Debbie Eales meets Tim Cadel, co-founder of promotional merchandise firm, business baubles&snowglobes.co.uk

Q. What were you doing before you launched baubles and snowglobes?

A. I had a proper job! Sales and marketing at Lloyd's of London.

Q. Why baubles and snowglobes?

A. Business baubles was conceived as an alternative to the corporate Christmas card – the brief: brandable, inexpensive, lasting and postable. Snowglobes was purely in response to consumer enquiries.

Q. How did you persuade customers that baubles are not just for Christmas?

A. Visitor attractions can sell baubles all the year round; Christmas businesses can use baubles for summer sales promotions, ie: 'book your Christmas Party now'; all year round Christmas shops commission bespoke designs. 

Q. Why are baubles and snowglobes the perfect promotional item?

A. Our products are 100% bespoke creating a unique gift; they last and are collectable, yet relatively inexpensive. 

Q. Tell us about some of the major brands that have used baubles and snowglobes and what they were used for?

A. Manchester United - an exclusive bauble gifted to box holders; Disney - a boxed set of baubles gifted to those attending the Narnia premier; Stephen King - a snowglobe to mark the launch of 'Under the Dome'; The Office - a bauble press gift at The Christmas Specials DVD and book launch; Duran Duran, The Priests, Razorlight, Cliff Richard, Donny Osmond - baubles and snowglobes for fan merchandise; Great Ormond Street Hospital - Glitter Ball table gift bauble; Canterbury Cathedral, Oxford University - souvenirs; Paul Smith - baubles gifted at the launch of the Paul Smith Christmas collection. 

Q. Is it true that you produced mud snowglobes for the Glastonbury festival?

A. Yes, a series of three for Glastonbury 2005 – a muddy tent with feet, a Portaloo and a naked man with wellies, for the BBC. 

Q. Tell us about some of your charity baubles and the occasions they were used for.

A. Our clients include: Alzheimers, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Cystic Fibrosis, GOSH, Kids Out, Meningitis, NSPCC, Operation Smile, Oxfam, RNID, Save the Children, Shelter and Variety Club. The applications are varied and include fundraisers, balls, award ceremonies, commemorations, sponsored events, Christmas card alternatives, fund raising merchandise and fun runs.

Q. Some of your baubles could become collectables. I'm thinking of the boxed set of Narnia baubles you produced for Disney.

A. Our Narnia baubles were supplied as a guest gift to the Premier of Narnia – the Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. Boxed sets of Finding Nemo and The Incredibles have also been supplied to the Disney. 

Q. Baubles can be used as party invitations but what else can you use a bauble for?

A. Baubles and snowglobes are very versatile. They can also be used to commemorate anniversaries, for product launches, as souvenirs, to launch new logos, in fact any event! 

Q. We loved the Doctor Who Tardis snowglobe you produced for the Radio Times. Tell us about some other ingenious promotions?

A. Oxfam commissioned a rice snow snowglobe as part of their 'Make Trade Fair' campaign and we produced a chocolate button snow snowglobe as a souvenir for Cadbury's World. 

Q. Are snowglobes and baubles expensive?

A. Not really, generally under the £5 price point: baubles: £1 to £2 each; snowglobes £3 to £4 each. 

Q. Tell us about the different styles of snowglobe and bauble.

A: Baubles range from 30 – 800mm. Perspex shapes in a variety of sizes; bespoke shapes, products, 3D logos etc; hand painted baubles or printed using ink and coloured glitters. Snowglobes also vary in size, with any insert – paper, 2D Perspex or 3D models and any snow – coloured snows and glitters, logo snow or product snow. 

Q. What are they made of and do they stand the test of time?

A. Our baubles are made of glass (machine made glass, not mouth blown - this makes our baubles shock proof). We also supply shatterproof baubles (plastic) when there are health and safety demands. Snowglobes are 100% plastic apart from the alpine water inside. Both products stand the test of time. 

Q. What is the leadtime?

A. Our baubles and snowglobes are manufactured in mainland Europe with a four-week leadtime for both products. We can offer a five-day turnaround on stock snowglobes with a paper insert. 

Q. Are samples available?

A. Yes, samples are available on demand and free of charge. 

Q. Can you organise presentation boxes?

A. Yes, presentation boxes for our baubles and snowglobes are available either plain or printed card, with or without satin linings. We have supplied a limited edition boxed set of baubles for Duran Duran for several years. 

Q. Can you colour match corporate logos?

A. We can pantone match baubles and the bases of our snowglobes. Process printing is available on our glass baubles and all snowglobe inserts reproduce corporate colours 100%. 

Q. Anything else you'd like to tell us?

A. Business baubles celebrates its 7th birthday in 2010 and we look forward to creating many more bespoke baubles and snowglobes this year and in the years to come. 

For more information visit www.baublesandsnowglobes.com