Whilst 2009 was another good year for the ever popular branded and promotional USB memory stick the key trend to emerge from 2009 was the growth in the sale of custom flash drives. Unlike branded memory sticks which are typically “factory designs” that are then printed on, a custom memory stick is, as the name suggests unique to the client. It’s a fully bespoke 2-D or 3-D shape that is fabricated to include a USB connector and flash memory.

The beauty of custom USB memory sticks is that they can be produced it a shape or design that is either a facsimile of your brand or logo or in a shape that represents the product or service you are promoting.  For example if you are an automotive company and you want to promote the launch of a new model to your dealership or existing customers then you could get a custom memory stick manufactured in the shape of the new car. This in turn can be attached to a branded keying and the custom memory stick can be pre-loaded with all of the sales data sheets, performance reviews and media files showing off the car.

Similarly if you’re a pharmaceutical company and you have a new drug to announce/launch then you could commission a custom memory stick in the shape of the drug and distribute these at the press launch and any subsequent conferences and seminars. Again the on-board flash memory can be pre-loaded with data sheets on the product, its target market, pricing, availability and any supporting presentation files or media files.

With custom memory sticks the limitations are really only defined b y your imagination. Historically the price of a custom memory sticks was a limiting factor because the factories that produce then were reluctant to accept small runs of less than 500 pieces and even when they did the set up costs were horrendous. But, in 2009 as competition for business increased and manufacturing and set up processes improved the barriers to entry reduced dramatically.  Today the price of a custom memory stick is on a par with a standard printed memory stick and in most cases the factories are now absorbing the origination and mould costs themselves.  It’s also possible to get small runs of 100+ custom memory sticks produced for only marginally more than a standard printed stick.

The winner from these changes during 2009 was the end customer, particularly smaller companies that wanted a relatively small quantity of memory sticks. The only thing to bear in mind when considering custom memory sticks is a slightly longer lead time. Because the factories will have to produce a mould and physical sample the lead time extends from a typical 10 days to 21 days so plan ahead.

Custom memory sticks deliver a real “wow” factor and done well they can create a “viral” type of buzz as word goes around about the sticks. The visual impact coupled with the functionality ensures a much greater likelihood of any marketing or advertising messages getting across to target audience and just as importantly for that message to be repeated over and over again with the continued use of the custom memory stick.

During 2009 here at USB2U we saw a huge increase in the demand for custom USB memory sticks from a diverse range of clients and we expect this trend to continue into 2010. As experts in the field we are able to offer you a free consultation service to talk you through the art of the possible, to share with you the range of materials and moulding options and to work up designs for the factory to manufacture from – this is a free consultation and design service with no commitment. If you are considering a bespoke or custom USB memory stick in 2010 give us a call. We’d love to hear from you and to work with you on your project.