The Inck Spot

Helping you navigate the world of branded merchandise. One blog at a time.

5 Ways to Activate with Promotional Merchandise

September 17, 2021

Activating a brand is all about forming an emotional connection with your customer. Promotional merchandise provides you the perfect opportunity to do just that in a cost-effective and meaningful way.…

Activating with Promo Products in 2022? Here’s What You Need to Know

September 9, 2021

Looking for a supplier who can help you source the perfect product for next year’s activations? promotional swag supplier Our first piece of advice – Get in EARLY. Here at…

7 Promotional Products that didn’t exist before COVID-19

August 19, 2021

If ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, then we have the pandemic to thank for a whole batch of promotional products we never knew we would need. Some of the…

Virtual Event Merchandise

August 11, 2021

Can an event be just as powerful if your attendees are still in their PJs? The biggest challenge our clients have been having with the rise of ‘Virtual Events’ is…

The Best Olympics Merch – Tokyo 2020

July 28, 2021

Despite the lack of crowds and the confusion over it still being referred to as the 2020 Olympics games (due to last year’s Covid cancellation), there is no lack of…

Travel Innovation – 3 Products that are Helping Save the World

July 16, 2021

Whilst, it might be a while until we are racking up our frequent flyer points again, I love the innovation being explored to lessen the impact. Did you know that…

Four Ways Promotional Products Can Trip You Up

June 21, 2021

Promotional products have been proven to be the No 1 most effective form of advertising and they are an essential part of any smart, marketing strategy. That said, at Inck,…

6 Questions to Ask Your Supplier

June 17, 2021

When it comes to ordering promo products people always ask us about the cost and delivery timelines, but most forget to ask the other important questions.

How To Choose The Right Promotional Giveaway

June 10, 2021

How hard can it be? Pick a product, choose a colour, print your logo on it. And then start giving it away. The problem with this approach is that, in…

Promotional Merchandise Marketing QR Codes

5 Ways to Use QR Codes in your Promotional Merchandise Marketing

June 3, 2021

Thanks to endlessly signing in wherever we go and the rise of touch-free menus, most of us are pretty au fait with QR codes. When it comes to promotional marketing…

Fast Fashion – What’s the true cost of cheap promotional apparel?

May 26, 2021

They will wear something once, twice or maybe never’…… Four Corners expose on the perils of ‘Fast Fashion’ that aired last week was an excellent reminder that our ‘bargain mentality’…

Officeworks Suspends Sales of Apple Airtags

May 19, 2021

Wow! What does a button battery have to do around here to ensure it can do its job SAFELY. Last week, Officeworks suspended the sales of Apple Airtags over safety…

Merchandise Ideas for Brands – Power of Co-Branding

May 5, 2021

Why is searching for ‘creative merchandise ideas for brands’ so hard? Fed up with seeing the same stuff over and over? The promotional landscape is sadly overpopulated with substandard products…

Weird & Wonderful Promotional Merch – The Fast Food Edition

April 28, 2021

There are few industries that continually churn out as much promotional merchandise as the fast-food industry does. From fried chicken covered crocs to a whopper-scented cologne, they will try anything…

Entity’s Sustainable Range – Branded Merchandise Made Responsibly.

April 20, 2021

Sustainable Branded Merchandise. Getting dressed in a suit and tie is so 2019. Which is one of the reasons the new sustainable range of lounge/athletic wear from Entity Brands has…

Creative & Innovative Merch Ideas – The April 2021 Edit

April 15, 2021

Who doesn’t love a great idea? Here at Inck, we believe the best ideas sit at the intersection of creativity and innovation. Here’s some of the products that got us…

2021 Trends Report

April 8, 2021

Our 2021 Trends Report Has Arrived! Looking for NEW promotional product ideas? Good news! This month we have created a 2021 Trends Report especially for those of you seeking some…

Sourcing Promo Products from Overseas in 2021 – What You Need to Know (April 2021 Update)

April 1, 2021

Sourcing promo products from China or overseas in 2021? Way back in Feb 2020 we wrote our first article about the Coronavirus impact and how it might affect orders of…

Promotional Merchandise: 3 Smart Ways to Get Your Brand Noticed

March 11, 2021

Harry & Meghan. Like them or loathe them, their recent tell-all interview certainly gave their brand a LOT of exposure And, if you’re looking to get people’s attention, then controversy…

How NOT to Choose a Promotional Products Supplier?

February 24, 2021

If you are looking for a trusted promotional products supplier should you: a. Google ‘Promotional Products’ and hope for the best. b. Check out ‘Alibaba’ and pick one at random.…

New Mandatory Button Battery Safety Standards

February 12, 2021

A good news update (in case you missed it). Inck is excited and relieved that in Dec the Federal Government (finally) announced the introduction of new regulations to improve the…

Twinings In’Fuse Wins Again

December 2, 2020

Twinings In’Fuse Wins Again! The team at Inck were rather chuffed to see that Twinings In’Fuse was selected as one of the 2020 Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation Winners in Australia last…

Promotional Merchandise – 3 Great Ways to Save on Cost.

November 26, 2020

Looking to save money on your promotional products and branded merchandise? Here are 3 top tips to look after your bottom line. Plan Ahead: When it comes to promotional products,…

Sourcing Promo Products from Overseas in 2021? What You Need to Know.

November 18, 2020

Sourcing promo products from China or overseas in 2021? Back in February we wrote our first article about the Coronavirus impact and how it might affect orders of promotional merchandise …

Are Promotional Products a Waste of Time & Money?

October 20, 2020

Are promotional products a waste of time and money? Yes, they can be. Let me explain…. The biggest misconception we encounter around promotional products is that they are simply a…

Cool Promotional Merchandise Ideas – The 2020 Edit

October 14, 2020

Looking for cool promotional merchandise ideas? Let’s explore some new and improved products that are trending in 2020. 1. (Smarter) Water Bottles: Stay healthy, hydrated and hygienic with the…

Are You Guilty of Greenwashing?

October 8, 2020

Greenwashing = The act of advertising environmental claims without backing it up with real policy. There is little doubt that playing nice with the environment can boost a brand’s appeal.…

Different Types of Plastic: How to Choose Your Promotional Merchandise Responsibly

October 2, 2020

Different Types of Plastic: How to Choose Your Promotional Merchandise Responsibly When it comes to choosing promotional products for your business, one of the first questions we advise you ask…

Promotional Products vs Branded Merchandise – Managing Marketing Podcast w Darren Woolley

October 1, 2020

Did you know there’s a difference between promotional products and branded merchandise? Did you know ‘you can put two visibly identical products on the table yet one of them could…

Sustainable Promotional Products – 3 Steps

September 24, 2020

Here’s three steps to make sure your next activation is done with sustainable promotional products. 1. Aim for Quality over Disposability – The purpose of promotional products is to increase…

When Creative Marketing Goes Wrong – 3 Promotional Marketing Fails

September 9, 2020

Looking to avoid the ‘Whoops!’, ‘Fail!’ and ‘Ouch!’ factor in your next promotional marketing campaign? Let’s learn from three creative marketing case studies that can teach us what NOT to…

Cheap Promotional Products – The Biggest Mistake You Are (Probably) Making

September 3, 2020

Looking for cheap promotional products? Join the queue, my friend. When it comes to branded merchandise there is one word that is used more consistently in search than any other…

Promotional Products & The Supply Chain – Why Should I Care?

August 26, 2020

First up, what exactly is the supply chain? Good question. The Supply Chain is everyone involved in producing your final promotional product. From the vendors that supply the raw materials,…

Everything You Need to Know About Face Masks

August 20, 2020

If you had asked us 6 months ago what we knew about buying face masks we would have probably said, ‘Nothing!’ Now, hardly a day goes by without us fielding…

The Power of Branded Merchandise – 3 Companies That Built Their Brand On The Streets

August 6, 2020

When it comes to marketing, branded merchandise is often thought of as a useful add-on. Part of a larger overall promotional strategy. And yet, when it comes to brand recognition,…

Choosing the Right Face Mask for Your Brand – An Insider’s Guide

July 23, 2020

Keys, Phone ….. Face Mask. What was once the choice of a few is steadily becoming the standard for many. From 11.59pm tonight, people in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire…

7 Creative and Innovative Promotional Merchandise Ideas

July 22, 2020

Are you looking for creative merchandise ideas for your next brand activation? Bored of seeing the same pens, water bottles and backpacks? Corporate promotional merchandise can often be uninspiring, but…

Urgent Product Recall Alert – Apollo Bay Distillery Gin

July 21, 2020

Urgent Product Recall Alert – Apollo Bay Distillery Gin Between the nation’s increase in day drinking and our newfound obsession with hand hygiene, it seems that nine bottles of gin…

Responsible Sourcing Checklist

July 16, 2020

Responsible sourcing is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. When it comes to your promotional products, it is not enough to assume that your supplier (if you are…

Tesla Branded Merchandise?

July 10, 2020

Looking to slip into something more comfortable? For those of you who don’t mind your shorts extra snug, Tesla are now offering limited-edition branded red satin shorts. With “S3XY” written…

Strategic Merchandise Marketing – An Insider’s Guide

July 9, 2020

Do you know what the biggest mistake brands make when it comes to choosing their branded merchandise? They don’t really think about it. I mean, sure – they might scroll…

Branded Merchandise Fail Alert.

July 3, 2020

A few years ago, an Australian government department ordered thousands of rubber wristbands to promote an environmental issue. When the promotional wristbands arrived each of them came individually wrapped in…

Pandemic Profiteer Gets Sentenced for Selling Fake 3M Masks

July 2, 2020

Another pandemic profiteer bites the dust. The boss of a Chinese Pharmacy and two of his associates have been sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling counterfeit masks at…

Looking for Antibacterial Branded Merchandise?

June 26, 2020

The future of hygiene is looking bright. Literally. Whilst most of us have been busily washing our hands and applying hand sanitiser like it’s going out of fashion, other frequently…

COVID-19 – The 5 Weirdest Promotional Products Borne Out of the Pandemic

June 25, 2020

Don’t worry – I promise not to use the word ‘unprecedented’. That said, some of the products and innovations that have come across our desk since the pandemic began have…

Does size really matter?

June 24, 2020

When it comes to promotional merch, scale is certainly one way to engage with your customers and get your brand noticed. Burger King in Germany recently introduced oversized cardboard crowns…

Procurement, Panic & the Supply Chain

June 17, 2020

I think we can all agree that 2020 is not going entirely to plan. That said, in the mad rush to pivot (hand sanitiser, face masks, oh my!) and the…

The Covid-19 Guide to Face Masks & Respirators (and why we WON’T be selling them)

April 2, 2020

The natural human response to chaos is to DO SOMETHING, which might explain why people are buying and selling face masks in droves. Your business might be one of them.…

Coronavirus Update – How Will Your Promotional Merchandise Be Affected?

March 17, 2020

With the latest news that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has now declared COVID-19 a pandemic and with the US also restricting all travel from Europe* for the next 30…

Promotional Products & The Supply Chain – What to Watch Out For.

February 27, 2020

A successful supply chain is one where you know exactly WHERE your goods are coming from, WHO is making them and WHAT they are made of. That said, as long…

Sourcing promo products from China in 2020? The Coronavirus impact explained.

February 26, 2020

With the Coronavirus currently impacting nearly everyone in China, there is no doubt there will be a significant knock-on effect to those doing business there, but also to those importing…

Dispelling the Myths of ‘Modern Slavery’

February 26, 2020

What do you think when you hear the term ‘Modern Slavery’? Chances are it conjures up images of kids working in a factory, in some poor, developing country. Or maybe…

Do Promotional Products Work?

February 26, 2020

The short answer? YES. But, don’t just take our (slightly biased) word for it. The studies and stats speak for themselves. A 2017 PPAI Study ranked promotional products the No 1 most…

Smoggys – True Blue Branding With a Heart

February 25, 2020

Whilst Australia continues to be gripped by one of the worst bush fire seasons on record, four Aussie mates have got together to give back. Fueled by a passion to…

Look at ME – How to Use Branded Merchandise to Get Your Business Noticed

February 25, 2020

Getting your business noticed isn’t as easy as simply sticking a logo on it and hoping for the best. Every day the amount of advertising that competes for your customers’…

The ‘Modern Slavery Act’ – What You Need to Know

February 25, 2020

At Inck, we take our Corporate Social Responsibility seriously, and we are firmly behind any action that improves industry practice. To find out what the recently passed ‘Modern Slavery Act’ might…

Corporate Social Responsibility and Promotional Products

Corporate Social Responsibility & Promotional Products – Do You Care?

October 16, 2019

WARNING: If you are looking for the cheapest promotional products you can possibly find, then this post is not for you. If you could not give a sustainable toss about…

Source your promotional products direct and cut out the middleman in 5 ‘Easy’ steps!

September 18, 2019

Looking to save money on your branded merchandise? Check out our quick guide on how to source products direct and cut out the “middleman” (or should we say “middle person”)……

INCK wins the APPA Award! For the Third Year Running.

August 26, 2019

We are excited, proud and a little bit chuffed to announce that INCK has won an APPA award for our Twining’s In’fuse Water Bottle. The award, for best entrant in…

Hate for the Plate – When Branded Merchandise Backfires

August 7, 2019

They say size matters, but when it comes to regulating portion size, it can spell big trouble for your brand. Macy’s department store recently bowed to online pressure to remove…

Promotional Swag – What NOT to Do

July 29, 2019

What a difference the right direction can make. In the late 90’s, the Bureau for At-Risk Youth, released an anti-drug propaganda pencil with the slogan “Too Cool To Do Drugs”.…

How Many Slaves Do You Have? Take The Test

July 24, 2019

You might not know it, but chances are you have a number of slaves ‘working’ for you. They might have helped make that coffee you ordered this morning. Or that…

Tread Lightly – The Shoe Made Entirely From Plants

July 2, 2019

As the war on plastic continues, one shoe company has shown that it is possible to limit our sustainable footprint. Literally. Native Shoe’s aptly named Plant Shoe is made from…

5 Ways to Make Sure Your Giveaway Doesn’t Become a Throwaway

June 17, 2019

Using promotional products to ply your customers with pointless junk is a rubbish market strategy. Literally. Here are the top 5 ways you can manage a successful promotional marketing campaign,…

Hendrick’s Giant Cucumber: How sinking to the bottom brought them out on top

May 27, 2019

Last month, Hendricks’ Gin unveiled a Giant Inflatable Cucumber in the iconic Australian location that is Sydney’s Darling Harbour. In hope to gain greater brand awareness, the giant cucumber was…

Grab yourself a Pizz-a Manny’s Merchandise before it’s gobbled up!

May 17, 2019

Branded merchandise is a proven commodity, therefore there has never been a better time to create a range of food merch that will keep your business at the forefront of…

The 10th Tour de Cure Signature Tour has kicked off!

May 5, 2019

Friday marked the official start of the 10th Signature Tour de Cure with a team of 250 riders hitting the road to cover the 1400km journey from Sydney to Geelong…

What’s Hot? 4 Promotional Trends for 2019

April 22, 2019

The promotional products industry is ever evolving and its good to keep an eye on trends. Here are 4 promotional merchandise trends for 2019 from the Inck team! Trend #1:…

Hazardous Button Batteries; The Importance of Putting Safety First

April 18, 2019

The ACCC have identified button batteries as a ‘Product Safety Priority for 2019’ after deaths in 2015 and it is believed around 20 children are taken to hospital every week…

When is Chinese New Year 2019?

November 5, 2018

Chinese New Year officially begins on February 5th, 2019, and ends on February 19th. Preparations for the New Year begin on January 28th, 2019, and last until New Years Eve (the…

Have you joined the coffee cup revolution?

October 2, 2018

Reusable coffee cups are steadily taking over. Walk down any city street first thing in the morning these days and you’ll notice more and more commuters are doing their part…

Liven Up Your Water in 3 simple steps!

October 1, 2018

Drop, Shake, Enjoy! With summer fast approaching, staying hydrated is a must. But often you have two choices: flavoured fizzy drinks or ‘juice’ which contains more sugar than fruit most…

How Deliveroo Built A Brand With Branded Merchandise

September 27, 2018

If we said you could build a brand with branded merchandise you’d tell us “we’re dreamin”. But take Deliveroo – a new brand that hit the streets in 2015 in…

Goodbye plastic. Hello compostable satchels

September 25, 2018

Want to save the planet? Just hit Sendel With online deliveries zooming around the globe at a rate of thousands of parcels a minute, anything we can do to reduce…

And the APPA award goes to… Inck again!

September 21, 2018

We were very excited and proud to work on this Campaign with Frucor and Bamboo Marketing. To be rewarded by APPA for our efforts was an added bonus! APPA 2018…

Giving branded merchandise a whole new meaning

September 19, 2018

Have you ever loved something so much you considered getting its likeness tattooed on your body? Most people would take this step to honour a family member, reflect on an…

Inck Joins the effort to ditch plastic straws

August 17, 2018

Virgin Australia have recently announced that single use plastic straws and stirrers have been removed inflight and in Virgin Lounge, demonstrating their commitment to “Green” sustainability initiatives. Here is our list…

Going overboard to give peace-of-mind

June 1, 2018

There are about 5 to 6 million shipping containers crossing the sea at any one time. And not all of them complete the journey! Sea freight shipment is just one…

Confused about promotional product safety?

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Elizabeth Livanos

Inck Merchandise and the team have been incredibly professional, creative and supportive upon the commencement of our new merchandise line for our Clients & New Clients 12 + months ago. We are now to able to offer premium and quality custom merchandise to our 8,000 + members (an awesome retails and marketing piece for our business) thanks to the help and ongoing support from the team at Inck.

Harby Studios

Inck Merchandise have been wonderful to deal with, specifically Shane. He has been extremely accomodating and has gone above and beyond to ensure our products were delivered to deadline and are at a high quality standard. He has made the process easy and stress-free. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Inck Merchandise not only because of their amazing customer service as well as their product quality. Thank you all!

Zan Schmidt

Can highly recommend Shane and the Team at Inck - Shane was very professional, quick to respond, accommodated our special requests and sourced great products. He also went the extra mile for us as a charity which made all the difference. Cannot recommend Inck highly enough.

kate bolas

The team at INCK make merchandising so easy. They're super responsive, cost efficient and deliver on time, on budget. We'll definitely use them again.

Stephen Jarjoura

The Inck team made the whole process of creating merchandise for my business so easy. Highly recommend

ID POP Co.

Great experience working with Adrian and the team. When our key client was in a bind, Adrian and team sprung into action. 👏🏽 Inck Merchandise.

Adrienne Pearson

The Inck team have been brilliant helping me source some water bottles for a client's media activity. The team are experts when it comes to client requirements and adhering to highly regulated requests around material / products used. I'd highly recommend this company to anyone looking for branded merch, they've been a dream to work with 🙂 I will definitely be working with them again in the future!

Unknown Unknown

Big thank you to Shane and his team. Product looks fantastic was in budget and arrived early. Very professional.

Mathew Hoffman

권지언

Great price and awesome customer service!

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Helping you navigate the world of branded merchandise. One blog at a time.

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