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:
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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.
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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
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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:
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​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.
 

It's Tuesday and you're working from home (yay!).
That means Nigel won't be distracting you with this week's thrilling instalment of
 "Weekend Tales from My Garden" 
(spoiler alert: he still hasn't figured out how to get rid of those pesky moles).
That means you've got plenty of time to conquer your social media, once and for all.

#1:  Go down the social rabbit-hole!

Go ahead down that distracting road! You know the one.
It's somewhere between the baby otter videos and the Pinterest thread of DIY shelves for the 4-bedroom house you totally don't own (yet..) 
Here is your chance to redeem yourself!
Scroll through the pages of favourite hashtags, similar brands, competitors and influencers, taking note of trends and commonalities.

#2:  Schedule 1 month of posts
 
Set up an excel spreadsheet to map out 30 days of posts to be scheduled. Be sure to account for any holidays and consider labelling certain days of the week with their own themes. Themes like "Monday Motivation" or "Fun Fact Friday" are great for weekly inspiration.
 
#3:  Define your brand guidelines
 
Visual consistency is key to social media! Defining your logo, colour palette and signature font are small details which, when used consistently, make a big impact!
 
#4:  Create a cache of post-worthy images
 
Round up photos of your projects, photos with happy customers, team headshots, and create a few simple social templates into one convenient place. Pick and post as needed!
 
#5:  Blog, blog, blog

Not to be confused with "blah blah blah". No! Blogs are not just for crazy cat ladies. They're a great way to touch base with your audience in a casual and more conversational tone. Make company announcements, tell a few jokes, give a few tips and tricks of the trade...you name it!
If you're interested in your topic, your audience will be too.

Remote working comes with the luxury of working from pretty much anywhere with decent wi-fi and the ability to hear yourself think. Working from home, of course, leaves you with one option: home.
You’re most coveted and private of spaces must now allow for sleep, showers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dogs, children, couch, Netflix, Instagram, partner, the sound of the spring birds who never seemed to annoy you until you’re suddenly subjected to their mid-day mating calls, coffee, tea, biscuits, biscuits at the back of the cupboard you stashed because they didn’t quite taste as good as they looked on the shelf but you can’t bear to part with because, as Tesco had so eloquently put it, “Every little helps”, and oh yes, that’s right, work.
The goal at the end of the road remains the same regardless of our surroundings. Keeping your team proactive and positive amidst a sea of distractions and is important now, more than ever.
Here are a few of the “outside the box” ideas we’re using here at AP&C:

• Get Creative with Team Breaks

Stick daily breaks into the calendar! Arrange a team tea-break or remind your employees and co-workers to go for a walk, have a stretch, kiss their cat, cuddle their doggo and take 10 minutes to turn off.
Recommended dose: 10 min doses, 3x daily for best results.

• Host a virtual Happy Hour!

Let’s face it. There are few things more refreshing than a well-earned drink (alcoholic or otherwise) to round off a long week- especially one that has been spent cooped up at home. So, let’s not pretend we don’t all keep a supply of our favourite tipples at home and end the week with a team Happy Hour!
(Maybe try gently reminding everyone that it is simply a Happy Hour and not the company Christmas party… yes, we’re looking at you, Janet…)

• Reward your employees!

A little thought goes a long way. Consider sending them some simple treats and vouchers to remind them they are valued, respected and appreciated. You’d be hard-pressed to find a person (or customer, for that matter!) who wouldn’t love a surprise work-from-home care package.
Whether it's a practical box, filled with company-branded pens, to-do lists and pads, or a full-loaded survival kit of tea, biscuits, mugs, coasters, notepads and pens - everyone loves a treat!