| Advertising and marketing budgets have been hit hard | | | | speaks for itself but its worth checking that any price |
| over the last couple of years and whilst there are | | | | you are quoted does not include a charge for gift |
| glimmers of the economy recovering its still early days | | | | boxes (unless you want them). Most branded USB |
| and consequentially purse strings are still pulled | | | | flash drives will come in individual "poly" bags or they'll |
| relatively tight. That said businesses can't afford to | | | | be in a free plain white box. |
| stand still and the need to advertise and promote your | | | | - Pre-load any data during the manufacturing process - |
| business and products is still of paramount importance | | | | one of the best ways to offset the cost of buying |
| but, where hard cash is being spent its critical that you | | | | branded USB flash drives is to pre-load them with your |
| squeeze as much as possible from your budget. | | | | company sales brochures, media files, presentation |
| When it comes to buying promotional USB flash drives | | | | files and so on - saving this data onto the flash drive |
| there are several factors that you should consider | | | | means you won't have to go to the expense of |
| because they will help you to get the best possible | | | | getting them printed. The trick though is to make sure |
| "bang for buck": | | | | you have the data ready early so that it can be |
| - Don't pay for unnecessary memory - USB flash | | | | loaded onto the flash drive at the point of manufacture |
| drives are available in a wide range of sizes starting | | | | (this is usually free). If you are late supplying your data |
| from 32MB all the way up to 64GB. Popular USB flash | | | | then expect to pay a fee for it to be loaded post |
| drive sizes are 1Gb - 2GB and these are normally | | | | manufacture. |
| ample for any corporate gifts or promotional | | | | - Get several quotes before ordering - we all have our |
| give-aways. If you buy USB flash drives larger than | | | | own favourite or "preferred" supplier(s) but when |
| this then the costs start to rise quite substantially. | | | | you're sourcing branded USB flash drives its definitely |
| Similarly if you buy flash drives smaller than 1GB the | | | | worth shopping around and getting several quotes. If |
| price reduction is relatively small but more importantly | | | | you do choose a new supplier make sure you get a |
| the likelihood of the flash drive being used on an | | | | firm quote in writing, read any associated T & C's and |
| on-going basis is dramatically reduced. Without | | | | payment terms and make sure the price is a fully |
| on-going use you don't get the benefit of your brand | | | | inclusive price. In particular watch out for print set up, |
| being continually recalled or promoted. | | | | print origination charges and high delivery charges! |
| - Reduce the number of colours you want printed - Ink | | | | - Buying the cheapest USB flash drives can end up |
| costs and each colour printed has a set-up cost | | | | costly in the long run - before you just accept the |
| associated with it. Whilst some suppliers might absorb | | | | cheapest price you are quoted its best to make sure |
| some of these costs to secure your business its | | | | you are comparing "apples with apples". Some |
| unlikely that they'll swallow all of them. If you have a | | | | unscrupulous vendors will supply graded or re-cycled |
| complex logo or a logo with 4 or more colours see if | | | | flash chips unless you specify "new". Whilst most of |
| you can simplify it. Its not unusual for there to be | | | | these will work you can expect a much higher failure |
| various "complex" and "simple" versions of a company | | | | rate and much slower performance - not exactly what |
| logo available because good designers understand that | | | | you want if you're printing your brand on them! Choose |
| a logo will be used in a variety of way and so they | | | | your vendor carefully, check out their testimonials and |
| plan ahead accordingly. | | | | if you're at all concerned take references. |
| - Plan ahead and order early - The vast majority of | | | | - Avoid buying your USB flash drives during the peak |
| USB flash drives that are printed up with a company | | | | demand periods - there are a couple of times of the |
| brand or logo are manufactured to order from | | | | year (every year) when the price of flash rockets and |
| factories in China. Despite the distances involved and | | | | this has a knock on effect on the price of USB flash |
| the freight costs associated with shipping flash drives | | | | drives. The times to avoid if at all possible include the |
| around the world it is still considerably cheaper to get | | | | early run up to Christmas (late September and |
| flash drives this way. If you order flash drives at the | | | | October) when many large manufacturers buy up |
| last minute then you'll pay a premium to get them | | | | flash chips for their Christmas manufacturing schedules |
| printed locally and you'll have far less choice in terms | | | | and the time around Chinese New Year when there is |
| of memory size and style of memory stick. | | | | a general scarcity in the market. |
| - Only buy gift boxes if you really need them - this | | | | |