| Promotional pens are available in hundreds of | | | | telephone number printed on the pens as well so he |
| different styles and price brackets. Given this large | | | | asked his pen supplier to add these details for him. |
| choice, it is often very easy to fall in love with a | | | | What happened next disappointed Stu very much. |
| certain pen without realising its negative attributes. | | | | Within an hour of sending his logo and contact details |
| Just because a pen looks great and writes fantastic | | | | to his pen supplier he received a telephone call from |
| does not mean it is the proper pen for your | | | | the supplier. The pen only had a 30mm x 5mm print |
| promotion. | | | | are. Although his logo would fit into the space nicely, |
| Take Stu Armstrong, for example. Stu approached a | | | | it would not be possible to print his telephone number |
| promotional gift supplier with the goal of finding a | | | | and web address. There simply was not enough |
| unique and high quality promotional pen for an | | | | space to do so. Stu tried to blame the supplier but |
| exhibition his company was planning on attending. He | | | | deep down he knew he had never discussed printing |
| found the perfect pen and swiftly returned to his | | | | the additional information which he now realised was |
| office, pen in hand to show his boss his amazing find. | | | | very important. Luckily for Stu, there was another |
| His boss loved the pen as well. The navy trim colour | | | | print area on the opposite side of the pen where |
| matched the colours in their logo perfectly and it | | | | they could print the additional details. There was not |
| seemed to be a lot of pen for the money. Stu was | | | | enough time to print all of the details without express |
| asked to get the logo ready to send to the pen | | | | charges but it was necessary to do so. He ended up |
| supplier. Stu also ordered 5000 of the pens realising | | | | paying much more that he would have had he |
| that they would go quickly when visitors to his | | | | decided what he wanted on the pens before he |
| exhibition stand saw the free pen ready for the | | | | chose his favourite pen. |
| taking. | | | | Problems like the one Stu experienced happen quite |
| In the week or two that followed, Stu became busy | | | | often. It is therefore essential, that when you are |
| with other projects and the artwork for the pens | | | | considering using printed pens in your promotions, |
| was put at the back of his list. After all, the exhibition | | | | that you consider not only the style of the pen but |
| was still four weeks away. In the mean time, his | | | | whether it offers enough print area for your |
| supplier had ordered in the 5000 Italian made pens so | | | | messege and whether there is enough time to print |
| that they would be ready for print when the artwork | | | | the job without incurring any express charges. The |
| was received. | | | | best way to ensure that each of these |
| When Stu finally got around to organising the | | | | considerations are covered is to ensure that you |
| artwork, he sent it on with his instructions to print | | | | know what you want to have printed on the pens |
| the company logo. He had also decided it would be a | | | | before choosing a pen. |
| great idea to have his company website and | | | | |