| In the IT industry in the 1980's a phrase that was | | | | going to be retained, used on a regular basis, |
| commonly heard was "no one ever got fired for | | | | generates significant brand association and importantly |
| buying IBM" and in the 1990's this was changed to "no | | | | allows them to supply all of their sales material at the |
| one ever got fired to buying Microsoft". Today, in our | | | | same time, then a branded memory stick is the best |
| opinion, this phrase can be applied equally to branded | | | | option. |
| memory sticks in the promotional sector. | | | | The price of branded memory sticks, despite the |
| IBM and Microsoft were companies that have | | | | recent hiccup in flash prices and exchange rate |
| dominated their respective sectors, their products | | | | fluctuations, continues to fall. Today a typical 1Gb |
| were considered "safe bets" and whilst there might | | | | branded memory stick that's printed, boxed and loaded |
| have been alternative options, many with better | | | | with data costs as little as £3. This cost will vary |
| technological solutions, they were rarely every | | | | depending on memory size and the number ordered |
| recommended or purchased. The reason for | | | | (and the supplier you choose) but when you consider |
| recommending them and buying them was as much | | | | that by loading sales, presentation material etc. onto |
| about job security as it was about buying the best of | | | | the disk you can offset significant printing and |
| breed product. Why take the risk of recommending | | | | transportation costs the memory sticks can pay for |
| alternative vendors and products when every one else | | | | themselves. |
| was siding with "Big Blue" or Microsoft. There might | | | | Part of growing use of the branded memory stick by |
| have been better options in the market but when | | | | the Promotions Industry is that they are incredibly |
| these companies were at their zenith you'd be hard | | | | popular with anyone they are given to because they |
| pushed to find them and even harder pushed to find | | | | provide real value and benefit. After all we're all |
| companies that had bet their business on them. | | | | generating more digital data (photos videos, work files, |
| After a slow but steady start branded USB memory | | | | homework etc.) and a branded memory stick is a |
| sticks are reaching a similar position in the promotional | | | | really convenient way storing and transporting this |
| and corporate gift sector. The primary difference here | | | | data. |
| is that it's a product and not a company or specific | | | | In an ironic twist both IBM and Microsoft are regular |
| brand that is beginning to dominate. Of course the | | | | users of promotional memory sticks to underpin the |
| promotional market spans a broad range of needs and | | | | launch of new products and services and to drive |
| budgets and at the "cheap and cheerful" end where | | | | customer and re-seller loyalty. |
| budgets are pennies per giveaway the more traditional | | | | If you are looking for a good value, popular and "safe" |
| items like pens, bags, and mugs badges are still top | | | | promotional option then branded memory sticks should |
| dogs. But, where companies are looking to spend a | | | | be at the top of your shortlist. |
| little more and want to give away something that is | | | | |