| When ordering printed promotional pens, promotional | | | | pens you should choose a pen with this type of refill. |
| pencils or promotional items in general, it is vitally | | | | 6. Type of Pen: You can choose from ballpoint pens, |
| important that your expectations match what is | | | | rollerballs, fountain pens or gel pens for your |
| technically possible in order to avoid disappointment. | | | | promotional writing instrument. Ballpoint pens, often |
| As a leading UK supplier and printer of promotional | | | | referred to as ballpens, are by far the most popular |
| merchandise we strive to manage our customers | | | | because they tend to be cheaper and last longer. |
| expectations and hopefully the following list of do's | | | | However, the other types mentioned are smoother |
| and don'ts will help you avoid some of the more | | | | writers but be aware of their reduced life. |
| common pitfalls when ordering promotional pens. It is | | | | 7. Too Much Information: The print area on even the |
| in no particular order of importance. | | | | largest personalised pens is very small compared to |
| | | | other advertising media. Keep your message simple |
| 1. Print Colour: Ensure your print colour of choice will | | | | and don't cram too much in as this will mean your |
| be possible on the Promotional pens or promotional | | | | message will be legible only to those with 20/20 |
| items selected. For example avoid coloured pens | | | | vision. When it comes to printed pens, less is more. |
| (Pens that do not have a white barrel) if your print | | | | 8. Safety: Avoid pens that have components which |
| colour is bright. The underlying colour of the printed | | | | remove easily (More than 50 Newtons of force to |
| pen or printed pencil may affect the print colour. You | | | | comply with British toy standards). Pen caps should |
| cannot achieve bright colours on dark pens unless | | | | have a breather hole in case children swallow them. If |
| white is printed underneath. If this is the case, ask | | | | in doubt, ask for relevant safety certification, |
| for your promotional logo or print details to be | | | | particularly if the printed pens are intended for |
| printed on top of a white 'ground' or block. | | | | children. |
| 2. Refill Colour: Choose black or blue ink for general | | | | 9. Print Colour Registration: It can be difficult to get |
| use because most other colours have a very short | | | | perfect colour alignment of your logo or text on |
| shelf life. It is always the safest bet to go for black | | | | some pens. Push-button pens in general are easier to |
| ink because it reproduces well in photocopies and is | | | | register than twist-action pens, or pens without clips. |
| the preferred ink colour for official documents. | | | | The type of colour registration most difficult to print |
| 3. Print Area: Promotional Pens come in all sorts of | | | | on a promotional writing instrument are images such |
| shapes and sizes and it is important that you choose | | | | as concentric circles where each circle is a different |
| a product with a large print area if your logo is | | | | colour. If your printed image is multicoloured it is |
| crammed with fine detail or you have a lot of text. | | | | always best to ask for a printed proof. |
| 4. Print Type: The vast majority of promotional items | | | | 10. Delivery: This is often overlooked but it is |
| are printed using traditional methods such as screen | | | | nevertheless important that you check your suppliers |
| printing. However, if you require a more permanent | | | | stock levels, their print capacity and lead times |
| image and you have chosen a metal pen it may be | | | | because these issues will govern the service levels |
| wise to consider engraving. Engraved pens do not | | | | you receive. It is also worth checking whether your |
| give you the option of coloured images but as | | | | consignment is insured by your supplier and at what |
| compensation it has a higher perceived value than | | | | stage you take ownership of your printed pens. |
| traditional print. | | | | Promotional pens will prove to be the most |
| 5. Refill Size: The weight of ink in the average refill is | | | | cost-effective form of advertising and we hope our |
| 0.1g. Jumbo refills contain in excess of 0.2g and will | | | | guide will help you avoid the most common pitfalls so |
| last at least twice as long and will cost very Little | | | | your buying experience is as pleasurable as possible. |
| extra. If you expect good mileage from your printed | | | | |