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.

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!

 Environmentally friendly promotional products are becoming increasingly popular, and ecoproducts2order have recently added a considerable number of new great eco items to their range.

The humble promotional pencil has had a new lease of life, as it’s now available in a range new eco friendly materials. Everybody has seen a promotional pencil made from recycled paper, but now you can have one made from tin foil! My personal favourite are the black eco pencils, which are made from old videos!

If you’re looking for more of a luxury eco writing instrument, then now you can order a recycled mechanical pencil. Mechanical pencils have a high perceived value, and make for cost effective eco friendly promotional items. Ecoproducts2order has a full range of promotional writing instruments made out of various materials, so give their friendly team a call for more information.

 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.

The fact that tomorrow is the 23rd of April means that it’s St. George’s Day – England’s national day!

His emblem of a red cross on a white background was adopted by Richard the Lion Heart,  with the king’s soldiers wearing it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle! It’s only right then, that we will be drinking out of our St George promotional mugs tomorrow.

Our brews will taste even more refreshing, knowing that our promotional mugs where produced in dear old Blighty. The St George mug is made in the heart of England, and will feature a razor sharp screen print of your artwork. The bottom of the St George printed mug features ‘Made In England’, crafted into the base.

Despite the fact that St. George is our patron St, only one in five people know that St. George’s Day is on 23rd April. Even worse is that a quarter of people living in England do not even know who their patron saint is!

If you’d like to order a sample, quote or visual of the promotional St George mug, then let the friendly team at the Mugstore know.

 The latest mover and shaker in the world of promotions is Carlsberg, who are about to embark on a whopping £7m marketing campaign for San Miguael. This will be the first campaign since Carlsberg took over all marketing responsibilities from the brand last year.

It all kicks off on the 9th of May with TV ads, which will run alongside outdoor, print and cinema activity. There will also be some “experimental” activity going on at train stations…

The lager is promoting itself along the line of “Not a quick beer”, with the aim of marketing itself alongside world or luxury beers. With the typically Spanish idea of making sure you balance work and other time, always being kept in mind. Rather then a fuel that’s thrown down the neck of football hooligans, before marching onto the terraces.

New packaging will also play a part, with a new can and bottle label design. A new promotional glass will also be produced, to further the premium feel of the brand. The new look is based on the brand’s appearance in continental Europe, where shall we say there is a more gentlemanly attitude towards drinking.

Jade Goody’s doomed battle with cervical cancer, has seen extremely extensive media activity. Her name and associated charities have seen practically unprecedented promotional interest.

But the media’s hunger for all things Jade Goody, has certainly provoked a mixed response from the public. A recent mini study by brandrepublic, showed that many people like me thought that all the publicity had gone too far. Surely this promotional activity has crossed the boundaries of good taste, and many people have stated that lots of people have cancer.

It seems disrespectful to genuine national treasures, considering Jade Goody was famous for being the first person to have live sex in front of millions of people on Big Brother, and then being known for her generally ignorance of pretty much everything. I can respect the fact that she has provided a future income for her young children, and has genuinely raised the profile of various cancer charities, which is commendable. But the way the media has displayed all the tears and arguments is quite disturbing.

The fact that Jade Goody’s funeral will be broadcasted on giant television screens I think is horrendous – then again I suppose it is just catering to popular demand…

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have estimated that around a million home owners are in negative equity due to falling house prices. The research suggests that lowering property values have left 900,000 people with a home which is worth less, then the mortgage repayments by the end of 2008.

Experts say that house prices are likely to fall further, but those that will be worst affected will be different to those in the last recession in 1993. Back then it was estimated to have hit 1.5 million homeowners with negative equity. What are we to do about all this negative equity? As I heard one comedian say: “well we could just bloody live in our houses and stop complaining – use our house as its primary function e.g. a home not an investment!”

If your finances are stressing you out, a house shaped promotional stress ball is what you need! Giftselection and the Promostore are two quality suppliers of anti stress related promotional items. If you’re looking for either a bespoke promotional stress ball, or corporate gifts that are designed to make you relax – then give their friendly teams a call. If your feeling a little new age, you could even invest in a promotional zen set or a nice hand massager!

The ASA (the national advertising watchdog) has cast its critical eye over a new beer advert, and has deemed it against the rules. The beer poster which said ‘Take Courage’ on behalf of Courage beer, clearly implied that it could boost male confidence. Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t beer boost male confidence?

The poster ad shows a nervous man sitting on a sofa next to a can of half poured beer, with a woman standing with her back to him wearing a tight fitting dress with the sale label still attached.

Anyway the public were clearly outraged after a whopping three people complained. The Wells & Young’s Brewing Company had used the slogan “Take courage my friend” in ad campaigns for its beer from the 1950s, right through to the 1980s.

Let this be a word of warning to any business starting a new ad campaign – check with the ASA first. Something that Tiger beer didn’t do when they described themselves as;” the Far East’s most desirable export since 1932.” Suggesting that the second most popular export was ‘ladyboy’ transvestites.

A major direct mail campaign is about to start from ‘The Dogs Trust’, who are the good people who look after many an abandoned dog. If you’re a lady over the age of 45 who’s known for her love of dogs, then you may well be receiving a pack soon. The Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, catering for over 16,000 dogs every year via its 17 re-homing centers.

This promotional campaign is geared up to ask for help to re-home larger dogs in particular. The ladies will be sent a loveable A3-sized poster featuring a number of dogs reading: “Why is it hard for big dogs like us to find love?” Presumably because there badly behaved and expensive, but don’t let me put you off. The pack will include stores highlighting their plight, and why they need extra help, as well as a suggested donation and a pre-paid envelope. Adrian Burder, marketing director of Dogs Trust said: “There’s a disturbing increase in the number of big dogs being brought to us across all our centers.

If your business or charity is looking to invest in a direct mail marketing campaign, then Giftselection has all the promotional products you could be interested in. If you’re mailing out promotional items, they need to be relatively inexpensive and lightweight. Giftselection has loads of traditional options like printed promotional badges, logobugs and keyrings. They also have more unusual promotional items that could work well like printed; nail files, mouse mats and letter openers.