Promotional Products: 20 Ideas and How to Choose Them
Twenty promotional products from the catalogue with prices and minimums, plus how to choose cheap promotional items, small business giveaways and client gifts.
By Zintora Team
Promotional products are everyday items printed or engraved with your logo and handed to clients, prospects, event visitors or staff. The ones that work are things people use daily: pens, bags, mugs, bottles, notebooks and desk accessories. Choose them by audience, budget per person, minimum order and how the logo will be applied.
Related catalogue product: Linea Gel Pen.
This guide lists 20 promotional items from the Zintora catalogue with starting prices and minimums, then shows how to choose between them for an event, a client mailing or a small business on a tight budget. When you are ready to plan a full range, start from our branded merchandise page.
Promotional products and promotional items: is there a difference?
Not really. Promotional products, promotional items, promo merchandise and branded giveaways all describe the same thing: an object that carries your brand and is given away rather than sold. Some buyers use "promotional items" for low-cost giveaways and "corporate gifts" for higher-value pieces, but the buying decisions are the same: who gets it, what it costs per person, how many you need and how the logo goes on.
What matters more than the label is the gap between an item that gets used and one that goes straight into a drawer. A pen that writes well, a tote bag that survives the weekly shop or a mug that becomes someone's desk mug keeps your logo in sight for months. A novelty that nobody needs does the opposite.
20 promotional products with logo, by price
These are real items from the current range, sorted by starting price. Prices are indicative per unit and ex VAT for the product as listed; printing and delivery are extra, UK import VAT and duties are paid on delivery, and the quote confirms the final figure. Items marked "on the design" are quote-based proposals whose branding is agreed in writing before production.
| Item | What it is | From (ex VAT) | Minimum | Branding listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Simple Pen | Low-cost promotional pen | £0.36 | 250 | On the design |
| Custom Event Lanyard | Lanyard for badges and passes | £0.43 | 100 | On the design |
| Custom Everyday Keyring | Simple keyring | £0.79 | 100 | On the design |
| Custom Desk Ruler | Desk ruler | £0.97 | 100 | On the design |
| Memo Sticky Notes | Branded sticky notes | £1.32 | 100 | On the design |
| Holo Die-Cut Stickers | Holographic die-cut stickers | £1.47 | 250 | Die-cut holographic printing |
| Linea Gel Pen | Gel pen with a soft-touch body | £2.68 | 100 | Pad or screen printing on the body |
| Active Sports Towel | Sports towel | £3.50 | 50 | On the design |
| Cobble Ceramic Mug | 300 ml glossy ceramic mug | £3.93 | 48 | Ceramic transfer, full wraparound |
| Canvas Market Tote Bag | Market tote, listed as recycled cotton | £3.93 | 50 | Screen printing |
| Quill Bamboo Pen | Bamboo and recycled aluminium pen | £4.15 | 100 | Laser engraving |
| Custom Rain Umbrella | Rain umbrella | £4.25 | 50 | On the design |
| Glide Mouse Mat | Mouse mat | £4.65 | 50 | Edge-to-edge sublimation |
| Perch Phone Stand | Desk phone stand | £5.36 | 50 | Laser engraving |
| Classic Notebook | Notebook | £6.08 | 25 | Screen, UV printing, laser engraving |
| Classic Cap | Cotton cap, adjustable closure | £6.79 | 25 | Embroidery, transfer |
| Core Cotton T-Shirt | 180 g/m² combed cotton T-shirt | £6.79 | 25 | Screen printing, DTG, embroidery |
| Terrain Cork Desk Mat | Desk mat, listed as renewable cork | £7.86 | 30 | Laser engraving |
| Atlas Steel Bottle | Steel water bottle | £12.87 | 25 | Laser engraving, UV, screen printing |
| Relay Power Bank | Power bank | £15.73 | 25 | Laser engraving, UV, branded box |
The minimum is set per product, so it is worth reading this column as carefully as the price. The cheapest items tend to have the highest minimums, which changes the total spend more than the unit price suggests.
Cheap promotional products that still get used
Cheap promotional products are not a bad idea. They are a bad idea when they are cheap and useless. The low end of the table works because each item has a job:
- Pens. The Custom Simple Pen from £0.36 is built for volume: stands, receptions, training rooms. For a little more, the Linea Gel Pen from £2.68 writes more smoothly and has a soft-touch body, so people keep it. Compare every model on our promotional pens page.
- Lanyards. At an event, a lanyard from £0.43 is not a gift, it is part of the badge. Everyone wears it, so your logo is on every attendee for the whole day.
- Stickers. Holo Die-Cut Stickers from £1.47 are made to go on laptops, notebooks and water bottles, where they stay in view.
- Sticky notes and rulers. Memo Sticky Notes from £1.32 sit on a desk for weeks; a desk ruler from £0.97 suits training courses and schools.
The trade-off is the minimum: 100 to 250 units for most of these. If you only need 40, a slightly more expensive item with a lower minimum may cost less in total.
Small business promotional items: keeping minimums manageable
Small business promotional items need to fit a small budget and a small run. Three approaches help:
- Pick one hero item instead of five cheap ones. Twenty-five good notebooks or caps often do more than five different low-cost items, and they keep the order above each minimum without overbuying.
- Choose items with minimums of 25. In the table, the Classic Notebook, Classic Cap, Core Cotton T-Shirt, Atlas Steel Bottle and Relay Power Bank all start at 25 units.
- Use the same item for staff and customers. A T-shirt or cap that your own team wears at an event also works as a giveaway, so one order covers both.
If you need a single unit or a handful, our print on demand service is a separate route; minimums for batch orders depend on the product and are shown on each product page.
Business promotional items for clients and partners
When the recipient is a client or partner rather than a passer-by, the item should feel considered. These business promotional items sit higher up the price range and last longer:
- Atlas Steel Bottle (from £12.87, minimum 25): a steel bottle with laser engraving, UV or screen printing. See Atlas Steel Bottle.
- Relay Power Bank (from £15.73, minimum 25): laser engraving or UV printing, with a branded box option.
- Ember Mug (from £6.08, minimum 36): a 350 ml stoneware mug with a matt exterior and speckled glaze inside; compare it with other models on printed mugs or in our guide to branded mugs.
- Forma Notebook (from £8.22, minimum 50): blind or foil embossing and a personalised first page.
For a complete gift, the Executive Client Gift Box pack (from £52.90 ex VAT, minimum 10) combines a journal, a metal pen, a travel mug and a candle with a letterpress card in a printed gift box.
How to choose promotional products: a quick comparison
Match the item to what you want it to do. This table summarises the choices above by goal:
| Goal | Strong choices | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility at an event | Lanyards, tote bags, caps, stickers | Carried or worn around the venue | Order enough for the whole event, not just day one |
| Daily desk presence | Pens, sticky notes, mouse mats, phone stands, mugs | Used every working day | Logo size is small on pens and stands |
| Client thank-you | Steel bottles, power banks, notebooks, stoneware mugs | Feels like a gift, not a giveaway | Add presentation: a box or card |
| New starters | Notebook, pen, T-shirt, bottle | Useful in the first week | Collect T-shirt sizes early |
| Very tight budget | Simple pen, keyring, lanyard | Lowest cost per unit | Minimums of 100 to 250 |
For events, the Conference Booth Kit pack (from £18.59 ex VAT, minimum 50) bundles a heavyweight canvas tote bag, a cap, a gel pen and two sticker sets. Our guide to event and trade show merchandise covers stand planning in more detail.
Branding methods at a glance
The method is listed on each product page and confirmed on the digital proof:
- Laser engraving marks steel, bamboo and cork without ink. It is permanent and understated.
- Screen printing lays down flat colours; it suits simple logos on bags, textiles and notebooks.
- Pad printing puts small logos on curved surfaces such as pen bodies.
- UV printing allows full colour on hard surfaces like bottles and power banks.
- Sublimation covers the whole surface of a polyester item such as a mouse mat.
- Embroidery suits caps and garments where a stitched logo looks more premium.
Send a vector logo where possible. On small items, fine text and thin lines may need simplifying, and the proof shows this before production.
Lead times, delivery and sustainability
Production starts once you approve the digital proof. Our general lead time is 10 to 20 working days after proof approval, and a product's own listed time applies where it is shown: the stickers list 7 to 10 days, the Linea Gel Pen 8 to 12 days. The quote confirms the timing, so for an event, count back from the date with a margin for delivery.
We deliver across the UK and internationally to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, to one address or several. Packaging options include a printed kraft box or a rigid gift box. The quote can include an estimated carbon footprint per product; we can provide sustainability reports with Scope 3 data, and certificates for certified products are available on request. We do not buy carbon credits and we do not call any product carbon neutral. Materials such as "recycled cotton" or "renewable cork" are shown as listed on the product page; ask for the batch documentation if you need to report them.
Promotional products buyer checklist
- Define the audience: event visitors, clients, staff or a mix.
- Set a budget per person including branding and delivery, not just the unit price.
- Check the minimum of each item against the quantity you really need.
- Prefer items people use daily over novelty items.
- Choose the branding method for the material and ask for a proof.
- Plan presentation for client gifts: a box, a card or a pack.
- Count back from your event or mailing date, allowing for proof, production and delivery.
- Ask for the carbon estimate or batch documentation if you report on purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most useful promotional products?
Items people use daily: pens, tote bags, mugs, bottles, notebooks, caps and desk accessories. They keep your logo in sight for longer than novelty items.
What is the cheapest promotional item?
In our current range, the Custom Simple Pen starts from £0.36 ex VAT with a minimum of 250. Lanyards and keyrings also start below £1, with minimums of 100.
Is there a minimum order for promotional items?
Yes, and it depends on the product: from 25 units for items such as notebooks, caps and bottles to 250 for the simple pen and stickers. Each product page shows its minimum.
How long do promotional products take?
Generally 10 to 20 working days after proof approval, or the product's own listed time. The quote confirms it.
Can you send promotional items to several addresses?
Yes. Give the addresses in your request and the quote confirms delivery to each, across the UK and internationally to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
Browse the full catalogue, plan a range on branded merchandise, or request a quote with the items, quantities and date you need.