Branded Hard Drive Case

USB memory sticks are available in a wide range of memory sizes from 256MB to a whopping 64GB, albeit the larger 64GB versions are still incredibly expensive. To put this into context, a fairly typical 4GB USB memory stick can hold around 4,000 music tracks, 8-10,000 photographs, and tens of thousands of documents. So whilst we’re all saving more and more information an average USB stick is typically large enough for most peoples needs.

This may change with the growing popularity of digital video and movies that are available for download over the Internet, including HD videos. These files are significantly larger and will drive demand for more storage options in the near future.

For now the USB memory sticks is the dominant product in the portable memory market and its adoption by the promotional sector as a “give-away” and/or corporate gift has ensured its success. It’s not unusual these days to go to trade shows, press events, student fresher fairs and other promotional events and to walk away with several “free” branded USB memory sticks.

Branded Hard Drive Case

Smart companies are not only printing their brands and logos on these free flash drives but they are also pre-loading their sales brochures, product reviews, media files, web links and other marketing material onto the flash drives before they are handed out.

But, in some cases USB memory sticks are either not big enough to cost effectively carry the information a company wants to pre-load and distribute or they are not considered “special” enough to hand out to high net worth clients, partners and prospects. So, if you are looking for something a little different, a little more exclusive and something with a storage capacity not measured in Gigabytes but Terabytes then you might want to consider a portable hard disk drive.

Portable hard disk drives can be branded; the data on them can be secured using RFID and encryption technology, they are relatively small and portable (about the same size as a pocket diary) and they hold tons of data. More significantly in terms of cost per GB of storage they are hugely cheaper.

Whilst portable hard disks drives are unlikely to knock USB flash drives off their top spot for portable storage anytime soon they are a very interesting and cost effective alternative.

Not only do we hold large stocks of blank, unprinted memory sticks from our most popular ranges but we can also offer a 48-hour turnaround on printing. We appreciate that not everyone has the luxury of being able to plan ahead and that’s why we have always offered a “rush” service from stock held in the UK.

Printed Flash Drives

Unlike some suppliers we don’t charge last minute “rush” fees but you will pay a little more for any last minute printing simply because its more expensive to get the memory sticks printed in the UK post manufacture than it is to get them printed at out factory in China during the production process.

If you want data loaded onto your printed flash drives (e.g. sales brochures, copies of slides, media files etc.) then that’s not a problem either because we offer a comprehensive in-house data loading and data replication service. If

USB Duplication Service

we’re supplying you with the memory sticks as well as doing the data loading for you then we’ll guarantee to beat any other price for data loading you get. Just call us and let us quote.

If you do have the luxury of time and we’re talking no more than 10-14 days then we can get your branded memory sticks produced, printed and data-loaded at our factory in China. The benefit of this is that you’ll have a much wider choice of memory sticks; colours and memory sizes and it will be marginally cheaper if we can supply you from our factory. Ordering from the factory also opens up options like pantone matching the body shell of the flash drive to any colour from your logo and have your data not only loaded but loaded so that it “auto-runs” every time the memory stick is used.

So whether you need printed flash drives in a hurry or have the benefit of time on your side we have a solution for you. Just give us a call or fill out our on-line enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you in a flash!

Whilst demand for branded memory sticks is not completely immune to pricing, orders continue to be strong with demand for bespoke and custom flash drives seeing a noticeable increase.

The forecast for the remainder of 2010 is that prices of the core components that make up the memory sticks (the flash modules and PCB’s) will remain largely unchanged albeit the usual season peak in the run-up to Christmas will no doubt happen as it does every year.

The one real unknown is what will happen in the currency markets. Some analysts and speculators are suggesting that the pound (GBP) has now “bottomed out” and that there will be a slow but steady strengthening throughout the rest of the year.  But conversely others are predicting a rocky few months as the UK heads towards and comes out of the General Election.

Underpinning the demand for branded memory sticks is the realisation that not only do they make an excellent and popular giveaway but used properly they can also help to reduce other print, production and transportation costs. By pre-loading the memory sticks with sales brochures, price lists, presentations, media files and so on companies are now reducing significantly the amount of printed media they produce and take with them to trade shows, exhibitions and conferences. When these cost saving are offset against the purchase cost of the memory sticks (including the data loading) the business case for their purchase is pretty compelling.

The other major benefits that drive the popularity of memory sticks are:

• High perceived value
• Handy and easy to use
• Large range of designs and styles
• Great brand ambassadors
• High levels of repeat usage
• Easy to store and distribute

If you’re looking to buy branded memory sticks in the short term for your company then, given the current volatility in the market, make sure you shop around for the best all inclusive deal and lock in the price for as long as possible.

Why? Well, several events have come together to create a huge supply vacuum the most notable of which are:

	Apple’s iPhone uses Flash Memory chips and market forecasts suggest they will sell around 33million iPhones in 2010 and Apple have apparently been very canny with their suppliers and “locked them in” with guaranteed future orders. Who can blame them after all the iPhone has been a runaway success and they have the cash reserves behind them to ensure forward continuity of supply.
	Sales of mobile phones that contain NAND (memory) flash chips are expected to top 700 million in 2010.
	The success of other consumer products like electronic book readers, camcorders and of course the ubiquitous flash memory stick continues to grow apace.
	Unusually this year many employees of the smaller support factories/companies have been slow to return from their Chinese New Year holidays and this has resulted in production backlogs.

For the manufactures like Toshiba, Micron Technology, Samsung, Hynix and Intel this is explosion in demand is great news but it will put a huge amount of pressure on their production capabilities this year just to keep up.

For suppliers of branded USB memory sticks and their partner factories the challenge will be ensure the continuity of supply during 2010 and to ensure this supply is at a price that the market will bear. Expect some turbulence in the supply this year and as usual shop around to ensure you get the best deal you can and in timeframes that suit your project, event or activity.

There are two options to consider:

Option 1. Selecting a supplier from the UK

Most orders for Customised USB Memory sticks are normally processed via a UK intermediary. These organisations manage the entire end-to-end process, but more importantly most will ensure that the manufacturing process is fully audited and of a high quality.

So what should you be looking for when selecting a supplier? Of course price is important, but this should not be the primary driver. A small saving may be a false economy if end users start to experience problems when using the Branded Memory Sticks. Think of the reputational risk and the inconvenience of getting these replaced.

Whilst there is no substitute to full due-diligence, there are some simple things you can do to sort the wheat from the chaff.

• First Check they have a proven track record by contacting previous clients.
• Ensure there is a contact telephone number on the site and speak to a representative.
• Ensure they are working from business premises. There is a growing trend for individuals pertaining to be companies, but working from home without the infrastructure to support you if things go wrong. An easy way to check this is by using Google Earth.
• Ensure they only use new branded USB Flash Chips.
• Finally do not pay for any part of the order until the goods are in the UK and ready for despatch.

Option 2. Selecting a supplier from the Far East.

The primary benefit of purchasing from the Far East is that you can potentially save money. However, it is a complex process and would expose you to a high degree of risk. The key disadvantages are that:

• You must undertake due diligence on the provider to ensure they are a genuine company. It seems that every contact that sells Branded USB memory sticks claims to be a factory. This is factually incorrect, at best most are intermediaries.
• All suppliers will ask for the full funds to be transferred to their bank account before they commence any work. So a real act of faith.
• If things go wrong it is extremely difficult to send items back to the Far East. At best you may get the supplier to repair / make good any errors, but this would take several weeks and you have to pay for them to be shipped to the Far East.
• There are many pitfalls that could occur if the order is not correctly specified to the Far East supplier. For example, ensuring that dataload autorun is as requested by the client or are they using genuine class A USB Flash chips.
• Finally if you wish to purchase direct from the Far East, manufacturers are desperate to secure new business and will offer heavily discounted rates by cutting many of the quality corners mentioned above.

In short, if you are an infrequent purchaser of Branded USB Memory sticks then purchase from a recognised UK supplier. If you purchase on a regular basis then it may be cost effective to purchase direct from the Far East, but ensure you undertake full due diligence and ideally visit the factory before sending any money.

View Tip 1. Here, Tip 2. Here.

Many clients are faced with the dilemma of whether they should add an autorun facility to their Branded USB Memory Sticks.

An autorun facility allows users to insert a 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:

• 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.
• Nuisance factor. If one of the objectives is to ensure that the USB Branded 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!

There is a middle way, why not consider loading the data onto the Branded USB 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.

If this is not an option, then it is highly recommended to produce a pre-production sample of the autorun. In this way you or your client can test the autorun in the environment it would be used. You do not need to have the final data file to complete this exercise.

Another option would be to load the same data as a non-autorun file on the unprotected part of the Branded Memory stick. In this way, if the autorun fails to work, the user still has the option to select information manually.

There is no doubt that autoruns are a great method to deliver information, but ensure you and/or your client are aware of the pitfalls and try to build in a safety net, as once produced it is extremely difficult to reload the data without returning to the manufacturing plant, which is usually based in China.

View Tip 1. Here.

One of the many advantages of using the Twister USB Memory Stick is that the branding is on the removable metal clip, as opposed to other USB Memory sticks that are branded directly onto the housing. This makes the most valuable part of it, the housing, reusable if your branding requirements change.

It is a cost effective method and easy process to change the clip from Branded USB Memory Sticks. With just a few precautions to take to ensure that the USB housing isn’t damaged or scratched. It is also important to ensure that the new clip is installed correctly to ensure a snug fit.

The following steps should be followed for a smooth transition from one clip to another:

1. To avoid fingerprint marks on the Branded USB Memory Twister, it is advised that you wear gloves before handling the goods. To remove the old clip, put the forefinger of your left-hand into space inside the metal clip to prise it apart and open it up to get the plastic housing out. This should avoid any scratches to the housing.
2. Before attaching the new metal clip you need to pinch it together to ensure a snug fit.
3. In order to avoid defacing the housing, wrap a small plastic bag around it before attaching the clip. Prise open the clip just enough to squeeze it around the housing with the plastic bag sandwiched in between as a protective barrier.
4. Lastly, carefully pull out the plastic bag to reveal the finished Branded USB Twister.

If all of these steps were carefully followed, you would never know that the clips had not been factory fitted.

Your Branded Twister USBs are now ready to use.

Sales of memory sticks that are either printed or embossed with a company logo or design are accelerating and demand for fully customised (bespoke shapes and designs) is really picking up.

A well-designed and printed memory stick does wonders to help promote your company, to develop your brand and to keep your company ahead of the competition. They’re also, as many companies are now finding out, a fantastic and cost effective way to distribute your sales literature, data sheets, pricing information and media files.

Popular uses for branded memory sticks include:

1. Give-aways at trade shows and exhibitions (but pre-loaded with sales brochures to help reduce the paper brochure print costs, transportation and storage).
2. Handouts at seminars and conferences (pre-loaded with the event details, speakers notes and slides and details of forthcoming events).
3. Press events. Fully customised usb flash drives are increasingly being used in preference to standard factory models at Press Events and Press Launches because they really do generate a “buzz” and help to get key messages across to the attending journalists. Of course pre-loading the custom sticks with the press releases, core company information, biographies of key staff and media files helps to ensure the journalists have all the key information at their fingertips is recommended.
4. Promotional give-aways. Everyone loves something for nothing but it helps if what you’re giving away is desirable and will be used by the recipient. Memory sticks certainly fit the bill here.
5. Staff events and briefings. Memory sticks are a popular way of disseminating key information out to employees particularly if there are lots of forms and details to distribute and you want to reduce the print and reproduction costs of these forms.
6. Visitor gifts – rather than a boring pencil, pen or T-Shirt lots of companies are now turning to branded memory sticks for visitor gifts. They are after all more “business like” and have a high-perceived value.

Given the growth in sales we’ve already seen in 2010 these examples must just be small snapshots of what printed USB flash drives are being used for. If you are interested in printed usb memory sticks or fully bespoke USB flash drives for your company then give us a call to explore the options.

With the growing popularity of Branded USB Memory sticks, there are a number of providers springing up to support this. However, there is a hidden issue that any potential buyer needs to be aware of, that not all providers are that transparent with.

In essence there are 3 components to any Branded USB Memory sticks, the flash chip (the brains), the circuit board and the body of the USB Memory stick itself.

Whilst the circuit board and body are pretty standard across the industry, there is a wide variation of USB Flash chips. In summary these can be classified as follows:

Grade A: Original ‘branded’ USB flash chips

These flash chips are made by leading global brands such as Samsung, Hynix, Intel, Micro. They will print their name and unique series number on each chip.

These are tested to a high QA tolerance and come with a full warranty. They are the most reliable, but come at a premium price and are the most expensive USB Flash chips in the market.

Grade B: OEM flash chips

These USB flash chips are made from the main chip providers, but do not carry any branding or warranties. They are as reliable as the branded flash chips, but come at a discounted rate.

Grade C: Downgraded flash chips

There is a wastage of chips from the main manufactures, from a combination of the chip cutting process and QA failures. These are sold in bulk to third parties, who aim to recycle and sell on. There is a high failure rate on these USB Memory sticks, up to 40% in some instances. However the low price also reflects this.

Grade D: Masked chips

Finally we have fake / counterfeits USB Memory chips. This is when port quality chips are programmed to mask the real size of the memory. For example, a memory stick may show that it is 1Gb, but could actually be a 128Mb chip. The only way that a user would find out the problem exists is if they try to load data that is over the actual chip capacity. The prices offered are extremely low and reflect the cost of the actual chip set used.

So in summary, ensure the supplier informs you in writing what type of chip they are providing. If it is a mission critical or high profile project, it’s worth paying for Grade A branded chip. However, Grade B would suffice for most promotional campaigns.

One final point if the price for the USB Memory sticks sound too good to be true or out of sync with other quotes then there is a high probability of them being Grade C or D chips.

Next in the series- Tip 2 – The dangers of  loading data onto USB Memory sticks.

For many businesses the focus became one of survival and cost cutting. All unnecessary costs (perceived or real) were stopped, many staff lost their jobs and inevitably some businesses failed.

Against this backdrop where advertising and promotional spend was approved it had to deliver and getting value become a mantra for budget holders and buyers alike.

Branded memory sticks (also known as USB flash drives or pens) were just beginning to gain a real foothold in the promotions sector in 207/08. Costs were falling, delivery times were shortening, the quality of the product was improving year on year and the target audience “got it”. Branded memory sticks were popular. They were popular with companies looking for something innovative and useful to give that was within their budget and supported their brand and recipients of memory sticks loved them because they were (and still are) incredibly handy and useful bits of kit.

But as we entered 2009 it really did look as though it was not only going to be an “Annus Horribilis” for the promotions industry as a whole but it was also going to be the year in which the growth of branded memory sticks faltered.

Talk of the demise of the memory stick was overstated and premature because whilst its day will inevitably come in 2009 it showed steely resistance and demonstrated just why it is one of the most loved and best performing promotional products.

In a very short space of time the branded memory sticks has risen to become a firm favorite and whilst there have been many casualties in the sector the memory stick is not one of them. Why? Well, branded memory sticks deliver and they deliver on many key metrics. They are:

• Incredibly well received and popular as a gift or promotional item
• Excellent at carrying a logo or brand
• Small, portable, convenient to use
• Ideal for pre-loading data onto such as sales collateral, press releases, product guides, presentations and audio/media files
• Relatively inexpensive for what they deliver

They do face challenges in terms of price stability which is not helped by the strength of the $ (USD) against other local currencies in which they are purchased and their price is subject to sudden swings as major player like Apple swoop into the market and buy up millions of flash chip modules. This is unlikely to change in 2010 but as 2009 has shown the core benefits of the product make it a real winner and something that is going to be at the heart of the sales and promotions industry for a few more years!

If you are interested in buying branded memory sticks in 2010 then give us a ring at USB2U or if you prefer fill out our on-line enquiry form and we’ll get back to you with a personalized proposal.