If you’re involved in the promotions industry, you may have come across the fascinating design insights that I’ve come across recently from Martin Lindstrom, author of ‘Buy•ology’.

Lindstrom, through a study of the human psyche, throws light on the subconscious mind and how that plays a major role in deciding what the buyer will buy. In doing so, Lindstrom breaks a number of existing myths related to advertising and promotion.

An interesting theory of his, is his idea of a “smashable” product. In 1915 the Coca-Cola company decided that it needed to do something about the design of its bottles, as they felt there straight-sided containers weren’t distinctive enough. The result was that the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, proposed the swirling, curved “contour” bottle, which remains, one of the most recognisable and loved brand icons.

Why did this happen do you think? In 1915 the designer of Coca-Cola’s bottle was given a simple yet brilliant brief: design the bottle systematically and so distinctive that, if smashed, a single piece of glass would be recognizable as, and signify the Coke brand. As Martin says himself; “The Coke bottle story is fascinating from a brand building perspective. In theory, all brands should be able to pass this test. So, working on this principle, if you removed the logo from your brand, would it still be recognizable?”

Remember if you would like any free branding advice, contact the friendly promotions team over at Gift Selection.

Pop music is big business, but Blur’s manager recently issued a word of warning to musicians, against appearing in just any sort of promotion.

In particular Chris Morrison pointed out: “I think Duffy’s Coca-Cola ad was abysmal and I think Robbie Williams on T Mobile was terrible. I don’t think either of those two things did any favours to the artists’ careers or the way they’re perceived. I think you have to be very, very careful about how you associate with brands.

Brit Pop legends Blur themselves have allowed their tracks to be used in commercials, with their 1997 hit Song 2 earning more than 20 times as much money through use in ads, TV shows and film soundtracks than in actual record sales.

Musicians from all genres of the aural spectrum invest heavily in promotional products too. Manchester based DJ & producer Mr Scruff, well known for his love of tea, is one artist to created some promotional mugs from this quality corporate gift supplier.

You can buy all sorts of promotional merchandise direct from his site, including promotional tea cups, T shirts, USB sticks and badges to name just a few.

 Apart from investing in quality promotional products from reputable suppliers such as Gift Selection or the Mug Store, a popular way for businesses to market themselves is via Google Adwords.

However Google faces taxes on its massive advertising revenue in France as part of president Nicolas Sarkozy’s ambition to regulate the internet. Proposals in a government-led report handed to culture minister Frederic Mitterrand recommend Google and other internet search providers should be forced to pay a levy every time a user clicks on their sponsored links.

Google France senior policy manager Olivier Esper said an additional tax on internet advertising would “slow down innovation” and the best way “to support content creation is to find new business models that help consumers find great content and rewards artists and publishers for their work”.

Last year here in the UK, Google was accused of legally avoiding more than £450m in corporation tax on the £1.6bn advertising revenues in made here last year. The Sunday Times reported they had diverted all its advertising earnings from customers in Britain to its Irish subsidiary. It turns out that Google’s crafty accountants made sure they paid just £141,519 in Corporation Tax.

Kellogg’s is getting sick n’ tired of other people making cornflakes, and want to make double sure that people don’t think that there cornflakes are going into other peoples boxes.

So when you’re munching on your Waitrose own brand corn flakes, don’t be fooled into thinking your getting Kellogg’s cornflakes. If you do a big green chicken will come round, and put you straight.

 In a bid to protect their brand against imitation products, Kellogg’s are to literally brand some of their flaked corn. The cereal main men plan to burn the Kellogg’s signature on to individual flakes using a laser, and will then insert a proportion of these branded flakes into each box.

If the system proves a hit, it could be used on Kellogg’s other cereal products, including Frosties, Special K and Crunchy Nut. Helen Lyons, lead food technologist at the company, said: ”In recent years there has been an increase in the number of own brands trying to capitalize on the popularity of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

I think she is being slightly pretentious, I don’t see why people would automatically presume this in the first place. Anyway she said; ”We want shoppers to be under absolutely no illusion that Kellogg’s does not make cereal for anyone else. We’re constantly looking at new ways to reaffirm this and giving our golden flakes of corn an official stamp of approval could be the answer.”

Is this nonsensical marketing stunt, or an off the wall attempt by one of the world’s biggest food producers to stop people buying corn fakes. The British PR office for Kellogg’s claimed on their Twitter today that it has succeeded in etching its brand into individual corn flakes so they stand out against any copies.

If you think some promotional cereal is the answer to your business’s marketing needs, then  sweets2order can supply you with some branded cereal bars.

A custom printed promotional cereal bar, makes for an unusual promotional item but one that is perfect if you want your brand to be associated with a healthy lifestyle. Sweets2order won’t go as far as to brand individual cereal flakes, but they will do a good job of printing the packaging. They have a great range of branded cereal bars, so get in contact with their friendly team for more information.

Remember when I reported news about Hula-Hoops requesting the public to send in videos of their fingers messing around with their favourite crisps on them?

Well they have recently launched their TV add to encourage us to get filming, which features two would be YMCA stars. Helen Warren-Piper, marketing director of Bagged Snacks at UBUK, said: “This new TV advertising campaign, along with the on-pack promotion and Hula Hoops website will drive further consumer engagement with the brand providing retailers with increased sales opportunities.

“Some brands are the keepers of undeniable truths. Hula Hoops is one of those brands — anyone who tells you they can eat a bag without first putting them on their fingers and giving them a wiggle, is a big fat fibber”.

If you have way too much time on your hands - visit their website to see people’s latest efforts and size up your competition.

Brands linked with health and hygiene in the US are updating their marketing plans in regards to panic over swine flue, much more effectively then organisations here in Britain. Home-grown brands like Carex and Dettol for example, have no information about swine flue on their site, while equivalent US brands have plenty.

To be fair the US does border with Mexico, where the potential pandemic started, so it’s not too surprising that American brands have been quick to act. The British government has today launched a mass awareness campaign, with advice about washing hands, and to cover one’s mouth and nose when sneezing.

In Mexico 159 people have thought to have died from the disease and 2,400 infections, while there have been five reported cases in the UK. The number of suspected cases is around the 70 mark but this figure fluctuates as new cases emerge and others are ruled out.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A, which infects pigs. There are many types, the one in the news is known as A/H1N1. This latest form has mutated and can be spread from person to person through infectious respiratory droplets (i.e. droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking). This is obviously bad enough, but it can’t be contracted from eating pork. The symptoms of swine flu in people appear to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever, muscle pains, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing and a sore throat. Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea. But for most people this illness appears to be mild thankfully. While infection with this virus appears to be treatable with certain types of anti-viral drugs (Tamiflu) and (Relenza).

As far as the promotional products industry is concerned, I can’t see Gift Selection’s promotional piggy banks flying of the shelves anytime soon. The future of our loveable porky friends doesn’t look to rosy. However promotional hand sanitizers and other promotional hygiene items should be as popular as ever. I actually have one in my bag, one on my desk and one at home - then again I may just be a bit weird. To find out more about what promotional health items are available, then please call their friendly team over at 0845 481 8090.

 Persil is celebrating its 100th birthday this month, by running a new TV ad, and an on pack promotion offering BOGOG entry into some of the UK and NI favourite attractions. The campaign is costing £6m, and will feature both retro and new material, with the theme still being all about ‘tough on dirt and gentle on clothes.’

 If you fancy a free ticket and conveniently have some washing to do, simply cut out the voucher from a Persil 100th birthday pack and present it to the participating attraction. These include; Madame Tussauds, The London Dungeon, The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham, Legoland Windsor, Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo, Warwick Castle and The Alton Towers resort.

Persil was first launched as the ‘Amazing Oxygen Washer’, not the sharpest of lines, but the public seem to love it. Apparently when the public was asked to name a laundry detergent, 80% of them said Persil. The new TV ad campaign will run along side, PR support and online activity too.

Since the French parliament has passed an advertising ban for public television there has been strikes around the capital. A couple of weeks ago, the National Assembly decided that from 2011, the four major state-financed channels, will no longer be allowed to broadcast advertisements. This legislation took affect from the 5th of January, while in the mean time TV ads will only be allowed before 8 pm.

However before any advertisers start feeling to sorry for their French cousins, the state is to compensate for a loss of advertising incurred. President Sarkozy new law means that €800m (£600m) in advertising revenue, will be immediately transferred to private stations. As much as the poor old BBC is slated from domestic viewers, the French President’s advisors have been studying the BBC’s model in an effect to improve the quality of French television. Public station journalists are understandably concerned that without commercials, they will not have enough money to make good programmes and their audience share will diminish.

With TV ads being off the menu, and French media works starting to calm down, promotional products may be order of the day for French businesses to market themselves with.

Think of the advertising potential of these bad boys. Inflatable homing missiles that will follow you where ever you go! No matter how fast you drive they’ll be hunting you down. If this product wouldn’t get your attention that what would? Looking like a cartoon character may not be everyone’s idea of fun, and the product does raise good taste issues with the current situation in Middle East.

Unfortunately (to my knowledge) these aren’t available to buy yet, but in the meantime personalized balloons and banners are a great way to promote your business at an outdoor corporate event or in a large exhibition centre. If you’re looking to make a statement with your promotional products, then the friendly people at Gift Selection are always on hand to give expert advice.

They have a great selection of printed banners or could even produce personalised blimps. Large banners for outdoor events are a cost effective way to have your brand noticed by thousands of people. I think the only way to draw more attention outdoors, is have a plane draw your logo out in smoke - which obviously wouldn’t come cheap.

A recent survey taken in London has suggested that a third of television viewers, (surely a third of nearly everyone?) will be staying in and watching more TV than the previous year, according to an ITV survey.

Personally I’m skeptical about how accurate these results are. How does one know how much TV they are going to watch? Not to mention how much one watched a whole year ago? I’m struggling to recall anything prior to writing this sentance - never mind something I did twelve months ago. Plus the fact that a TV popularity survey was carried out by ITN, is like a survey that looked at the effects of smoking which was conducted by Marlboro.

Despite my rampant cynicism, it does suggest that now is a better time than ever to get your promotional message on the small screen. The increase of online catch-up TV will boost TV viewing significantly over Christmas the survey found.

ITV claims that the player’s average number of plays per month has increased by 251% since the start of the year. While ITV.com had 15.7 million video views in November – that’s up almost 600% year on year. It seems the budding trend of watching your favourite TV programme on your computer is here to stay.