Stickers are being put up all over the underground in an attempt to add some humour to the somewhat dullness of a typical underground journey.  They can be purchased online for as little as £2 each and come in many shapes and sizes.

And they are starting to get peoples attention.

They use the same font and branding as TFL but turn the typical warning sign or underground map into something a bit more fun.  

My favourite so far is the Shephards Bush station being changed to “Shephards Pie, Overground, Gas Mark 4″.

But this is closely followed by the sticker reading “We apologise for any incontinence caused during these engineering works.”

Whilst being subtle it still manages to add a little of escapism for commuters.

But TFL have issued a statement saying that this is costing them a substantial amount of money to clear up and calling it vandalism.

And whilst i agree it can be classed as vandalism – I also see the funny side.

I understand TFL need all the many many stickers they have up in an attempt to ease the blame culture we have created in England but whats the harm in a little bit of fun.

Why not keep some of the stickers in place – poke fun at yourself and incense a little bit of humour into peoples monotonous journeys.

So what do you think of this latest craze?

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

Businesses local in Bristol have started trading in Bristol Pounds, which has been set up as an online currency as well.

By having their own currency, Bristol is encouraging money circulation within Bristol itself.

If someone walks into a shop and pays for something in Bristol Pounds, they cannot go and pay a national supplier using this as it won’t be accepted. Instead they will have to use it to pay local suppliers or pay staff.

By doing this they are keeping money circulating within Bristol and promoting the use of local traders and suppliers.

Companies Using the Bristol Pound can Give back to Local Businesses.

This has been done previously in places such as Devon and Stroud but these currencies have not seen as many businesses sign up in their few years of running as the Bristol Pound has so far.

By having a local currency, it gives a chance for Bristol to show its economic resilience and keep money local.

And by running a design competition for the notes they are increasing interest from the locals and trying to make a success of the whole idea.

But will this really help the economy?

I’m a sceptic so I’m thinking it won’t.

My thoughts are that is will discourage national companies investing locally in Bristol and limit traders ability to use national companies to provide cheaper services.

This will isolate Bristol from the rest of England and mean that people will have to carry around 2 types of currency in their wallets which is a big inconvenience.

Many people in Bristol are employed by national businesses.

So by isolating Bristol and encouraging local trading, there could be an increase in unemployment as national businesses take their business elsewhere.

The whole issue I have with a local currency is the isolation it creates.

But is the Bristol Pound Really a Good Idea?  Might it Deter National Businesses?

Encouraging local traders is all well and good and I agree that high streets are starting to look the same with the same national businesses in every High Street.

But these national businesses provide a lot of employment and their success in multiple high streets shows they provide a service that is wanted or needed.

I think there is a fine balance between a high street providing local and national business as both are needed to make up a high street that can provide the needs of a community.

I think the Bristol Pound will be a good thing for Bristol on a small scale.

Getting local traders trading within their networks.

But trying to enlarge this and make it the currency Bristol uses as its main denomination could work to the detriment of the city.

I guess only time will tell just how popular the Bristol Pound will be and how much of an effect if can have on the local and national economy.

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

The Olympics was one of the recent events which saw many businesses use to their advantage despite the tight advertising control Locog insisted on.

The latest so called scandel to be used is the current sensation around naked Prince Harry pictures. 

It was only a matter of time before this became the centre of attention for a businesses marketing campaign and it was Lynx who took this into hand.

The have come up with 2 posters currently being used in nationwide marketing campaigns.

They both play on the so called ‘Lynx effect’ which see’s men being hounded by beautiful women if they use Lynx.

It jokes the incident may have been caused by using Lynx and apologises for this – using the infamous ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ Type face.

Lynx have always had marketing campaigns which are seen as quite daring and controversial and this was no different.

Both posters are brilliantly designed and play perfectly on current events and integrating that into their product.

And this is the key to using current trends for marketing – being able to apply it directly back to your product.

Anyone can create an advertisement about a current event nationally or worldwide but not many can then take it back to their product and relate it directly to their brand.

And in order to do this you need a strong brand which has a recognisable image.

Lynx have come a long way since introducing their ‘The Lynx Effect’ strapeline – prior to this they were an unpopular brand with an image not desired amongst men.

They introduced their strapeline and played on it well – sticking with it, creating marketing which used this over and over so they aren’t easily forgotten.

Themes are an important part of branding and should be well thought through and be able to last the test of time.  Keeping up a strapeline through various marketing campaigns is hard, but necessary in order to build your brand and build an image to be worthy of.   

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

Without having millions of pounds to secure being an official Olympic sponsor you will not be able to the mulit-national brand partners that are cashing in on being able to boost their advertising through the games. 

So Odd-bins took a slightly different approach and decided to launch an attack on the Locog advertising rules. 

They featured posters with slogans suchs as “We can’t mention the event, we can’t mention the city, we can’t even mention the year.  But at least they can’t stop us telling you about this: Rococo Rose £17”.

They have even launched a 30% discount for any customers who can prove they have shunned the Olympic games.

Simply turn up to your local Oddbins (if you’ve still got one) wearing Nike trainers, waving Vauxhall car keys, an RBS MasterCard, iPhone, British Gas bill and a receipt for a Pepsi bought at KFC and you’ll get 30 per cent off your purchase.

This backwards way of advertising the Olympics is genius and whilst negatively representing the Olympics it doesn’t take away from the national spirit of the Olympics – it purely targets Locogs rules which restrict any business who aren’t official sponsors. 

There are arguments for and against the strict rulings of the sponsorship of the Olympics. 

Some say the advertisement deals wouldn’t have been agreed without tight restrictions about the use of the branding, but others say this was the countries chance to celebrate and recoup some of the lost business yet they have not been able to advertise.

Luckily for Oddbins, the London organisers legal team decided not to take action.  But in my opinion these posters are a real portrayal of the small businesses thoughts on Locogs marketing rules.

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

With Adidas being names the official sportswear partner of London 2012 and Team GB, it was only a matter of time before Nike came on the scene with some form of Olympic advertising.

Nike are set release a 9 month long campaign with the strapline ‘Find Your Greatness’ which is based around inspiring UK athletes, whatever their aspiration or level and inspiring potential in everyone.

And guess when it’s going to be released – Friday 27th July – the same day as the opening ceremony.

Although this can be seen as ambush marketing at its best it’s not breaking any advertising rules.

The theme and the proximity to the Olympics could be questioned, the campaign itself is well positioned to outshine Adidas’s official Olympic stance.

Nike are taking over the hotspots of London with this campaign. Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street are just some of the places this campaign will be a prime focus using digital media.

So how ethical is this?

Adidas should clearly have a focus at the Olympics being the official sportswear partner and Nike are trying to steal the limelight during this event.

But it could be argued that this is just positional marketing at its best – Nike have produced a top notch advertising campaign, focusing on grass roots marketing, using real people to inspire real drive to succeed in local communities and they have done this at the optimum time.

The whole point of marketing is to get your brand out there in the right place and the right time and this is just what Nike has done.

But how much will the local community see this as friendly, competitive rivalry with Adidas or as ambush marketing?

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

This saw a departures board with a difference – details of how many McDonalds items you could eat before your train leaves.

This has no direct marketing on it, no McDonalds logo plastered on the boards, but just simple, recognisable pictures of the McDonalds food you have enough time to eat.

McDonalds have come up with some amazing marketing campaigns in the past and have a brand known worldwide.  Their ‘We’re loving it’ can be hummed by millions and their character Ronald McDonald is easily recognisable by children across the globe.

But how do they do it?

They think differently, they have a creative marketing department that thinks outside the box.

Gone are the days when you could give out some freebies or stick up some big billboard signs for advertising.  Nowadays, consumers are looking for that something a little bit different and unique.

Viral marketing has sky rocketed since the T-Mobile campaign where London’s Liverpool Street Station saw a group of dancers burst into spontaneous dance.  As has using social media as a way of reaching consumers.

But none of this is worth any investment without some creativity to produce something people will think about and that’s different to the common place marketing used by many companies.

So what will your next marketing campaign consist of?  Whatever it is think KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid.  If you can’t sum up your campaign on a post it note it’s not a campaign – it’s a group of ideas.

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

The idea is that it tweets, updates facebook, checks in on 4square and downloads various coupons and promotions that you can use to either buy guinness or win prizes.

However when you actually scan the QR code the link takes you to a holding page on godaddy.com.  I’m not sure if the domain is not yet active or if they forgot to actually buy the domain in the first place.

I don’t want to point any fingers as the Guinness marketing department could one day be one of our clients  But clearly something went wrong somewhere.

If you want to buy promotional products from us with QR codes on, we can purchase and maintain your domains to point to wherever you want.

We can create unique promotional mini sites for you to display your promotion.

This is available as a yearly subscription service and starts from just £25 a year for a basic QR code URL forwarder.

We can create and manage a microsite for you and give you figures of the actual traffic your promotion received through the use of your QR code.

Just call and speak to David in Marketing if you are interested in this service.

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

In this video an apparent 5377 square foot QR code (the 2nd largest recorded of all time) Is scanned using an iphone attached to a guys hand. A cool guerilla/viral marketing ad.  Although the video only stands at 9000 hits on youtube I can see it rising

I think a great idea for a QR code viral would be perhaps creating hidden ones on the sides of buildings and at famous landmarks across the world.  Perhaps call it the 7 hidden QR codes of the world or something.  Then run a huge competition for photographs and promoted it on the photo sharing websites and maybe pinterest etc.  I don’t think we have the budget or even the fan base for it, but one of the major brands like Nike or maybe a camera brand like Cannon or one of the other big players could really pull it off.

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

The Challenge: The African continent has the world’s highest number of child soldiers, fighting in wars they don’t believe in, for causes they don’t understand. UNICEF extract many of these children from combat and reintegrate them into society. Our aim was to rally support for this programme.

The Solution: Sending out a direct mailer that garners support for UNICEF’s child soldier programme. Initially, the mailer appears to be a typical packet of toy soldiers, but once opened, the recipient finds that the figurines are in fact children – reading books, playing soccer, riding bikes and doing other childhood activities.

Results: The package went to UNICEF supporter mailing lists as well as potential corporate sponsors. Awareness is up, and beyond the desired reaction from the recipients, many compliments are being received about the unique way in which it was put forward. More than a simple message, it’s an ongoing reminder of the realities these children face every day.

Advertising Agency: Y&R South Africa
Creative Directors: Liam Wielopolski, Michael Blore
Art Director: Mbuso Ndlovu
Copywriter: Sebastian Schneider
Designers: Anita Modi, Bradley Stapleton
Released: July 2009

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.

Even signing up the likes of David Beckham to their huge advertising budget.  I was sceptical at first as I really only saw it as “just another marker pen”.

About 6 months later the advertising stream started to hit the UK and I really saw the public recognition of these permanent marker pens.

Although available in loads of colours for the regular market. (As seen to the right). The image below shows an amazing interactive sharpie poster that has been seen around streets and bus stops.

The screens display a plaster cast of someones arm and encourages passers by to write their message on the screens using imitation sharpie markers. I’m not sure this is going to make someone run out and buy a pack of sharpie markers, but you never know I guess.

You can view our sharpie marker range here.  Unfortunately paper mate only supply us 4 colours to sell in the UK as custom printed sharpie pens. We do also have the mini sharpies that we can print with your logo also. But they are only available in black.  I’d love them to let us print the whole colour range.

Who We are: Promo-Gifts (UK) Ltd

We are a Wholesale Promotional Products Supplier. Our Blog touches on many different subjects from marketing to charity fundraising even to promotional items ;) - Please do visit our blog or website to make any comments or get a quotation.