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The Royal Scottish Society of Arts 200th Anniversary

i4c Publicity Ltd January 21, 2022 Pin Badges

 

We recently had the pleasure of creating 3D badges for the 200th anniversary of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts.

The Society was founded in 1821, dedicated to ‘useful arts’ which is now called science, technology and engineering. The main goal of the Society used to be promoting invention and improvement. Now, they focus on lectures given by expert and distinguished speakers.

This was a special occasion for them, so we knew we had to make a badge that was just as special. Creating a 3D badge meant that the details stood out more than it would on a regular enamel badge.

 

The RSSA put together a few words for us to explain their company and the background of commissioning their badge:

“The Royal Scottish Society of Arts (RSSA) – which showcases Scotland’s science, technology and innovation – celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2021. COVID affected many of the planned commemorative events, so it was important to mark the occasion in other ways.

“The Society commissioned i4c Publicity to produce a commemorative pin badge, which was distributed to all Fellows of the Society. RSSA Council member Dr Beverly Bergman designed the badge, and it features the head of Minerva, goddess of wisdom. It was based on the neck badge and chain worn by the President on formal occasions.”

 

Dr Alison Morrison-Low, the President of the RSSA, says:

“We are delighted with the way i4c Publicity interpreted our design and created a beautifully sculpted 3D cameo-style badge for us. Feedback from our Fellows has been extremely positive. We recommend i4c Publicity to anyone looking for a high-quality badge at a very competitive cost”.

 

To find out more about the RSSA, visit their website: www.rssa.org.uk

Iconic Logos Redesigned In Support Of Black Lives Matter

i4c Publicity Ltd August 14, 2020 Promotional Products, Uncategorized

 

In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, many companies and businesses have shown their support for the Black Lives Matter movement via social media by sharing messages of solidarity, links to charitable organisations and calling for an end to systemic racism. There have been statements of support and pledges of donations from a wide range of companies, including many of the iconic businesses listed below. 

Support for the Black Lives Matter movement can come in many forms, which is why we have redesigned the following 11 logos from iconic brands such as Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Spotify to match the style of the Black Lives Matter logo. 

Black Lives Matter

#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 after Trayvon Martin’s murder was acquitted. Today, Black Lives Matter is a global organisation that is dedicated to the eradication of white supremacy across the world. The movement is committed to creating a world free from racism, where every Black person has the social, economic and political power to thrive. 

The Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates and protests against police brutality and the deaths of Black individuals at the hands of the police. The movement has received further attention with ongoing protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd. Support for the Black Lives Matter movement has increased rapidly over the last year and is estimated by the New York Times to be one of the largest movements in US history. 

1. Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola Company is one of the companies that has come out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In an announcement called “Where We Stand on Social Justice” James Quincy, the Chairman and CEO, spoke of his outrage and frustration with the racism in America. He also discussed how companies like his must speak up as allies to the movement and stand with those seeking justice and equality. 

In the same message, Quincy is quick to mention how The Coca-Cola Company hasn’t made enough progress yet and must do better. Quincy also admits that the company isn’t perfect and while it has done things to be proud of, it has also made mistakes. Quincy ends the message by pledging to do their part as a company to listen, learn and act. These types of messages in support are common, especially across social media, especially on Twitter and Instagram.

2. Instagram

Blackout Tuesday, on June 2nd 2020, was a day promoted by activists in an attempt to use social media to bring about policy change following the death of George Floyd. The movement spread across social media where individuals, brands and organisations posted a simple black picture with a solemn message with the #BlacklivesMatter. 

However, despite being well intended, these posts had a negative side. Many of the hashtags used served as critical information channels for important updates and with so many accounts posting a blank black image these hashtags became clogged up at a time when visibility and information was critical. Many leading Black Lives Matter activists requested that the hashtags weren’t used with the black images, but the damage was already done. 

3. IKEA

Some brands have come under criticism for not doing enough to support the movement. Many businesses have been increasingly embracing what is known as Brand Activism to influence consumer behaviour. By taking a stand on social, environmental or political issues, brands can differentiate themselves from the competition and connect with similarly minded consumers. In many cases, brands are quick to adopt the movement’s hashtag but lack the same enthusiasm when it comes to actual change. 

IKEA, in a company announcement, shared their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the company’s commitment to supporting racial equity and inclusion in its own workplace. In addition, IKEA Retail US committed $3 million in support of organisations that were working towards social justice and economic empowerment for Black communities. Brand Activism is only effective when brands put their money and efforts where their mouths are. Brands, like IKEA, who not only donate to causes but also commit to internal improvement measures are more likely to benefit from Brand Activism. 

4. LEGO

While making donations and pledging to evaluate your internal procedures is an admirable decision, many activists argue that there is more to work on in our society. LEGO, for example, has declared that it wants to work towards building a better future for everyone and announced it would be donating $4 million to organisations that are “dedicated to supporting Black children and educating all children about racial equality.” 

In addition to the donation aimed at creating a more racial equal future, LEGO has also confirmed that it will cease marketing for any of its toy sets that are related to the police. This move includes over 30 different LEGO building sets that involve police officers, firefighters, criminals and emergency vehicles. This move comes during the widespread protests against police brutality that are happening across the world. 

5. Mastercard

While one of the driving forces behind the current protests across the world is police brutality, racial inequality is also one of the main discussion points. The Colour of Money is a Runnymede report that was released in April of 2020 which found there to be “shocking” levels of economic and racial inequality in Britain. One of the examples given in the report is how Black African households have 10 times less wealth than White British households. The report goes on to discuss some measures that would tackle long-standing inequalities and design a more fair economy. 

As LEGO logically targeted children as its target audience, Mastercard has taken a financial focused approach in its support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Mastercard has worked with the National Urban League for over a decade and in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, has made a new donation of $5 million to support the organisation’s goal to support economic self-reliance and civil rights in African American Communities. Mastercard has also said it is looking within its own walls at its hiring and talent development practices to ensure they are creating the right opportunities at all levels for all of their team members. 

6. McDonald’s 

The outpouring of messages of support for the Black Lives Matter movement from big brands has been followed by renewed scrutiny by activists and the media into the practices of those companies. Looking at where these brands are donating money and how they treat their own employees has, in some cases, shown that the internal behaviour of some brands doesn’t match up with their message of support. 

McDonald’s and other fast-food chains didn’t receive the warmest reception to their message of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Even McDonald’s promise of donations to both the National Urban League and the NAACP were met with criticism with the ACLU asking “Do Black lives matter when they work in your restaurants?”.  Fast food brands run on cheap food and cheaper labour and have a history of fighting unionization efforts that would support Black workers in their restaurants. No matter how often brands like McDonald’s tweet “Black Lives Matter” the internal workings of the brand will always betray the message. 

7. Starbucks

Starbucks is a brand that is usually associated with a progressive image. However, Starbucks received intense backlash after it was reported that the company had banned its employees from wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts, pin badges and other accessories in support of the movement. This move was intended to prevent any incidents in its locations but was seen as hypocritical following the brand’s show of support to the cause on social media. Starbucks quickly reversed the decision following the outcry from staff and customers online, which led to #BoycottStarbucks going viral. 

While the quick change in direction was clearly the right decision, the fact that this was an issue at all shows a lack of preparedness on a topic the company and those responsible for the marketing decision to support the Black Lives Matter movement should have been ready for. Causes like Black Lives Matter are quickly becoming a testing point for many consumers who are giving leading brands a chance to get it right before their trust is gone and their money with it. 

8. Spotify

Another important message of the Black Lives Matter movement was ensuring that the voices and messages of Black people were being heard. In an announcement on June 1st, Spotify confirmed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racism and injustice. Spotify announced how it plans to use the power of its platform to stand with Black creators and amplify their voices to bring about long-needed change. This includes blacked-out playlists and podcasts in support of Black Out Tuesday, amplification of Spotify’s Black History Is Now hub resource, special curation of playlists and targeted advertising. In addition, Spotify has pledged to contribute up to $10 million to organisations that are fighting against racism and inequality around the world. 

In a move in the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests, Spotify has also stopped using the term “urban”. The music-industry label has long been used to designate many black artists, from R&B to hip-hop. The Grammy Awards have also ceased using the term in its awards and language. These changes are part of a larger effort to advance the music industry in an effort to listen and learn to Black voices and adapt to be more inclusive. The term “urban” has been seen as problematic for a long time with many creators and people in the genre not liking the description and felt it pigeonholed certain styles of music. 

9. Virgin

In another move to help amplify Black voices in the UK Virgin Radio UK announced a special edition of its 500 Words writing competition for children. This edition was focused on themes related to the Black Lives Matter movement and was announced in June. 500 Words is the world’s largest story-writing competition for kids and over one million stories have been submitted since its start in 2011. The competition has covered everything from new technology to climate change and is now focusing on themes and issues emerging from the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The competition allows children between the ages of five and thirteen to write a 500-word story that can come from their own experiences and feelings. The competition had over 6,000 entries from children all over the UK which were reduced to eight finalists before winners for the two age groups were selected. The winning stories were read out live on Virgin Radio UK and all of the finalist stories are available to listen to via Amazon Alexa. In addition, all eight finalists will have their stories published in a book set to be published in September. All the royalties from the book will be matched by the publisher and donated to children’s literacy and children’s BAME charities. The 500 Words competition is another great way to fundraise for these vital causes while also encouraging children and families to have positive conversations about important world issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. 

10. Facebook

Many people believe that social media platforms need to be doing more to protect and support Black users by ensuring their platform is free from racism and hate. Facebook suffered a huge advertiser boycott in July after The Stop Hate for Profit campaign, which was set up after the death of George Floyd, asked companies around the world to not advertise on Facebook’s services for a month in a show of solidarity. The campaign included the NAACP, Anti-Defamation League and the Color of Change. The aim of the campaign was to show Facebook that profit is never worth promoting hate, racism and violence. 

Brands that took part in the boycott included Ben & Jerry’s, The North Face and Patagonia in response to Facebook taking a lenient approach to controversial posts on its platform. The Stop Hate for Profit campaign also criticised the social media platform for its partnerships with far-right sources, such as Breitbart News and The Daily Caller which both have records of working with white nationalists. Employees at Facebook have staged walkouts over the company’s relationship with far-right individuals, but so far far-right content remains on the social media platform. 

11. Twitter

On the other hand, the social media platform Twitter is working to give some of its Black Lives Matter messages a larger platform around the world by sharing them on billboards and massive outdoor displays. Real tweets from Black users have been used for these displays in US cities where major Black Lives Matter protests are occurring. The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag first appeared on Twitter in 2013 but in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, the hashtag has been used in more than 350 million tweets about the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Twitter is doing more to increase conversations about the movement and on Juneteenth, the platform featured a voice tweet from one of the founders of Black Lives Matter, Opal Tometi, about “Black Joy”. Twitter amplified Black Joy in a video from its Black employee resource, Blackbirds, and encouraged users to post more #BlackJoy messages. 

Show Your Support

If you want to show solidarity and support the Black Lives Matter movement then sign one of the many petitions that support the cause. Petitions are one of the most accessible methods of activism you can take part in. Black Lives Matter has a page dedicated to petitions that you can sign and show your support. 

While there is rarely a legal requirement for any official body to respond to a petition, they can be a great way to put pressure on people in authority to make changes. For example, one of the biggest petitions of 2020 was “Justice for George Floyd” which had over 19 million signatures and aimed to have the officers involved in his death charged. Thanks to this petition and other calls for justice the officers involved were fired and charged, showing that petitions can be effective. 

There is also a wide range of organisations you can make donations to, such as Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and The Bail Project, which raises money to post bail for those who can’t afford it in an effort to fight against mass incarceration in the US. In addition, if you would like to learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement then visit their “What Matters” web series. What Matters is a range of interviews that uses a documentary narrative to educate on specific issues and help individuals learn and connect with the cause. 

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Do Promotional Pens Work? 

Rebecca February 10, 2020 Promotional Products

We’ve all been to a networking event and picked up a handful of pens throughout the evening, but the real question – is do they work as a promotional product? 

In short, the answer is yes. Pens are a fundamental part of promotional merchandise product ranges and can have great effects on your marketing. 

What are the Benefits of Promotional Pens? 

Pens Reach a Wider Audience 

Promotional pens are a great way to get your brand into potential customers minds, by showcasing your logo and possibly contact details, which results in brand recognition. Even with the Digital Age upon us, everyone uses pens – on average 60% of people use a pen 5-10 times a day. What’s more, pens often get passed around to others, giving you extra exposure to others for free. 

Pens are essential around both the office and home, meaning that most people will use a pen throughout the day. The more times that people see your business name, the better your business performs, as it pushes your brand under people’s nose. 

Low Cost Marketing

Promotional pens are a low-cost effective way of marketing, as you can normally buy them in bulk for a lower price. 

Brand Recognition 

They also offer instant brand recognition, as consumers can identify your company and brand immediately by looking at your logo. 

A Wide Variety 

What’s more, you now have access to various different pens – from different coloured biros, highlighters, pencils and biodegradable ballpens – there’s more choice than ever! Meaning you will get in front of even the pickiest of people. 

Pair with Other Items 

The great thing about promotional pens is that you can pair them with other promotional merchandise, such as bottles. This allows you to print your logo and contact details on different items to give to customers and raise your brand awareness. 

 

If you’re looking for promotional pens for your brand, our friendly team is happy to advise and quote you a bespoke price for your desired merchandise. You can also view our wide range of promotional pens and writing equipment. 

 

Exploring Different Pin Badge Finishes 

Rebecca January 23, 2020 Pin Badges

Here at i4c Publicity, we offer a range of different pin badge finishes. However, we often get asked which finish is best, and the truth is that it all depends on your project and the look that you desire. 

Below, we’ve gone into more detail of the pin badge finishes that we offer… 

How to Choose Different Pin Badges 

Soft Enamel 

This is a popular finish for badges, as it is high quality but low cost. The process to make this involves stamping the design onto your chosen metal, and then filled with coloured enamel. This creates a dimensional look, as the metal borders surround each colour. This can get finished with an epoxy resin coating, making it appear with a smooth finish whilst also having a protective coating. Without this, soft enamel badges will appear with a textured and bumpy finish. 

Soft Enamel is perfect for: 

Hard Enamel 

With hard enamel, the enamel is added to the same level as the metal die lines, and each colour is baked individually. This can mean that there is a greater cost involved. Once complete, the badge is polished to finish the process. Because there are so many polish steps involved, the badge can sometimes achieve less detail however the polishing effect does leave a high shine, smooth finish.

Hard Enamel is perfect for: 

  • Awards 
  • Corporate Lapel Badges 
  • Traditional Badges

Vitreous Enamel 

Vitreous enamel starts in the form of powdered glass, which is stamped into the metal. It is then fired at a high temperature until it melts together, and polished to a high standard. This is therefore a very durable badge finish and also gives you that extra wow factor. 

Vitreous Enamel is perfect for: 

Die Struck 

These are very economical and great for 3D designs. They are made by pouring molten metal into pre-prepared moulds and then fired and end up looking slightly recessed. The design is stamped onto metal and can be finished in various metals such as gold, bronze and silver or antique gold, antique silver and antique bronze, these are ideal for Award Badges and replicate logos perfectly.

Die Struck is perfect for: 

Printed Metal 

Printed metal finishes are recommended for intricate designs and detailing, as well as shades or gradients. The design is offset printed on metal, with an Epoxy coating then added to increase durability. 

Printed Metal is perfect for: 

  • Complex designs 
  • Charity Badges 
  • Promotions & Giveaways 

If you’re still not sure which pin badge finish you should choose, contact our friendly team of experts now who will be happy to advise you. 

 

Why Your Business Should Throw an Awards Party 

Rebecca December 5, 2019 Corporate
Group of corporate merchandise including matching ties, cufflinks and gift box

It’s that time of year where Christmas is creeping upon us, and it’s the perfect time to combine your Christmas Party with an Awards Ceremony. 

Whilst some people think that a big party is an unnecessary business expense, by not throwing one you may be missing out on a big opportunity to get employees engaging and socialising in a more laid back environment.  

Here’s Our Top Reasons to Throw an Awards Party: 

Reward and Recognition 

Throwing an Awards Party is a very effective way of rewarding staff, as the main motivator factor involved in rewards, is born out of the recognition that comes with it. 

Motivation 

A party can reflect on the vital roles that employees have played, and all of their hard work for the past year. Giving rewards also have motivating factors as team members feel valued. 

Thanking Staff in a Speech  

Combining the party or ceremony with an annual speech can be beneficial, as recognising various aspects of employees work can underp underpin the rewarding properties of throwing a seasonal bash.

Engaging Environment 

The value found in enjoying a good time with colleagues in a personable environment is priceless, and it is a great opportunity to engage employees with business objectives for the year ahead. 

Company Reputation 

Throwing an awards party is a great way to instill a sense of confidence in staff, because they will feel that they work for a great company that also has a bright future. Not only this, but shout loud and proud about your awards party on social media, and it will help boost your reputation, and perhaps give you the competitive edge. 

Say Thank You 

An awards party is also a great way to thank your staff for their hard work for the year, and bringing the team together is a great way to do this. 

Reward Gifts 

Some great gift ideas for reward items include those that have the business logo on – further helping your marketing campaign. These could include Award Badges, and Accessories such as cufflinks. 

As well as being fun, Awards Parties are a great way to motivate employees, by rewarding and engaging them which will further help your business overall. What’s more, getting employees to socialise in relaxed atmosphere helps them to build a rapport with one another, further helping to yield long-term results in the working environment. 

Do you want to give your employees rewards at your Awards Party? We can supply a range of products to suit everybody. Get in touch today with our friendly team to see how we can help you. 

 

 

Case Study: Tameside Hospital

Rebecca November 21, 2019 Case Study
Tameside hospital staff with reusable water bottles

Here at i4c Publicity we work with many businesses and charities to reach their fundraising goals, as well as helping to increase awareness of a good cause. 

We recently worked with Tameside Hospital in Manchester, as they were launching their sustainability campaign to encourage staff to reduce their carbon footprint. Tameside Hospital have also recently announced a £1million CT Scanner appeal to help them better diagnose, treat and prevent illness in patients. 

Fundraising Goals 

We helped Tameside Hospital by designing and supplying jigsaw pin badges and boxes. This helped the Hospital get their cause out there for people to see, further helping to raise important funds for the new CT Scanner. 

Eco-Friendly Bottles

We also helped to source and develop biodegradable water bottles – another tactic to help staff reduce their carbon footprint.

Tameside Hospital staff handing over eco-friendly water bottles

Positive Feedback

Here is a statement from Karen James, the Chief Executive of Tameside Hospital “Suky and the team have been great. They have worked with us every step of the way to design and produce our jigsaw pin badges and boxes and source and develop our biodegradable water bottles. They have delivered on time and to budget and we couldn’t be more pleased with the service and support we have received. I would recommend i4c Publicity to any organisation who wants to work with a great team who are both efficient and patient.” 

 

We wish Tameside Hospital all the best with their fundraising efforts and are on hand to support them. If you are interested in getting merchandise to help you fundraise for a cause, contact us now to see how we can help. 

 

 

Matching Your Outfit Accessories for Corporate Identity

Rebecca November 12, 2019 Corporate

Accessories such as cufflinks, tie slides and badges can make all of the difference with your outfit, brand and corporate identity. What’s more, having a range of products with your logo on allows consistency throughout the brand. 

How to Match Your Accessories 

Matching small accessories such as cufflinks to your tie is a safe way to look professional and well put together, further helping to build you and your business’s reputation. You can match your cufflinks by using the same colour as your tie.

Coordinating metals across your outfit shows a well-kept appearance and ensures that you look professional. This includes your cufflinks, tie slides and badges. Also remember that some metals compliment each other better than others, for example titanium and silver work really well together. Take this into consideration when choosing your badge plating – we have a variety to choose from. 

Scarves and Ties 

Having a matching set of corporate merchandise increases the reputation of your brand. What’s more, having your staff dressed in matching accessories helps with your brand identity. As men can wear ties with the brand logo and colours, you can also purchase scarves for women, with the matching design. Scarves are ideal to complement your existing Tie range.

Red striped tie and matching scarf with gift box

Our free design service allows you to receive a design ready for all our products, which we can adapt to different products and various sizes and dimensions. Contact us now to see how we can create various products to reflect your brand. 

 

Our Eco-Friendly Sports Bottle

Rebecca October 29, 2019 Business
activ-R eco-friendly water bottle

You may have read our previous blog post on the importance of eco-friendly corporate merchandise, where we explained the importance of changing to eco-friendly merchandise, and our environmentally friendly range here at i4c Publicity. 

In this blog post we will delve deeper into our Eco-friendly sports bottles and how they are a better alternative to other plastic options. 

Plastic Water Bottle History

Water bottles are something that most of use day to day, not only for outdoor or gym exercises, but if you work in an office then you probably have a water bottle to drink. 

However, the majority of water bottles that are available on the market are currently made out of plastic, that although can be recycled, a large amount of it still ends up in landfills. 

An Eco-Friendly Alternative

Our Activ-R water bottle is made from Sugar Cane Ethanol. This is a sustainable product that has zero impact on the Amazon rainforest and food chain, and the Ethanol also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fuels – further helping to make a more sustainable world. 

The bottle can also be recycled at the end of its life through normal channels, to be remade into something else. This means that you can use your water bottle without the fear that it is damaging the environment and the world that we live in. 

If you would like to find out more information on our eco-friendly products, then please contact our friendly team now. 

5 Types of Simple Promotional Merchandise That Make an Impact   

Rebecca October 15, 2019 Promotional Products

Getting your promotional merchandise campaign right can be tricky, and you will need to decide which products to give away. There are lots of great promotional merchandise ideas out there, but you need to choose the one best suited for your business and campaign message. 

We’ve come up with a list of brandable products that may get high retention levels to get the best out of your campaign. 

Promotional Merchandise Items That Work 

1. Keyrings 

Keyrings are a common form of merchandise, which although can make it hard to stand out from the rest, can be a handy item to have your branding on. What’s more, to stand out from the crowd you could invest in bottle opener keyrings – something that people find useful and will want to have. With keyrings being carried around with you all of the time, the likelihood of people seeing you logo everyday is high – which will mean that you will stay in the forefront of their mind. 

2. Pens 

Pens are an everyday essential, and is one of the most simple forms of promotional merchandise. Pens leave a lasting impression, with them being kept, used and seen often – meaning your brand can really get out into the wider audience. As well as adding your logo to pens, you can also add a little information – such as slogan or contact details. 

3. Memory Sticks 

In a world of technology, memory sticks are a handy piece of merchandise that customers will love. Memory sticks are a useful device across all industries, and research shows that USB Memory Sticks offer over 700 impressions in their lifetime – which is a great advertising opportunity for you! 

4. Travel Mugs 

With the environment being big on everybody’s minds, and coffee shops now offering a discounted price on coffee when you use a reusable mug, travel mugs are a great promotional item. They are a great companion for the morning commute, meaning not only does the individual see your branding – but so do many others. Travel Mugs are a great way to get maximum exposure, whilst adding value to the customer and the environment around them – reflecting well on your business.

5. Umbrellas 

If you like in the UK, then the likelihood is that you have an umbrella in your bag or car at all times. So what better way to spread the awareness of your brand than with promotional umbrellas. Branding an umbrella with your logo will create a walking advertisement for your business, with a small upfront cost. 

There are many other promotional merchandise items, such as notebooks, wristbands and t-shirts, but you need to choose your items carefully – to see what suits your customers best to get that high exposure and make your money back. Not sure on which promotional items your business should choose? Give our friendly team a call now and get our expert advice.

 

Most Popular School Ties and Tie Designs

Rebecca September 19, 2019 Uncategorized

As the School term starts again, students are dressed in a fresh, smart uniform to represent their school. And a statement within the uniform is of course the School tie, made up of the correct colours and crests or logo. 

What’s more, schools are often choosing to have a variety of ties available to students, to represent which house they are in, with coloured stripes and logos. These stripes can be made up of thin stripes, broad stripes or double stripes, dependant on the Schools preference. 

Schools can also get ties to represent various groups – such as choirs, school bands and sports teams. 

Adding the School logo or crest onto the ties, in an embroidered format, adds sophistication and quality to the uniform. 

School Badges

However, if this means there are too many different ties, Schools can go for specific badges. This is a great addition to the uniform, as badges are small enough to not take the eye away from the professionalism of the uniform, but enough to show variety within the school. 

Here at i4c Publicity, we offer a bespoke design service, supplying school ties to your specifications. We are passionate about offering superior quality for your school uniforms. Get in touch today to find out more. 

Eco-Friendly Promotional Products – Including our Range

Rebecca August 14, 2019 Business
Eco Friendly bag, bottle, pen and notebook

With the governments levy of 25p on disposable cups, it’s the perfect time to think about your impact on the environment as a business. 

Eco-friendly products are a great way to do this, as well as helping your marketing campaigns. These products are a great way to promote environmental awareness and preventing single use plastic waste. 

i4c Eco-Friendly Product Range 

We want to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and the environment, and our eco-friendly product range is full of environmentally friendly promotional products that can be customised for your brand. 

Eco Friendly bag, bottle, pen and notebook

See some of our products below… 

Branded Water Bottles 

A great alternative to plastic water bottles, these Eco-Friendly water bottles are reusable. These ACTIV-R water bottles are made from sustainably sourced sugar cane ethanol, meaning that they are fully recyclable, and in fact leave a negative carbon footprint. Perfect for brand events, and even encouraging your own team to cut down on single use plastic. 

Eco Ballpoint Pen 

Made using biodegradable plastic, these best-selling retractable ball pens are made from 95% recycled plastic – helping to reduce the use of landfills. The large print area on the barrel makes it perfect for an environmentally-minded campaign. 

Jute Bag 

Multi-purpose Jute Bags made using sustainable jute fabric, with degradable plastic lining. These bags are 100% biodegradable and are extremely strong, making it the perfect option for a sustainable shopping bag. They also offer a large surface area to get your logo printed on. 

Wire-bound Notebook 

A5 recycled wiro bound notepad, a great size for using on the go and ideal to fit in a handbag. 

 

Eco-friendly products can be used to promote environmental awareness or for fundraising events. If you want to contribute to global conservation then switch to eco-friendly promotional merchandise now. Contact us for more information or to get a quote. 

The Advantage of Plastic Fittings for School Clip on Ties

Rebecca July 2, 2019 Ties
Close up of plastic tie fitting on blue tie

Clip on ties are perfect for schools, as they allow students to look professional and smart, whilst being safe and easy to wear. Clip on ties are getting more popular, and according to a survey by Schoolwear Association, 10 schools a week in the UK are switching to clip-on ties. Here’s why… 

What is a clip on tie? 

Clip on ties are a necktie which are permanently tied, and is worn by attaching it to the front of a shirt collar by a plastic clip. Although they look like traditional ties, they are easier to wear – especially for young children. 

Stripe tie with plastic clip on fitting

What are the advantages of clip on ties?

Clip on ties are great for ease, as well as allowing young children to wear them. It also allows children with disabilities to still wear a tie if they are incapable of tying a tie, ensuring that they feel included along with their classmates. 

Here are some other advantages of clip ties: 

  • Less likely to cause irritation, unlike traditional ties 
  • Clips keep students from loosening ties in warm weather 
  • Allows all students to have the same length tie, which means they look smarter 
  • Can be put on more quickly than a traditional tie 
  • Can be safer as they are less likely to be pulled off 

Man attaching clip on tie to his white shirt collar

We provide high quality clip on ties for schools in a variety of designs, which we can use with your Schools crest or design from scratch. 

We also do standard ties, clip on ties, velcro ties or elasticated ties – contact us now to get a quote for your bespoke school ties.  

 

Club Ties with Bannockburn Amateurs Football Club

Rebecca June 10, 2019 Case Study
Bannockburn Football Club

Club crests represent identity, values and traditions of your club, and club ties are a great way to wear this with pride. This allows the whole team to be uniform, and reinforces the sense of togetherness, as well as increase your clubs brand and reputation.

Bannockburn Football Club Ties

We have recently supplied Bannockburn Amateurs Football Club with club ties for their team, helping them to look professional and smart at events and before matches.

Bannockburn Amateurs recently won the cup final and are now proud holders of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup! Above is a photo of the team kitted out in their new ties before the game.

James Todd, at Bannockburn Club, thanked us for ‘the fast and very good service of supplying ties for our cup final’.

Please see below the tie design that i4c Publicity have created and produced for Bannockburn Amateurs Football Club:

Bannockburn Football Club Tie Design

We offer a variety of high quality club ties that are perfect for any sports club, and we can match any design you have, with crests and club colour.

A Guide on How to Tie a Tie for Father’s Day Celebrations

Rebecca June 6, 2019 Ties
Man tying blue stripe tie

With Father’s day approaching, you may have a big family plans or a nice meal to treat your dad. Getting suited and booted for this occasion may involve you wearing a tie – but do you know the best way to tie a tie? Here are our top 3 tie tips.  

How to Tie a Simple Knot

This is the most popular way to wear a tie.

  1. Drape tie around your neck, with the wide end extending 12 inches below the narrow end
  2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end, then turn the wide end back underneath the narrow
  3. Continue wrapping the wide end around the narrow by bringing it across the front
  4. Pull the wide end up and through the back of the loop
  5. Hold the front of the knot with your index finger and bring the wide end down through the knot
  6. Tighten the knot carefully by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up

Simple purple knot tie with blue shirt

How to Tie a Found in Hand Tie

This is a popular tie for beginners, and is one of the oldest ways to tie a tie.

  1. Drape the tie around your neck and the seam facing inward and the wide end on your left. This should be 2-3 inches lower than your desired finishing position
  2. Bring the wide end across the front of the narrow end, and then pass it back behind the narrow end
  3. Pass the wide end across the front of the knot
  4. Pass the wide end behind the know, and then back across the front
  5. Put a finger under this third horizontal loop
  6. Bring the tip of the wide end underneath the lop and feed it up behind the knot, and down over the front of the knot and through the third loop
  7. Pull the wide end through the horizontal loop
  8. Adjust the tie by pulling gently on the narrow end and loop around your collar

How to tie a tie graphic instructions

How to Tie a Bow Tie

Feeling a bit fancy? Why not wear a bow tie

  1. Start with the bow tie around your neck, ensuring seams are facing down and the right side is longer than the left
  2. Place the right end over the left, making an X shape
  3. Loop the longer end behind the X to create a simple knot. Pull tight and leave the longer end resting on your shoulder
  4. Place your index finger on the widest part of the curve of the shorter end, fold it to create a bow shape.
  5. Place the folded tip across your collar, with shorter end close to your neck
  6. Holding the bow with your forefinger and bring the longer end straight down over the shorter end in the middle of the bow
  7. Fold the longer end back towards your chest, pinch and fold and double the tip over to make a wing
  8. Tuck the folder tip of the longer end behind the folded tip of the shorter end and pass it up behind the knot
  9. With wings in place, tug the loops behind them to tighten the vertical front knot
  10. Hold the front down with one finger, and ensure wings are symmetrical

Navy and black bow ties

We supply a wide range of ties for many occasions, such as club ties, association ties and corporate ties. Get in touch today to find out how we can bring your ideas to life with high quality ties.

 

How Presenting Staff with Reward Badges Can Affect Your Business

Rebecca May 23, 2019 Business

Having reward schemes in place in your business is a great way to say thank you and show that you value your staff members, which can also increase staff retention and motivation. Here’s how using Reward Badges can positively impact your business.

Using Reward Badges to Thank Staff  

Badges are a meaningful symbol of your appreciation to your team’s loyalty and dedication, with more companies taking on this idea. You may have seen that big retailers such as Costa and Starbucks are now jumping on board with reward badges, helping to motivate employees.

There are many awards that employers and managers can give to their staff, with award of service being one of them. This recognises long standing dedication to the job, and presents an opportunity to an employer to thank someone for their service and contribution over time to the company.

A creative way of doing this is having different badges for each band of service, for example a different colour or material for 10, 20 or 50 years of service. This could include the design of your badges, or the plating.  

Of course, reward badges don’t just need to be for length of service. You can also use badges to celebrate a milestone of commend your team member on a job well done.

How Reward Badges Impact Company Culture

Customised Service Award Badges can be a valuable component of your employee recognition and motivation efforts and can help your company to instill pride among workers. This can also contribute to positive company culture. Reward badges reach all of your staff, regardless of role or responsibility in the company.

You could even present a service award badge at a special event, thoroughly helping to motivate your team members and instill pride with your employees.

Make the experience even more special by awarding service badges in customised presentation boxes, which could match the colour or design of your badges.

How Reward Badges Increase Brand Reputation

Rewarding your staff can also raise your business reputation among customers, which you can also use in your marketing efforts. When awarding your staff with awards, always ensure you post this to your Social Media platforms to leverage the opportunity to build your brand awareness.

Acknowledging workers for their service and contribution to your company is an effective way to retain your team, as well as aiding your marketing strategy and increasing brand reputation. If you feel that Award Badges would be useful in your business, contact us for more information and design ideas.

Case Study: Celebrating Vaisakhi with Personalised Merchandise 

Rebecca May 7, 2019 Case Study
Langar Aid charity wristband and trolley coin with logo

Case Study: Celebrating Vaisakhi with Personalised Merchandise

This month we have been working closely with charities to help them to celebrate Vaisakhi – a Sikh New Year festival that also commemorates 1699, the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

Midland Langar Seva Service

Midland Langar Seva Service is a charity that helps people in the UK by providing hot food and drink to those who are vulnerable, including those homeless, in schools and those on the poverty line. They operate on a Sikh based ethos – helping and supporting all people regardless of social status.

We helped MLSS by providing logo pin badges – this helps to promote their charity and get the word out there or all the hard work that they continuously undertake.

Langar Aid/Khalsa Aid

During Vaisakhi, we have also helped Langar Aid – a project by Khalsa Aid. Langar Aid helps to serve the homeless and vulnerable by providing vital food and water where it is needed. Langar Aid also provides support and help to those in need, by setting up an environment that is safe and helps to make people feel valued.

We supplied Langar and Khalsa Aid with Promotional merchandise that can help to promote the amazing work that they do for humanity worldwide. This included wristbands, pens and trolley coins – all of which can create awareness and raise much-needed funds to help the charity to continue to do all of the good work.

We work with multiple charities to create promotional merchandise, helping them to advertise their charity and raise important funds. Get in touch today to find out how we can help you. 

Case Study: How Trolley Coins Help Raise Funds for Charity

Rebecca May 7, 2019 Case Study
Charity Trolley Coin with logo

Case Study: How Trolley Coins Have Helped Raise Funds for Northampton Punjabi Association Charities

Northampton Punjabi Association

Northampton Punjabi Association is a local community group who celebrates the Punjabi culture with events to raise money for worthy charity causes. They have recently raised £3000 for charity. They did this through having a Hawaiian themed party for guests. Along with the fancy dress, they also had trolley coins made to raise awareness and funds for the charity.

How Trolley Coins Help to Raise Money

Trolley Coins represent a pound coin, and are used to raise awareness and are used for fundraising. As they are used often in everyday life, trolley coins have high exposure to users.

Despite their name, trolley coins can also be used for changing room lockers. They also usually come with keychains, allowing users to hang them on their keyring.

Using both sides of the coin can help to increase impact, allowing your charity message or logo to be viewed thousands of times. 

Trolley coins come with a low cost, allowing your organisation to save money whilst making a high impact, further helping you to fundraise those crucial amounts.

We offer a variety of high quality finished trolley coins that are perfect for any charity.

 

Fundraising Methods for Your Charity

Rebecca April 24, 2019 Charity
charity fundraising pile of wristbands

Charities need to raise money in various ways to make sure they are able to cover costs and help those in need.

3 Creative Ways to Raise Those All Important Funds…  

 

1. Simple Selling 

Buying a bulk amount of cost effective items with your logo on and selling to supporters is a great way to raise funds as well as increasing the awareness of your cause. Some companies may also offer you deals and discounts to get the bulk items cheaper, making it even more low cost. Perfect items for this are pens, buttons and badges.

Club button badges

2. Coffee mornings 

These are held up and down the country all year round, and are not only a great way to get your charity name out there and raise money, but a great way to bring the community together and add value to your local charity brand. Selling coffee and cake, and collecting donations, is an easy way to fundraise. You could also host a raffle, or sell promotional mugs with your charity name and logo printed on them.

3. Wristbands 

Selling colourful and eye catching wristbands is a fun and easy way to raise money, whilst also increasing your brand awareness. As people wear your logo and named wristbands, others will see your brand and be made aware, further helping your fundraising efforts. These small, lightweight bands appeal to all age groups, making them the perfect product to help you raise money no matter what your charity.

charity fundraising pile of wristbands

If you need help with your fundraising effort, contact us today to see how our merchandise can help you raise money and awareness for your cause.

Building a Brand Buzz using Badges

Rebecca March 14, 2019 Pin Badges

Building a buzz for your brand is a powerful way to generate awareness and promote your business, and to increase the interest of potential customers. There are a number of tactics you can use to build your brand buzz, and using merchandise such as badges is a low cost way of doing this.

Virgin balloon badges

 

3 Ways to Building a Brand Buzz using Badges

 

1. Freebie Badges 

As badges are extremely low cost, giving them away is a great way for your business to get your brand out in the hands of potential customers whilst keeping costs low. Also, offering free merchandise is a great way to start building customer relationships, showing that you’re there to help them. This also helps increase brand visibility when customers wear their free badges on their bags or jackets.

2. Team up with a Blogger or Influencer 

With the rise of bloggers for every industry and market, they are a great way to get your brand heard amongst competitors. Bloggers are people that run blogs, and you can often team up with them and offer them your badges for free, where they can write content about you for their readers to see. This helps get your brand out there to a large audience.

 

3. Business Gifting 

If you are a business to business company, gifting them your badges is a great way to get your brand promoted to a wider audience, as well as strengthening your business relationships. This is because people feel happy when they receive something for free, as well as feeling appreciated. Of course, you can send these to other businesses within your industry, not just those that you already work with.

It’s easy to build a brand buzz with personalised badges, and with their smaller size, low cost and creative design, it’s a great way to get a competitor edge and get potential customers excited about your company and the products/services that you offer. Get in touch today to see how our badges can help your business.

Our Top Fundraising Merchandise

Rebecca February 19, 2019 Promotional Products
Fundraising badge with charity logo

We make a variety of products that are suitable for fundraising. These products are a great way to create awareness and raise much-needed funds for your charity.

Here are our top 5 Fundraising Items:

1. Charity Badges

Charity Badges are the UK’s most popular fundraising product as they are proven to be cost effective, and generate a good income. These are great products, as they are customised with your logo, meaning that they are seen by a large audience and will build your brand presence, helping you to raise funds for your cause. They are low budget, meaning that charities make a fantastic return on them, as well as being hugely popular as people love wearing badges. I4c Publicity also offers backing cards which are a great addition that attaches to your charity badge, which can be used to describe the details of your charity.

2. Trolley Coins

Trolley Coins are a great way to increase your fundraising efforts as they are used often in everyday life, meaning that they have high exposure to users. They can be used for supermarket and airport trolleys, as well as changing room lockers. This is a practical item that will be seen by people on a regular basis, helping your fundraising efforts.

personalised trolley coin, custom trolley coins, charity trolley keychains

3. Pens/Pencils

Everybody loves stationary, which is why pens and pencils are so good for fundraising for Charity. Their vibrant colours and simple lines are ideal for any message, that will be in view of people on a daily basis. People are guaranteed to keep and use pens and pencils, meaning that they will likely make a huge impact and your charity message will stay on their minds. Not only this, but pens often change hands, meaning your message will reach new people and help your fundraising efforts.

4. Wristbands

Personalised wristbands are a great way of promoting your charity as they have a high success rate and low cost. They can be personalised with your message and logo, meaning that they are attractive and those that wear them will remember your brand. They are also a great way for people to show their support in a highly-visible way, and unite supporters. Not only this, but wristbands are extremely durable meaning they will last a long time for many people to see, increasing your brand awareness.

5. Mugs

Mugs are great for large scale events. They are inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to print your logo, name and message. They can be given away and taken home by recipients, increasing your brand exposure as they will be seen by others too.

Overall, fundraising merchandise is extremely effective as it allows you to increase your exposure and gain the all important funds for your cause in the long term. Contact our specialist team to discuss which promotional products would work best for your charity today.