Brougham Promotional Products

Going Green

2011-03-08T13:29:00.003-05:00

At the end of last summer Brougham invested in an energy-star air conditioning system. While we’d like to avoid using air conditioning at all, keeping office temperatures at a suitable level for working is an investment we have to make. By replacing the air conditioner, cost and consumption will be cut in half from the older system we previously had.

Secondly, Brougham recently retrofitted almost all of our lighting in the offices with new energy efficient laps. Simply by being aware of Ottawa Hydro programs, we were able to step up and save us and the province costs for the production of unnecessary energy.

This with a comprehensive recycling program, Brougham is committed to being greener. We also have a good perspective on what being green really means. Not easy to do from a company that sells product, however better more sustainable choices can be made, starting with buying Canadian!

For more information on any of our green initiatives, please contact us. We can make a difference!

Interactive Promo Media

2011-02-22T11:20:00.014-05:00

The next level of interactive promotional product media is here. QR Code or ‘Quick Response’, simply put, works by using a coded image to direct a mobile user to your rich content; whether it’s a website, text message, contact information or a geo location.

So how does this apply to you?

For your next promotional event, adding a QR code to a promotional product such as a lanyard that you hand out, can be linked straight to your contact information so the people you meet don’t even need to type it in their phone. You could also make the code give the end user a geo location of your office, letting them know where to meet you again. Watch video below for a demonstration at the 2011 PPPC Toronto Show.

If your interested in ordering any of these lanyards just click here

Here are top apps we recommend for your mobile device:
iPhone: RedLaser (free in App Store)
Android: Barcode Scanner (free in Android Market)
Blackberry: Code Muncher (free in blackberry App World)

Would you like to have a package of your own QR codes to use on promo products, websites, or business cards? contact us to learn more.

QR Codes offered:
Text
URL
Telephone number
SMS Message
Email Address
Email Message
Contact Details (VCard)
Events (VCalendars)
Google Maps Location
Wifi Login (android only)
Paypal Buy Now Link
Social Media Links
Youtube Video

Click here to get your own package.

The Value of Human Experience

2010-11-04T10:22:00.003-04:00

Truth is Promotional Products work, and there are only a handful of pro’s who are going to be able to understand your business and make the best decisions for you... Not for themselves.

While many of my blogs have been on the macro issues surrounding the promotional products business, if we get right down to what’s important and what your paying for, if you think all the distributors are the same, you may not even know what to look for in value.

For example, when was the last time you asked a sales rep what they know about your industry. What do they know about you?

It is understandable with new sales people they may not understand much, however you can judge their value by what they want to know. I’ll qualify that by saying that if they don’t know their own industry well enough, they should not even be in your office.

Time is important today and you’re dealing with real sales people, instead of buying on line, because you are affording the time for them to enhance your ability to reach your goals!

If you don’t know your goals, then I’m sure any one would appreciate your business and you may as well deal with anyone. If you know your goals, then you want someone smart who’s going to be the best addition to your team. Yes it is an added responsibility, however we’re at work and by definition we are working to achieve your organization’s goals.

How can I help?

Simple question, but with 25 years experience the benefit comes from understanding my industry and there’s a better chance I’ll understand yours because I’ve likely dealt with your firm or someone like you before. Not only that, with market conditions as they are, value is way better now dollar for dollar, then it has ever been. TAKE ADVANTAGE!

While time is of a premium, the biggest test is not how much you get done, (we’re all doing more) but the quality of what is being done. It’s not easy to be better!
Am I your answer? You’re well on your way to knowing simply because you know I’m aware and wanting the challenge of over performing. Look after the hardest decision in your communication or promotion campaign by calling or emailing me.

Intelligent solutions, creativity, hard working for you.

–Jamie Brougham

Wiser Decisions

2010-10-20T09:16:00.003-04:00

Wiser Decisions

The Best tip for buying promotional products is to be goal focused and then choose a product that will help achieve that goal.

Your time is valuable and costs money, yet you'll have to spend a lot of it looking to ensure you have the best option to reach that goal. Why spend the time looking, when the most effective choice, is to simply have a professional helping.

I was recently with a client who wanted to give a small product at industry fairs. They had a lot of information and bigger graphics. Based on the size of the product they needed and the amount of advertising required, they were stuck. Then, in one meeting, we had a product that could carry their message and effectively support their communication effort.

We chose the banner pen. Then they were worry free because they knew everything would run smoothly with their order. Our team ensured the order was done properly, on time, at a competitive price. After proofs were approved, a partial shipment was rushed for the client’s first event.

No Sweat, No Problem. Goals were achieved in part by an advertising product doing its job! Sounds easy and it is when you work with knowledgeable, professional partners.

– Jamie Brougham

Living With Federal Policies

2010-06-03T15:49:00.003-04:00

I’ve been meaning to write our Promotional Products Professionals of Canada Association. It’s members should know about what’s happening in Ottawa because so much of it reflects on how their government’s values Canadian workers and businesses in our industry and in so many more like it.

The federal government wants us to cut costs. Trim the fat, bring it all to you the tax payer for less!

I for one didn’t realize I was fat. However, I was eating well. After all it has been this industry that has facilitated my family being fed and I have saved for collage education. However now by fat cutting, excesses such as saving for retirement, and the kids schooling had to be cut from the budget. In the mean time there is less government support, and user fees have gone up! At least I’m older and have some security behind me, however as to passing the family business off to my kids, well I might be the last generation unless I’m smart enough to make a ‘Honda out of my Chrysler company’!

Like many in this industry, I need transition training, but currently in my situation, I have to feed the kids, so I’m putting any formal training off for now. As well, to my loyal clients, I owe them so much I would not want to miss a chance to be there for them. Frankly the people who appreciate my well developed skills and knowledge provide me self esteem and pride, and yes my income, but really, if I was only working for money I would not let scruples and family get in the way of making more.

In fact, in Ottawa it is the unscrupulousness of our federal government that is removing being valued for knowledge and skills from my job. Everything is coming down to money. I mean if Walmart tells us to ‘spend less -live better’, it must apply to the whole country, right? Good modern capitalist really have a way of putting things. Of course what they neglect to tell you is they really mean, ‘make less, so you have to spend less in our store’.

Well, to my friends who’s necks get a red hue in the late day sun, who vote conservative or die, you should take a look at this government’s management skills. How about cutting taxes. Great idea except they didn’t cut spending. I mean they did in some places. They have programs fully staffed and ready to go, but the spending was cut so those groups with spending cuts sit like soldiers trained and waiting for a mission.

On the other hand, if we take a department like National Defence, there are retired pensioners who get paid their pensions, and are hired back effectively getting paid twice. I know a lot of well managed businesses who pay employees twice... Not! DND is one department with money. When they do spend on promotional products, printing, or design, any purchase over $1000 has a minimum of 3 quotes. So DND does not value Canadian troops! I mean the troops who work in Canadian businesses and factories. Their big promo purchases, and there are a lot of them, go to bidders selling direct imports from China on margin to compete with their other unscrupulous competitors. Why support Canadian living and working standards when you can support China’s. Don’t tell the DND troops that though, they’re over their dieing trying to bring our values to Afghanistan while our government’s policy is undermining them here!

And what about that work ethic. Have you ever had something happen at work where you thought to take a couple of days off just because it was getting hot? Maybe you couldn’t, maybe you had to go back and face the music to earn a living and be dedicated to your business. Well, that’s not what our government thought when it came to proroguing parliament. Just take a couple of months off and put off everything while you’re at it! In fact, as a reward for not working you get to go to the Olympics at the tax payers expense with the family for some photo ops! Man, I would do it too. Of course I’d loose customers but not our Prime Minister, he’s got business on his side, and the private sector is always right, even if he’s not!

So decisions about running this government are brutal and their inaptitude in dealing with big issues is hurting you! In fact we have technology undermining all knowledge based businesses (including many of ours) and their less valuable workers are struggling to maintain their incomes. International economic integration ignores that we are merging our economies with countries who’s standards are so far from ours that anything they produce that involves labour undermines our working standards. We can’t compete without ruthless cuts. Demographics is an issue that is going to keep all you baby boomers working longer then you had planned. And for all our glowing necked friends who vote conservative because any government management is bad management, global warming is already making life difficult for many (maybe it is too sunny, or rainy for you now). It will be our kids in their lives who will have to bear ever more trouble from that, and there are no environmental policies of substance I can think of. We are waiting for Obama and will follow!

There are lots of insulting examples that respectable business people dealing with government could sight now, however suffice to say, my problems are the result of active government policies, and and the clear absence of policies to deal with some big problems many of us face.
Perhaps it is not fair of me to attack the government. They are taking billion dollar steps to tell the G8 and G20 how valuable our banking policy Paul Martin put in place is. To tell the world about our women’s reproduction health policy (with qualifications!). They are shutting down our biggest city to have an meeting with no consideration to the costs. Reckless spending goes along with the rest of their management policy! All I can say is I’m glad he was not in power when Bush decided to go into Iraq, otherwise we’d be spending a lot more lives and money on another Conservative policy they wanted to happen!

If you really want to support Canadian businesses and their people, next time you get a chance, do something that will change (or make) some federal policy.

I’m Jamie Brougham in Ottawa.

International Economic Integration Replacing Democracy One Step at a Time!

2010-05-11T09:47:00.002-04:00

Today I’m questioning why I got my business involved with the government. When I dealt with big private sector corporations for a living, criteria was clear. The goals were clear, my role was clear. I was to apply my trade to support their goals. Their goals may have been sales, may have involved keeping employees happy, may have involved giving back to the community, and on the very rare occasion it was something for the personal interest of those in charge. An understandable favour to build relations. No bribes or anything, perhaps just something to help someone out.

Then I started dealing with government because the private sector I was dealing with hit a big obstacle. I was dealing with High Technology companies and the Y2K bubble burst.

No problem, the other big industry in town is government and well, I had even studied politics at Carleton U, so figuring out their goals and objectives should be easy… Right?

Absolutely right, the goals of government are simple in their most basic form, however to achieve these goals, government’s actions gets twisted by corrupt power struggles that create injustices. By corrupt, I don’t mean illegal, I mean the bureaucracy and elected officials make decisions without scruples (scruples – An uneasy feeling arising from conscience or principle that tends to hinder action). In fact they know that the consequences of their actions will not be just for those who the consequences affect. Our government’s actions are not just. They contribute to a breakdown of our society and use fear as a motivator for people in and out of government.

To find the root of this problem, I have become more interested in politics and now realize there are much bigger issues then my business having trouble identifying the goals of government.

The situation our political leaders have is, we are in a revolution and my business is only one of thousands that are fighting to create demand when we should be questioning our whole economic system. The effects of global economic integration, and technology continue to change the foundation of what Canadians can pay for, and that has the most profound effects on how we distribute wealth and the power that goes with it.

The scrupling* required now is hardly possible by the majority of us as we put our best into trying to keep our jobs, and maintain our economic value. It is primarily the very wealthy who have the time and resources, to do the thinking about where our society is headed and what values our institutions will support. They are building an economic system that has them capturing control and wealth so quickly that our political ‘leaders’ are following because they fear for their jobs too! Politicians are not doing the thinking required to adapt our government’s actions to the values of Canadians. As a result, they do not properly manage the rules and regulations that govern our economy. Rules and regulations that can create or destroy a just society for Canadians, a society where we don’t live in fear of failure, but thrive with the benefits of new technologies, and as necessary, the extremes in global industrialization and integration.

Where there’s smoke there must be fire! One example of government’s unjust behavior is seen in my dealings with National Defence, In my industry their criteria as to who they buy from is based solely on price. This forces production to China whenever possible. The injustice of this is that, Canadian manufacturers who work with our rules that support Canadian living and working standards and values can’t compete because our standards are more expensive and our values better!

I’m apprehensive! While they ask us to support our troops who fight and die for Canadian values, the actions by National Defence’s unscrupulous decision makers don’t support the private industry troops across this country. They force fear into our society because their ‘lowest price rules’, demonstrate their value of Chinese labour and living standards over that of Canadians’. More of our businesses loose and consequently working and living standards are threatened. This is not because we are technologically inferior, but because they have by comparison slave labour.

Should we as citizens be afraid of a government that says it supports Canadian values but who’s actions demonstrate support for Chinese working and living standards over our own? Where are we headed and who’s really leading?

(I heard an interview on CBC’s The Current, with Ursula Franklin. Her articulate and extremely intelligent expression of where we are in history was clearly a steppingstone that I and many others can take to where we can live comfortably.)
*Scrupling- thoughtful decision making that clarifies the values of a group and creates action to support those values. Basis behind a socially just society.

–Jamie Brougham

What does being Green really mean?

2010-05-04T14:23:00.002-04:00

How green are we? Reduce, recycle, and reuse –Please lets get things in perspective!

Well, being in sales, I’m not really that interested in reuse. I’m not really interested in reducing. Recycling, that is one to push, however what is recycling and how does it matter?

The best recycling is when you are finished with a product, you get it back in the stream for future use, and not in the river to the dump! Frankly, I’m a little tired of hearing about recycled product from China. What does that mean anyways? Do the Chinese really drink that much pop that all those millions of tote bags that we’re buying are all made from salvaged Chinese pop bottles. Right, they are made from recycled something, but really if it was recycled in China does it really matter here? Would it not be better to know there were good labour practices used making the bags. How about environmental standards. Was pollution considered? Who knows? It costs so much money to have verifiable, certifiable checks going on that only the richest companies in the world do it, and at that they are likely the best at making sure if something is wrong they don’t get caught.

So, if you want to do something good for the environment, don’t buy stuff that comes from the other side of the world. If it’s made from recycled product here then it has made a difference to you. If you recycle it here, you have made a difference. Support domestic industry. At least your politicians, or perhaps just someone who cares, can ask for accountability if fraudulent claims are being made. And for goodness sake, take into consideration how long that bag has traveled to get to you. Yes we live in a global economy, but it is going to be the environmental footprint from greenhouse gases that is really going to do us in! The shorter the trip to market the better you’ve done to be green!

So what about reducing. Yes do that, but not with me. Remember we both have to eat. You have to promote so you can keep your job, and I need you too, so I can keep mine. Not using these products is missing an important tool in influencing your audience to respond as you want them to! So consumption is good for our green (at least until someone figures out a new way to distribute wealth in our modern economy)

As to reusing, well I think the bags at the store are a good idea. Primarily because they get lost, people still often don’t bother, and well, outside of the extra plastic bags I use for the garbage under the sink, and the necessary poo bags for my dog at the park, I really don’t like plastic bags. As to the many other things we sell, well they seem to ware out at a quick enough rate for us to keep making a living. So reuse those travel mugs -for a while anyway! The only thing I to many of is pens, but I’m sure me and my fellow promotional products sales people are the exception because we have more pens (samples) around today then most people would have in a life time!

So I’ve hoped you’ve enjoyed your lesson on being green. I can have this note printed on plastic rulers to be given at your local event if you’d like. Just give me a call.

Thanks,

Jamie Brougham

2010 Do It For Dad! Run & Family Walk

2010-04-22T16:05:00.006-04:00

With Father's Day just around the corner there is possibly no better way to show your love and care then to support this year's 12th Annual Do It For Dad! Run & Family Walk. Sunday, June 20, 2010

For the past 7 years we here at Brougham Promotional Products have been helping out by participating, volunteering, sponsoring and donating, and this year is not gonna be any different.

You can do your part by sponsoring a participant, registering, donating or volunteering.

Aside from the individual and Corporate team sign up this year there are also 2 new challenges added:
• Family Team Challenge
• Business Partner Sector Challenge
(click here to learn more)

Prizes to be won:
• Top Corporate and Family Team challenge will receive a suite for 10 at Scotiabank Place for a Sens game in the 2010/2011 season.
• 1 of 3 $1000 St.Laurent Gift Cards
• New Balance sport gear

The event will take place at Anniversary Park/Carleton University at 6:30am on Sunday, June 20th, 2010. Make this years Father's Day special by helping to end prostate cancer one km at a time.

Visit www.ottawacancer.ca for more information on these projects or stop in our office to learn more.

– Brougham Promotional Products Team

Adapting to New Direction-Which ever way that is!

2010-03-02T15:05:00.000-05:00

While closing in on 25 years in the promotional products industry, I find the downturn in the economy is something that I would like to complain about, however for all the times I heard my business would not do well when the economy slows down because “your type of product must be the first thing cut”, I can say that’s not been the reason for my economic troubles!

Actually, when the high tech sector crashed early this century, companies kept buying while they laid off staff, or went out of business as their market dried up. Promotional products for marketing, staff appreciation, motivation and other applications were still important. The thing that saved me from really getting hurt at that time, is I did not follow many of the companies after they got cheap... You know, the getting quotes, having inexperienced purchasing people with the sole objective of paying less for what they’re getting in a feeble attempt to put space between having no money for operations, and the end! It was easy to step away from them in time, despite loosing the market, because what was really showing was they were not focused on what made them successful.

Any activities in business are to enhance what it does, which normally is being focused on how their product is going to please clients, or achieve organization objectives. That my friends is the reason it can be very frustrating dealing with government because if they have an issue, there are teams of highly educated bureaucrats to throw at the problem with no consideration to their cost or value to the whole.

Being client focused, or objective focused is not an objective of government. The objective is doing what ever the winds of politics blows down the pipe, and for this concern they have a lot of extra bodies standing around waiting for instructions. This is an issue that goes well beyond the logic of a business man. Not that business people are superior in their beliefs. God knows many business people’s beliefs are questionable. The difference is business people have clearly stated goals and objectives and take the necessary actions to achieve them. If they’re in business they have that going for them!

In contrast, there are so many in government who’s goals and objectives are not clearly spelt out. As a result they can’t make a decision with clear reasoning because they’re not clear as to what they are trying to achieve! So decisions get made to build little kingdoms, keep the wheels turning, keep the lunch baggers gainfully employed. Those are the objectives when the civil service does not have enough leadership. You can’t blame the workers, most of whom are well capable of serious challenges, and execute serious programs, however the percentage of people built around them designed to make rules for rules sake, keep frustrating the rest of us -in an out of government. It is the huge blight on government and a significant one on the country as a whole.

The many voices like mine come and go, because ultimately the motto ‘what can’t be cured must be endured’ is acceptable. It is acceptable to our politicians, because it is acceptable to voters. Lack of clear objectives because of an ignorant electorate, and ‘leaders’ who are leading us no where with the sole objective of staying in power are effectively an accepted practice.

As a small business person I will continue trying to adapt to a new economic reality, however while I’m doing that, my market is suffering because government operations lack objectives, and we lack leadership. Lets hope our ‘leaders’ are the first to see the bear and get eaten when we collectively stumble around the next corner on our path!

I’m Jamie Brougham.

What Goes Around Comes Around

2010-02-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

In evaluating what is happening in the promotional products industry, we see long standing networks coming apart because of the race to have the least expensive product on the market. Between looking for the shortest route to China, trying to avoid any domestic investment, and having web based commerce with no idea who you’re dealing with and how they contribute to your community, country, or even their community- wherever that is, we are truly loosing focus on what is important.

It is important to sell your product or service, however supporting your staff, and community is dependant on your customer thinking he wants to support you. The old ‘what goes around comes around’ cliché comes to mind. Those old fashioned ‘community values’, despite what the biggest corporations and their followers in government are telling us, are still important.

While I want to see prices drop right down to nothing, unfortunately there are peoples’ livelihoods behind the prices, and until we can figure out another way to share the wealth besides it being based on the value of labour, your cost cutting ends up cutting your investment in the people working for you. Just because you’re not a boss does not mean you don’t have people working for you. Every time you spend, someone did work for you!

We all don’t have a choice so much of the time now either because there is only one option, or because the investment in ‘us’ has been cut and we are working from a lower level, however being aware and looking for an opportunity to invest in your community is a good place to start supporting the community you depend on!

Jamie Brougham.

Challenges and Solutions

2010-02-09T11:20:00.001-05:00

This posting is about why the promotional products business like so many is facing significant challenges and what the solutions to deal with them are. It goes well beyond promotional products, however it is getting at the root of the problem.

While the economy is showing signs of stabilizing, there is clearly a large segment of the population that still has to adapt to a new world economic order.

It is typical to put the negative consequences systemic change on the workers who created our wealth. The political and particularly industry leaders who disproportionably benefited from the good times, are now the ones who have to sacrifice, but they’re not going to.

When we talk about sacrifice, it should be a shared responsibility, not a retreat by those extremely wealthy into the castles they’ve built. Their fortunes invested are what the rest of us need simply to maintain our standard of living in changing times. Instead, we’re using ‘stimulus money’ and going into debt.

Our generation’s leaders are facing new challenges. Some of the challenges they face are the same as in the past, for example, our international economic integration with exploited workers from other nations, undermines the value of our labour based industries; although the new part of that is the size of the new developing world. It makes what we faced with Japan’s leap to a modern economy, seem only like a model to study. Another new challenge is countries like China are not playing by the same rules. The concentration of capital is not in the hands of industrialists in a free market system, but in government’s. Furthermore, the environmental changes we face really should not allow us to simply let them repeat our process of a callus transformation into a modern industrialized nation! We are to witness more how not caring about the environment will come back to hurt us!

The second, and most significant change is technology.

There are so many industries that are the backbone of any modern economy being undermined or dramatically transformed by technological change. We should be moving to another basis of wealth-distribution besides value of labour. Simply put, when properly managed, our efficiencies should allow either more wealth, or more leisure time for everyone. Instead, the collecting of wealth rest ever more disproportionately with those who run industry and our social institutions. For the majority of the population, the value of their labour continues to drop, and for so many, the working and living standards that were fought for by this country’s forefathers are being challenged. There is no easy solution.

Outside the box is where our accountable political leaders should be thinking, however with the risk of loosing their jobs for thinking differently, we have to ask where genuine change will come from? Terms like socialism and social allocation of resources, conger up old radical images of communism from 90 years ago. Rhetoric that maintains the capitalists’ exploitive system as the only system, is firmly supported by those who own the vast majority of wealth. Meanwhile in Canada, there are examples of social institutions that do everything well, (such as Export Development Canada), but further promotion of government funded institutions are hailed as unfair and challenged by free-trade agreements. They are not challenged by the workers of crown corporations, not by the majority of their benefiting share holders-Canadians, not by their executives, but by corporations who pay their leaders 10’s of millions of dollars a year!

The unfortunate truth is, most Canadians are not interested in figuring out the problem. They simply ask is who will lead them forward to better times. In reality, they would have to lead themselves through accountable government, but without the education to understand what’s needed, the power shift will likely not happen. Who will lead Canada forward, will likely be left to chance or perhaps the Americans. Most Canadians will be relying on, or hoping for true ‘Canadian-liberal values’, to find a good leader who will be strong enough to get elected, have the integrity, and knowledge to step forward to implement some of the changes needed. In the past we could look to the Liberal party, but alas they seem to have have fallen into the low value, reactionary mentality to get elected. Right now, there is no ‘Canadian Made’ vision for the future. That’s why the Conservatives are in power now but lost in the past when Canada was focused on values that made a difference!

Getting Back to Basic Values

2010-01-29T09:38:00.007-05:00

This past weekend I spent time at the Promotional Products Professionals tradeshow and convention in Toronto. The show pretty much looked the same to the outsider, but there were some big differences.

A company like Mini-Media International skipping the national show was hard to accept. Their not being there was indicative of missing optimism on the supplier side. Bought companies, companies missing, and the underlying feeling that some are ‘hanging on’ for an economic turnaround, cut into enthusiasm. With fewer distributors attending, and low-ballers there to exploit who ever will offer information, there was a necessary brave face being put on by many old friends.

The second thing that was different was recognition that faceless distributors (or companies selling directly to promotional products buyers), are getting a lot of business. They are web sites, and they are price based foreign source suppliers who undermine a large part of what is a human touch, sales-distribution system.

We all realize we have to change, but there is little guidance, time is hard to find, and investors are harder to find. All this on top of a precarious economic climate.

So the race to change for survival is on and some peers will fall. Being from Ottawa, I think politically and how troubled times are taking place for so many, not only in our industry. The story repeats its self all over this nation. All this while the federal government avoids democracy, and is not responsibility dealing with our economic situation. They don’t even go to work and yet they get paid. So much for leadership!

At Brougham we always have been lean and mean. We are good, and we are adapting. Steps are being taken, however it seems painfully slow. I know though, the basic principles in human relations still apply, and realizing that where we buy supports a Canadian, and perhaps American too, way of life. We have to support each other so the values of this country prevail. Supporting countries where people sleep at factories, are paid a buck an hour, work in unheated production areas, and get to see their family once a year, is not right.

So I’m starting. Learning how to blog is actually great, and I’ll get to twitter and more. Above all, I and we all have to remember where we come from and despite what big business and unaccountable government tells us, we have to support our neighbours and friends, even if it cost extra!

All the best for the rest of 2010!

Jamie Brougham

2010-01-26T10:19:00.003-05:00

Brougham is no longer just a promotional products distributor, we now also offer a in-house design department to guarantee your products look the best.

Brougham Design offers services in:
• Logo/Branding
• Flyers
• Media Kits
• Stationary Kits
• Social Media Backgrounds
• Posters/Banners
• Vectoring Images
• Print
• Print Production
• Custom Orders

The website also showcases some work as well as a blog that will provide you with tips and tricks on making sure your graphics are ready for production. You can also follow Brougham Design on twitter to receive instant updates, tips, and live help.

–David Horvath

2010: Keeping Things Fair

2010-01-05T14:37:00.004-05:00

With the new year upon us, one thing is for certain, these are changing times. The decisions we make in this year will be responsible for taking direction to how our economy, and well being are in the future.

While cost of product is an important criteria in establishing value, technology, integrated international economies, and environmental concerns are all playing an ever increasing role in deciding who, and how we will benefit from a new world order.

It is Brougham’s objective over the course of 2010 and the next decade to support the industries that are paying fair wages, supporting our Canadian, and North American economy, and if we can help it, support those being environmentally responsible. These are high ambitions when the everyone from government to the largest corporations have been focusing on price regardless of the social costs behind their buying.

Suffice to say that Brougham will offer the best service, and the value of your money will be buying better values in your country!

Thank you to all who have worked with us in the past and best wishes to all for the new year!

Jamie Brougham

Do It For Dad!

2009-05-28T13:38:00.003-04:00

Brougham Promotional Products is proud to be sponsoring the 11^th annual Alterna Do It For Dad! Run and Family Walk.

The last 7 years we have been sponsoring this event, contributed more then just our business. Participation, volunteering and advertising is our way to send our love to all the dads in the world including our own, as well as raising the awareness to fight prostate cancer

It’s not to late to sign up to this years run taking place on Sunday, June 21^st, 2009 at the Anniversary Park, Carleton University. We have registration forms in our office to enter into the run and walk or visit www.alternadifd.ca to learn more.

Of course, prizes will be awarded to winners of different categories:

- most money raised

- Grand Prize

- Race Prizes

- MBNA Team Challenge Prizing

- NEW Team Challenge Footprint.

Prizes include:

- New Balance Technical T-shirt

- Ball Caps, Socks, and watch

- $3000 shopping spree at St.Laurent Centre

- Box seating at the Scotiabank Place for hockey and concerts

- Golf Time

- pizza lunch

- and your very own tree in the cancer survivor Park.

Spend this Father’s Day at Alterna Do It For Dad! Walk and Family run on June 21^st at 7am and make a difference in the fight against prostate cancer.

See you there,

Brougham Promotional Products Team

The Importance of Staying Local.

2009-04-14T16:39:00.002-04:00

Hi Bloggers,

I'm excited about making our first installment on our blog page. To tell you a bit about our company, at Brougham productivity continues to rise. Our knowledge and experience is second to none in the promotional products industry. You should know the price of our product is roughly the same as it was 1 5 years ago, some products have gone up in price and some have dropped. Those that have dropped, (the majority of what we sell) are coming from Asia. Some industry suppliers in Canada and the U.S. have converted from manufacturing to importing, warehousing, printing, marketing, distributing, and supporting us, the sales force!

Those industry suppliers who manufacture in Canada, in addition to manufacturing, do what the importers fo too. They deserve great credit by Canadians for sticking it out. Without them we would not be able to say we can make many of the products used by North Americans every working day! Thank you to all who support made in Canada, and made in the U.S. too!

As to the China and world sourced products, that’s a reality. When we look for best value for our clients we are often lead to product made off shore. While quality is often a function of price, it is not fair to compare between North American made and off shore. Our wages are many times more, our employment standards are not comparable, our standard of living, environmental standards, and many other factors contribute to making North America cost more.

Therefore, North American companies are offering much added value to compete. So great value is there for the little more we charge, however if price is the only factor it is almost impossible to win.

Our biggest challenge now is government procurement policy. Lowest price wins. Frankly, they’re cheap. Effective purchasing of product is suffering, programs are suffering, suppliers, and distributors are being removed from the process with only those who bring China as close as possible to their door are being kept in the game. There is no room for direct sales relations with communications people. The result is weaker supply chains, less knowledge, and poorer working relations. Good they get best price however expertise is being lost, and value to Canadian taxpayers in the long run is declining.

Therefore, rest assured, that we are very aware of being competitively priced, we add all the extras for value. Working with Brougham is good, as we’ve been told by our clients time and again. Your business or organization gets more from working with good companies and Brougham has over 30 years experience at being good. When you work with someone, you want to work with good people offering best value!

I hope to hear from you. Thanks for reading our first blog posting!

Cheers,

Jamie Brougham