USB2U
Click4Assistance
Google-Translate-English to French Google-Translate-Dutch Google-Translate-English to German Google-Translate-English to Italian Google-Translate-English to Russian BETA Google-Translate-English to Spanish
Choose a Language
Get A Quote

Archive for the ‘Branded USB’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Branded USB Memory Sticks – Why Are So Many Being Given Away

Monday, September 14th, 2009

It’s no exaggeration to say that millions and millions of Branded USB Memory Sticks are given away free every year and the trend is accelerating. But why, what makes a branded USB memory stick such a great item and what are they most commonly being used for?

Branded USB

Branded USB Memory Sticks are incredibly popular with everyone because:

  1. They are incredibly handy gadgets that make storing and transporting large amounts of data very easy.
  2. They come in a range of designs and styles that look great when printed up with a logo or brand. Matching the body of many of the USB Memory Sticks to a primary colour from the printed brand is relatively easy to do and inexpensive and helps to lift the overall “look and feel” of the memory stick.
  3. People like to receive branded USB memory sticks because of their perceived value and because of their intrinsic usefulness.
  4. They are small and light so transportation, storage and distribution is never an issue.
  5. They have global appeal. Unlike some promotional products that only work in certain markets and cultures USB memory sticks have a universal appeal.
  6. They are easy to use and data (files, music, videos, presentations, etc.) can be stored onto the memory stick before they are distribution.
  7. Prices have fallen over the last few years making them a cost effective marketing and promotional tool.

What are the most common uses for Branded USB Memory Sticks?

Not surprisingly given their popularity the usage of memory sticks continues to grow and new and innovative uses for them are being found all the time. Some of the more common uses include:

  1. Giveaways at trade shows, exhibitions and conferences – branded USB memory sticks are an ideal way to get your brand distributed and your sales brochures brought to life. Pre-loading links to your website, including sales videos and presentations together with product sheets and special offers.
  2. Seminars where they are typically pre-loaded with speakers notes, presentations and details of forthcoming seminars and events that the audience might be interested in.
  3. Press Launches – handing out a branded or even a custom shaped USB Memory stick at a press launch is a great way to engage with the invited journalists. Custom USB memory sticks manufactured in a shape to represent the event are becoming increasingly popular because of the “wow” factor and talking point they create.
  4. Product Launches – USB memory sticks printed with the logo or design of your product (or even manufactured in the shape of your product) and pre-loaded with product information, preview videos, pricing etc are popular. More and more companies are now using memory sticks are a core part of their overall sales and marketing mix and launch plans.
  5. University Fresher Fairs – every student loves something for nothing and if it can’t be beer then a USB memory stick is a good substitute particularly if you can pre-load it with lots of useful information for them on the university, life as a student, student offers, housing information, student union details etc.
  6. Schools – Many schools now mandate the use memory sticks and are either making them available to students free of charge or supplying them with the school crest/logo on at a subsidised rate.

Whilst not an exhaustive list it does illustrate the range of uses the once humble USB memory stick is now being put to.

  • Share/Bookmark
Branded USB Memory Sticks – Why Are So Many Being Given Away

Tags: , ,
Posted in Branded Memory, Branded Memory Sticks, Branded USB, Memory Brand | Comments Off

Branded USB Hubs – Kills The Promotional Mouse Mat…….!

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Have you already provided your clients with Branded USB Memory sticks? Looking to offer something a little different, but still within the same price bracket of promotional USB Memory Sticks? Then why not consider Branded USB Hubs.

Branded USB

Branded USB Hubs are the equivalent to the mains power extension sockets. In essence, it takes one USB port and splits into 2, 4 or 7 additional ports. Allowing the end user to plug in a whole range of different USB devices, such as Promotional USB Memory Sticks.

They are simple plug and play and you can never have enough USB Ports. Click here to view our range.

So what other advantage by Branded USB hubs provide:

  • As a promotion gift it has real intrinsic and practical value.
  • The print area is typically larger that then average USB Memory Stick allowing greater scope for branding and getting your marketing message across.
  • By adding a USB extension lead it allows the USB hub to sit proudly on the users desktop and as such your brand is always front of mind.
  • A blister pack can also be branded with your logo and marketing message.
  • USB hubs now come in a range of different shape, colours and sizes for greater impact.

A word of warning however, USB hubs draw power from the usb port it is plugged into. As such power hungry USB devices may slow the hub down. There is a solution to this, simply add a mains power supply to the unit and the problem is resolved.

All in all Branded USB Hubs are an excellent alterative to the tired branded mouse mat. To view our range, please click here.

  • Share/Bookmark
Branded USB Hubs – Kills The Promotional Mouse Mat…….!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Branded USB | Comments Off

How Not To Make A Drama Out Of A Branded USB Crisis

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Your conference is in 2 days, your long awaited Branded USB Memory sticks that will be the centre piece of your offering have just arrived and you eagerly open the box with your boss looking over you shoulder…… USB2U Panicthen you get that sinking feeling! There’s a problem with the Branded Memory Sticks and the sands of time have run out. What can you do?

Apart from picking up your P45, there may be something that can be done  to rescue the situation.

Firstly a problem shared is a problem halved! Contact the UK Branded USB provider assuming you have not purchased direct from the Far East. A reputable company will give you more than excuses and apologies, they should help to dig you out of this hole. If you have purchased direct then contact the factory and wait for the normal  response of ‘return the goods and we shall replace’. This typically takes 3 – 4 weeks and your deadline has already passed!

Branded USB

So what goes wrong and how can you correct it?

  1. Delays in customs. If you need the goods urgently, the Far East or UK customs have an unwitting way of selecting your order for inspection. Not much that can be done other than to provide your courier with a letter or authentication prior to despatch to minimise the risk.
  2. Courier delays. If the Branded USB Memory Sticks have been delayed in transit and are now stuck at a UPS / FedEx / TNT international hub, you may be able to save some time. Ask them to hold them at their hub rather than sending on a next day delivery and arrange for a point to point courier to pick them up and deliver direct to your event or client. Beware it will have all the commercial invoices on the box so if you want these to remain undisclosed you’ll need to ask the courier to remove.
  3. Problems with the Branded USB print. If the brand police are not happy, but end users will not really notice then commercially it may be worth using the USB Branded Memory sticks and then kicking the provider’s shins very hard and asking for a part refund. However, if there is something materially wrong, then ask a UK printer if they can remove the logo using a special solution and then reprint. Can be costly but worth a shot. Alternative produce some dome stickers with your logo printed on and place on top of the offending print.
  4. The Promotional USB Memory sticks do not work when you plug them in. You will need to test on various operating platforms and not behind a corporate firewall as this may restrict access. If there is still a problem then format all the disks and pray!
  5. Problems with the dataload on the Custom USB Memory Sticks. If data has been loaded on to the USB Drives and it is not protected or has an autorun function then simply format the Branded USBs and reload the data. For quantities of less than 100 units, grab a very long coffee and spend a few hours doing this thankless task. If time does not permit, or if the quantity is higher then contact a UK data duplication house who can do this for you at a price.

If the disks are protected then panic! The only chance you have is to ask the supplier for software that will allow you to reprogramme. This is both a technically difficult and a time consuming process.

If none of the above works then search for a UK supplier that holds blank USB Memory sticks and who can print within the timeframe required. Swiftly followed by a phone call to your corporate lawyer to get your money back from the cowboys that produced the original batch.

Finally always insist on a pre-production working sample, that way you will know exactly what you are going to receive and allows you to sleep easier…well just a little!

  • Share/Bookmark
How Not To Make A Drama Out Of A Branded USB Crisis

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Branded Memory, Branded Memory Sticks, Branded USB | Comments Off

Branded Memory Sticks

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Fiscal budgets are tightening as the economic recession begins to dictate how quickly a business grows. If your company is experiencing a decrease in sales, it likely also means you have less to spend on advertising. One way to generate more revenue in lean times is to offer branded merchandise to customers. Branded memory sticks allow companies to advertise their products of services through client interaction with other people.

There are a number of factors to consider when placing an order for branded memory sticks. What capacity will you require for your design? How will your memory stick look? What information will you want on your finished design? How many memory sticks will you need? How many different colors will you want? Let’s examine these individually for a better understanding.

The storage capacity of memory sticks is growing rapidly. It wasn’t so long ago when 32MB flash drives for digital cameras were considered state-of-the-art. These days it is not uncommon to see 120GB solid-state drives available as portable hard drives.

For a promotional item, however, a general range of storage capacity is more likely to range between 128 MB and 8GB. What you decide to offer your customers will depend on how much you want to spend and how many sticks you decide to order. As with any other bulk purchase, vendors will give discounts for those who want larger quantities.

The amount of space available will likely determine how much information you will have on your pieces. In general, a company name or logo, along with a contact number, physical address, and e-mail address may be all you’ll have room for. These are the simplest details that allow customers to reach you for more information about who you are and what you do.

What do you want your branded memory sticks to look like? Your line of business may help you decide. There are gadget and novelty models shaped like popular objects like cell phones, padlocks, action figures, bottles, and mp3 players. There are material types to consider, like plastic, metal, or some combination of both. There is a wide range of colors available, and some designs allow for multi-color designs.

There are even eco-friendly drives that use 100% recycled plastic shells.

No matter who your supplier is, most of the physical product will be shipped from overseas, since only a few major manufacturers in Asia produce the core electronics in branded memory sticks. Often enough, the custom designs are then applied through a third party and shipped to the individuals who order them.

In summary, the core marketing power of branded memory sticks are what make them so appealing. The sturdy devices fit inside a pocket or briefcase, and allow customers to store computer files and important information when they’re away from home.

This convenience, when presented as a promotional gift item, is the kind of goodwill customer service that will make that person eager to praise your community spirit. They will tell friends a little about their (hopefully) positive experience with you, and recommend them as a product or service provider to their friends.

  • Share/Bookmark
Branded Memory Sticks

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Branded Memory, Branded Memory Sticks, Branded USB | Comments Off

Current Trends for Branded USB Drives

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

The popularity of branded USB drives among retail businesses and corporations has created a market for applications, services, and initiatives from suppliers that make the devices more useful and user-friendly. What follows is a brief description of some of these utilities and offerings designed to expand the diversity of USB devices.

Some companies use flash drives to help market their core services, like eMotion Picture Studios, a Canadian video production company that operates out of Ontario. As an extension of the high-quality marketing videos they create for clients, the company offers thumb drives with custom-printed logos and messages. Like many other providers of branded USB drives, eMotion pre-loads files on the drive for easy recall on end-user computers.

Concern for the environment is another popular cultural trend that has impacted businesses in every sector of the marketplace. The development of “eco-friendly” materials and organic processes is now a factor in the business models of virtually every manufacturer who creates a tangible product.

Because of this, companies like Shumsky Enterprises are creating a wide range of “green” products whose fabrication leaves behind little impact on the environment, including branded USB drives. By using biodegradable materials such as lead-free solder, these firms meet the standards of the European Union’s RoHS Directive, which limits ““the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.”

What began, then, as a simple promotional initiative designed to increase brand-name awareness and encourage repeat sales has turned into a more complete solution for the distribution of proprietary or competitive information. Though there are hazards and security measures associated with such file-sharing, pre-loading these files and utilities on flash drives is a cost-effective way to attract customer loyalty.

There are other challenges associated with this higher-level use of branded USB drives, particularly when file sharing takes place within universities, municipalities, and government institutions. Two important factors come to mind. Because the core electronics of such devices are exported from a handful of OEM suppliers overseas, the quality of flash drives may suffer due to cost concerns, for example.

Another aspect of portable flash drives involves data recovery. Inevitably, pre-loaded files on USB drives may accidentally be deleted or damaged during use. In other cases, the files most often used by clients may be corrupted by a computer virus or due to software or operating system incompatibility. As a preventive measure, some companies that distribute branded USB drives offer utilities like data recovery software that can repair or retrieve deleted files.

Depending on the application, in other words how your thumb drives are being used, this may be an extra step that offers a measure of protection for important documents or a convenience for user groups who access certain files most often.

As technology advances and workgroups become more comfortable with them, suppliers and users will develop sophisticated uses for flash drives. Although most people still consider them simply as handy portable storage for computers, the versatility of branded USB drives will continue to develop in the future.

  • Share/Bookmark
Current Trends for Branded USB Drives

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Branded Memory Sticks, Branded USB | Comments Off

Branded USB Memory Sticks – A Conference Organisers Dream

Friday, July 31st, 2009

If you have the unenviable task of organising a conference or seminar then you’ll already be an expert at multi-tasking and will have honed your planning and time management skills to perfection. You’ll often be seen doing a perfect imitation of a Swan – looking calm, in control, and always professional whilst at the same time flapping your legs furiously to keep things on track.

Inevitably though, as the old adage suggests if “things can go wrong they will go wrong”. Whether it’s the venue being double booked, tube strikes being called on the day of your event, the caterers being closed by the health inspectors or presenters pulling out at the last minute, you have to cope. Not only are you expected to cope but you need to make sure the presenters and the audience go away thinking this was the best and most smoothly run event they’ve ever attended. Your career and the potentially the success of your employer depends on it.

Branded USB

Given just how many things you need to juggle in the lead up to the event and in particular during the day of the conference or seminar it makes sense to deal with as many “gotchas” as you can in advance.

Getting in copies of Speakers notes and presentations and getting them printed and distributed to the audience is one of those time consuming and challenging jobs that no-one relishes. The sheer amount of paper to print, collate, bind and distribute (let alone carry to the event) is often mind-boggling. It’s so much easier to gather this information electronically and load it onto a USB memory stick.

Branded USB Memory Stick

These USB memory sticks can be branded to promote the event, the data can be pre-loaded in advance (if you have time the data can be pre-loaded during the manufacture of the branded USB sticks), and if the data is sensitive it can be protected and encrypted.

The cost of branded memory sticks is typically cheaper than the cost of printing and binding slides/notes, they’re easier and cheaper to transport and they’re easier for the delegates to carry. Combined with this you provide the delegates with something of perceived value that they can re-use again to store their own files/data.

Its also of course possible to load the memory sticks with media files, movies clips, audio files, links to web sites, and include details of other conferences or seminars you might be planning.

Using branded USB memory sticks will help your event run more smoothly, they will make your life as an organiser easier and typically they’re a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option than printed media. So, if you want to reduce your stress levels you should consider USB memory sticks for your next event.

  • Share/Bookmark
Branded USB Memory Sticks – A Conference Organisers Dream

Tags: ,
Posted in Branded Memory Sticks, Branded USB, Memory Brand | Comments Off

Protecting Data on Branded USB Memory Stick

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

If you’ve just invested in some branded USB memory sticks to support your marketing and advertising activities then you’re probably thinking about pre-loading data onto the memory stick. After all, it makes sense to use the available storage space on the memory stick to pre-load your product information, your sales data sheets, maybe some presentation files or perhaps just a link to your web site and some promotional movies.

USB Data Protection

If you’re using memory sticks as a way of distributing speakers’ notes and slides at a conference or seminar then it’s a must. No question, audiences at most seminars will be hoping for a USB memory stick with everything neatly stored on it rather than having to make their way home weighed down with a mass of paper.

It makes sense for you as well as the giver. By loading your files/data onto the memory stick you don’t have the printing costs and overheads. You don’t have to worry about making deadlines at the printers, it matters less if your speaker notes are delivered a little later than hoped for and you also don’t have to haul tons of printed-papers to your event.

But there are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself before you load data onto your branded USB Memory sticks:

  1. Do you want the recipient of the branded USB memory stick to be able to delete your data from the stick?If you don’t want the data deleted then you need to get the data loaded during the manufacturing process and “locked” on the stick. The downside with this is that you need to plan it and ensure you have factored the delivery of the data to the factory before the memory sticks are manufactured. There can be no last minute additions and you won’t be able to delete anything either. So for example if your CEO decides at the last minute he wants to change the content on the pre-loaded memory sticks he/you won’t be able to.But, if you’re not worried about the data being deleted by the user after its been read then last minute changes are easy albeit time consuming.
  2. Do you need to safeguard the pre-loaded data from falling into the wrong hands?If the information you have pre-loaded onto the memory sticks is confidential then you might want to consider encrypting and password protecting it. Again this can be done during manufacture and you have two basic options. One option is to simply prevent access to the data by means of a password challenge. The more sophisticated option is to protect access to the data by password but also to encrypt (scramble) any saved data.
  3. After you’ve loaded your data is there enough space left on the USB memory stick for the recipient to use it?If one of your objectives is to have your branded USB memory sticks used and as a consequence your brand promoted you need to leave a enough space on the memory stick for the user to add their own files. Particularly important if you have “locked” your own files on the memory stick so they cannot be deleted.

Finally remember that data loading done post manufacture is time consuming so whilst there are real benefits in doing it please plan ahead.

  • Share/Bookmark
Protecting Data on Branded USB Memory Stick

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Branded Memory Sticks, Branded USB, Promotional USB | Comments Off

Branded USB drives: Things to Look For

Monday, July 20th, 2009

The popularity of branded USB drives has made many people eager to get their business name on one as quickly as possible, so they can hand them out to customers as a promotional incentive. If you intend to include data files or programs on the jump drives themselves, however, a little planning and attention to detail can go a long way to increasing your chances for a successful transaction.

Let’s say you want to include a promotional video or a special offer sheet for customers who come back for another purchase or service offering. Ideally, you would have a master file that you would provide to the custom provider. The provider would then mass-produce the file(s) across all of the jump drives you ordered.

A reputable dealer for USB jump drives will provide a pre-production sample, showing you exactly what the data will look like when a customer plugs the jump drive in on location and opens the file. This provides a final approval stage that eliminates costly and time-consuming mistakes that need to be corrected later.

You want to provide a client with an easy-to-use storage drive they can use for more than just viewing your product catalog or company policies. If any of the data requires a measure of confidentiality or security, you increase the potential for confusion and frustration caused by those who are not as familiar with computers and the different types of documents commonly used for business.

Software compatibility is always a concern as well. If a customer has an older model computer or earlier versions of important programs like Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, or internet browsers like Internet Explorer or Mozilla’s Firefox, they may not be able to use the files you load on a branded USB drives right away without some form of upgrade.

There are other considerations as well. What printing options will you choose for your drives? Lettering and designs can be screen-printed, embossed, engraved, or printed using spot colour or more advanced “full colour” processing. Will your branded USB drives have a lanyard or key chain attached as a convenience? What shapes, materials, and colours are suited best for your company’s brand image?

Having as many of these details worked out in advance will eliminate processing delays and make the entire process go more smoothly from start to finish.

With so much to consider in designing adequate branded USB drives for your particular needs, it makes sense to check your provider’s return policy well before placing an order. If possible, read reviews from others who have used the same provider and generated feedback on their experience. Ask around for anyone who may have ordered promotional products in the past, and inquire on what they did or didn’t like about the transaction.

Another note of interest is that most of the custom branded USB drives purchased from vendors are manufactured overseas in China or Taiwan. The flash memory chips are obtained from an OEM supplier like Intel or Samsung. In some cases, the vendors that assemble the final product may use lower quality or recycled memory chips to save money.

Check with your supplier to verify that good quality materials are being used, and ask for a sample of your custom design before you all them to ship a completed order.

  • Share/Bookmark
Branded USB drives: Things to Look For

Tags:
Posted in Branded USB | Comments Off

What’s The Most Popular Storage Capacity for Promotional USB Memory Sticks?

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Branded USB Memory sticks are becoming evermore popular for the transfer and storage of large amounts of data. This popularity is mainly due to their compact size, ease of use and the dramatic reduction in price over the past few years.

One of the key decisions to make when purchasing Branded USB Memory sticks in the storage capacity.

Before delving into which capacity to select a short technical overview as is useful to understand the measurement terminology used when defining memory capacity.

Electronic data is measured in ‘bytes’. Multiples of these are:

•      1 Kilobyte (KB) is equal to 1,024 bytes

•      1 Megabyte (MB) is equal to 1,024 Kilobytes (1,048,576 bytes)

•      1 Gigabyte (GB) is equal to 1,024 Megabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes)

Branded USB Memory sticks range from 32MB to 16GB. They double up in size from 32MB:

•      32MB (almost obsolete)
•      64MB
•      128MB
•      256MB
•      512MB
•      1GB
•      2GB
•      4GB
•      8GB
•      16GB

You need to be aware that all Promotional USB Memory sticks need a small amount of capacity to allow it them work. As a general rule of thumb around 5% of the storage capacity will be used by the Memory Stick to manage how it stores the data on the stick.

So, how much data can each stick hold? The amount of data that can be stored depends on the type of the data, such as MP3 audio files, digital photos, word files etc. and the quality for example the resolution of photos.  As a benchmark 512MB memory stick would typically store about 250 photos.

When deciding what capacity to select for your Branded USB Memory sticks you need to consider the following.

• What is the objective of your Promotional USB Memory stick campaign. If it is to provide specific data or information that is pre-loaded, then the size should match the amount of data to be loaded. If the requirement is to allow the user to use the Memory stick as a promotional keepsake, then there needs to be sufficient headroom over and above any data that you may wish to load.

• What budget do you have? The higher the capacity the higher the price. However, the price differential between a 64MB and 1GB is no longer that great.

• The market for flash memory is volatile and is driven by supply and demand. Therefore, it is worth checking if there are any special offers on different USB Memory capacity. For example it has been know for 512MB to be cheaper than 256MB.

• If the Branded USB Memory sticks are gifts for prospects or existing key clients, you need to consider the perceived value of the item you are giving. So if budget is limited it may be prudent to buy less of higher capacity Branded USB Memory sticks.

Based on the above criteria, currently the most popular capacity for Branded USB Memory sticks is 1GB, but watch this space!

  • Share/Bookmark
What’s The Most Popular Storage Capacity for Promotional USB Memory Sticks?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Branded USB, Custom USB, Promotional USB, Promotional USB Drives | Comments Off

Top Ten Pitfalls Of Buying Promotional USB Memory Sticks

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Buying Branded USB Memory sticks should be a painless process and for the most part it is. However, there are numerous examples of where things have gone wrong – some real horror stories! However, the good news is that by asking the right questions and selecting the right supplier you can avoid most of these issues.

This guide illustrates the top ten pitfalls of buying Promotional USB Memory Sticks and how to avoid them.

Find a reputable supplier

There are many suppliers providing Branded USB Memory Sticks As with any industry the quality of the organisations varies widely. Whilst normal due diligence is always required, here are a few tips to help you with the process:

• It is always good practice to run a credit check to make sure your supplier is in good financial health. This is more important if you are being asked to pay upfront for the Branded USB Memory sticks.

• Reputation speaks volumes. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and testimonials from their existing customer base and make contact. If they have provided excellent service levels, they will not be embarrassed to share their successes.

• Make sure there are full contact details on the web site including address and contact telephone numbers – and phone them!

• Ensure they are working from a business premises. There is a growing trend for individuals pertaining to be companies are working from home without the infrastructure to support you if things go wrong. An easy way to check this is by using Google Earth.

Hidden costs

When stating your requirements to a supplier be specific about your needs and ensure that they are all met by studying your quotation carefully. Ask for terms and conditions and be aware of payment terms and delivery date promises. For example some companies will charge extra for print and origination, so ensure that these are covered in the quotation.

Quality of Chipset / Housing

If you quote sounds to good to be true – then it probably is! The core cost of any Branded USB Memory Stick is made up of the USB Housing and USB Flash Chip components. There are ways of saving costs on these buy using poor quality housing and reconditioned USB Memory chips.   Both carry reputation risk for you or your client if things go wrong. So ensure you ask for a sample to check the housing quality and your supplier provides new branded A Grade chipsets such as Samsung, Hynix, Micron or Intel.

It is also worth asking what the manufacturer’s Quality Assurance testing procedure is.

Dataloads

To autorun or not to autorun that is the question! Many clients are faced with the dilemma of whether they should add an autorun facility to their promotional USB Promotional Memory Sticks.

An autorun facility allows users to insert a USB Branded Memory Stick and for the computer to automatically run a programme e.g. a movie file.

The advantages of this facility is that it ensures the user is presented with the information the client wants them to see, without having to find the information themselves. This makes is a very intuitive process and ensures the information on the USB Memory Stick is delivered. However there are some hidden pitfalls:

• Nuisance factor. If one of the objectives is to ensure that the USB Promotional Memory Stick is a keepsake that the end user will access on a regular basis then its worth bearing in mind that every time the user wants to access or save a document they will have to run through the dataload programme. Fine for the first few times, but thereafter they may find this an irritation and relegate the memory stick deep into a draw!

• Autoruns will not work on Win 98 or 2000 operating systems – beware there are still many users out there with these systems. You will also need to ensure that the appropriate code is written into any autorun for it to work on Mac operating systems.

• Some corporate firewalls restrict autoruns, so the danger is that the end user will never see the data.

There is a middle way, why not consider loading the data onto the USB Branded Memory Stick with an icon labelled ‘Click Here To Start’ and allow the user to access the data when they want.  This data can be protected so it would not be deleted, but overcomes may of the issues detailed above.

Proofs/screenshots

Many suppliers will mock up a visual of what the Promotional USB Memory Stick will look like before production. This does not always match the finished product. So ensure that the proof carries the colour pantone references and size of the logo. Some suppliers will provide a picture of a printed pre-production so you know exactly what you are going to get.

Shipping / Customs

Almost all Branded USB Memory sticks are manufactured in the Far East and as such need to pass through both Chinese / Taiwanese and UK Customs. For the vast majority of orders this is pretty seamless process. However, any consignment can be pulled for inspection and customs may request additional information. If a global brand is printed on the Promotional USB Memory sticks they may ask for written authentication from the end clients that the goods are not counterfeit.  Either way a custom check will delay your order from a few days to up to 3 weeks!

Returning goods / Warranties

Things go wrong! The mark of a good supplier is how they manage these issues. All Customised USB Memory Sticks should carry at least a 12 month warranty. Ensure your supplier stipulates this as part of their Terms and Conditions.  However, if the items need replacing it make take several weeks for the Branded USBs to be returned to the manufacturer and repaired or replaced.

Poor Packaging

Poor quality packaging can ruin a great looking USB Memory Stick. In particular the insert that holds the USB memory stick within a box needs to be of the same shape and size of the USB Branded Memory drive. Again the only solution is to have a sample of a box before you order.

Delivery Timeframe

Do not leave the ordering of Branded USB Memory sticks to the last minute unless you want to pay a premium for rush fees and limit your choice of what is available in the UK. Allow at least 2, ideally 3 weeks, from providing your supplier with the artwork, which kicks off the production process.

Quality Of Print

The printing of logos onto your Branded Memory stick is a real art form that at best makes a perfect reproduction of your logo at worst makes it look like real mess and something you would not want to associate your brand to. The typical printing process is spot or screen-printing. This is great for simple logos with up to 4 colours. However it cannot print tints, tones, complex logos or a logo with many colours. A new full colour printing process is now evolving allowing greater printing capabilities. Again if time permits ask for a pre-production printed sample and remove this potential pitfall.

  • Share/Bookmark
Top Ten Pitfalls Of Buying Promotional USB Memory Sticks

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Branded USB, Promotional USB | Comments Off

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Share/Bookmark Subscribe