Blog

Why we love promotional merchandise (and you should, too!)

You can’t smell a radio ad, hear a billboard, or taste an infomercial. Unlike other promotional tactics, promotional merchandising is the only format that has the potential to hit all 5 senses. While we may be in the digital age, we’re also in a time where our customers are more experience-seeking than ever. Promotional products should be a physical celebration of your brand, turning your... read more

2017, A year in review

Last year was a period of positive change at Bright Sparks, we moved office and put our heads together to redefine what we stand for. All this change culminated in a rebrand, which cemented a new focus on integrity, loyalty, creativity and delivering genuine brand value for our clients. We were ecstatic to be accepted as life members into the World Advertising Gift Exchange (WAGE). We’re s... read more

The 3 P’s of Corporate Giving - Planning, Personalisation, & Purpose

Planning Spring is just around the corner and Christmas is something between a faint memory of good times gone by and the promise of a summer holiday in the distant future. Even so, now is the ideal time to make a plan for corporate gift giving this Christmas. By planning ahead, you’ll ensure your gifts arrive when planned and keep your time free for wrapping up your own work towards t... read more

A New Chapter

We’re excited to reveal the outcome of our timely rebrand as we settle into our new office, back in the heart of the CBD. A clean, refined design, our new look represents Bright Sparks' ongoing focus on integrity, service and solutions. It also reflects our fresh, imaginative company culture. We continue to work on the ethos that there is no request too grand or difficult and we’ll nev... read more

The Latest in Promotional Merchandise – Top 5 Picks from WAGE

After our change in ownership back in 2014, Bright Sparks applied for renewed permanent membership as the New Zealand representative in WAGE, the World Advertising Gift Exchange. WAGE is a global network of merchandisers and suppliers that drives ideation and social responsibility within the promotional merchandising industry. Through WAGE, we gain exclusive access to ethical offshore s... read more

Generational Selling

PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) have many informative Blogs but this one we see becoming more and more relevant in our New Zealand economy. PPAI have a clear vision - "The Promotional Products Association International advocates the power and value of promotional products in the marketing and advertising professions to ensure the success of its members and the glob... read more

The Bright Sparks Guide to Chinese New Year

As our working year begins, when summer swims and barbecues are almost a distant memory, our supply partners in China will be signing-off for their biggest annual holiday; New Year’s Eve. On the Chinese lunar calendar, January 28thmarks the official start of 2017. While this major event goes largely uncelebrated in the western world, the team at Bright Sparks has Chinese New Year (CNY) ... read more

5 Day Working Wardrobe

Whether you’re after a corporate look, apparel for a sports team or hospitality uniforms, Bright Sparks have comfortable, stylish apparel to suit. In line with our corporate clothing range, we’ve put together these top 5 tips for work week attire. Follow this guide to get through the week in style and avoid that ‘aaargh I don’t know what to wear’ moment. Choose Your Colours ... read more

WAGE ...... Our secret weapon!

Promotional products can often feel like a tired, ‘me too’ exercise with limited stand-out choices available. And yet, an inventive or personalised corporate gift can cut through the noise to keep your brand top of mind. As part of the quest to provide interesting products, Christchurch-based promotional merchandising company Bright Sparks is a member of the World Advertisi... read more

Company Culture as a Point of Difference.

One of the highlights of our job is partnering with clients and suppliers that share our commitment to developing a strong company culture. It is something our team has worked very hard to create. It is this culture that drives our way of working and creates our point of difference. We’ve found culture provides a common vision throughout our organisation; from the higher level decision ... read more

Got a unique brand?

Tired of just adding your logo to generic merchandise? Want to individualise your corporate or sports teams' branding? The term 'bespoke' means to design a product with a specific customer in mind. Whether it is the colour, the shape, or a completely fresh idea, with a bespoke product, your brand will stand out from the crowd. Create tactile experiences for your audience that are s... read more

3 Pitfalls of Corporate Gift Giving

Have you received a business gift that ended up in the back of the drawer or, even worse, in the bin? Given a corporate gift you were certain would bring results, only to end up with silence? Bright Sparks have put together our take on the 3 biggest mistakes in promotional gift giving. 1. Cultural Disconnect Knowledge of the recipient or lack thereof is the #1 mistake made ... read more

5 Reasons Why Millennial-Focused Brands Cannot Afford to Ignore Social Responsibility

1. Millennials are a huge group with growing purchasing power Millennials, also known as Gen Y, are typically defined as those born between 1980 and 1995. Their influence on today’s global economy can hardly be overstated, offering huge pro t potential for companies that win their business: Millennials are the largest generation alive today, counting 1.8 billion globally.
 Millennial... read more

AS Colour or AS Color

Here are Bright Sparks we love AS Colour, or is it AS Color…nah AS Colour, maybe even through in an AS Colour NZ for SEO purposes ha. Quality basics, at great prices and the range is expanding. Starting from t shirts and hoodies, we can now cover dresses, jackets, shirts, underpants and socks. We have the full range in the AS Colour section, under products. Obviously you... read more

Mobile Fan

Clients are always approaching Bright Sparks with the need for low priced IT or mobile items. At the WAGE Meeting (Worldwide Advertising and Gift Exchange) in Hong Kong, High Peak, the WAGE member from Finland presented this Mobile Fan. It connects through the charging port on your phone, and works on both Apple and Android devices. The WAGE membership enables Bright Sparks to ... read more

Tiger Beer – Promotional product GWP Campaign

Tiger Beer – Promotional product GWP Campaign Bright Sparks is always keeping an eye out for creative branded merchandise campaigns. The famous Asian beer brand, Tiger, is currently running a promotional campaign in Singapore. Pictured is a A3 Promotional Poster at a bar in Singapore and doubtless this offer will be promoted online and through other channels too. The promotion was run i... read more

Weetabix links with Cartoon Network

Weetabix is relaunching its Weetabuddies campaign in partnership with Cartoon Network. The campaign aims to get kids to eat a healthy nutritious breakfast. Weetabix is relaunching its successful Weetabuddies campaign with a new year-long partnership with Cartoon Network. Aimed at inspiring a new generation of cereal eaters, the campaign encourages children to get creative and start the... read more

Adding a touch of style

Once upon a time it was enough for such everyday items to boast functionality and no style but with times changing the impact of branded merchandise is down to a dual appreciation of functionality AND style. Which brings us to the new Field backpack. This basic backpack is black with a suedette panel in the front. Features one large main compartment with internal laptop sleeve and external zipp... read more

Get ya some cool swag

Swag or schwag, are articles of merchandise (often branded with a logo or slogan) used in marketing and communication programs. They are given away to promote a company, corporate image, brand, or event at trade shows, conferences, and as part of guerrilla marketing campaigns. Used in a conversation: Dan: Does your branded merchandise have cool swag like Bright Sparks Ritchie: No, they gave me... read more

5 reasons kids love stuffed animals

Stuffed animals are a universal staple of any child's bedroom. In fact, if a child has only one toy, it's likely to be a stuffed animal. From tigers to penguins to dogs to elephants, the fluffy dolls come in all shapes and sizes to suit nearly any taste. Even in an age of fancy LEGO sets and flashy electronic toys, stuffed animals haven't lost their kid appeal. Here's why your child is crazy ... read more