In basic terms, social media can be described as an online method of communication enabling users to share information via text, images, audio and video.

Social media is all around us with sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn becoming part of most people’s daily routine. The sheer popularity of social media was shown when Facebook hit the headlines for its use in Barrack Obama’s presidential campaign. The American president’s campaign team used the networking site to help encourage younger Americans to vote, making his page the one with the most ‘friends’ in the world – with close to three million people registered.

We are all lucky enough to work in a business community where communication is quick and easy. Surrounded by email, the internet and mobile phones, doing business across a city, the country or the world is now possible without leaving your office.

For many businesses the tendering process can be a daunting prospect for those who have not been through it before.

In the modern business world, tenders will stipulate a high level of criteria against a range of disciplines and services. It can be detailed and time consuming; but with planning and some prior knowledge it is certainly manageable.

If you can't think what to buy someone for their birthday, or you just need to take a ‘thank you' gift to a dinner party, chocolate or something sweet is generally considered a safe bet, after all who doesn't like chocolate?

The UK has a lot to be proud of in the next decade after winning the Olympics 2012, The Ryder Cup and the Cricket World Cup.

From chocolate to clothing and from bags to pens, the promotional merchandise industry has been subject to the ‘green factor' over recent years. The phrases sustainable, ethical, fair trade and organic are prominent throughout the industry, suggesting that there is a definite passion to ensure that the environmental and ethical impact is being taken into consideration.

July 13 saw one of PROMOTA's social highlights of the year. The PROMOTA Sparks John Francome charity golf day was held at the Camberley Heath Golf Club in Surrey.

PROMOTA member Mantis World has an interesting philosophy when it comes to its products and how they are produced - Made for impact, just not on the earth. We spoke to Prama Bhardwaj, managing director of Mantis World about the company's production methods and how the industry is facing up to the issues surrounding ethics and the environment. 

What is a goody bag? The name suggests that it is a bag of ‘goodies' that you want and need - something special, perhaps, that will make you remember an event.

In recent months, there has been an increased focus on the importance of buying British. Many major retailers, including large supermarket chains, have followed the trend in order to supersede their competition. And it looks as if the promotional merchandise industry is set to follow suit.

As an industry, I have always believed that we are forward thinking. We are now constantly looking into how our products can be more environmentally friendly and ethical production is being constantly considered. In a similar way, patriotism is a topic of the moment. More of us are following the trend and trying to buy British in the supermarket, and this is also happening in the promotional merchandise industry.

Travel offers a variety of opportunities for promotional merchandise, covering everything from airlines to hotels and from car hire to travel agents. It is also one of the industries which is being hit hardest by the struggling economy, posing a potential problem for the promotional merchandise industry.

I write this column sometimes not thinking that some of my readers may not be aware of PROMOTA and what it stands for. For those in the know, my apologies, but I hope this helps those of you who may be interested in learning what PROMOTA is all about...

Promotional merchandise offers so many more opportunities than people realise, according to industry guru, Gordon Glenister.

"But is our industry hungry enough? No. And I think it should be. Quadruply so," he argues.

I am a firm believer that change is for the better and I think, even though times are tough for many economically, now is the time to explore the vast amount of opportunity our industry has to offer. Even though a market, such as universities, may be new and unfamiliar, it may be a venture which proves fruitful for business in the long run.

In previous articles PROMOTA has discussed new avenues for promotional merchandise companies to explore and this month, the focus is on the use of promotional merchandise in universities. Universities use promotional merchandise all year round and they are constantly looking for new and exciting products to carry their brand.

The bpma together with 3M has launched a nationwide hunt for the next most innovative promotional item. The competition includes prize money of £2500 and is open to all students studying design and runs to the end of May.

PROMOTA: On the buses

In February, Birmingham's NEC played host to the International PROMOTA Show 2009. With more than 170 suppliers exhibiting and an innovative PROMOTA stand the 2009 show was certainly the place to be!

In this difficult trading climate, looking after our existing clients is a fundamental necessity. Everyone I speak to says they want more business and clients yet few realise the impact of losing them. Just as you are hunting for new clients so your competitors are looking to take yours. So shouldn't you be spending more time farming those relationships you already have , after all you are a known entity. A strong client will come from not just the business that you have with them but also the referral opportunity to other departments, or indeed their customers and suppliers.

Beechfield Brands has joined the roll call of BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) Patrons. The move demonstrates Beechfield's support for the Association's promotion of best practice around the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of promotional products.

In any business or industry it is important to have the support you need in order to be successful. As a trade association representing its members, PROMOTA also acts as a support network for the promotional merchandise industry, offering its members a variety of member benefits to support them in a wide range of areas.

We are already a few months into 2009 and I think this is an excellent time for businesses to reflect on what is ahead for the coming year. In what is going to be a tough year for all companies in all industries, now is a good time to look at how you spend your budget and what the added value of that spend will be.

The theatre and events industries are an ideal resource for those within the promotional merchandise industry. Theatres and venues need products to promote their productions and promotional merchandise provides excellent opportunities for branding. Many companies within the promotional merchandise industry may not have thought to address this market before, but it is an important customer base as there is opportunity for large orders of various products all year round.