5. Add some comic relief

​Infuse your content with lighter segments to break up the content and keep it fun!

• Why shy away from virtual fatigue? It’s not a secret, we all know it happens, you can make light of it with your audience and acknowledge you’ll be doing your best to combat it!
• Add some humour in to your presentation - throw in some puns, memes, dad jokes – wouldn’t you enjoy that if you were in the audience?!
• Maybe open segments with an interesting/surprising fact (on or off topic!) or a joke.
• Make it interactive with the chats and polls! Why not make them a bit silly with some funny opinion polls or quiz questions?!

​

     
​​We all know that, in this sea of zoom calls and virtual events that is 2020, it can sometimes be tricky to maintain our full focus and concentration for the entirety of these sessions and to remain, well, present. 
 
We’ve been working with our clients on ways to make virtual meetings and events more exciting, interactive and engaging, to combat virtual fatigue!

One way we have found to keep our guests on their toes and actively engaged in our sessions is to plan surprise parcels & presents to open throughout the event agenda- because who doesn’t love a gift-wrapped surprise in the post?!

And rather than just a ‘thank you’ present for attending, we’ve been linking these parcels to the event itself, sending (sometimes vaguely with a little imagination!) on-topic gifts and treats to open - 
 
EMEA update? Different region-appropriate continental snacks for everyone to open together and enjoy during each session!
 
Themed event? On-theme fun gifts, maybe linking to each session with a pun-tastic title!
 
Of course, different situations and budgets will suit different ideas – but even something as simple as envelopes with the next activity, talking point, a fun fact, or a joke inside (…maybe with something sweet in there as a treaty bonus!) still adds a tangible, interactive (and maybe tasty!) experience to your virtual events. 
 
We like to think outside the box, so - believe it or not - inflatable flamingos, biscuits and sun cream, along with some pretzels, glow sticks and picnic blankets, are just some of the surprises we’ve managed to work into our zoom meetings!
 
What not try this for your next virtual event or meeting? Just an idea to inject some real-life, gift-wrapped fun into our virtual reality!

Send an email to the team at info@appleprintmarketing.co.uk and we'll help you build the best box for your guests!

Hi there! Great to see you.
 
We believe every business deserves to emerge from lockdown like a phoenix from the ashes. (I mean c’mon, who wouldn’t want to be released back into the world with a whole new image?!) But how does one go about such a majestic transition? Where do you start? 
(Hint: it’s not buying feathers in bulk on Amazon)
 
Branding!
 
Lucky for you, our stellar in-house graphic designers have cleverly crafted a simple guide to help steer you in the right direction if you’re looking for a post-lockdown facelift.

You can download here, or follow the infographic below :) 

​Want to cut to the chase?
Get in touch with the studio directly to get some input tailored specifically to your brand by emailing    info@appleprintmarketing.co.uk

When people think of promotional products the first thing that comes to mind is usually something along the lines of a simple branded notebook or pen. Don’t get us wrong, branded pens and pads are great but there are THOUSANDS of new and innovative products that work even better for you when it comes to getting your brand out there and seen.
 
In our experience, the quirkier the better!
 
Another assumption is that promotional merchandise is just for the office. FALSE! There are plenty of promotional items that are desirable enough to take pride of place at home.
 
Here are a few of our favourites:
 

• A white noise speaker with a built-in wireless charger
• Coollux (the ultimate promotional product in our eyes) which is a wine cooler. This not only cools down your ‘Pinot’ but is also a lamp and powerful wireless speaker (cool right?!).

 
We think promotional merchandise can be as creative as you want it to be, with the option to have bespoke products made to suit you, why not push the boundaries? We know that promotional merch isn’t something that will just be thrown away, it will be something that sits on your customer’s desk, nightstand or in their car. This acts as a constant reminder of you and your company. So, it is super important that the merchandise you give to your customers represents your brand and its beliefs!
 
If you have a company mascot or logo that you would like brought to life, why not consider having a product bespoke made? From having a stress ball in the shape of your logo to a USB in the shape of the products you sell, there are loads more ways to incorporate your logo onto promotional merchandise, than you might think.

AP&C Events Team here with an update on some of the exciting new additions tips and tricks we’ve had underway in the world of virtual events:
​

The events industry has changed dramatically in the wake of the Covid19 outbreak- extending far beyond the popular festivals, long-awaited weddings and garden grilling.

Corporate outings, summits, product launches and workshops have all come to a sharp halt.
​As part of a busy and growing Events Team, we found ourselves facing empty calendars.
 
Collectively as a population, job stability and financial security has been a shared concern as we’ve navigated these new and uncertain times – and as Event Managers without any events, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t initially anxious as to what the ‘new normal’ held for us.
 ​
We had to learn fast, plan and adapt to our new working environment. What had been future plans to virtualise and stream our events became an immediate necessity. Right away, we dove into researching virtual event communication platforms and equipment, learning how to maximise their potential. Taking to webinars and demos, studying the various ways to engage audiences online became our primary focus.

​Identifying the smaller details that make a big difference to virtual events has been of paramount importance to ensure we maximise the value we can bring to our clients. Key areas of focus for our research have been how to -

After producing new strategies and workflows for different event briefs so far, we’re continuing to work hard to expand upon our skills to adapt to this new way of managing events.
 
The AP&C Team as a whole have been working hard to assist each other across departments – many of which have seen an increase in demand in this unforeseen climate. Now more than ever we have banded together (whilst apart) to share roles, ideas and skills to adapt the business to this new situation. This experience has been an incredible exercise in teamwork and interdepartmental cohesion!
 
Although the way we are working may have changed in ways we didn’t expect this year, from this has come a diverse new set of skills, greater adaptability and, ultimately, a stronger team.
 
Hoping you are all staying well, thanks for reading -
AP&C Events Team
​

Help us to reach our goal as we WALK/RUN/CYCLE our way to 500 miles!
​
You donate £500 and we'll donate £500 more!
It is with the public support, that they may continue to support our community.

For more information on WBRRC and to get involved in our mission, visit our fundraising page :
AP&C for WBRRC

STAY TUNED FOR PROGRESS AND UPDATES!

​When re-opening, many small businesses won't have the luxury of a helpful employee at their entrance to remind customers of the social distancing regulations.
For shops like Sainsbury's and Tesco, it has become common place, but in the absence of "business bouncers", how do independent shop owners plant the social distancing seed to their customers? Should we all start investing in social distancing wallpaper?
 
No need to poster the walls like an old music venue (although that might look very, very cool). Instead, consider the trajectory of your customers and clients- from entrance to first point of contact and any notable areas of direction in between.
 
First and foremost, touch base at the point of "Come on in!" and again at “How can I help?”. 
 
If you are a small shop, cafe or salon, a sign outside your storefront can let customers know you’re back in action as well as taking action. A bit of peace of mind for all.
 
For a larger storefront or street-facing entrance such as a pharmacy or restaurant, a larger pull-up banner may be the visual way forward. With great size comes great responsibility so you'll have to account for the higher foot traffic and likely higher sensitivity needed.
 
Next, consider any other directions frequently asked for:
“Where can I find the restroom?”
“Do you have hand sanitiser available?”
“Contactless?”
“Do you have outdoor seating?”
 
Lastly, consider any potential gathering place or waiting area such as a service counter, kiosk, washroom, kitchen entrance, employee break or smoking area.
 
Not sure what you need? Give us a shout! We'll point you (and your customers) in the right direction.

 

We've been so busy keeping everyone connected and up and running during lockdown, that we want to be sure we don't lose sight of the big post-lockdown picture.
Everyone deserves a worry-free return to work, and a well-thought-out layout will make for a smooth transition back to into the swing of things.

Here are a few of the items we'll be using around the AP&C office:
​

​Supplying individual hygiene boxes to each employee returning to the workplace is a great means of ensuring teams can easily comply with government guidelines. 

​Let your customers know you’re open for business while touching on social distancing guidelines. 
​Two-sided, these signs are perfect for outdoor visibility.

​Choose from our standard designs covering up-to-date guidelines or have our studio team create designs tailored to your branding and company message.
We'll help you decide the best layout for your workplace.

​Don't hesitate to contact us.
We're all in this together.

​We thought we would quickly touch base to give you an update on the goings on here at AP&C. Although we’ve been open for business, it has certainly been anything but usual adapting to the changes that come with social distancing.
 
In recent weeks we have been fortunate to have the opportunity to support the jobs being done by our valued essential workers. Our print machines have been working hard to ensure the essential businesses we work with have the signage and printed materials they need.

• We have successfully donated the signage necessary for operation of the NHS primary care response hub in Newbury.

 

• We have produced Ventilator User Manuals for an industry leading medical company, with 3000 copies produced to date- the largest of our projects completed during this lockdown period.

 
In the Studio:
 
The studio has been full steam ahead, continuing to support our ongoing client projects and campaigns as well as planning ahead for new ones. This includes visual support of virtual meetings, small business social media communications and even a bit of re-branding for clients who want to make the most of this time of transition. The Creative Team have had our backs from home!
 
In the Marketing Lounge:
 
Staying adaptable and proactive is our focus! The team have one eye ahead, and one eye on comms to be sure our clients and their customers are kept up to date. The Marketing Team have been busy looking ahead to stay on top the of fast-changing industry trends.