayed thelatestinnovative branded clothing andmerchandise
Managing director Andrew Dwerryhouse andcommercial sales director Sarah Howarthgavea detailed andeducational presentation updating guests on developments at thebusiness andlatesttrends in merchandise, including research on themostsearched forproducts,whichindicatedthe growing demand forsustainable products.
Goodiebags forvisitors contained manyofthese sustainableitems, providing an insight intoall the certifications Wild Thang hasput in place overthe last two decades
“It wasgreat to be able to showcase some of theamazingglobalbrandswe areworking with and then highlight 12
reasons whytotrust Wild Thang,” said Dwerryhouse. “This givesanin-depth understanding of what makes us world-class.”
Wild Thangalso shared itsnew in-depthsustainabilitypledge,including acommitment to becomeNet Zeroby 2030, which waslaunchedatthe Good Small Business Awards.
Upcoming plansinclude anew website in thecoming monthsaswell as anew warehouse overthe nextyear to help sustaingrowthplans in thecomingyear.
Mantis WorldCEO Prama Bhardwaj waspart of a group of 12 leaders of fast-growingcompanies invited to provideinsight on thecurrent business environment to theBank of England.
Co-hosted by London &Partners and theBoE, discussions explored howbusiness conditions areaffecting companies to help direct future monetaryand financial policy.
Feedbackisfed through to theMonetary PolicyCommittee (MPC)toset interest rates withbusinesses consulted forreal time input to avoid policyovershoot.
BoE interest ratesrose to 5% in June and
Everyyear,the Advertising Association takesatrade delegation off to the Cannes Lions festivalinthe southof France. After discovering last year they wanted to ensuretheir presence wasappropriately branded, the BPMA stepped in withthe help of suppliers to provide arange of brilliant merchandise to support the trade mission.
This year wasnoexception anddeciding to sticktoitems that would represent theBrits in Cannes, theAdvertising Association (AA) approached theBPMAagain for support. Working withmembers BioLaboratories, The Umbrella Company, WCM+A, Mantis World and midocean, theAAwas spotted on theCroisettesporting branded recycled umbrellas from The Umbrella Company, andkeeping coolwith50ml face spritzes from Bio Laboratories and bamboo fans from midocean. Delegates from theAA trade mission were all wearing their Cannes badges, courtesy of WCM+A.
An important representation at this globaladvertising event, branded merchandise is ahot topic amongst delegates to see what major brand owners arehanding out –TikTokhats and Google sunscreen arehighly sought after
Part of advertising’s commitment to theclimatecrisis is theAdNet Zero initiative,with5actions to help tackle emissions through marketing production –whichincludes the event industry.
manyMPC advisors believe further rises areneeded.
Most other industries represented were in tech withmanystartups yettogenerate revenue. Almost all are experiencing acontraction in demand, reduction in costs, and easing of labour marketwith manymaking cuts, and implementing price cuts.
“Our input on helping to control inflation included aproper free trade deal withthe EU (12% dutycurrently on clothing), decoupling theprice of renewable energy from theprice of gas, incentivesfor business to ‘domoregood’,and providing affordable housing,” said Bhardwaj.
Decked out in T-shirts from Mantis World, theAdNet Zeroteam hosted a special event space to talk about the5 actions thewhole marketing community and its supply chain cantakeonthe road to net zero
The Outdoors Companyhas added Canadian performance apparel brand, Stormtechtoits portfolio of brands available to theB2B marketinthe UK andEurope.
Awide range of styles including insulated, softshell and recycled fleece jackets, vests and gilets, rucksacks and duffel bags, areall available forcustomisation.
Paul Morley-Smith, companydirector at The Outdoors Companysaid: “Theyare a brand withgreat heritage in thecorporate promotional marketand through our UK
Manchester-based distributor AD Branded Solutions has recruited Matt Norton as an account manager
The company is undertaking a recruitment drive in response to increased levels of customer enquiries and is currently looking forapurchasing/ operations role to help furtherits sustainabilityand ESG plans, with theaim of becoming aNet Zero companyby2035.
“Weare delighted to welcome Matt intothe AD fold at avery exciting time as we push on withour ambitious growth plans for2023and beyond,” said Amo Singh, managing director.“Withover25years in the promotional products industry, Matt brings awealthofknowledge and experience to theADteam at atime when we aredriving forwardour sustainabilityinitiatives”
Norton added: “The cultureatADis great. The collaborative environment withteam members, customers and suppliers makes theroleespecially rewarding.”
and Dutchwarehouses we areexcited to be able to lookafter bothour UK and EU clients withthe brand. With their very strong eco credentials and manyrecycled products to offer,they arenot only agreat fit forusand our commitment to supplying sustainable products, but also our customers.”
The Outdoors Companyhavesimilar partnerships withColumbia, Finisterre Patagonia, Rab,The NorthFace and other premium outdoor brands.
Promotional marketingcompanyPro Ad timed thereturn of its merchandising expotocoincide withthe endofits 40th anniversarycelebrations.
The event wasattended by marketing experts from theNorthEast who were able to meetwith30exhibitors showcasing hundredsofproducts. There were 450productenquiriesonthe day, and20direct orders placedwithina week of theshow.
Visitors were also abletolistento speakers,MelissaChevin,managing director of GlobefishConsulting,and AntoniaBrindle of GetBrindled, a marketing agency specialisinginbrand, PR,social media andcrisismanagement.
CarloNardini, founderofPro Ad welcomedthe return of theevent,which hadtotakeabreak duringthe pandemic.
“The PromotionalMerchandise Expo turned outtobeafabulous dayfor our visitors whobuy anduse promotional
products or corporateclothing,” he said.
ProAdhosted more than 40 new and existing suppliers to adinner thenight before theevent
Visitors received agoodie-bag full of innovativeideas, from wellbeing kits and socks,toLegodisplay vans, allbranded withthe ProAdlogo
LorenNardini, commercialdirector saidsuppliers had demonstrated lots of brandingtechniques to help marketers explorethe differentwaysofpersonalising brands.
He added:“Ourteamalso focused on thebenefits ofBritishand sustainable products. Ourspeakersfocusedon sustainablepromotionsand promoting andprotecting abrand during its activation andthe feedback to both has been immense. This eventwas atrue landmarkfor ourcompany and we really wrapped up our40thyear in business celebrationsinstyle.”
Promotional textiles supplier Kingly was shortlisted foraGreen Companyofthe Year award, celebrating theachievements, values and contributions of businesses across the
UK,Europe, theMiddle East and Africa. The business wasshortlisted at the BizX awards forits efforts to minimise thenegativeimpactofthe textile and
Jardaine Floyd has joined European wholesaler midocean as account manager forUKand Ireland, bringing previous sales experience and industry knowledge from Senator Pens. midocean’s regional director Haydn Willetts said: “Wesee theaddition of Jardaine to our UK team as akey part of our plan forour continued sales growth forthe UK and Irish market. Her knowledge, reputation and experience will enable us to contact and visit many morecustomers helping to raise our profile, improve visibilityfor our ever
growingrange of products and services.”
Willetts praised Floyd’s strong fit with midocean in termsofbackground and personality.
“She has joined us at akey stage in thedevelopment of thecompany. The recently launched new print facility in Poland in 2022 along withthe new ownership givesusconsiderable operational and financial stability. This allows us to continue to offer one of thestrongest product collections in the industryfrombothour European stock holding and FarEast made to order
apparel industry.
Kingly has also recently teamed up with hygiene technology companyPolygieneto supply aMunich-based sports club witha branded, moresustainable towel
The towels featureaPolygiene product that helpskeep them fresh and cuts down on theamountofwashing they require, reducing theamountofwater energy,and time consumed cleaning textiles, whichbenefits bothcustomers and theenvironment.
In afurther communityoutreach initiative,Kingly celebrated International Children’s Daywithaspecial event at a kindergarten in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Children were taught about Kingly’s upcycling philosophy through themedium of sockpuppets whichtheymade and decorated from material supplied from Kingly’s production process, demonstrating that nothing goes to waste.
service and witha second to none print service in Europe.”
Floyd said said the companyhad alot to shout about to its UK and Irish customers.
“The print facilityin Poland is extremely impressive and the stockholding and range is vast. Iamlooking forwardtoworking withcustomers oldand new in my new role at midocean.”
stock holding and range is
It’s our mission to empoweryou with knowledge,inspiration and digital tools. Saving youvaluable time,tofocus on selling.
Our digital tools help youto inspireyour customers. Take our Mood Scene Generator,for example.Injustafew clicks, you can create greatmood scenes thatwill help yousell more products! We areconstantly renewing the content, so you can keep on surprising your customers with greatimages.
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The PenWarehouse and Snap Products have opened awellness room to provide employees withacomfortable and relaxing space to recharge and improve theiroverall wellbeing.
Located in aquiet place, theroom is equipped with comfortable seating, soothing lighting, and avarietyofresources, including books and mindfulness activities. It can be used forprayer, meditation, nursing mothers, and as aplace to seek help
Employees can also speak witha qualified mental healthfirst aider,who is available to listen, offer advice, and guide them to anysupport they mayneed.
CharlotteNew,HRadvisor, commented: “Thisnew addition has been well received andcontributes to apositiveworking environment for
everyone. By prioritising thehealthofour employees, we continue to set thestandardfor workplace wellness.”
The room is thelatest demonstration of the company’scommitment to thewellbeing of employees.
The companies recently marked Mental HealthAwareness Week and took part in the‘On Your Feet Britain campaignaimed at encouraging people to sit less and move morethroughout theday
Employees were invited to take part in afitness class led by Advance Performance Lab wherevarious departments engaged in arange of exercises.
Organisers of The Big Promotional Trade Showhaveannounced the launchofanew showformat catering to thegrowing interest in sustainability in themerchandise sector
The Greenand NewPromo Show will focus on themanysustainable and new products released into thepromotional merchandise and wearables marketplace this year
As well as showcasing more sustainable options, theorganisers are workingwithEcologi to plant atreefor everyvisitor to theshow.
Showlanyards, banners, badges, pens, awards and goody bags will all be sustainable and recyclable, and exhibitors and venues arebeing challenged to makeand match sustainable pledges and options.
The organisers said: “Weare not making anygreenwashing claims about theshows being totally sustainable, theevents areabout sustainable products, new products and this is about first steps, manyof whichwewant to introduce across all of our showbrands, or indeed have already done so.Wewant to bring everyone withus on thejourney.”
The BPMA recently hosted a breakfast event at theBig Promotional Trade ShowinManchester to take its Step Forwardsustainabilitypledge to suppliers and distributors.
Suppliers and distributors were giventhe chance to learnmore about theAssociation’s latest initiative to help theindustryimprove its sustainabilityefforts.
•Read thereport of theBPMA’s SustainabilityConference on p10
Sad news has reached Product Media of the deathofindustrypioneer George Hayward who passed away peacefully recently George wasthe founder of Page Partnership,aleading printed and online catalogue, and software solution.
His passing wasmarkedatPage’s most recent awards dinner whichtookonamore commemorative tone this year
Beforedinner,his sonBrian Hayward said afew heartfelt sentiments and recollections about George to astanding ovation. These were echoed by LSi distributor LloydSimpson, who spoke fondly of George and remarkedonhow he shall be missed. Achampagne toastwas raised in George’s name.
OneofGeorge’s contemporaries, BryanMathieson, founder of Non-Stop Promotions, said that theidea to createa catalogue forthe industrywas radical at
thetime and helped advance thesector
“Beforethat you had to find your ownsuppliers. The catalogue turned it intoabusiness whereanyonecould get involved at whatever sizethey wanted,” he said.
where anyone could get
Alongside George, Tony Cohen and Keith Willis, Mathieson said the‘Big Four’helped open up theindustry.
In later years, they would regularlymeet up forgolfand reminiscing about the industryand thefriends had seen George recently beforehepassed away
Eco-friendly packaging solutions for clothing have gained significant importance in recent years due to the growing awareness of environmental issues Here are some eco packaging solutions that can be used for clothing:
1. Recycled packaging materials –instead of using traditional packaging materials, consider using packaging made from recycled materials. This can include recycled cardboard boxes, paper or even biodegradable plastic made from plant-based sources. At DTB, we offer full colour eco digital branding for cardboard and wooden boxes using DTP (direct to paper) technology
2. Biodegradable polybags – rather than traditional plastic polybags, opt for biodegradable alternatives. These polybags are made from materials that break down naturally over time, reducing their environmental impact. Look for options like compostable polybags made from materials like corn-starch or vegetable-based plastics.
3. Recyclable and reusable mailers – consider mailers that can be easily recycled by customers or reused for future shipments. Look for options made from recycled paper or cardboard, which can be easily disposed of in regular recycling bins.
4. Minimalist packaging – simply use less material overall. Focus on the essential packaging elements, such as a branded label or tag, and avoid excessive wrapping or padding. This reduces waste and saves resources.
5. Water-activated tape – replace traditional plastic tape with the wateractivated version, also known as gummed tape. This forms a strong bond when activated with water and can be easily recycled with cardboard.
6. Sustainable labels and tags – look for options made from recycled paper or ecofriendly materials like organic cotton or bamboo Avoid plastic-based materials or excessive coatings that hinder recyclability.
7. Education and branding – educate customers about the eco-friendly
packaging choices you have made. Include information about the materials used and instructions for proper disposal or recycling. Emphasise your commitment to sustainability in your branding to create awareness and encourage eco-conscious behaviour
8. Partner with sustainable branding suppliers – collaborate with suppliers who specialise in eco-friendly packaging solutions. They can help you find the most suitable options for your specific needs and guide you through the process of transitioning to sustainable packaging. Remember, the key is to reduce waste, use recyclable or compostable materials, and choose packaging options with the least environmental impact. By implementing eco-friendly packaging solutions, you can contribute to the reduction of plastic waste and promote a more sustainable clothing industry.
Clive Allcott (The bag and Garment Guru)
The merchandise sector gathered to focus on the challenges ahead, hear inspiring advice, and consider its next steps on sustainability
In the sur undings of Mar w in Buckinghamshire, the celebrate the launc the StepForward Pledge for its expert a and collaborati members have hailed
industry has needed to
nthe picturesque surroundings MarlowinBuckinghamshire, the BPMA hosted its first Sustainabilit Conference to celebratethe theStepForward Pledge forits members. Bringing together expert speakers, conference workshop and collabor discussions, members have hail theevent as thesignalthe industryhas needed to drive the sustainabilityagenda forward.
Withmorethan 30% of BPMA members nowregistered to take theStepForward Pledge, theConference opened by celebrating over 15 different members who were thefirst whohad completed themilestone forthe year.Collectinga ‘working towards’statement, BoardDirector Melissa Chevin and theBPMA’sCarey Trevill explained what wasinvolvedand whyevery member should get involved.
With more than BPMA
Attended by morethan 130delegates, theConference sold out weeksbefore and had operated awaiting list forthose still looking foraseat. Noting thekeen interest, CEO Carey Trevill said: “The demand washigh forseats and it just shows theimportance we place in our businesses on sustainable best practices.”
Revealing findings from an audit at theevent whichhad benchmarkedits
members progress on Scope1,2and 3, Trevill went on to sayhow finding out wherethe industryranked itself was driving theBPMA’sagenda and approach
“Weasked everyone to get involved in theaudit withasked questions about howtheir businesses were doing on ESG (environmental, social, governance) goals linked to Scope 1, 2and 3emissions, theintent and action. The results were fascinating and showedour intention to take action wasrated highly at 86% of thoseparticipating against the ‘norm’ of around 76%,” she revealed.
After agenerous networkingbreakfast, hosted by thetwentysponsors of the event, attendees took part in adeep dive workshop to lookathow intention and action could be progressed. Runby speakers Kevin Duncan and Sarah Duncan, authors of The SustainableBusiness Book and arange of bestselling business books, they presented thebenchmark audit.
Citing high scores in intent to actbut mixedresults in howthisintentwould be representedinaction, Kevinand Sarah engaged theaudience in aquestionand answer sessiontoexplorethe reactiontothe results,and probewhy action wasnecessary and thebarriersmanybusinessmay face
Bringing this intothe core of theirsession, theworkshop sawgroups workingtogether to lookatideas and strategies thewhole industry could adopt, wherethe Association could focus attention and efforts together withunderstanding howstakeholders could be engaged on theESG journey
The following companies have takenthe StepForward Pledge: Premier Print &Promotions, Juniper,Chilli Promotional Products, First Editions, Preseli, Galpeg, BagCo,Bio Laboratories, BDA, SowEasy,Pinksheep Marketing, The Sourcer.com, Allwag Promotions, Simple Sourcing, Swag Box.
Withcollaborative ideas and inspiration in abundance, theBPMAwas able to take away arange of ideas members could get behind to acceleratethe pace of change. Everydelegatewas presented withacopyof The Sustainable Business Book to use in their organisations.
Newpartners, Planet Markjoined theConference to talk about the pace of change andthe need to act.
Speaker Jonathan Withey,Director of Transformation and ESG at Planet Mark, explained thereasons behind the drive forchange now, not later and theroleour industryhas to play
Discussing thenewly formed partnership withthe BPMA, Withey explained how certification worksand whyitmatters. Citing important news suchasthe legalisation about carbon neutral claims were no longer possible and what this would mean forpromotional merchandise, theBPMAannounced to attendees therange of support and input which would be available from Planet Markto members on this area and manyothers.
Picking up arange of interesting and far-reaching questions from members on their role andresponsibility, Witheyreported back just howimpressed and inspired he wasabout thecommitment of theindustry to drive positiveimpacts and transformation. Noting theneed forthe industrytoadopt acrediblenet zero transition strategy,he also pointed out thesignificant challenges ahead suchasunderstanding and quantifying thecarbon in theproducts
sold, educating and helping customers in choosing theright solutions to do more good while still promoting themselves. The industryalso faces forthcoming legislations and policies, and needs to build authentic and transparent plans to focus on themost significant impacts.
Withey reminded attendees of theneed to be on topoftheir marketing messages and to avoid greenwashing. Understanding that even withthe best intentions, mistakes could be made so it wasimportant every business took responsibilityinthisarea.
Celebratingthe engagementand momentum in theroom,henoted thework ahead and howmuchPlanet Mark was looking forwardtoworking with theindustry.
The afternoon session kickedoff with inspiring repurpose company, AGood Thing. Co-founder RichardBenwell explained to delegates theroleunwanted and surplus goods can play in changing lives, and importantly avoiding landfill. Setting up AGood Thing several years ago,the companywas bornout of a distinct need foralocal charitywhich wasstruggling withoutdated laptops and matching withacompanywho had high spec laptops whichhad reached the end of their useful lifeintheir business but were aperfect solution foracharity
Workingout that therehad to be a greatway to match thoseunwanted goods to acharitywho couldmakeuse of them,AGood Thing wascreated. Presenting arange of examples where unused promotional merchandise had gone on to have considerable impacts withcharities all over thecountry, Benwell explained theprocess wassimple and it wasfreetotry forany business.
Beforethe end of his talk, several members in theroom had signed up and theorganisation had already receivedoffers of goods. Using theapp businesses simply createaprofile and explain what goods areavailable and arematched withcharitieswho could makeuse of them.Offering adiscount forfurtheruse of the app beyond afirst try, Benwell found theapproachand enthusiasm in theroom to indicate the desiretoadopt arepurpose policyinthe industry.AGoodThing had already made manynew friends at theConference.
Staying on therecycling trail, founder of wasteaggregator First Mile’s Bruce Bratley deliveredastark view on recycling promotionalgoods. Speaking in general termsabout thetypical types of recycling his business sees, he chargedthe members in theroom to take moresteps towards helping end users recyclethe types of goods produced. Challenged by some attendees on theviews shared, companies suchasSenator,Bag Co and First Editions discussed theways in whichtheir companies had already
made huge strides to address theway their goods go back intothe loop
Reflecting on thesession, Bratley said: “The climateemergencycrisis needs a collective response and it wasgreat to see so manycompetitors in thesameroom all working together to find solutions to climateproblems. It wasalsoencouraging to learnthat alot of good work has already happened. The BPMA and its members have ahuge opportunitytopromotethe climateinaddition to their customer’s businesses and Ileftthe conference feeling that this would happen.”
Looking forwardtoworking with theindustrytohelpprogress thenext stages, BoardDirector responsible for SustainabilityMelissa Chevin said: “First Mile represent solutions forthe industry across theUKand we’reconsulting withthem to see howtheycan help theindustryonits recycling journey.”
An interview withJoe Sheppard, UK managing director of globalevent and experiential agencyElevateprovided useful insights intowhy understanding themeasurement and trace on B2B and B2C events wascritical. Explaining theworkwhichwent intoevery event, Sheppardoutlined theworkalready taking place in his side of theexperiential industryand whyitwas so important.
“Wemeasure everyoutput, everyjourney –literally everything we do.It’shardwork but getting us to anet zero outcome is not only important forus, it’simportant forevery brand we work withtolookat our carbon footprint and impact. Where we can reduce it, we will –evenifthis means buying differently and less,” he said.
Interviewed by Carey Trevill, she asked aseries of questions to lookatwhat kind of buying behaviour he wasnow seeing.
“Less is definitely more… take clients likeBMW.For everyevent,they would buy apparel and tell us to just get rid of it at theend of theevent withno idea of whereitwould go –and that wastolandfill mostly.Now,wesee a different attitude and approach –better quality, reused frequently and recycled at theend of its useful life,” he said.
Asking Joe about howthe promotional merchandise industrycould help companies likehis, he simply stated: “We want and need better options to help us achievesustainable goals and the information whichgoes withthose goods.”
When asked about thebalance of profit versus ESG in his business, Sheppard concluded likeevery company they are theretomakemoney and while thereality of this would alwaysdrive decisions, the topdownapproach meantsustainability drove muchofthe agenda and it was acompanywide commitment.
Writtenbythe industry forthe industry,yourcourses areonline andavailable 24-7.The recognised standard in thepromotional merchandise industry is accessible though BPMA membership only.Secureyourcourse placenow.
bpma.co.uk
The conference concluded withapanel and session to determine wherethe BPMA candrive theagenda. This brought together distributor AD Merchandise’s commercial director NickGreen, Colette Jeanes, procurement &sustainability director forProminateinthe UK,and co-founder of Project Merchandise, JeremyBenson, who spoke about their drivers forsustainable success.
Agreeing education in theindustry wasparamount, thepanel discussed a range of approaches andideas. Themes of transparencyand responsibilitywere central to theviews shared and theneed to really get to grips with‘end of life’ forproducts in our industry. Allagreed everybusiness needed atop-down commitment to really delivercommitment to theprocess everycompany has and will need to go through while recognising the path of continuous improvement ahead.
Wrapping up theConference, the BPMA heardfrommembers of theneed forthe Association to drive theagenda withfull commitment from members whichincluded cleardirectivesonareas suchasrepurposing, recycling and measuring theimpact of theindustry.
Promising moretofollowinthe coming weeksand months, the BPMA has aclear agenda to lead the worldinsustainable best practice forpromotional merchandise.
Delegates praised theconference forits contentand focus.
“It was great to see the increasing interest and efforts on sustainability across the whole membership.Insightful speakers we hope to start making use of Good Thing in future as we are sure many other members will too.”
Steve Wickham, procurement director, Geiger
“The Conference was well worth attending – some big strategic considerations for the industry ahead.”
Anthony Mills, head of marketing, The PenWarehouse
“A big thank you…I found it so informative and (pardon the pun) a step in the right direction for the industry that is so badly needed.”
Natalie Sharpe, head of marketing & commercial development, USB2U
“Well structured and informative.”
Mark Turner chief operating officer, Nadel
Want to be part of a network of pioneering businesses acting on sustainable best practice?
Likethe paperlessoffice, theend of the penmightseem likeaninevitability as we embrace ever moredigital ways of working.
The realityisofcourse another matter withthe humble writing instrument maintaining apresence on even the most uncluttered desk.
According to research company Skyquest, theglobalmarketfor writing instruments wasworth $21.7bn in 2021 and will see healthy annual growth of 5.5% until 2030 That’salot of pens.
In thepromotional sector,pens were thesecond most popular product categorynoted by Sourcing City’sannualsurveyofthe UK and Ireland merchandise sector,behind only bags, and accounting for 10.3% of marketshare in 2022 –an increase from 8.8% theprevious year
The continuing popularityof writing instruments –and their associated notebooks and stationery, whichwerethe ninthmost popular
product in theSourcing Cityresearch –can be put down to anumber of factors. Firstly,utilitywith83% of people still using aballpoint daily according to research by thePromotional Products Association International (PPAI). Product suppliers have also responded to moregeneral changesin buyer behaviour,not least in areas such as sustainability.
Innovation has also seen product development to cater fornew and emerging markets.
This and morewas evident with theBPMAProduct Awards this year,withinnovative offerings competing to pickupwith covetedtrophies.
Picking up thePlatinum prize, theprestigious Writing Instrument of theYear wasnamed as PF Concept’sKarst 5-pack2BWoodless GraphitePencils.
The woodless body can be sharpened forcrisp line work or made blunt forexpressive strokes or subtle shading. This versatility also savesthe mess of traditional wood shavings.
BPMA Product Awards were also made forthe outstanding StationeryProducts of theYear withPlatinum going to Juniper’s Wellness Journal Notebookwhichwas developed as atooltocatalogue wellness, encouraging emotional wellbeingand a balance between work and homelife.
As well as apersonal details page, it features awellness foreword written by
cut down on usage.
Gold prizewas pickedupby Prodir’s DS5 Shell, apen that is made with30% recycled used seashells to cut down on plastic usage. The natural material shapes theuser’shaptic and visual experience of thewriting instrument, and is particularly resilient and very long-lasting. At thesame time,itisthe very embodiment of sustainabilityashalf of theplastic that is used in thepen has itself been recycled or regenerated from internal waste.
Silver waspickedupbyPencom’s Eternal Bamboo Pencil withEraser,an eco-friendly option witha99% graphite nib that canbeused time and time again without wearing down. Supplied withapre-printed eco message, ‘made from bamboo’.
The buoyant demand for promotional writing instruments and stationery is being serviced by acreative and innovative sector
Karin Blak, self-reflection pages, dayplanner pages, 16 sides of dot grid pages, and plain pages to record
The Gold winner wasXDConnects’ Impact Soft CoverStone Paper Notebook whichismadefromtree-free paper.Stone paper consists mainly of mineral powder (80%) bound with(20%) of non-toxic HDPE (a cleanplastic).
Premier Impressions’LeuchtturmChange Journal pickedupthe Silver award.
Thejournal comprises 24 simple yet effective ways to increase your productivity and improve theway youorganise yourself withbest practices gleaned from various sources and condensed to theessentials, in order to understand, tryout and document.
Taking only afew minutes eachday, themethods help youtounderstand yourself better and organise yourself in an uncomplicated way, including digital detox and habits suchassavingorsaying‘no’.
According to Amber Houghton, head of Laltex’s Pencom division, colour is having an increasing effect on thepromotional industrywithanincreased demand for bespoke colour options.
Whereonce upon atime, promotional pens would be available in alimited range of standardcolours to suit generic brand colours, as companybranding has diversified, so toohavethe colours on offer in thepromotional industry.
looking forstatement, on-brand pens but don’t have thebudget or need forbulk orders," said Houghton.
Witheco-friendly items being at thetop of most promo buyer’s wish lists, writing instrument suppliers have responded accordingly
The Super Clip Origin sustainable ballpoint pen from BIC Graphic Europe wasmade available in Mayinanew,light colour called ‘Sand’.The Super Clip Origin is already availablein the‘Natural’ colour BIC claims theunique thing about theSuper Clip Origin ballpoint pens is that they are made from 100% biologically sourced material made from natural polymers without any petroleum or fossil energy –with theexception of thecartridge.
The used ingredients are organic castor oil, sawdust from sustainably managed European forests andtalc mined in Europe. In addition, theSuper Clip Origin is manufactured and printed in Europe.
Another European supplier, Senator,has long been known forits sustainable product base, and its NaturePlus Bio Ball Pen wasHighly Commended in theBPMAProduct Awards sustainable product of theyear. Made of bioplastic, it is agenuinely biodegradable ballpen made from renewable
resources, and is fitted withlarge capacity Magic Flowrefilltoensurethatthe pen has along lifeinuse.
Senator’s Bio range, ensures that the visible parts of its NaturePlus, SkeyeBio and thebarrelofits LibertyBio and Super Hit Bio pens aremadefromabioplasticwhichis based on PLA, derivedfromrenewable and non-finitesugar cane.
It’snot just plastic that is sustainable.
Pencom’s Coffee
Ball Penismade from recycled coffee grind waste and Virtuo Allum, made from recycled aluminium cans areother great examples of everyday wastebeing transformed intoa useful promotional product that canbe reused time and time again.
Pencom offers several pens that are available in upwardsof15colours suchas best-sellers Koda Colour and BeckBallPen, whichcomes in 20 colours.
The exclusive range by Klio-Eterna offers even morecolourvariation thanks to themix andmatch service offered across all models in theGerman made pen collection that allowsthe customer to configureuptofivecomponents in up to 14 different colours.
“We’ve seen an increased demand forontrend colours suchasmidnight blue and grey.We’ve also noticed more enquiries forbespoke,Pantone matched pens. To accommodatethis, Pencom has expanded thecolourrange of manyofour best-selling lines, introduced aPantone matching option formanyexisting pens (larger MOQs apply) and have sourced the brand new Custom Colour Ball Penthatcan be produced in anycolourfromjust 1,000 pieces. This is areal win forany company
Maybeyou wonder whywecallit“Super”.Ormaybe you already know it.But just in case,let us explain:firstofall because of its modernstyle;alsobecause of itsbig printing area on theclip;and it’s made in Europe with 100% energy coming from renewable sources and all manufactured and printedinBIC factoriesfor alow impact carbonfootprint.Isn’t it Super?
e you wonder why we call it “ . Or maybe you alr y it. But case, let us explain: first of all modern style; also because its big area on the clip; and it’s energy coming from sources manufactured and printed in BIC factories for a low
We call it “Super and we arenot exaggerating.
“Supe we are not
Super Clip of products.
Imagine.Ready?Great:imagine thefamousBIC®Super Clip made from naturalraw materials likesawdust,castoroil and talc powder*. Just imagine,aBIC®Super Clip thatcontributestoamoresustainable future. Now stop imagining it:you have it here.
. Ready? Great: imagine the famous BIC® Super made natural raw like sawdust, castor oil talc imagine, a BIC® Super that contributes to a more sustainable
oil
While RPET, wheat, cardand bamboo aresome of themorepopular materials on offer,the eco credentials of metal pens are often overlooked, but this robust, reusable material can be used foryears without ever needing to be replaced. Stainless steel and aluminium arebothinfinitely recycled so when your pen does come to theend of its life, simply purchase ink refills or recycleto see it start its journey all over again.
Youcan also get moreout of your promotional writing instrument witha
multifunction
pen, which have as many as six functions. Pencom’s System Tool and Systemo 6in1 pens include astylus, spirit level, and two types of screwdrivers. Thereare also awide range of 2in1 smart stylus pens on offer Withover92% of adults in theUKnow owning asmartphone, pens withasoft touchstylushavebecome astapleoffering
of thepromotional pen range. They’re great forsmartphones and tablets, but they’realso apractical solution in preventing thespread of germs on public touchscreens and buttons found on ATM machines and elevators.
Since thepandemic, companies have realised theneed forsome middle ground forthe futureofwork, allowing individuals to balance between home and office life. Castelli believes that once individuals have created theirown personal space, they will have everything they need to fulfil a creative day’swork.
whichare carefully curated to be fully compostable.
Castelli also has arange of complementarypensmadefrom non-toxic plastics and certified highqualitymaterial ensuring they last and reflect carefor theenvironment.
a desire for and reused
Despitethe overwhelmingrapid digital worldwenow live in,there is stilla desirefor thephysical. Castelli also notes adesirefor recycled andreused products, as well as somethingdifferent combining Italian flair,practicality, and ethically sourced materials.
Ecological impact is akey focusat Castelli whichcontinues to review thesustainable natural products and services it offers as well as itsown internal recycling, wastemanagement and energy efficiency. This marketneed growsyear on year and all Castelli products featureFSC certified paper
By making an ethical supplier selection Castelli is nowinvolved in theCarbon CaptureScheme and, to date, has planted 424,638 trees and helped raise over £1.57m forthe Woodland Trust, capturing over96,000 tons of CO2 through positive purchases of paper
The Appeel notebookuses parts of apples that have traditionally been discarded. The ruled, ivorytintedapple paper within Appeel products is crafted using 100% green hydroelectric energy and derivesfromapple peel, vegetable fibres and FSC certified sustainable pulp,sourced from sustainable forests,
The Icon PureRecycled pens are made from 100% derivedpost-consumer products and availableinarange of six sophisticated colours.
from 100% derived post-consumer products and available in a range of six
The PAGE group hosted its annual conference, exhibition and awards dinner at theDelta WarwickHotel on 15 June.
During thetabletop exhibition in theafternoon morethan50suppliers took full advantage, networkingwith PAGE members. The exhibition had to be brought to an end at 17:30 so that theroom could be transformed to the dining room.
Remembering George
Duetothe sad passing of industryicon George Hayward, theawardsdinnertook on amorecommemorative tone this year.Beforedinner,his sonBrian said a
fewheartfelt sentiments and recollections about George to astanding ovation. These thoughts were laterechoed by LSi distributor Lloyd Simpson, who spoke fondly of George and remarkedonhow he shall be missed. Achampagne toast was raised in George’s name.
All theawardspresented at the conference recognise an exemplar level of quality, service, and efficiencyfromboth distributors and suppliers.
Scores forsupplier service and efficiency aretaken from thePAGEmembers’ monthly and annual surveys to determine thewinners. The winners of thesilver awards were:Preseli, The Umbrella Companyand Laltex. The winner forthe thirdyear in arow of theGoldSupplier
of theYearAward wasWCM+A Ltd.
The winners of thedistributors silver awards were:BH1,Navillusand Allwag and thewinners of thegoldawardswere: Boosters, Steel Cityand LSi.
After theawardsweregiven out, guests enjoyedahumorous performance from local comedian Matt Bragg, whichbrought some light-hearted jest to theevening, followedbythe musical talents of The Haze Band who were very well received by all and ended thenight on ahigh.
Networking continued in thebar intothe smallhours.
The PAGE Group wasset up in 1990 and offers membership to an exclusive group of distributors, whichisrestricted to 40 members. PAGE offers an industryleading printed and online catalogue along witha completesoftware solution.
THE ORIGINAL RUBIK’S® CUBE: The very smart gift, from very smart brands, for very smart customers.
Inspiration, samples and references: www.rubiksgift.com
Six side branded cubes &the full Rubik's promotional range available made to order.
UK Sales: www.preseli.biz
E-mail: rubiks@preseli.biz
Allwag Promotions is delighted to welcome Graeme Smith to the team as its new commercial director.
Asnewly appointedcommercialdirector of theEssex-based distributor, he will be responsiblefor thedevelopment of newand existingclientrelationships, partnerships andgrowthstrategy.
Smithwill also overseea rangeofstrategies to enhance Allwag’sexistingservice offering and futuresustainable merchandiseand print initiatives, in line with thecompany vision.
Withmorethan 25 years’experienceinthe industry,mostrecently as managing director of theCyanGroup,Smith hasextensive knowledge andexperience,creativeflair andpassion for progressing sustainability.
He hasa passion fordrivingstandards and drawingonhis experiencefromhis timein professional sporthas worked alongside some of theworlds moreprestigious brands in the sporting,healthcareand automotivesectors
Angela Wagstaff,managing directorofAllwag Promotions said: “Graemehas afantastic reputation within bothprint andpromo
merchandise industries andwill be instrumentalin driving ourvision forthe future forward. More importantly, thereisa really strong matchwithour values and culture, whichhas always been incredibly importanttoour business. Appointing Graeme to this newroledemonstrates ourcommitment to developing our fabulous team and ambitions forfuturegrowthashebecomes an integral part of thebusiness.”
Smithadded: “I am thrilledtobejoining Allwag Promotions. Ilookforward to collaborating with thetalented team to drivestrategicgrowth. I have long admiredthe Allwag cultureand their commitmenttothe environment,creativity,and customer satisfaction which formesets them apart. Ilookforward to sharing my knowledge and experienceaswell as learningnew ways of workingtothe benefit of ourclients.”
Snap Products and The PenWarehouse have appointed AnthonyMills as their new marketing manager,leading ateam of six and spearheading marketing strategies and initiativestodrive business and brand growth
Originally from New Zealand, Mills has awealth of experience in marketing leadership,bringing astrong trackrecordofsuccess in guiding teams and implementing strategies to achievebusiness objectives. His background includes senior marketing and commercial roles in corporations suchasHeinz Kellogg’s,and Heineken, as well as working withsmaller SMEs, bothinB2C andB2B sectors.
POLISHED RECYCLED & LIBERTY MATT RECYCLED
•Plastic pens made from recycled material
•Produced with CO2 neutral green energy in our climate neutral plant in Germany
•High class durable senator® magic flow refill
•Our refillpromise :upto5years of writing power,upto5 km writing length
•Freerefill available at refills senator.com
By 2050,all UK organisations must be net zero carbon, regardless of theirsize butsurveys showthatlessthanone-third currently have net zero strategies in place.
Planet Markhas been workingwith businesses of all sizes to embrace sustainability, reduce theircarbon footprint and unlockthe passion of their employees since 2013.Inthe first half of 2022,Planet Markmembers saved38,708tonnes of CO2e.
Here aresome of our tips for organisations just starting out on their sustainabilityjourney:
Large organisations arerequired to publicly disclose emissions datafor various regulatory schemes and in April this year,the UK Climate-Related Financial Disclosures became mandatory forlarge organisations. Now, these regulatoryimpacts aretricklingdown supply chains to smaller organisations.
Calculating acarbon footprint is acornerstone of anysuccessful sustainabilitypolicyand is thefirst step to continued reduction in emissions.
Acarbon footprint is thetotal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly,orindirectly,byanindividual, business or organisation, item or event, typically expressed as acarbon dioxide
(CO2e) equivalent. This helps with comparisons and benchmarking, as well as making thefootprint easier to measure, reduce, and communicate.
Set ascience-based target
The Paris Agreement, abinding agreement adopted by 196Parties at COP21in Paris, brings all nations intoacommon cause –limiting globalwarming to wellbelow2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. Science-based targetsare away for business to demonstrateleadership in their industry, stay at theforefront of social responsibilityand demonstrate to stakeholders that thebusiness is serious about climateaction.
Organising aprogressive and effective green team or group of sustainability champions can be one of themost empowering and significant initiatives on your sustainabilityjourney
If themotivation and passion is there, your sustainabilitychampions team can be agreat waytoexpand your business network,foster inter-departmental collaboration and effect high-level change
Some aspects of sustainabilitytake longer to implement, but youcan reduce your business’emissions fast
by switching to online meetings, or promoting transport incentivessuchas theCyclingtoWorkscheme, forexample.
Infrastructurechanges across your business can result in significant, but lowcost improvements in operational energy,water and waste efficiencies across your business.
In thelead up to COP26, David Attenborough said that climateaction was as muchofa “communications challenge” as it wasa science or technological one.
Being able to communicateprogress withauthenticityand confidence can help your business stand out from competitors, withconsumers increasingly prepared to spend more on sustainable products and services.
Communicating your sustainability achievements and goals can also help to attract and retain talent.
Honest and transparent communications will resonatewith customers and stakeholders. It is ok to disclose if youhaven’t met your targets if yousharewhy and lessons learnt.
The race against climatechange is one we must all win. Communicating your progress is not only helpful internally but it can support and encourage other organisations to get started too.
Planet Mark’sfreetoolkits aredesigned to help organisations take thefirst steps in measuring thecarbon emissions associated withfivekey areas: energy water, waste, procurement and travel. Youcan download them at planetmark. com/insights-resources/guides/ Jonathan Withey is director of transformation and ESGat Planet Mark
It’seasy to feel overwhelmedby thescaleofthe challenge when contemplating what youcan do to makeyour business more sustainable, butthere arethingsthatyou cando.
Here arefivepractical things that anybusinesscan do overthe next few weeks to kickstart theirsustainability journey –and whytheymatter
1. Panic Confront theissues directly.Start by putting your business under the sustainabilityspotlight and getting everyone to realise that they need to put thesubject at thetop of the agenda. Take thePLANETSystemfree ESG self-audit to discoverwhere you aretodayand what youdon’t know.
Output: Current status report
2. Learn
Getproperly informed. It is important to fill in your gaps in knowledge: what do youneed to learnabout and understand beforeyou formulateafullplan? First, get ahandle on your current carbon emissions –starting simply withyour gas, electricityand companycar fuel –what is known as Scope 1&2
Nowyou have abaseline youcan start thinking about ways to reduce and switch to renewable sources. Also find out what is really important to your stakeholders by surveying your employees and customers, and lookatyour industry: who is leading theway andwhatare they doing?
Output: Scope 1&2 emission data, employeesurvey, customer survey, industry best practices.
3. Agree
Decide your strategic direction. Then comes one of thehardest parts: getting everyone to agree. It is essential to have arobust board-level conversation about theissues. It is crucial that astrategic direction is clearly
decided upon, without anyroom for misunderstanding, and that everyone signs up to it. Thereshould be no artificial harmonyinthese conversations.
Output: Initial plan of action.
4. Navigate
Overcome obstacles. It is important to work out what all theobstacles to progress are. Be realistic and don’t forget theSinESG. Sustainabilityis not just about environmental issues. Remember employees, customers, communityand charity.
Output: List of potential pitfalls and obstacles withpossiblesolutions.
5. Enact Getstuff done. This is often easier said than done. Foracompanytotruly embed sustainable thinking, it needs to become part of thecoreorcultureofthe business, not just aside project. To get started straightaway,identify themaximum returnyou can generatefor theminimum effort, leading to aseries of quickwins.
Output: Quickwins to get on with.
The last stage of thePLANETsystem is Tell. Avoid making public claims about anysustainabilityissues until you have worked through thefivepoints
above,otherwise youmay be falling intothe easy trap of greenwashing.
Kevin and Sarah Duncan areauthors of TheSustainableBusiness Book.Useful sustainabilitytools can be found at sustainablebusinessbook.com
Summer’s here so it’s time to put your feet up… and work. Matt Pluckrose examines how technologycan aidour changing work practices
Withfull-time office work adistant memoryfor manybusinesses around theworld, the opportunities to combine work withtravelhavenever been so widespread. As a result, we’reseeing moreand morehybrid and nomadic workers jump on an emerging trend that’sbeing referred to as the‘hybrid holiday’
In anutshell, this involvesindividuals adding anumberofremoteworking days on to their holidaytomaximise their time away.Infact, arecent surveyfromVirgin Media hasrevealed that almostathird (27%) of hybrid UK workersare planning to work remotely from Europe this year withjust overthree-quarters(76%) of those individuals considering ahybrid holiday.
Likemanyelements of flexible and remote working, hybrid holidays have their pros and cons. While theblurredlines between work and leisureallowfor muchmoreflexibility and, in theory, abetter work-lifebalance, they can also makeitincreasingly hardto set healthy boundaries and fully unwind –whichisvital forkeeping engaged, productive and most importantly,happyand healthy
So let’sexplorethis trend and see howour industrycan help to equip and promotebrand reinforcement on thehybrid holiday.
Theessential to anyremoteworking involvesstaying connected andmaking sure your communication devicesare charged, protected andconnected to theworld.This provides marketers’withnumerous products forbranding such as backpackssome with built in solarpanels foranywherecharging, Apple AirTagstomakesureyou don’t lose your valuable IT equipment, even built in speakers fortaking thebeat withyou andof courseanti-theftfeatureslikehiddenzips
Stayingcharged is critical and thegrowth of Fast (PD) large capacitypowerbanks up to and over 20,0000 mAh means youcan charge your laptop and everything else your family has takenawaywiththem to stay entertained.Coupled withthese super power banks areultra-fast charging cables (using USB-C) whichmean acompleterecharge of adead phone batteryinless than 30 minutes.
Tech on themovewouldalso of course not be complete without awireless and Bluetoothmouse, portablelaptop stands andevenmicrofoldable secondLED screens that simplyconnecttoyour laptoportablet giving more visible space
Perhaps one of thekey items thoughisa pair of good quality wireless headphones or earbudswithActiveorEnvironmental noisecancellingbuilt in which helpsto enhance thosecallsdespiteloudand noisy environmentssuchasthe beach or poolside
There is awide arrayofthese itemsnow available from lowcosttosuper high end,all of whichcan be branded making sure your clients’ brandstays in view.Manyalsohave sustainablequalities whichisnow regarded as a‘must’ by manycompanies
Don’tforget hydration to stay mentally sharp during your hybridholiday.Tech has entered this area toowithsome smart connected waterbottlesthatremind you to drink and even glowdifferent colours to warn youwhenyou might be getting dehydrated.
Sustainability is of course paramount in our sector andthe growingtrend forrecycled materialsinour gadgets and tech suchas OceanBound recycledplasticthathelps to stop theendless plasticwasteintothe ocean will become morepopularoverthe coming months and years. Leaders in this area are also contributing to globalcharities such as Plastic Bankwho with everypurchase not only prevent wasteentering theocean but alsosupport localcommunities that carry outthisimportantwork.
Onesuchexampleisthe OceanBottle range whichisanexcellent exampleof asocial cause with commercial venture. Many suppliersare recognisingthiswith othersadapting best-selling itemslike charge cables, powerbanksand wireless chargers to usethis resource of Ocean Bound Plastic, such as theOceanOctopus.
So theworld haschangedforever followingthe pandemic with working practices unlikely to ever be thesame. It’ssoimportanttherefore forour industrytobeaware of this andlook foropportunities to remind, show and explain howtechitems can match the demand forthisnew wayofworking.
Matt Pluckrose is managingdirector of Desktop Ideas
Buying British-made products is no longer a‘heart-over-head’ decision–thereare lots of solid reasons whybuying British is both good forbusiness andgoodfor theplanet
This is theclear message from Briman, theBritish manufacturing group supported by theBPMA. Briman companies areBPMAaccredited and verified members.
A2021‘Buying British’survey conducted in partnership with OnePollwhichquestioned 1,000 purchasing and procurement decision makers at British companies revealed that buying British remainsapriority forBritish businesses:
•91% of respondents agreed it wasimportant to buy Britishmade products
•82% would paymorefor British goods
•87% of buyers at British companies considered where something wasmadebefore purchase
•54% were morelikelytobuy aproduct when seeing aBritish flag on packaging or marketing materials
Here’s howthree Briman members have made huge strides withtheir businesses by focusing on bothUKproduction and sustainability.
First Editions is aleading British manufacturer of reusable promotional drinkware and has ‘reshored’ all but one of its product SKUs to theUK.
The companyhas invested heavily in sustainable solutions too, including moving to 100% renewable energy By comparison, major manufacturing bases suchas China and India still generate their energy using morethan 70%fossil fuels. This has been a vital part of First Editions’focus on its overall product carbon footprint.
To that end, thefactory employs a‘closed loop’ production process and the companydeliberately chooses material grades whichhave alow environmental impact.
In addition, its focuson reusable bottles is good forthe environment in all thewaysthat single use plastic bottles are not. Arefillable waterbottle has asmaller carbon footprint per use and reduces thesingle-use plastic burden on landfills and oceans.
First Editions has also invested in energy-efficient machinery, using sustainable packaging withnosingle-use plastics and all-recycled cardfor boxes, has increased insulation of all its buildings, upgraded its entire lighting to energy-efficient LEDs andreduced transport miles.
The company’slatest sustainable product is theLOOP bottle,made from recycled plastic milk containers. The reusable bottles aremade in theUKfrom 100% postconsumer wasteand arefood grade-assured, BPA-free and dishwashersafe. The LOOP is fully customisable and presented in recyclable packaging.
The Sweet People originally began trading as Liquid Lens, a companyspecialising in high qualitypackaging solutions and utilising thethen very popular technique of epoxy dome branding on plastic pots containing sweets and confectionery.
Identifying ashift in the tastes and demands of its customers, thecompanyrebranded as The Sweet People in 2019 and quicklyset about reducing theuse of plastic containers and epoxy dome branding in favour of printable cardboxes made from sustainable organic and recyclable materials.
The move was a
‘stepchange’moment for thebusiness and enabledit to place itself at theforefront of sustainable promotional merchandise in the UK.
The companyhas continued to make significant improvements in its sustainabilityprofile, including arecent upgradeofits flowwrapped, paper-based packs forbags of mints, jelly beans Skittles and chocolate bars
This has not just been a superficial change,either weet People rinvestment own g plant in hton Buzzard.
Thishas enabled more and
more items to be completely manufactured in the UK and thefacilityisalso being offered as anoptionfor other suppliers to bulk ship or manufacture their own goods
The samephilosophy has also been applied to the recent soft launch of a new European-based fulfilment solution This will benefit customers in both mainland Europe and the IrishRepublic with faster, simpler fulfilment and again reduce the carbon footprint associated withshipping these orders from aUKfacility.
Awayfromproduct, The Sweet People also recently appointed acompliance officer, whose role, along withensuring adherence to thevarious food safety and hygiene certificates, will include implementing initiativestohelpcapture and offsetthe carbon footprint from the company ’ s operational activities.
A commitment tothe planet
Juniper is another well-established name on thepromotional products scene and over thepast five years, thecompanyhas pivoted itsbusiness model in two significant ways
Firstly it has replaced manyofits offerings with new,sustainable alternativesmainly manufactured from recycled materials
Secondly incommon withthe other two companies featured here, Juniper has steadily increased the proportion of products it manufactures in theUK.
It also took thedifficult decision to end screen printing and invested further in digitalprinting whichdoesn’t generate waste waterand uses fewerinks. The print qualityisbetter as well
Juniper hasalso removedgeneric plastic from all of its packaging and will nowonly use single-use plastic if aclient –against advice –absolutely demands it.
Likeothers, thecompanyhas moved overto100% renewable electricity. It has also reduced wastetolandfill down to just 5%,withatarget of eliminating this entirely within five years.
Juniper is not complacent. Recognising the need to go even further,the company has begun work on Scope1and 2of its carbon footprint project and is also discontinuing lines wherethe materials no
longer meet its sustainabilitystandards.
This commitment is also reflected in pricing. The gap in costs between PU and Juniper’s award-winningCOMO and PORTO rPETproducts is falling fast and the companyisaiming to offer thesustainable materials at identical cost by theend of the year
This commitment to sustainabilityand UK production is not only good forthe companies involvedbut also forthe businesses buying from them
Many large businesses and public sector organisations arefocusing moreand more on aproduct’ssustainabilitycredentials when buying, so choosing UK-produced greener alternativescan help youwin new business, as well as improving your company’sreputation among staff, customers and thewider public.
In theprocess, you’ll be helping to save precious natural resources, reducing theamount of wastesent to landfill and supporting theUKeconomyand jobs. Definitely a‘win-win’for everyone involved.
As a part or sole owner of a business, the thought of selling your ‘baby’ one day must have crossed your mind on several occasions This may have arisen for a variety of reasons some pleasant and some less so
Various books about starting a business address the importance of knowing when to sell, commonly referred to as an exit strategy’ This concept contrasts with the view that selling is an emotional one and that it should be viewed purely on commercial terms
Private equity companies generally consider acquisitions on a 5-year basis; improve the profitability during the period and then move it on at a substantial profit Such transactions are usually common with large corporates and less so in the small business sector
More often than not, the thought of selling is triggered by individual circumstances, whether that be a desire to retire or for less fortunate motivations, such as divorce or shareholder disagreements Therefore a sale is as much about ‘why’ as about ‘when’
The best-case scenario is that someone approaches and offers you such a good deal that you find it hard to turn it down and you seek to act quickly to make it happen Unfortunately, such opportunities are rare and more often than not, it is the seller who has the over-inflated view of the value which prevents the sale from going ahead
The subject of what your business is worth is worth future discussion
NEW CHALLENGES
There may be aspects of the business that you no longer enjoy doing and the challenges you once thrived on no longer excite you This can be a result of changes in the marketplace where competition has increased and you feel that the business can only grow with others involved who have the necessary skills and resources such as accreditations and finances to take the business to the next level This view is perfectly justifiable but finding the right company to take it to the next level can be a challenge
Managing a business and employing people is both time consuming and absorbing and the desire to find a better work/life balance may mean that the only way to reduce the daily stress levels is to sell This may not need to be the case and serious consideration should be given to such decisions as once the exit route is taken, restrictive covenants as part of the sale agreement may well make it difficult to re-enter the industry at a later date
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
The choice to sell might be down to a new business opportunity which is considered more exciting, and which needs funding to get it off the ground Again, a very justifiable reason to sell but clearly an important decision to get right about the prospects of
the new business Such decisions can be made out of boredom about the existing business, which could possibly thrive even more with a bit of reorganisation and fresh innovation As the saying goes, better the business you know than the one that you don’t
There is no doubt that planning the ‘exit route well ahead is important and the best time to do this is when there is no real pressure to actually sell, and this in turn improves your negotiating position Often the idea of selling sounds better than the actual reality and the financial rewards may not be regarded as sufficient compensation at a later date Asking the right questions and having a clear vision of why you are selling can often direct you to when the right time is to sell After all, why let someone else capitalise on all your hard work if an alternative solution may give you a far better outcome?
Paul Green is managing director of the Galpeg Network which provides backoffice solutions for promotional merchandise businesses
Itwon’t surprise youto knowthat hereatDirect Route/Account Assyst we love numbers.
Everyday we’reanalysing, monitoringand recovering numbers on behalfofour clients, all in theprocess of ensuringrisk is managed,uptomaximising thereturnoftheir cashflow.
Here’s somenumbers to point out that now, morethaneverit is sensible to have thecorrect processes and procedures in place to enable youtobea successful business.
68%
£21BN
Believeitorn
this eye-wate amount of money is theamoun or written off through the non-payment of invoices. The majority of this can be brought about through adebtor companyclosing down prior to anyevent, monies would be bett being in thep hard-workingb
Arecent surveybyBarclays stated that just overtwo-thirds of all SME businesses have experienced alatepaying invoice inthelasttwelve months. This is an increase on 2021, wherelatepayment wasrecorded at running at around 60%, indicating that theproblem of latepayment is continuing to get worse.
Oneway to maximise the returnofunpaid invoices is to have an automated chase system in place that takesaway theanxiety, stress and pressure of recovering monies.
BPMA members have this abilityattheir fingertips.
1IN5
Government studies showed that 20%orone in five of each business insolvencywas as a direct result of thosecompanies not being paid theiroverdue invoices.Putting it simply,20% of all business closureare simply because they didn’t recover their hard-earned monies.
Ensuring that youfirstly accurately rate theriskof your new customers and then continue to monitor changes in risk levels, ensures youare awareofany possible insolvencyrisks
BPMA members have this abilityattheir fingertips.
Having thea escalateanon-p above andbeyond thelevel of other creditors is one way to ensurethatyour invoice is prioritised overother creditors demanding their money too. BPMA members have this abilityattheir fingertips.
If you’re aBPMAmember we can instantly help with organising and processing your account opening and credit control functions. Simply contact us to activate your supported and substantially funded membership benefit package.
If youare not yetamember of theBPMA, don’t worry–get in touchwithusanyway. We will still be able to help youwithwhatevercredit management needs youhave. We’reheretosupport the promotional goods industry generally,sofeel free to discuss withuswhatsteps youmay need to take in order to avoid becoming just another statistic.
MikeCollinsis managing
director of Direct Route/ Account Assyst
Please contact amember of our local support team for advice on any matter related to debt and credit management
London and South David Barker dbarker@directroute.co.uk 07766545871
Midlands and East Anglia KenBrown kbrown@directroute.co.uk 07795214426
Wales and North West Ian Jenkinson ijenkinson@directroute.co.uk 07860 197476
North East,Scotland andNorthern Ireland MikeCollins mike@accountassyst.com 07866 427363
Sunshine in June withasinglerain shower, thegolfgods were smiling again on thoseindustryprofessionals gathered forthe BPMA Golf Day. The NottinghamshireGolfand Country Club’s Signatureand Championship courses were forthe second year running host to theevent, withBPMA Vice-Chair and DTB’scommercial director Clive Allcott alongside BPMA’s Membership Director TomRobey hosting industryprofessional teams.
Open to theindustryand alwaysa well-attended day, on 22nd June hosted 36 golfers witharange of handicaps taking part on the9-hole Championship Course plus The SignatureCourse for18holes. Gathering forabriefing in thevenue’s conservatory,players collected their golf packssponsored by Desktop Ideas,
XD Connects and Juniper Products. Together withanobligatoryBeat the Procompetition, averycompetitive and enjoyableday washad by all.Concluding withadinner at theend of theevent, Allcott and Robeycongratulated all theday’s winners withtrophieskindly supplied by WCM+A, Crystal Galleries and Laser Crystal.
WINNERS
•Nearest thePin 3rdHole: Chris Keel (Uncommon)
•Nearest thePin 6thHole: Billy Hussain (Alvastone)
•Nearest thePin 16th Hole: Graham Leach(Impress Ipswich)
•Nearest thePin 17th Hole: MarcRead (Involution)
•Longest Drive: MarcRead (Involution)
•Winners of the9-hole BPMA Scramble: Team Desktop Ideas
The BPMA recently organised ahighly successful factoryvisit as part of its Education Programme to Juniper Products in Wellingborough, welcoming attendees from several BPMA distributor companies. The visit offered participants aunique opportunitytoenhance their knowledge and skills as part of their TPM(Trained in Promotional Merchandise) and CPM(Certified in Promotional Merchandise) courses.
Designed to provide learners with acomprehensive understanding of Juniper’s production processes, attendees were awarded course credits fortheir participation, contributing to their overall course progress. The event featured adiverse agenda, covering keytopics suchasthe historyofJuniper Products, materials overview,group tour,artwork and branding methods, and notebook configuration options.
The historyofJuniper shed light on the heritage and evolution of aleading UK based promotional merchandise supplier
•Runners-Up in the4-Ball Better Ball: Team Desktop Ideas
•Winner in the4-Ball Better Ball: Team Alvastone
•Wooden Spoon: Elliot Sampson (Heartlands Business Gifts)
•Individual champion: MarcRead (Involution)
•Individual runner up: Graham Leach (Impress Ipswich)
providing attendees withinsights intothe industry’sgrowthand innovation. Learners gained adeeper appreciation forthe significance and impact of thecompany’s product ranges on brandvisibilityand customer engagement.
An overview on materials used servedas avaluable learning experience, showcasing thewide arrayofmaterials used in theproduction of Juniper’s products. Attendees gained first-hand knowledge of thedifferent materials and their unique characteristics, allowing them to make informed decisions when selecting promotional products forclients.
Ahighlight wasthe group tour,where participants had theopportunitytowitness Juniper’s manufacturing processes firsthand. GuidedbyAndrewLangley,learners observedthe various stages involved in production, from initial design concepts to final product assembly.This immersive experience provided valuable insights into themeticulous attention to detail and qualitycontrol measures required to create
high-qualitynotebooks.
The group also explored thecreative aspects of promotional merchandise, delving intodifferent branding techniques and customisation options available.
The BPMA Education Programme Juniper Products factoryvisit provedto be aresounding success, fostering an engaging and educational environment forparticipants from BPMA distributor companies. Through ahands-on experience, learners gained practical knowledge and valuable industryinsights, equipping them withthe toolstoexcel in their TPMand CPMcourses.
Andrew Langley,managing director at Juniper Products and BPMA Board Director,said: “Weare delighted with thesuccess of thefactory visit and the positive impact it had on our attendees. It wasaunique opportunityfor learners to expand their knowledge and skills. We look forwardtoorganising morefactory visits that contributetothe professional growth of our members.”
In May, heads of theBPMA, PPAI, APPAand PPPC gathered to discuss collective goals across theglobe for promotional merchandise. Hosted at theBPMA’soffices at Fetcham Park, CEO Carey Trevill welcomed new head of theAPPAinAustralia, Mark Kindness, Jonathan Strauss from PPPC in Canada and Dale Denham from PPAI in theUSfor atwo-day meeting to coverarange of topics.
This is thefirst time all four bodies have come together face to face since 2019 and citing thebenefitsof working together,plans arealready in place to make themeetingan annual event.
The four leaders coveredarange of topics central to thepromotional merchandise industryincluding best practice. Lookingatthe opportunities and thechallenges eachmarketfaced, theorganisations discussed their members and markets, defining wherea collaborative approach could benefit. With eachorganisation taking leads in different areas suchasmarketreports, sustainability and trade events, thelearnings from each countrywereinvaluable.
Highlighting areas suchashow eachmarketran initiativesincluding sustainabilityand theneed foraglobal standardonhow sustainabilityis approached, theUKwas able to set out its progress on themember-only StepForward Pledge. Withacommitment from all four trade bodies, eachagreed on aset of actions to help promoteexcellence and standards across their markets.
Celebrating thesummit withadinner at anearby countryhotel,members of theBPMABoard including Chair Haydn Willetts, President Angela Wagstaff,Board Director RichardSullivanand Membership Director TomRobey joined their industry colleagues foralively discussion on key industrytopics over supper
Additional areas suchasthe approach to research,and standards in datawere agreed as keytothe overallsuccess of theglobalindustryand witharecent meeting withcolleagues in Europe, the summit concluded withmanyactions to take forward.
The BPMA is delighted to announce its newest members. Don’tforget that being part of theBPMAcomes with manyperks suchasthe use of thelogo to represent your membership status. Unlikemanyother trade associations, theBPMAisamember-to-member organisation and requires references from other members as part of the process. This means astrong referral base and importantly,exemplary standards aremaintained. Together withthis rigorous process whichalso includes BPMA Boardapproval,
13 September
Merchandise World, Milton Keynes
29-30November
B2B Marketing Expo,Excel, London
2024
9-11 January
PSI, Dusseldorf
24-25 January
Merchandise World, Coventry
24 January
BPMA Annual Awards Dinner, Coventry
financial checks form an important part of theprocess. Likemanygood things in life, BPMA membership is reassuringly hardtosecure.
If you’re interested in BPMA membership visit bpma.co.uk or email membership@ bpma.co.uk
SF Taylor, Distributor
Tony’s Chocolonely Ltd, Multi-Channel Supplier
The Big Promotional Trade Show, Service Provider Clear Branding, Distributor
7March
International Women’s Daylunch
13 March
Haptica Live,Bonn
Duncan Stewart Textiles Ltd, Multi-Channel Supplier
Solopress, Distributor
The Branded Company, Distributor Activate Branding Limited, Distributor
CubiquityLimited, Distributor
The FunkyPeach, Distributor
Chilly’s Bottles Limited, Multi-Channel Supplier
SowYour Own, Trade Exclusive Supplier
IBrolly, Multi-Channel Supplier
Snuggle Limited, Multi-Channel Supplier
Sourcing Machine, Service Provider
Asanavid travellerofthese isles and curious individual, Ialways seize theopportunitytoembark on new adventuresand meet BPMA members. My remarkable journey continues and recently ledmetomeet moreamazingUK-basedpromotional merchandisecompanies.
In April, Ihad thepleasureofvisiting London-based Mantis Worldand meeting CEO and founder Prama Bhardwaj and LauraParrott, brand Ambassador.The companyhas been aBPMAmember since 1997 and has been making wavesin sustainable clothing.
collaboratively across industry-wide programmes to measure, manage and improveits impact. It is also afounding signatoryfor theUNFCCC Fashion Industry Charter forClimateAction and committed to net zero by 2050,soitwas inspiring to witness theteam’s dedication first-hand and see thepositive changesalready made in thefashion industryand within promotional merchandise apparel.
Continuing my journey,Imade my wayto Great Central Plastics in Daventrytomeet KironPhillips, head of sales and marketing, and Philip Brown, BPMA members since 2010 specialising in providing innovative plastic solutions. Witha Highly Recommended Sustainable Product of theYear product is 2023’s Product Awards, whether manufacturing components or custom-designed products, Great Central Plastics excels in delivering bespoke plastic solutions to clients. Showcasing its extensive capabilities and highlighting commitment to qualityand customer satisfaction, we were
particularly impressed by thecompany’s attention to detail and abilitytocater to diverse industries, including promotional merchandise, and applications. Great Central Plastics exemplifies excellence in theworld of plastic manufacturing.
In May, theBPMAattended theManchester Big Promotional Trade Show, serving as aplatformfor promotional industry professionals, suppliers, and distributors to connect as well as showcasing new products and ranges. From personalised merchandise to cutting-edge promotional strategies, theManchesterBig Promotional Trade Showprovedtobea vibrant hub of creativityand innovation. After amonthofmembervisits with manymorebooked, Iamreminded of the vast potential and limitless opportunities that await us in thebusiness world. Through suchencounters and discoveries that we find inspiration, broaden our horizons, and makemeaningful connections that propel us forward.
TomRobey is theBPMAmembership director –tom@bpma.co.uk
Witha commitment to producing eco-friendly garments, Mantis Worldhas earned awell-deservedreputation for itshigh-qualityorganic clothing. Ahub of inspiration and information forany corporateclient interested in sustainable fashion. From its range of ethically sourced materials to eco-friendly manufacturing processes, Mantis Worldtakes everystep to minimise impact on theenvironment. All Mantis Worldgarment labels include a QR code whereusers see theimpact of thegarment, and understand theimpact savings in termsofcarbon, water, energy and pesticide use.
Mantis Worldisonajourney of continuous improvement and works
members provides an invaluable insight to the future of our industry,says
