As the year draws to a close, TurnKey Promotions would like to wish all of our clients, partners and friends a Merry Christmas.
Thank you for the unwavering support, trust and loyalty you have shown us throughout the year. With your help, TurnKey Promotions has had one of our most successful and exciting years to date. It is your loyalty that fuels our passion and drives us to constantly innovate and strive for excellence in everything we do.
Our office will close for the holiday break on Friday the 22nd of December 2023 and reopen on Monday the 8th of January 2024.
We hope you have a fantastic holiday break and look forward to reconnecting in the new year!
TurnKey Promotions founder and owner Diana O’Cobhthaigh has been elected to serve as a Director on the Board of the Australasian Promotional Products Association (APPA).
APPA is the professional association for the promotional products industry in Australia and New Zealand, and represents the interests of more than 650 businesses who distribute, supply or decorate promotional products.
A seat on the APPA Board is a highly coveted, distinguished role, and is a testament to Diana’s standing among her peers and her professional accomplishments.
“I believe that APPA plays a pivotal role in the growth and success of the promotional products industry and needs to be led by passionate industry professionals,” said Diana.
“I am excited about the prospect of joining the Board to provide a fresh perspective on matters and to represent the extraordinary women who work within the industry.”
Diana was elected to the APPA Board of Directors by way of a preferential vote among current APPA members. She will commence her first full term (three years) on Thursday the 23rd of November when the APPA Board reconvenes.
We are thrilled to announce that the team at TurnKey Promotions have been recognised for their hard work and creativity at the 2023 APPA Awards, taking home the top prize in the Business to Business and Made in Australia award categories.
The APPA Awards, renowned for celebrating innovation, creativity, and outstanding achievements, bring together the best and brightest in our industry. The competition was fierce, with numerous exceptional finalists pushing the boundaries of what is possible. To be selected as winners amongst such remarkable talent is truly an honor.
The Business to Business award is a testament to the exceptional quality and impact of our promotional products and services. We take great pride in our ability to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of our B2B clients, helping them enhance their brand visibility, engage with their target audience, and achieve their marketing goals.
TurnKey Promotions received this award for our work with Entegra Signature Structures, a leading shed manufacturer in Australia, who approached our team with a brief for a unique promotional product to be gifted to some of their biggest clients. After extensive research we suggested the Meat Branding Iron as the perfect promotional gift, aligning with the livestock industry and aimed at keeping the Entegra brand in the minds of their most important clients.
TurnKey Promotions received the Made in Australia award for our work with Rabobank Australia to design and produce custom playing cards. This award in particular means a lot to the team and highlights our efforts to source, produce, and promote promotional products that are proudly made right here in Australia.
Thank you to both Entegra Signature Structures and Rabobank Australia for choosing TurnKey Promotions to help bring their ideas to life. We are extremely grateful for the collaborative relationships we have built and the shared vision we have with each of you. We look forward to continuing our journey with both of these valued clients to deliver extraordinary results.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to APPA for this incredible honor and to all our team members, clients, and partners who have played an integral part in our success. We cannot wait to see what the future holds as we continue on this remarkable journey.
TurnKey Promotions is honored and excited to be named a finalist in not one, but two APPA Award categories this year.
The prestigious APPA Awards for Promotional Products Marketing Excellence are the most coveted accolades in the promotional products industry, recognising excellence, creativity and outstanding accomplishments within the sphere of promotional marketing.
TurnKey Promotions is one of a small group of reputable businesses competing for the top prizes in the Business to Business and Made in Australia award categories this year.
Our work with Entegra Signature Solutions (pictured left) to devise a quirky, fun gift for top tier clients (comprised of a customised meat branding iron) earned TurnKey Promotions a nomination in the Business to Business category.
The creative thinking that inspired a project for client Rabobank Australia involving local manufacturing and customization of playing cards (pictured right) is the basis of our nomination as a finalist in the “Made In Australia” award category.
We would like to express our gratitude to both Entegra Signature Solutions and Rabobank Australia for entrusting us with their visions and allowing us to bring them to life.
Winners of the 2023 APPA Awards will be announced at the APPA Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 31 August 2023. Stay tuned as we eagerly await the results!
For the last six years, TurnKey Promotions’ supplier-partner Stencil has led the Australian apparel market with their production of high-quality, high-tech clothing.
Stencil is perhaps best known for its famous Cool Dry® fabric, an innovative moisture-wicking fabric that breathes like a cotton, is quick drying and has antibacterial properties, making it cool and comfortable to wear all year round.
Over the past few years, Stencil has invested extensively in new technology to bring to market a number of groundbreaking, eco-friendly fabrics that can be found in some of TurnKey Promotion’s new ranges of polo shirts and apparel. These fabrics include:
Stencil Clime-Ori® Stencil Clime-Ori® was developed by Stencil in partnership with DuPont, using DuPont’s new Sorona technology. Clime-Ori® mixes the excellence of Cool Dry® with the innovative spring-like structure of Sorona, giving Clime-Ori® a an impressive set of attributes including colourfastness and stain-resistance.
Stencil Nano-Gear® Produced in both 100% cotton and poly/cotton blends, Stencil Nano-Gear® uses nano-scale polymers (engineered to attach to the individual fibres) to leave the finished garments astoundingly stain-resistant and wrinkle-free.
Stencil Bio-Weave® Stencil’s newest natural fibre combines traditional techniques with high technology to create a fabric unlike any other. A close cousin of rayon and lyocell, Bio-Weave® utilizes revolutionary wood-pulp manufacturing techniques to produce a fabric that has longlasting colours, is wrinkle-free and kind to sensitive skin.
The Sorona Polo
This year, TurnKey Promotions introduces Stencil’s Sorona Polo– proving that scratchy, uncomfortable eco-friendly fabrics are a thing of the past.
Comprised of an ecologically responsible plant-origin fibre, the Sorona Polo not only offers unmatched wear characteristics, but also requires 30% less energy to produce than a comparative nylon shirt. Our new Sorona Polo is also manufactured using natural fermentation in place of chemical processing, reducing its environmental impact without sacrificing quality or performance.
The finished product is smooth, silky and available in a range of attractive colours that won’t fade with wash or wear thanks to the fabric’s inherently high UV resistance.
To enquire about the Sorona Polo or any of Stencil’s fabrics, please contact TurnKey Promotions on 1300 153 707.
On the 26th of January 2023, Australian citizens at home and abroad will celebrate the 235th birthday of Australia.
While the date formally commemorates the establishment of the first British colony in New South Wales, the holiday has taken on a much deeper meaning in recent years.
Australia Day is a great opportunity to come together and celebrate the place we call home, regardless of what your belief is about the date of the holiday itself.
Today, you will find that Australia Day is commemorated not so much by formal ceremonies but by colourful, festive events that seek to promote a sense of community, multiculturalism and inclusion.
Why should you celebrate Australia Day in 2023?
Celebrate your national and cultural identity as an Australian individual or organisation.
Reflect on the past and acknowledge Australia’s significant cultural and ethical transformation throughout the past century.
Promote values of inclusion, diversity and multiculturalism.
Simply put, Australia is a great country to live in, and we should all acknowledge how lucky we are to live in a country renowned for equality, fairness and its democratic values.
Businesses can celebrate Australia Day with a fun Australia-themed promotion or marketing campaign. Be inspired by some of these great Australia Day-themed products from TurnKey Promotions:
Full Size Sublimated Bucket Hat Fully customizable polyester bucket hat. Available in three adult sizes (57/58/59cm) or three children’s sizes (54/55/56cm).
Premium Sublimated Socks Premium polyester socks available in one size that suits shoe sizes from EUR 38 – 43 and AUS 7-12.
Waterproof Temporary Tattoos Promotional temporary tattoos are non-toxic and easy to use! Available in 4 different sizes that can fit onto any part of the body.
Reversible Foldable Stubby Holder A secure neoprene base lets you slide in full beer bottles without worrying about them falling out. Cuts at the base let you fold the holder flat for easy storage.
To enquire about any of the products listed above, please call TurnKey Promotions on 1300 153 707. Alternatively, for more great Australia Day-themed products, please browse Turnkey Promotions’ Australia Day 2023 Catalogue.
On the 1st of November 2022, NSW will join the ACT, QLD, SA and WA at the forefront of the national sustainability movement by implementing a ban on single-use plastic items.
The ban follows the state-wide prohibition of lightweight single-use plastic bags (implemented in June) and includes straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, cotton buds, polystyrene takeaway food containers and more.
The scale of damage inflicted by callous human disposal of plastic products throughout the past 50 years is simply immeasurable. Since regular production of plastic bags began in the 1970’s, scientists tragically estimate that mankind has effectively killed off 49% of all marine life species (Living Blue Planet Report 2015, WWF).
By banning harmful plastic products, we are reducing the shameful amount of plastic that currently pollutes our oceans and taking an important step towards a brighter, more sustainable future for us all.
“The ban is expected to stop 2.7 billion single-use items from ending up in our natural environment and waterways over the next 20 years.”
NSW Treasurer and Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean
A number of products are temporarily exempt from the ban. These exemptions extend to serving utensils (such as salad servers or tongs), packing seals for food and beverage items and items that are mechanically attached to or included within food packaging (such as a straw in a juicebox).
A two-year exemption for plastic-lined paper plates and bowls that are decorated with patterns and/or pictures has also been granted by the state government to give small businesses time to adjust to the new legislation.
These everyday products have been a part of our lives for decades- what do we use now?
There are so many great alternatives to these soon-to-be-banned plastic products- and TurnKey Promotions can help you get your hands on them in no time at all!
We pride ourselves on sourcing thoughtfully designed, clever alternatives to products comprised of toxic plastics or materials. Plus, we can customize any item we source with your company logo or brand message.
Some of our favourite eco-friendly, reuseable products include:
Ash Recycled Large Shopper Tote This durable shopper tote holds more than 30lbs. features a large open main compartment, 11.5″ drop handles and is made of RPET material.
Replaces: Single-use plastic bags
Harvest Produce Bags in Pouch Includes five mesh drawstring bags in a drawstring polyester pouch.
Replaces: Plastic produce bags
Newton Salad Shaker This shaker holds salad and dressing in separate compartments (710ml).
Replaces: Polystyrene takeaway food containers
Delish Eco Cutlery Set Includes full size fork, knife and spoon in a push-lid container. Made from a 50/50 blend of wheat fibre and BPA free polypropylene. Replaces: Disposable plastic cutlery
Reuseable Straw in Bottle Opener Case The flexible, reusable straw collapses to fit into a portable container equipped with a bottle opener.
Replaces: Plastic straws
Bendigo Enamel Bowl Durable stainless steel bowl which is BPA-free and has a stylish enamel finish.
Replaces: Paper bowls (takeaway food packaging)
To enquire about any of the products listed above, please call TurnKey Promotions on 1300 153 707. Alternatively, for more great eco-friendly promotional products, download and browse Turnkey Promotions’ Eco-Living Catalogue.
There is an increasing desire from consumers to act responsibly. As such, conscious consumers want to see products that are made from eco friendly resources like sustainable and recycled materials. Take a look at some of the incredible options below that are created from recycled materials.
Plastic bottles and other recyclable materials are collected and sorted. Materials are then broken down into smaller elements and cleaned to remove impurities. At which point they are blended into pellets which are then stretched into yarn. Some products are spun to include additional materials like organic cotton. The yarn is then weaved into specialized fabric depending on the product and/or garment style. Fabric is then cut, trimmed and sewn in finishing and once the process is complete you have a beautiful final product made from recycled materials.
I wanted to take a moment and explore the evolution of branded merchandise over the past three years. Seems like such a funny thing to consider with much of the time being spent in lockdown and having events restricted on a global level. But the way businesses and brands are seeking out merchandise has undergone some interesting changes.
Did you know that the term “Promotional Products” and “SWAG” headed the search charts 10 years ago? These were the go to words and phrases businesses were using to find custom branded opportunities. With a focus on freebies, giveaways and tchokies that ultimately got the organisation’s name out there, at the lowest cost possible and more often than not ending up in landfill. Stepping into 2022 and reviewing the same top trending search terms, we now see that “branded merchandise” or “branded merch” is taking the lead. At first glance the terms may seem interchangeable, but a promotional product may not hold the same perception of longevity as a piece of custom branded merchandise. A promotional product sounds temporary, where as branded merchandise sounds intentional, thought out and connected back to the business or brand releasing it … making the item coveted, sought after and ultimately more sustainable as it will be kept and used.
“A bag handed out with magazine subscriptions has become a favorite accessory for cultural elites” – The New Yorker. (Read Article Here)
This story caught my attention, and I wanted to share it with everyone. A canvas tote bag given out to new subscribers of The New Yorker has now become a piece of “Cultural Currency.” People are so dedicated to the symbol and brand of The New Yorker, that this tote bag, a beautiful piece of branded merchandise, has sky rocketed to one of New York’s “must have” tote bags, with over half a million units released to date.
So what did The New Yorker do differently? They made the merchandise an extension of their own brand. A way for advocates and readers to be part of their community. They could have created a low cost, centre logo printed bag, but chose to create something that meant more, and belonged uniquely to them. It’s an incredible example of how branded merchandise can become a luxury we didn’t know we needed.
This doesn’t mean the end to the giveaways and freebies handed out at events or trade shows. But I do believe that brands and businesses are starting to understand just how powerful, sought after, and impactful custom branded merchandise can be. It could very well be the new luxury our advocates and teams are searching for.
What do you think? Is there an opportunity for your business to create a luxury experience with branded merchandise?
Many retail brands have now lent their names to the beautiful world of branded merchandise. Did you know that you can co-brand with UA, Nike, Puma, Moleskine and many others? These highly regarded retail brands have released exclusive products for co-branding opportunities. In response the promotional sector and industry as a whole has also stepped up to the plate. We still have good value sustainable products available, but due to increased demand we also now have practical, retail quality items with advancements in decoration capabilities, perfect for creative branding opportunities. Businesses much like yours now have more control over how you can create coveted branded merchandise.
It’s easy to remember that sometimes the experience is in the details. As we see a shift in creating longer lasting, more memorable merchandise, decoration methods begin to play a larger role. The difference between a plastic cup with a single colour imprint or sticker has a much different impact than a glass with permanent laser etching. One item says “here take this with you” and the other says “here is a piece you can have forever.” It all depends on the message and experience you want to create, but decoration methods like embroidery, debossing, laser engraving and glass etching are built to last and to grab attention.
We wanted to take a moment and talk about product safety and how it impacts the industry of branded merchandise. For years there has been a focus on retail products where the local and national governments have helped create regulations on what is safe and what is not. But did you know that this also applies to the promotional products we hand out every day?
There are no industries excluded when it comes to product safety, which means that brands need supply partners that are going to help keep them protected. There have been dozens of recalls over the last three years where branded merchandise (promotional products) were outside of the required safety regulations. This ends up turning an opportunity to promote yourself into a Public Relations nightmare as the brand distributing the products often finds their name in the news as part of recall efforts.
Turnkey Promotions cares, and is dedicated to providing safe products that adhere to all applicable regulations. We’ve outlined a couple of the regulations below connected to the majority of recalls in recent years.
Button Batteries
Mandatory Safety Standards for Button Batteries was passed in December 2020 to help protect Australian Children. Changes in safety regulations need to be kept in mind when producing products from overseas.
Sunscreens must be manufactured by a TGA approved manufacturing facility, and can only include TGA approved ingredients – each of which has been assessed for safety.
Read More Here
The Product Safety Awareness Program is part of a larger Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) initiative to create confidence in promotional products as an advertising medium at every level. In conjunction with Promotional Products Work! Week and PPAI’s End Buyer/User Research, the Product Safety Awareness Program helps position the medium as a powerful and safe marketing strategy. The Product Safety Awareness Program is currently focused on education. Turnkey Promotions is proud to be PPAI certified and we are committed to ongoing education in the product safety sector.
Hand Sanitisers can fall into a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulated product as well, and it’s important to keep an eye on what the product is claiming, as this defines if TGA approval is required.
For instance, since COVID-19 hand sanitisers that are regulated as therapeutic goods must be approved by the TGA before they are supplied, while hand sanitisers that are excluded from TGA regulation (either because they meet the specified requirements or because they are cosmetics) do not require TGA approval before they are supplied. If the hand sanitiser makes a claim that it’s effective against viruses’ or ‘helps to reduce the transmission of COVID-19’ are all therapeutic use claims and will require TGA approval.
TGA APPROVAL – SUNSCREEN & HAND SANITISER Therapeutic goods are broadly defined as products for use in humans in connection with:
preventing, diagnosing, curing or alleviating a disease, ailment, defect or injury
influencing, inhibiting or modifying a physiological process
testing the susceptibility of persons to a disease or ailment
influencing, controlling or preventing conception
testing for pregnancy.
Promotional products that require TGA approval can change over time, so at TurnKey Promotions, we aim to stay up to date with this regulation.
Keeping up with all of the regulations can seem daunting at times, so we always recommend having supply partners you trust and can count on to stay up-to-date. Staying informed, learning and adhering to product safety regulations has always been (and will continue to be) part of the service we provide to our clients.
We also recommend adopting product safety into your procurement education policies, because anyone who is purchasing product with an intent to sell or distribute becomes part of the supply chain and liable for the safety of the products they procure.
