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Not Sure Whether To Buy A USB Pen or USB Flash Drive – Simple Buy Both!

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Many of our customers have very clear ideas about what they want from a branded USB memory stick and its not unusual for them to have very precise ideas on what model, colour and memory size will work best for them and their brand. Sometimes this is simply because they have purchased branded memory sticks before and simply want a repeat order or because they’ve seen other companies USB memory sticks and want something similar for themselves.

But, if you’re looking to order USB memory sticks with your logo printed or engraved on for the first time it can be daunting. Not only are there literally hundreds of different models and styles available including credit card versions, USB pens, leather memory sticks, USB keys and the usual range of “more standard” designs but every model comes in a range of different colours and in some cases a range of different finishes, i.e. glossy, rubberised, and metal.

Once you’ve settled on a short list its then a case of working out exactly what you want printed on the memory sticks, whether you should print on both sides, whether you should have the same design printed on both sides or perhaps have your logo on one side and your web URL and phone number on the other side. Decisions, decisions!

Of course for customers that are not quite sure what they want it helps that our in-house design team are on-hand to work up concepts and ideas. At USB2U we’ve always offered this service without charge and without any obligation because we want to make sure that you get not just an “ok” memory stick but a branded USB memory stick that looks fantastic and will do a great job at promoting your company. It’s a cliché but we want our customers to be “delighted” with the choice they’ve made and if that means going the extra mile to help them make the right decision then we’re happy to do it.

Branded Memory Sticks and Pens

Branded Memory Sticks and Pens

For some customers narrowing down the choice to one particularly USB memory stick is not always easy. One option is to go with multiple types or the same model but in a variety of colours. A great example of this is BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) who eventually chose a Classic USB flash drive and a USB Pen with the pen being supplied in a really nice metal tin. Both of them look great and its easy to see why making a decision between the two would be tough. BASI were delighted with the results and were kind enough to say the following:

“Just a line to let you know that I have received the USB’s today and that I am delighted with the products. Thank you for your assistance with the order, and it has been a pleasure to deal with you.”

If you’re considering buying branded USB memory sticks and you’re not sure which model to choose then just give us a call. Our friendly sales team will talk you through the options and arrange a free no obligation mock-up(s) for you.

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Leather USB Memory Sticks Make Great Corporate Gifts

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Leather has been used since to prehistoric times to shape and fashion all manner of things from clothing, shelter, armour, liquid containers, saddles and boats to name but a few. Leather is also commonly used to trim or decorate weapons and to add a soft malleable feel to everyday items like steering wheels, handles and so on.

Although its history is very much as a material that is used in a very basic and rustic way it has, in more recent years, become a material that is synonymous with luxury and quality. Products that are made high quality leather like shoes; bags, belts and wallets carry a price premium and look and feel fantastic. Luxury brands often use leather or leather trims to promote and feeling of strength, power and exclusivity.

New Leather USB Drives

New Leather USB Drives

It is for these reasons that products fashioned from leather or that use leather to add a finishing touch of style and class are sought after in the promotions industry and corporate gift market. If you’re going to give a gift to someone then you’ve already decided they are worthy of your recognition, thanks and appreciation and therefore choosing a gift that is going to deliver the right message is important. Leather gifts suggest an investment in value, they suggest that you wanted to go beyond the “standard” product(s) and buy something that was has a degree of exclusivity.

The same arguments are true of leather USB flash drives. Yes, there are standard plastic and metal USB flash drives available and they do an excellent job but, if you want the recipient to think that you’ve spent a little more money on them, if you want them to feel particularly appreciated and thanked then its worth looking at the Leather USB Flash Drive options.

It perhaps no surprise that when Maserati wanted some USB flash drives producing that they opted for a leather version and a leather version that was matched to their corporate colours. The end result is a top-end, quality product that not only looks great but also is right for their high net worth customers.

Maserati Leather USB

Maserati Leather USB

There are several different models of Leather USB Flash Drives to choose from. They all have the same intrinsic characteristics you’d associate with any high quality leather gift but they go one step further because they can be pre-loaded with relevant thank you messages or information about your company and its products and services.

Above all a leather USB flash drive will be warmly received and will be a fantastic advocate for your brand/company.

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Leather USB Memory Sticks Make Great Corporate Gifts

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A USB Memory Sticks That Is As Tough As Nails

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Not all USB memory sticks get treated with the respect they are due. In fact, some USB memory sticks can expect nothing other than a life of hard knocks and brutal punishment from the day they start being used.

Fortunately not all memory sticks are “born” equal and for some everyday punishment and abuse is like water off a ducks back. When you’re looking to source USB sticks for students, contractors working outside, architects spending lots of time outside on-site or staff working in near military conditions it is critical to know which USB sticks will be robust enough to stand up to the rigours of daily use.

Capsule USB

Capsule USB

The vast majority of promotional and branded USB flash drives are manufactured from plastic, lightweight aluminium or a combination of the two. These drives are absolutely fine for general everyday use but they won’t necessarily stand up to lots of physical punishment and the certainly won’t be waterproof.

If you are looking for a branded USB memory sticks that is incredibly tough, is manufactured from metal, has a screw cap to protect the USB connector and is waterproof then you should consider the Capsule USB model from USB2U.

Capsule USB Stick

Capsule USB Stick

These capsule shaped USB sticks available in a wide range of memory sizes starting at 512MB and the body shell can be spray painted to whatever colour you want it to be. Your logo will then be applied over the top the body shell colour you’re requested. Typically these Capsule USB sticks are supplied with a lanyard or keyring attachment so that you don’t lose them! Its one thing being near indestructible but that does not help if your absent minded or prone to losing things once you’ve put them down somewhere!

Whilst they may be tough there is no compromise on the aesthetics because the finished product when spray-painted and logo’d up looks every bit as good as its more “namby pamby” cousins.

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A USB Memory Sticks That Is As Tough As Nails

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How Many Branded USB Memory Sticks Does £500 Get You

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

If you’ve only got a relatively small budget for branded USB memory sticks and you want to know how far you can stretch it then there are some steps you can take to maximise your spend. There are also some pitfalls to be aware of when trying to “trim” costs so that you don’t end up with poorly finished sticks that are prone to failure.

Things to do to ensure you are getting value for money and that you don’t overspend unnecessarily include:

  1. Shop around. There are lots of companies offering to supply branded USB memory sticks these days so make sure you get at least a couple of quotes and make sure you get a fully inclusive price. Its perfectly acceptable for the actual carriage costs to get the sticks to you to be quoted separately but all other set-up costs, origination costs, data-loading costs etc. should be factored into the unit price when you are making comparisons.
  2. Don’t pay for lots of unnecessary memory. USB memory sticks come in various memory sizes starting at 64MB and going all the way up to 32GB. The most popular memory size for a promotional USB stick is between 512MB and 2GB. USB memory sticks of this size are large enough to carry your companies brochures, sales material and media files as well as being large enough for the recipient to use for the storage of their own data.

    If you are looking purely at “lowest cost” promotion giveaways then think about using a 64MB or 128MB stick. These will be the cheapest options. The downside is the usable memory on them won’t make them that attractive to the user because they’ll fill them pretty quickly but they still have a reasonably high perceived value and they’re useful for distributing your own information.

  3. Printing is expensive and consequently the more colours you want printed on the USB memory stick the more expensive it’s going to be. It’s worth considering reducing complex logo’s with lots of colours to a single or two-colour version. Single or two colour prints still look great you just need to be more careful about choosing a body colour for the memory stick that works with the logo.
  4. Don’t leave it to last minute to orders your branded USB memory sticks otherwise you’ll have to buy locally held and locally printed stock. Many USB suppliers will hold some local stock but you’ll have far less choice in terms of style and memory size and you’ll pay significantly more to get them printed locally rather than during the manufacturing process at the factory. A lead-time of around 10-14 days should be ample.
  5. Stick to the more popular factory designs like the Twister USB flash Drive or other “classic” models. You’ll pay a premium for wood, metal and custom USB flash drives.
USb Memory Stick

USB Memory Stick

In your search for value you should also be on the lookout for the following:

  1. Companies that offer a price that simply looks “too good to be true”. If one company’s price is significantly cheaper than the other quotes you’ve been given then it’s worth double-checking that you are not being offered Grade B (re-cycled) flash modules. It not uncommon for these to be passed off as “new” by some less reputable companies. The USB memory sticks will look and feel the same as the genuine article but Grade B chips are notoriously unreliable and tend to be very slow at transferring data.
  2. Make sure the suppliers you’re talking to have a contact phone number and a proven track record of delivery. If things don’t arrive on time or there is a subsequent problem with your order that you need to resolve then it’s important that you are able to get hold of them. With growing amounts of business conducted over the its increasingly difficult to know just how big or small the company you are dealing with actually is. Don’t be afraid to use resources like Google Earth, Companies House and other Trade bodies to check them out.
  3. Be aware that the price for USB memory sticks is volatile and driven by a number of factors including the currency markets, the supply/demand for flash chips around the world and Chinese Holidays! Because of this it’s important to get any price locked down and confirmed in writing.
Branded Memory Sticks

Branded Memory Sticks

As a general rule of thumb you should be able to buy around at least 165 USB Memory sticks that are supplied in a gift box with a 2-colour print. These will be USB sticks at the bottom end of the memory size but they should be supplied with new, Grade A flash chips and controllers.

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How Many Branded USB Memory Sticks Does £500 Get You

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Pinpoint Sharp Printing On Twister USB Flash Drives

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

If you’re looking to buy USB flash drives with your company logo or brand printed on them then its critical that whichever flash drive you choose is capable of reproducing your logo as your designer intended it to be printed. If your company logo is complex, contains multiple colours and/or has graduated tints and shading then this becomes all the more important and to be fair challenging.

Twister USB

Twister USB

When it comes to printing not all USB flash drives are created equal with only a relatively small number of models supporting a full colour print process. One of these is the USB Twister Flash Drive, which is one of the reasons that it is the most popular flash drive on the market.

The colour reproduction on the Twister is pinpoint sharp and can easily accommodate the most complex of logos. Of course the old adage of “garbage in garbage out” applies so its important that you provide your supplier with the best quality artwork you can lay your hands on. This will typically be in a high resolution Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or Photoshop (.psd) image that is vectorised.

USB Credit Card

USB Credit Card

Jpeg images are simply not suitable to print from because they are a compressed file format and because of this information about the image is “lost” when the file is created. Whilst Jpeg images might look “ok” to the eye when they are used for printed the end results can often look blotchy and weak.

The Twister is not the only model that supports a full colour print process; others include the Chic, the Trident and the Slider. The USB credit card is also an excellent choice for complex logos because the full surface area can be used to apply a photo-realistic print.

Choosing the right model of USB flash drive for your project or event is never easy because there is lots of choice but if you do have a complex logo to print then you won’t go far wrong with the Twister.

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Pinpoint Sharp Printing On Twister USB Flash Drives

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Branded USB Memory Sticks Not To Be Confused With Memory Sticks

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

A Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card format that was developed and launched by Sony in late 1998. Memory Sticks are a proprietary design of Sony’s and are commonly used as a storage medium in Sony digital cameras, MP3 and MP4 players, hand-held consoles and video cameras.

Since their launch various “flavours” of the Memory Stick have been introduced including the Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, the Micro and Pro-HD. These variants embrace higher speed formats and smaller form factors but of late it is a format that has struggled to keep up with the demand and usage of SD cards in the market. Sony have now introduced their own version of the SD card which to some has signalled start of the end of the Memory Stick.

Memory Sticks could theoretically have been used by the promotions industry as a portable storage medium but “memory cards” have just not caught on like USB Memory Sticks.  The primary reason is that these cards are typically used “inside a device” and therefore any branding is not on display, equally, the shape and size of a Memory Stick does not lend itself to being carried easily.

USB Memory sticks, also referred to, as USB Flash Drives, USB Thumb Drives and USB Pen Drives have become the dominant medium for portable storage. Not only are they incredibly easy to use but also they are lightweight, portable, easy to attach to a key ring or lanyard and these days they are available in a wide range of memory sizes up to a whopping 64GB! They also come in a wide range of styles, colours and shapes, which can all, be over printed, engraved or embossed with a logo.

Branded USB Memory Sticks

Branded USB Memory Sticks

If you’ve got data to save, store and transport then for the majority of people a USB memory stick is the preferred option. It’s partly for this reason that they are now commonly used by companies as a promotional product or a way of distributing data and information (e.g. at a seminar, conference or press event).

A USB Memory Stick rather than a Memory Stick, printed up with a company logo is a popular and sought after item with a high perceived value. Users of USB memory sticks not only value them but they use them on a regular basis and as such any brand printed on them gets excellent exposure and excellent and positive brand association.

By pre-loading sales brochures, price lists, technical data sheets, media files and web links onto the memory sticks before they are distributed companies can offset the cost of buying the branded memory sticks against the print savings they make.

So when considering Memory Sticks as a promotional tool make sure it’s a Branded USB Memory Stick you seek quotes on.

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Branded USB Memory Sticks Not To Be Confused With Memory Sticks

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Why Choose Pantone Matched USB Memory Sticks

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

USB Memory Sticks come in lots of different shapes and sizes these days so it’s pretty easy to find something that’s suitable for your show, exhibition or event. There are literally hundreds of standard “factory” models available some with a cap that twists, some where the USB connectors retracts, and some with a removable cap. Most are manufactured from plastic, some from plastic and aluminium but if these aren’t quite what you wanted there are metal and leather models available also.

With all of these choices making a decision on which USB memory stick to go with can be daunting. Some of the important things to consider are:

  • Will the model I choose be big enough to carry my logo and show it off to best effect? Its surprising how “squished” a logo can look if you print it on the wrong style of USB memory stick and in terms of size not all memory sticks are created the equal. When getting quotes for memory sticks make sure you get high quality mock-ups of your artwork on any short list you’re drawn up.
  • If the memory sticks you are going to hand out are going to take some punishment in day to day use then you need to choose a model and print style that will preserve your brand. After all, you’re paying for the USB memory sticks so you want your brand to survive and not rub off after a couple of weeks! Some of the models on the market can be engraved (which is a resilient way of branding them) and some look great with a resin dome sticker. Dome stickers are commonly used by the computer and automotive industry and allow a protective layer to be applied over a high quality 4-colour print.
  • Capless Vs Cap. The most popular promotional USB flash drives are the capless versions like the Twister or Slider model and this is simply because there is no cap to lose but the shape of these models is not to everyone’s taste.

    Twister USB Flash Drive

    Twister USB Flash Drives

  • Choose a USB memory stick that comes in a colour that’s going to compliment and work well with your brand or logo. Don’t just opt of making a decision of choose black or another core colour because getting the colour right can make all the difference. Again, if you’re not sure get your supplier to work up a variety of examples for your consideration.
  • One way of lifting the profile of your branded memory sticks is to colour match the body shell to one of the primary colours from your logo. If you choose the right colour it can look stunning and if you don’t trust your own un-trained eye to select the colour ask your suppliers designer to work up some concepts for you.

    USB Flash Pantone Matched

    Pantone Matched USB Sticks

In our opinion Pantone Matched USB memory sticks look fantastic. You can pantone colour match a number of different styles and whilst it a little more work up-front when you are going through the decision making process it’s a little bit of pain that is definitely worth it.

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Car Manufacturers Turn to Branded Memory Sticks

Friday, June 11th, 2010

The annual global advertising and marketing spend of the motor industry runs into billions of pounds and even though there was a dip in 2009 the sector is still a gorilla in terms of its overall expenditure. With sales of cars in 2010 expected to grow and exceed 53 million** its perhaps no surprise that the sector has continued to put its faith and

maserati usb

Maserati USB Flash Drive

money in advertising.

Whilst ad spend continues to be high the mix of media, promotional tools and techniques used is changing. Today far more money is pumped into on-line advertising than ever before with the internet now being seen by many leading car manufacturers as not only the start of a consumers search for a new car but in many cases they will also end their search on-line by buying a car over the web.

Dramatic changes in research and buying patterns by the consumer means that the manufacturers have had to respond and respond with multi-channel and multi-platform adverts. Its no longer possible to rely on TV and Print advertising,

USB Key Fob

USB Key Fob

today its critical that car manufactures have a broad mix of advertising that fully embraces on-line advertising, social network ad placement, Twitter, and mobile phones.

At motor shows and car showrooms things are changing as well so don’t expect to walk away with armfuls of glossy brochures in future. Instead you’ll be able to hook up to the manufacturers web sites, download content to your iPad, Mobile phone or notebook or alternatively take all of the content away in a digitised format on a branded memory stick.

Branded memory sticks or fully customised flash drives (for example made in the shape of a car or key-fob) are becoming increasingly popular at shows because they are an innovative and fun way to engage with customers, to draw people onto the stand(s) and to send them away with lots of electronics brochures, specifications, prices, video clips, reviews and web links but without the need to print or carry anything.

Mini Car USB

Mini Car USB

The reduction in printed material is great for the environment, great for the car manufacturer as it reduces print and transportation costs and great for the consumers as they are not burdened with lots of heavy brochures to lug around all day at the shows.

Custom flash drives are particularly popular for press events and new car launches because they are a fantastic way to send the journalists away armed with something memorable and something easy to carry and use that contains all of the press pack information, web links, video clips etc.

On-line advertising and promotion is clearly set to be with us for some time to come but branded memory sticks also have a place in the overall mix.

(**Source: Scotia Capital Global Auto Report)

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Cheap Branded Memory Sticks for Schools & Universities

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Perhaps we should qualify that statement and make it clear we’re not talking about cheap in any negative or derogatory way but rather cheap as in fantastically discounted offers that are only available to Schools & Universities in the UK.

Why are we offering such good deals? Well, put simply we want your business and we want to be able to demonstrate to

Branded Memory Sticks

Branded Memory Sticks

you (if you’re not a customer already) why you should be buying your branded memory sticks from USB2U. We also appreciate that school and local education authority budgets are coming under renewed pressure and we want to help you get the best bang for buck when buying your USB flash drives.

Rather than making you jump through hoops to get the best deal you can we’ll lay out very clearly and simply what we can offer you and at what price. There are no hidden extras, not nasty incidental costs that are tucked away in the small print and there is certainly no compromise on the quality of products. We only ever supply branded memory sticks with Grade A flash memory chips modules and we certainly never supply re-cycled or “re-graded” flash modules because whilst these are cheaper they have a high failure rate and are to be avoided.

As a school you will be guaranteed immediate trade terms for any order for branded memory sticks or custom flash drives and we offer this irrespective of your order value. All we need from you to get the ball rolling is a school Purchase Order or an email confirming your order from your school email account. That’s it. Simple isn’t it.

Here the full list of fantastic discounts and benefits we offer to schools:

  • Free design & mock-ups
  • Free samples
  • Free plain coloured lanyards or key ring attachments with every memory stick
  • Free data loading
  • Free delivery to any UK mainland address
  • Free small gift box (or we can supply in individual poly bags)
  • No quibble 30-day payment terms on all orders
  • Discounted pricing

Interested? Please give us a call or fill out our on-line enquiry form and one of our team will get in touch with you.

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