The Fluid team have had a very busy start to 2018, visiting the key industry events in the promotional merchandise calendar. Taking place in January these events reflect current trends in merchandise and really kick start the promotional industries year!
PSI in Dusseldorf, Germany in January hosted visitors from 90 countries over the 3-day event, making it the leading trade show for promotional products in Europe! Also in January in the UK, the BPMA and Sourcing City hosted Merchandise World at The Wing at Silverstone Racetrack, Northampton, with over 1019 visitors meeting 172 exhibitors.
The Fluid team scoured the halls for the latest trends and product inspiration, so take a look and see what we think will be hot in 2018!
Reusable Drinkware
The increased focus on needless plastic pollution and how it’s affecting our lives, our oceans and our sea life was reflected in the prevalence of reusable drinkware at this year’s exhibitions.
We saw lots of alternatives to disposable coffee cups and replacements for single use plastic bottles. Ranging from the Stojo collapsible coffee cup to all sorts of single use plastic bottle alternatives, such as metal insulated bottles which keep hot drinks hot for 12 hours and cold drinks cold for 24 hours such as the Vasa bottle.
Stojo Cup and Vasa Bottle are great alternatives to single use plastics
A BBC article published in January highlighted the Refill campaign whereby water companies are joining forces with the campaign to create a national network of shops, cafes and businesses which will offer free water refill points in every major city and town in England by 2021. We predict that these product alternatives to single use plastics will be huge in 2018. So whether you like your water infused with fruit or carbon filtered - we’ve got you!
Wireless Charging
Wireless charging is causing a big buzz in the world of promotional marketing - the recent Merchandise World show from the BPMA and Sourcing City saw some great new wireless charging products hitting the UK market! Enabled with the latest tech, these devices allow wireless charging of your Qi enabled devices without needing to plug them in. Just set your device down on the plate, and away you go! Check out our Product of the Month for February.
2018 will see a rise in Qi enabled devices giving you the option to wirelessly charge
We have a competition running during February to win the ZENS USB Powered Round Charging Plate which won the Merchandise World Silver Award for 2018's Technology Product of the Year. Click here and scroll down for details on how you can win one for yourself.
All Over Branding
New branding capabilities mean that you’re no longer limited to a single colour print in one small position. We saw lots of all over branding options – like all over full colour branded towels. Customisable notebooks with full cover embossing, bespoke pages for your vital company information and lots of personalisation options, such as personalised sleeve wraps, branded badge fastenings and printed straps mean that you’re able to showcase your brand in all its glory without limitations. The possibilities really are endless! If you’re interested in putting your brand in the spotlight, then just ask us how….
Development of printing methods give you a whole range of new branding options
Colour me a rainbow!
Red and yellow and pink and green, orange and purple and blue. Ok, you get the message!
You couldn’t ignore the plethora of bright colours at this year’s shows! Everything from pens, bags, bottles and caps and even bright pink inflatable flamingos! It seems the bolder the better. Products in your brand shade or in a range of eye popping colours is a sure-fire way to get your audience to sit up and take notice.
Whatever your brand colour there are products around that will display your colour
We have so many colour options available, so go ahead and be bold with your choices this year.
Interested in speaking with the team?
If you'd like to discuss how Fluid can help you and your brand with merchandise campaigns, don't hesitate to get in touch. Just pop some details in the form below, we'll be in touch shortly!
