| The use of USB memory sticks, or Flash Drives as | | | | on the stick so that it can be tracked back to the |
| they are sometimes called, for promotional purposes | | | | recipient. |
| has grown dramatically over the past few years and | | | | The reasons for doing this vary from: |
| it's a trend that looks set to continue. | | | | - Flash Drives distributed to students by Universities |
| The popularity of branded memory sticks is to a large | | | | are often supplied with a unique serial number on each |
| degree underpinned by their inherent value, their ease | | | | flash drive so that the university can record which |
| of use, the fact that you can pre-load them with data | | | | student has which stick. This is useful in the event of |
| and because they look fantastic printed up with a logo | | | | sticks being lost or "going missing" because when |
| or brand. There are lots of different styles and models | | | | found or recovered they can be traced back to the |
| to choose from and they come in a wide range of | | | | original owner. |
| standard colours but they can also be pantone | | | | - Memory sticks distributed with sensitive information |
| matched to a specific colour if needed. | | | | are often uniquely numbered so that in the event of |
| Falling prices over the past couple of years has also | | | | loss (and subsequent recovery) it's clear who was |
| helped their popularity and historic practice of loading | | | | responsible for the loss. |
| cheap unit prices with "extra" charges for origination, | | | | - Creating different batches of flash drives with |
| print set up, data loading, colour matching and lanyards | | | | different data sets loaded onto them. Printed flash |
| are now, in the main, a thing of the past. So with lower | | | | drives all look the same (unless you've ordered |
| prices, greater transparency on pricing, faster lead | | | | batches of different colours or printed a slightly |
| times and a larger range of products to choose from | | | | different brand or logo on them) so it's handy to have |
| the position of the branded memory stick in the | | | | a discrete serial number printed or etched onto them |
| promotional gifts sector looks assured. | | | | to help create and manage batches. Useful for |
| The vast majority of branded flash drives are used as | | | | data-loading, distribution and audit purposes.Branded |
| promotional "giveaways" where it's not necessary or | | | | memory sticks can be serial numbered in a variety of |
| important to "bind" the memory stick to the person that | | | | ways including printing, etching and engraving. The |
| it's being given to. But, in some circumstances its not | | | | format of the numbering, or lettering is fully |
| only useful but necessary to know which particular | | | | customisable and it can be as discrete or as obvious |
| flash drive is given to which person and in these | | | | as you wish. Just speak to your supplier and they |
| circumstances you need to have some unique marker | | | | should be able to show you the options. |