Use Automotive Promotional Products to Showcase Your Business

June 15th, 2010

Promotional automotive products include much more than key chains and bumper stickers. You can put your message or logo on everything from roadside toolkits to hitch covers. While smaller items make excellent giveaways, use larger products as customer appreciation gifts and raffle items.

Many vendors give out logo key chains at trade shows, job fairs, and in goody bags at other community events. Why not do something a little different and hand out a mini license plate, ice scraper or tire gauge? A tire gauge is a useful promotional item that will remind the recipient of your company every time it’s used. In addition, tire gauges often come attached to a key ring, combined with a pen light or a tread gauge, and as a digital gauge.

Other eye-catching giveaway items include car flags, bumper stickers, static clings and reflective decals. These types of screen imprinted items are especially useful when your company sponsors an event or a sports team. Customers are more inclined to use and display the item when the message supports the event or team. Your logo and contact information are then visible to everyone who sees the vehicle displaying the item. When choosing screen imprinted automotive promotional products, look for vendors who offer 4-color process. You want to make your item stand out with bright colors. These products can also be used as advertising on company vehicles.

The car ribbon magnet supporting various causes continues to be popular with motorists. Use these to show your support and your recipient’s support for everything from breast cancer research to a particular branch of the military. The best ribbons include a heart shape in the loop of the ribbon that provides an additional punch-out magnet to display information.

The ultimate in promotional automotive products is the roadside emergency tool kit. These make great customer appreciation gifts or raffle items. Basic kits include screw drivers, a tire gauge and jumper cables. More expensive kits can also include a flash light, a universal car starter, wrenches, electrical tape and even a first aid kit. Surprisingly, vehicle tool kits are reasonable priced from $20 to $50.

Finally, consider imprinting car organizers with your logo and message. You can put your information on CD organizers, catch-alls, glove box wallets, and mobile office and entertainment centers. Car organizers make nice gifts for both customer and employee appreciation days. Normally, imprinting is priced as one color in one location on the item.

Opportunities to Set Up or Expand your Automotive Industry Related Business

June 7th, 2010

In 1984 Nissan established a Factory in Sunderland, North East England. In the past eight years this factory has been Europe’s most efficient car plant. Since then Nissans overall investment in the region has been approximately 2.1bn ($4.1bn). The level of commitment by Nissan has propelled the North East of England as one of the top places in Europe to relocate automotive businesses as well as the expansion opportunities available.

Nissans decision to move to the North east has prompted over 150 automotive companies to relocate or start up in the region and the industry now has a combined workforce of 18,000 skilled people. Companies in the car or car component industry can take advantage of the regions large and skilled workforce with great employment skills in the automotive industry.

In addition to the employable skills enjoyed in the region, the industry is also supported through the Institute of Automotive and Manufacturing Advance practice at the University of Sunderland which is recognised worldwide as a one of the leaders in its field. Its research includes materials and structural analysis, manufacturing systems and ergonomics. There is also Durham Universitys Centre for Automotive Research; here they have expertise in vehicle aerodynamics and hybrid vehicles.

Located in nearby Newcastle upon Tyne is Northumbria University. The design school contributes to the industrial design of automotive products.

The North East of England also boasts a wide range of specialist industrial support. This includes the NEPA programme which looks at lean automotive manufacturing; The Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence; The Automotive Academy; and the Automotive Centre for Excellence. These resources are made available to businesses that are looking to set up in the region. The regional development agency, One NorthEast, have a dedicated team who help businesses from all over Europe and around the world to look at the opportunities available to business looking to relocate and take advantages of what the North East has to offer.

So the North East of England is a region that can support new and existing businesses that are looking for expansion opportunities or relocation opportunities in the Automotive industry. With a highly skilled workforce and support and collaboration available for the regions local Universities the North East has established itself as one of Europes prime locations for the Automotive industry.

If you would like to know more about these business opportunities then the best place to get advice is through the Invest North East England team at One NorthEast.