When it comes to branding bags for an event, brands don’t come to much bigger then Louis Vuitton, while events don’t come much bigger then the World Cup. Can you guess what’s coming next? LV has launched a new campaign featuring football legends Pele, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane, and has also revealed it is creating a new case for the World Cup trophy.

The activity is supported online through their typically glossy website louisvuittonjourneys.com, featuring a conversation between the three players who recall their careers and the matches they played in (Maradona’s handballs, twenty year drug addiction and tax aviation isn’t dwelled on).

Louis Vuitton at its workshop in Asnières, France, designs and makes around 450 special orders, such as the FIFA travel case, every year. Antoine Arnault, head of communications for Louis Vuitton said: ‘The world cup trophy should be brought on to the pitch in its case and revealed by a Louis Vuitton ambassador, in front of millions of fans and viewers.’

If your business wants some branded bags for a corporate event, then it certainly doesn’t have to be for as grand occasion as the world cup. Quality promotional product distributors, can supply a full range of promotional bags that don’t have to cost a fortune.

Branded cotton shoppers are great for low cost, large scale promotions, which means your brand will get noticed everywhere. On the hand, for corporate exhibitions and meetings, top end embossed leather conference bags will ensure your brand gives off the right image.

No matter what your budget, contact the friendly team over at Gift Selection for all information you could possibly need about branded bags.

Were you one of the lucky 4,700 professional attended this years PSI show in Gay Paris? (I wasn’t.)

A PSI spokesperson said: “The high caliber of visitors was remarked upon by most of the exhibitors. The selective policy of the PSI Paris trade show was first decided on several years ago, and now guarantees that the event is a success.”

There were 187 exhibitors at the show, with more than 370 brands represented. Also announce at the show were the PSI Awards, honoring the most innovative products in the fields of “creation, trend, design, leisure and gastronomy, office and sustainable development.”

The show was a great opportunity for companies involved in the promotional products industry to unite, exchange ideas and boost their business. If you missed out, then there’s always next year. Exhibitors and delegates will be back in Paris early in 2010, as PSI has changed the dates for next year’s show to February 2-4. Hopefully I might even get to make an appearance, keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest promotional products.

The National Gallery of Scotland wasn’t messing about with the promotion of their latest exhibition titled ‘Discovery of Spain’.

They thought bigger was defiantly better, as they had exhibition build company b:spoke was commissioned to create three replica works of art that were on show – each one a whopping 3 x 4 metres each. These are now hung on specially designed fixtures, which give the impression that the pictures of floating on air.

Ross Wilson the main man of marketing, said the move was in response to research which found that the public saw the gallery as intimidating. Surely having massive images of confrontational portraits bearing down on you, is only going to increase one’s anxiety. He said; “We decided to add some colour and make the building more welcoming. We have received good feedback, so it must be working.”

The National Galleries of Scotland look after one of the world’s finest collections of Western art ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day. These holdings include the National Collection of Scottish art which we are proud to display in an international context - so now you know!

There is currently a conflict in the French promotional product market regarding trade show dates. The PSI Paris, which has traditionally been held in September for eleven years, has pulled its 2010 event forward to February 2-4, parallel to the existing schedule of the ‘Communiquez Textile’ in Lyon.

The Lyon trade show for promotional textiles was launched in 2008 and quickly established itself as an obligatory date for those involved with the promotional products industry. While the organisers of the PSI say , visiting the event will guarantee that you will meet the best manufacturers and importers as well as branders and silkscreen printers for promotional products and textiles.

Clemence Long of PSI Paris is also aware of the fact that the amended schedule could put the suppliers in a difficult position: “It is clear to us that the suppliers will have to make a choice and this decision will correspond with their corporate strategy. The fact that Paris is the economic centre of France speaks in favour of the PSI.

Interestingly, every visitor to the PSI Paris show in September 2009 will obtain their free entrance for next years event.

Mustmeet.com is a recently launched online business-to-business networking site, designed with the events industry in mind. They have estimated that there are 22 million business trade exhibitions, events and conferences word wide – so there is plenty of potential out there.

I must admit I think this is a great idea, as not everyone has the time or the confidence to attend exhibitions. The founder Leon Levy says; “Many people don’t like networking and are uncomfortable striking up conversations with strangers. The events industry was crying out for an online tool that simplifies and manages this online networking for the events industry.”

The site operates like a grown up Facebook with members setting up profiles, with the idea of viewing the profiles of delegates and exhibitors, as well as pre-book meetings at the venues.

Starting tomorrow is the 17th year of the popular ‘internetworld’ three day event. The series of seminars and exhibitions will be held at Earls Court 2, where over three hundred exhibitors and seven theatres will be buzzing.

Internet world brings together Europe’s largest collection of marketing, IT, digital, ecommerce professionals, which will give you a great chance of meeting and connecting with like minded individuals within your industry.
  

I myself will be pottering around, hopefully learning a thing or two, so I hope to see you there tomorow bright and early!

If you’re linked with the promotions industry, and fancy collecting a few air miles, make a note of these up and coming events for this month:

21^st-24^th: Euro Reklama, Poznan Poland

22^nd: Promotional Showcase, Exeter Rugby Club, Sandy Park Way, Exeter

Prodir will be presenting the second generation of its DS4 at the PSI in Düsseldorf tomorrow. Its new push-button mechanism is said to turn the multiple international prize winning writing instrument into a genuine all-round ballpoint.

 Those clever product designer chaps over in Switzerland haven’t messed about with successful shape very much. The newly designed push-button is the only major point that distinguishes the new 2009 model. Prodir have always been believed in making a statement, with their promotional products, by using contrasting colour and material combinations between the push-button and the barrels, one can achieve an eye catching and attractive effects. The chrome-plated push-button version is particularly striking for the flashier types. The other major change is that the side clip of the DS4 offers an even larger surface for imprints, since it has been expanded by almost 20%.

The DS2 has had a little revamp of its own too - now the push button is available in galvanized silver, with new varnish casing options also on the market. Likewise the DS5 has a matt black varnished casing, black soft-touch casing and a clip cover for printing.

If you’re wondering if Prodir are the right brand to promote your business, then the friendly people at pens2order are always on hand to answer your queries.

 January is a busy time in this industry, if you can spare the time below are some key exhibitions you may find useful:

07-09

PSI Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre

49211 90191

www.psionline.de

Of course, we will be wrapping up very warm and making the journey to Germany tomorrow and will report back to you with everything you need to know!

18-20th

Top Drawer Spring

Earls Court One

02073708200

http://www.topdrawerspring.com/

28th

BPMA Annual Awards Dinner

Ricoh Arena

Coventry

020 76895555

http://www.bpma.co.uk/

28-29th

Trade Only Show

Ricoh Arena

Coventry

08448802752

http://www.tradeonlycentral.com/

28-31th

Toy Fair

Excel

London

02077017127

www.toyfair.co.uk

Planning on travelling to the continent any time soon? Maybe you and your work buddies, are making the journey to the PSI Trade Fair next month. If you are - then I’d advise you in getting one of these urgently!

 PSI Dusseldorf is a Trade Show for Advertising Specialties is the biggest showcase of promotional products in Germany. It is a must-attend-event for European professionals of the promotional product industry and the number one meeting point and business platform for the first half of the year.

The pound also hit a new record low against the euro of 1.059 Euros on the expectation of further cuts in interest rates by the Bank of England. The only bright side is that at least you won’t have to bother with a promotional currency converter while you’re over there!

If you’re reading this from across the pond, things will be just as expensive as the dollar is expected to remain weak against the euro for the foreseeable future.