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Monthly Archives: February 2023

    • Top 10 challenges for personalised gift companies?

      Top 10 challenges for personalised gift companies

      Personalisation has seen significant growth in recent years, with research estimating that the personalised gift market in the UK alone would reach £1 billion in 2022. This has been supported by customer research, which shows that consumers are willing to spend more on products that can be personalised.

      While many businesses have started to take advantage of this recent trend, some businesses are still struggling to understand what personalisation is, how the process works and how they can begin to meet personalisation businesses. Here, we answer all these questions.

      What is the personalised gift market worth?

      Recent research estimated that the personalised gift market in the UK would reach £1 billion in 2022. While this is yet to be confirmed, the personalisation industry has certainly seen a boom in recent years.

      Customer research further supports these sentiments, with data indicating that consumers are happy to spend between 7% - 20% more on products that offer customisation. Additionally, consumers have indicated that they are more than willing to provide brands with their personal and preferential data if they [the brands] take product personalisation seriously.

      How do personalisation businesses work?

      Personalisation businesses in the UK typically work by using data and technology to tailor products, services, or experiences to individual customers.

      This can include using data on customers' preferences, past purchases, and behaviour to make personalised recommendations, customising products or packaging, or creating personalised marketing campaigns.

      By leveraging customer data, personalisation businesses can offer more tailored and relevant experiences, which can help to increase customer engagement, loyalty, and revenue.

      Examples of personalised gift businesses

      There are several different types of personalisation businesses, each with their own unique approach to personalisation.

      1.   Pre-printed Retail Gifts

      For decades pre-printed gifts have been available in gift shops on spinners and racks.  Examples include History and Heraldry one of their original products was square magnets similar to https://www.adventa.com/gb/adventa-square-fridge-magnet .  This has the big challenge of stock control, popular names selling out and new trending and more ‘wacky’ names never being available.

      The Share-a-coke campaign was a simple but clever concept that had a big impact on sales for a well-established brand.  This had no obvious stock control issues, but the likelihood of finding your name always seemed slim!

      1. Print in-store Retail gifts

      This has been done for a while in Sports shops to add you name to the sports kit.  Other examples include engraving or personalised label in pop-up stores in premium department eg Selfridges stores specially at Christmas.  Challenges here are with staffing costs, unreliable software, slow print/personalization process, expensive space and with our local sports club lack of stock on some letters of the alphabet!

      One system that has really perfected in-store personalised gifts is www.my-moments.com it is space efficient and fast, plus has the massive benefit of not having to commit to printed inventory that may or may not sell, designs can be added or switched off remotely – a dream for stock control!

      1. Individually named Promo gifts

      This is the next step from solely printing a generic brand logo or message, actually including the recipient’s name on the product creating an awesome reaction and a much higher ‘keep me’ factor!  Fun examples include desk calendars using software like XmPie to spell your name in flowers or balloons, etc!  Challenges with this system is that it relies on data being accurate, from experience expect last minute requests for additional names which become a hassle, slow and expensive. Adventa have a wide range of products that can simply and easily be printed and created on demand from an office toner printer, simply get a design preset, see the Uprint system in action here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqxoHS5Mjzc

      1. Online Personalised Gift Companies

      These companies represent the biggest part of the market.  Examples include Zazzle and Funky Pigeon.  An endless range of products is available, check out these best-selling lines where the blank products are mass produced and supplied wholesale to printers from Adventa including Canvas, Drinkware, GlitterBlox, Keyrings.  The challenge with this business model is being ‘lean’ in the process.  Order values may not be huge and each one is different!  Make sure you invest in proven software and consider the whole process from order to dispatch, cutting out ‘touchpoints’ can make or break an print-on-demand gift production process.  Check out this neat process example here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Li6Z7k6xo

      Another challenge is the seasonality of demand, expect huge peaks around events like Mother’s day and specially Xmas where extra temporary staff will be required to produce Photo Baubles and Domes.  Well worth considering the reliability of your supply change, we know at Adventa how important it is to cope with unexpected peaks in demands!

      1. Technology and software businesses

      Several companies have developed personalisation technology and software that can be used by other businesses to deliver personalised gifts, services, or experiences.  If you are looking for software make sure you get a couple of references you can speak to, as from experience software ‘features’ promises can turn out rather hollow!  Many major companies end up taking this in-house to deliver the results they need.

      One neat feature is to cross sell at the basket, once consumers have spent time creating a design of say a greeting card there is a high chance they will want to simply add another product like a keyring with the same design.  It is specially powerful if you can actually visualise their artwork within the extra product.

      Where can you connect with personalisation businesses?

      With an increased demand for customisation from customers, businesses should be looking to see where they can incorporate personalisation into their product offerings. However, for many brands, the cost of carrying out customisation directly is not feasible.

      This is why it’s essential to connect with other personalisation businesses that specialise in carrying out such activities. Events such as the Personalisation Experience (part of FESPA) look to bring brands together with printers and other businesses to see how they can make personalisation a reality in their businesses. You never know, Adventa may even be able to help get you a free ticket!

      How can Adventa help your business with personalisation?

      At Adventa, we specialise in delivering a range of customisable products, such as wall art, desk decor, candles and more. These products are specifically designed for lean manufacturing.  Contact us today to see how we can help your business on its personalisation journey.

      Adventa also offer a group innovation brainstorm video call – it is amazing what focusing the mind can really achieve!  We share experiences and successes, you can tell us about your challenges, we put ourselves in your shoes to deliver solutions and create new and unique products.

      The personalisation market has seen a significant boom in recent years as customers increasingly seek out customisable products and services. There are various types of personalisation businesses that each operate differently. Brands should consider the benefits of implementing personalisation, such as increased customer loyalty, engagement and total revenue. However, this should be carefully weighed against the associated costs in order to determine whether it’s feasible.

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    • The benefits of green manufacturing & green products for our society, economy & environment

      The benefits of green manufacturing & green products for our society, economy & environment

      In today's world, environmental issues are becoming increasingly prevalent, and it's crucial for businesses to take action. One of the ways to do this is through green manufacturing and green products.

      In this blog post, we explore the benefits of green manufacturing, the ways it can be implemented and the potential benefits of green products for both consumers and businesses. Join us as we delve into the world of green manufacturing and products and learn how they can help to create a more sustainable future.

      What is green manufacturing?

      Green manufacturing is the process of producing goods and products in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. This can include using renewable energy sources, reducing waste and emissions, and various other methods. The goal of green manufacturing is to minimise the environmental impact of manufacturing while still producing high-quality goods and products.

      How can green manufacturing benefit your business?

      Helping the environment is not the only benefit that comes with green manufacturing. It can also enhance your business's reputation, something which has grown in importance for consumers in recent decades.

      Additionally, it can also assist your business when it comes to your employees. Businesses that introduce green manufacturing practices tend to have more satisfied, motivated employees. These businesses also tend to attract good talent.

      Lastly, green manufacturing can be financially lucrative too. Many countries are aiming to achieve certain sustainability goals in the coming years and to motivate businesses to join in the cause, these governments have introduced more and more tax incentives for green businesses. 

      How do you implement green manufacturing?

      Green manufacturing can be implemented in a variety of ways, depending on the specific industry and manufacturing process.

      Using renewable energy sources

      This can include solar, wind, or hydropower to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

      Reducing waste

      Recycling materials, using sustainable packaging, and implementing lean manufacturing techniques to minimise waste and increase efficiency are all ways your business can reduce waste.

      Incorporating sustainable materials

      Examples of sustainable materials include recycled materials, bioplastics, or other eco-friendly alternatives. Using these in the manufacturing process will be highly beneficial in reducing your businesses carbon footprint.

      Implementing energy-efficient processes

      These processes can include using energy-efficient equipment and implementing power management systems to reduce energy consumption.

      Promoting sustainable transportation

      This can be achieved in various ways, such as reducing the transportation footprint by locating production sites near raw materials and customers or by using electric or hybrid vehicles for transportation.

      Measuring and reporting environmental performance

      This can include measuring and tracking energy, waste, and emissions and reporting on the company's environmental performance.

      It's important to note that green manufacturing implementation may vary depending on the industry, product and location. Some industries may have specific guidelines and regulations to follow for green manufacturing.

      What are the benefits of green products?

      Green products, also known as environmentally friendly or sustainable products, offer a variety of benefits for both consumers and the environment.

      Having said that, it's important to note that the benefits of green products may vary depending on the specific product and industry. Some products may offer more benefits than others, and the benefits may also depend on the specific implementation of green manufacturing.

      Green products can contribute to a reduction in environmental impact, depending on the green manufacturing practices implemented. This can also positively impact your brand’s reputation as consumers view companies that produce and promote green products more favourably. This, in turn, will likely stimulate increased consumer demand and brand loyalty.

      Sustainable products have also been shown to have positive benefits on the health and safety of consumers due to the usage of healthier ingredients.

      Businesses that move towards manufacturing and selling green products will also likely notice other benefits, such as cost savings and new business opportunities. Lastly, eco-friendly products can help companies comply with environmental regulations and avoid costly penalties.

      How Adventa can help your businesses to become greener

      In conclusion, green manufacturing and green products offer a wide range of benefits for society, the economy, and the environment. By implementing green manufacturing practices, businesses can reduce their environmental impact, increase employee satisfaction, improve brand reputation, and save money.

      Additionally, green products offer many benefits for consumers, such as improved health and safety, cost savings, and increased consumer demand. As environmental issues continue to grow, it's important for businesses to take action and adopt sustainable practices.

      At Adventa, we are committed to producing green products. We are continuously looking for ways to fine-tune our manufacturing processes so that we can reduce our environmental impact while still supplying our customers with the highest quality products. Contact us today to see how we can help your business.

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