| There is a real growth in the demand for custom USB | | | | approval, a physical sample, modifications and the final |
| Memory sticks but for many the world of promotional | | | | delivery. |
| memory sticks, branded memory sticks, printed | | | | 6. Insist on a physical sample. Whilst photographs from |
| memory sticks and custom USB memory sticks is all a | | | | the factory of the manufactured custom sticks are |
| bit of a mystery. To help you understand what they | | | | "ok" they are no substitute for seeing and handling the |
| are and how to go about ordering them here's our top | | | | real thing. Your supplier should also be keen to do this |
| 10 tips: | | | | for you, as they will want you to approve the |
| | | | production against a real sample. |
| 1. Understand what a customised memory stick is. | | | | 7. Make sure the right grade of flash memory is being |
| They should not be confused with standard "factory | | | | used. Grade A memory chips are new and give you |
| owned" designs that simply have your brand or logo | | | | access to the full amount of advertised memory on |
| printed onto them. A custom USB Memory stick is | | | | the Chip. All other grades of memory chip make less |
| manufactured specifically for you and you will "own" | | | | of the advertised memory available for use and in |
| the finished design. | | | | some cases are re-cycled. In other words they are |
| 2. Typically custom USB memory sticks are | | | | memory chips taken out of used kit or recovered |
| manufactured in a 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional | | | | from USB sticks that have failed the build QA process. |
| shapes to represent your brand, product or in a shape | | | | If you end up with anything other than Grade A |
| that works with your advertising and marketing | | | | memory chips you are likely to experience a higher |
| campaign. Pretty much anything can be manufactured | | | | failure rate, you won't be able to store as much |
| so don't be afraid to ask for what might seem | | | | information on the stick as expected and its possible |
| impossible. Custom sticks in the shape of bottles, cans, | | | | you'll overpay for what you're getting. Always check |
| fruits, cars, forklifts, footballs, baseballs, cartoon | | | | with your supplier that they are using Grade A |
| characters, badges, poker chips, bullets and even | | | | memory chips. |
| tampons have been manufactured. | | | | 8. Choose the right memory capacity for your project. |
| 3. Choose your material - Custom USB Memory sticks | | | | There's no point going to all the trouble of getting your |
| can be manufactured from a range of materials | | | | own custom USB memory sticks designed and |
| including but not limited to plastic, PVC, ABS, Silicon, | | | | manufactured and then skimping on the memory. |
| PET, rubber, wood, leather and metal. If in any doubt | | | | Typical memory sizes used today are 1GB but there is |
| ask your supplier and get some samples so you can | | | | a trend towards 2GB as the price differential between |
| feel/see how the material influences the finished | | | | the two capacities drops. |
| product. Be aware that for some intricate designs the | | | | 9. RoHS Compliance - although the memory sticks are |
| factories may not be able to manufacture them in all | | | | being manufactured for you and not for general sale |
| of the materials available. | | | | they still need to be RoHS compliant. RoHS stands for |
| 4. Be clear in your brief to your supplier. Most good | | | | the Restriction of Hazardous Substances and it applies |
| suppliers will have their own in-house design team and | | | | to thousands of electrical and computer parts and |
| be able to work up concepts and ideas for you and | | | | components imported into the EU. This is EU |
| they should be willing to do this free of charge. The | | | | Legislation and you must comply with it. Finding out you |
| requirement on you is to articulate what you want, | | | | have imported non-RoHS compliant products and then |
| how its going to be used and to provide some context. | | | | pushing the blame back to your supplier won't wash. |
| If your supplier is expecting you to deliver a finished | | | | The fines are significant so ensure you ask the right |
| design and drawing for the factory to work from then | | | | questions and get copies of RoHS certificates. |
| they are probably best avoided. There are experts in | | | | 10. Choose the right supplier/partner. Lots of |
| the field of custom USB memory sticks so work with | | | | companies offer standard printed and promotional |
| one of these. | | | | USB memory sticks but far fewer have any |
| 5. Allow sufficient time. Ideally your supplier is going to | | | | experience in the delivery of custom USB memory |
| need around 4 weeks to deliver your custom USB | | | | sticks. If in any doubt ask for references, get samples |
| memory sticks so factor this into your project plan. | | | | and read up on any cases studies. A custom USB |
| This time allows for the development of the concept, | | | | memory stick requires time, energy and money so |
| the completion of design drawings and mocks ups for | | | | don't waste any of these valuable resources. |