Five Quick and Easy Ways to Get Cheaper Personalized Gifts and Promotional Products

Buying personalized gifts or promotional products is a minefield because the catalogue price and the price you pay are not always the same. It is all down to some hefty added costs to personalize promotional items or personalize gifts.

The extras to watch out for are (1) personalization, (2) origination, (3) extra colors and (4) artwork as well as (5) carriage and packing. It is always advisable to read the terms and conditions thoroughly before finalizing the deal. Make no mistake about it, additional costs are considerable but, here is the good news, they are all negotiable.

It is easy to get confused with all the terminology used in buying promotional products particularly when sales people use words like artwork, origination and personalization. It is arguable whether some sales people fully understand these terms. Let us clarify the meaning within the trade of these important terms.

Promotional product personalization usually refers to branding promotional gifts with a logo, contact details and/or a sales message although, in some cases, it will include a person's name. However, to the public, a personalized gift means just that; a personalized gift for a special occasion.

Origination is part of the personalization process and is sometimes misunderstood. It refers to the method used to brand the item such as a block, screen or transfer. The easiest way to imagine origination is to think in terms of potato printing. Here the potato is cut out with a design and then dunked in some paint and applied to a wall or paper. Using this method the potato is the origination in a similar way to using a rubber stamp. Following this parallel, think in terms of other forms of printing such as offset litho where a plate is prepared before printing. Alternatively, in screen-printing a screen is required for each color to be printed. In both cases, the plate and screen are origination.

Artwork is a further additional cost and causes some confusion in the buyer's mind. Some customers think a calling card or a letterhead is adequate artwork without realizing what is involved. The days of "cut and paste" are long gone and virtually all artwork is computer generated. However, somebody has to prepare the artwork and, whoever does it, the cost is considerable. On colored designs the manufacturer needs artwork color separated into CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black), or on occasions, RGB (red, green, blue).

Branding technology changes almost on a weekly basis and some marking processes now take the artwork straight from a computer without the need for any intermediate step. However, some inscribing processes will need the artwork prepared on a block, plate or screen.

Promotional product catalogues show prices for personalized gifts printed one color. However, if the logo has more than one color the costs will increase significantly. For instance if you choose a golf umbrella, priced in a catalogue as a one color one position print, and your logo has three colors, the cost will increase significantly for the two extra colors. Further, if you want the logo on four umbrella panels the extra cost will be considerable. In addition, you are not done yet because a screen-printed three-color design needs three screens; one for each color.

Most promotional products use a different personalization method but there are some promotional items personalized by more than one process. For example, promotional pens can be screen-printed, etched, embossed, pad printed or engraved.

You will save yourself a lot of money if you understand how much the personalization aspect of personalized gifts really costs. When you know and understand all the five extra charges, you are on your way to cheaper personalized gifts and promotional products.

Jack has been writing articles on sales and marketing in the personalized gift sector for nearly 4 years. Come visit his latest gift website which also helps people find the latest and best deals available in travel coffee mugs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Ritchies

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Tips for Finding Stylish Ladies Dresses

It seems that at times far too many people experience difficulties while choosing clothes that are appropriate for them? Is it so hard to find clothes that suit the occasion and the age? Why do so many people find it so difficult to dress him or herself adequately?

Lately, I visited a shareholder's dinner for the local hospital. I cannot even describe what I saw there! I was amazed by the clothes all people were wearing!

The shareholder's meeting included a dinner and an annual report of the hospital's financial situation. Over two hundred people were present at the shareholder's meeting. I was astonished to see that only about a half of them was wearing clothes, which are appropriate for the occasion. I even met women who were dressed as young girls. Probably, they have no mirrors at home!

Now, I'm going to read to all you women a short lecture about how to search for ladies dresses in a store. The regular stores are separated in sections. Lady's clothes are separated in two groups: there are a juniors' section which is meant for girls 19 years of age and under and then the misses' section that is meant for woman older than 19. All women that are under 19 years old must look for their ladies dresses in the misses' section.

Ladies dresses often follow the latest fashion, which changes from season to season. However, ladies dresses more often than not are in more classic styles. Ladies dresses usually have a simple design that suits many occasions. Ladies dresses must be modest and stylish in order to match a variety of events.

At the shareholder's meeting, I met women I met many women who were dresses excessively for that occasion. They probably had not realized that they were wearing ladies dresses, which were made to be worn at very formal or special occasions such as a wedding, opera or formal ball.

On the contrary, there were women who were dressed in their everyday clothes, sweaters, and jeans. What was going on there? I even saw people wearing blue jeans and T-shits. I appreciate people who try to express their personality through clothes but anyway I believe clothes have to fit the occasion.

Up to me, the ladies dresses that fitted the shareholder's meeting were those ladies dresses with stylish and simple design, which were complemented with refined accessories. The women who were wearing such ladies dresses had found a way to demonstrate their tasteful choice. They seemed to be self-assured and proud.

Contrariwise, women who were overdressed gave a sense of being unsure of themselves. Women who were trying show a youthful appearance were in fact leaving the impression of not caring.

I believe these women were not aware of how strong impression they may leave with their ladies dresses. I draw myself many conclusions. Based on ladies dresses choice, I can guess what a woman's character is. For example, if I see a woman dressed in her daughter's clothes, I think to myself that may be she is very desperate of losing her youth.

I will try to make her understand that if she had chosen an appropriate dress in the ladies dresses, she would convince everyone as well as herself that she is proud of what she had achieved. She may meet some very important people at this shareholder's dinner. They may judge her by her clothes. First impression is lasts long. Ladies dresses can help her leave a positive one.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning fashion. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Stylish Ladies Dresses Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

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Clay Shooting – Corporate Special Event Services

There are several outdoor activities organized as a part of corporate special event services. One of the much sought after outdoor activity is clay shooting. If you are an adventurous and daring soul, you can try your hands in clay shooting which is one of the finest entertainment activities which will surely provide you pleasure and satisfaction. By becoming a determined marksman, you can gain expertise and efficiency in clay shooting in an outdoor activity. You will indisputably feel confident and elated, when you get the opportunity to score the targets in a single chance.

In the clay shooting outdoor activity, you have to fix your eyes and concentrate on your targets. You can hit the perfect target only with sheer determination and focus. If you are a novice, instructors will be pleased to guide you to attain your ultimate goal. During the training, with some easy tips, you can brush up your talents for claiming the target. To learn the nuances of clay shooting you can also read the materials available on the internet.

By opting for clay shooting activities, you can acquire good skills to defend yourself in the outdoor activity. You can even earn how to protect yourself in a best way by training with guns. Clay shooting requires participants to aim and hit the right target with absolute dedication and concentration which in turn helps the executives to get rid of stress and strain. Clay pigeon shooting is a tricky outdoor activity even for the marksmen who are experienced in the sport. Even if you an expert shooter, hitting the clay pigeon target is a tough job as only when you have fine shooting skills combined with absolute concentration you can hit your target.

Unlike other target spots, you may tend to shake yourself during the clay shooting, since the target is difficult to get marked. The main benefits of these corporate special event services are the increased level of concentration, completion of tasks with accuracy and mental preparedness of employees. In addition, the outdoor activity will also give the employees a chance to socialize with their colleagues out of the office environment.

I webmaster of http://www.southernpursuits.co.uk/ dealing in all types of outdoor activities such as Clay Shooting, off road karting, quad biking, Clay shooting, 4x4 driving, archery, team building, corporate events all over the UK. Choose from our program for the ultimate adventure day and experience something new with your friends and colleagues.

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