Steel City: Your New Branded Merchandise Supplier

Why Choose Steel City for Your Printed Promotional Products?

Steel City Marketing Limited is a UK based merchandise company founded in 1980, offering a wide range of over 1,600 high-quality products and gifts, in both small and large quantities. We’re based in Sheffield but supply the entire UK with branded products. We’re proud of our 153 Google reviews that show we go the extra mile for our customers.

We offer free visuals to help you see what your products will look like, and a dedicated account manager to walk you through the entire ordering process.

We’re also a prestigious 25-year member of the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association).

You can phone us on 0114 275 4150 or email [email protected].

Why Choose High-Quality Branded Products for Your Campaign?

For a marketing manager leading budget-conscious yet impactful promotions, these products offer more than simple giveaways. When chosen thoughtfully, they’re strategic investments that drive ROI and provide sustained brand presence in ways other channels cannot. Here’s how:

1. Extended Brand Exposure Through Placement and Utility: Physical, high-quality items offer ongoing visibility. Beyond simply placing a logo, choose items that fit seamlessly into your audience’s environmental context. For example, if many of your clients work in office settings, consider practical items like ergonomic desk organisers or multi-port USB hubs. These products sit in the line of sight daily, creating subtle, consistent impressions that contribute to brand familiarity. Choosing well-designed items helps ensure your brand stays competitive in the minds of potential customers.
2. Improved Perception Through Quality Control: Carefully crafted items act as brand representatives, signalling professionalism and reliability. Receiving poorly made items detracts from the perception of your company, which is why vetting suppliers closely is key. Reviewing product samples, checking durability, and scrutinising materials like printing and item finish can make a big difference. High-end suppliers may cost more initially, but premium quality creates an appreciated addition to the regular activities in your customers’ day. For example, choosing a leather-bound notebook that holds up over time reflects your commitment to quality and long-term relationships. Thoughtful selections can make customers feel valued and better connected to your brand.
3. Cost-Efficiency Through High Utility: Useful items like multi-functional tools or tech accessories remain present in customers’ lives, keeping your brand visible for months or even years. Research your target needs and day-to-day activities to select items that fit related contexts. Portable power banks, drinks containers, or desk organisers are just a few examples of items that customers in London or warehouse settings might find practical. A few high-quality items can often make a bigger impact than many inexpensive ones, as the benefits of added value may resonate longer, encouraging brand loyalty.

Professional Insight: By focusing on utility, design, and environmental fit, you ensure each item finds a practical place in your target audience’s environment for much longer exposure.

Our Range of Custom Gifts & Giveaways

Pens & Stationery

Pens are one of the most popular items used by companies, so we have a large range for you to choose from, including plastic pens, metal pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, stylus pens, eco pens, novelty pens, pen pots, and highlighters.

Our stationery range includes sticky notes, paper, stickers, writing equipment, notebooks, notepads, diaries, and folders.

We also stock general office supplies, desk tidies, and work from home products (which is becoming even more important in 2021) – ideal for branding your Zoom meetings and video conference calls.

You can get calendars to be in front of your clients or customers all year round, as well as novelty desk ideas like stress relievers, and ring binders to help with paperwork.

Sports & Fitness

For encouraging more activity, or simply associating your brand with an active lifestyle, our fitness products are perfect.

We have a range of sports specific products such as brandable balls, along with sports bags, and fleeces.

An active lifestyle is a really important brand message right now, so adding your company logo to products around this idea can help boost brand affinity and increase campaign effectiveness.

Bags

One of our larger ranges is our bag range, which are very adaptable to lots of different occasions, making them a versatile branding merchandise strategy.

This includes every type of bag you could think of, from low-cost paper bags or carrier bags, to higher-value conference bags, backpacks, tote bags, and laptop bags. It allows people to easily take their conference giveaways or merchandise home with them, and can be used multiple times after the event is over. Our bags are available in a range of different colours, suitable for whatever industry or part of the world you’re marketing to.

Drinkware & Mugs

A logo mug is ideal for both corporate and office workers. Mugs are an office staple, so it makes a lot of sense to invest in mugs as part of your merchandising efforts, with the opportunity for your logo to be in front of eyeballs on a daily basis.

Businesses across the country are fueld by tea and coffee, and you can introduce your logo into that conversation!

Our range also includes sports bottles, travel mugs, and glasses.

Gadgets & Technology

We tend to carry gadgets everywhere with us, making an investment in branded technology items good value for money.

Our range includes tape measures, keyrings, metal keyrings, chargers, ice scrapers, headphones, speakers, USB sticks, phone cases, power banks, phone accessories, torches, tools, clocks, and watches.

Seasonal Merchandise – Christmas, New Year, & Other Holidays

If you want to start a marketing campaign around a seasonal holiday like Christmas, then we can help with that as well. Browse our Christmas merchandise to get some ideas of what you can put together, then contact us for up to date quotes on delivery and prices.

Even a basic novelty item as a corporate Christmas gift could go down a storm with your clients and suppliers, and help them forget about the competition – excellent as part of a seasonal promotional marketing strategy.

Conference, Trade Shows, Exhibitions & Event Giveaways

When you’re scheduling an event, you want all of the proper giveaway items and promotional swag prepared in advance, to maximise brand recognition and marketing impact.

They are perfect for lots of different types of events, including trade shows and conferences. Our range of exhibition items includes lower price options too, so you can market your business on a budget.

Our range includes lanyards, giveaway items, badges, wristbands, food/sweets, balloons, and flags/banners for booths. You can use them in corporate gift boxes too. Including fun items like sunglasses and water bottles can also make your merchandise go further, as people will end up using them regularly.

You’ll also want to pair these with some canvas bags or drawstring bags, to hold all of the extra conference swag.

Clothing, Travel & Outdoor Items

With the typical wet English weather, our range of umbrellas, golf umbrellas, and telescopic umbrellas are particularly popular. There are also larger static parasols.

We also offer a range of clothing and promotional apparel, that’s perfect for business owners and employee uniform, including shirts, cotton t-shirts, workwear, hats and caps, polo shirts, jackets, jumpers, ponchos, hoodies, sweatshirts, aprons, gloves, and fleeces.

Bottle openers, trolley coins, and stress toys make up a list of other useful accessories.

Promotional Gifts & Personal Branding

Our personalised products are ideal for use as corporate or promotional gifts, helping important employees identify themselves at conferences and trade shows.

They are also appropriate for those looking to start a personal brand, where you can create custom clothing, desk accessories, and backgrounds for video conferencing and production, helping to appear more professional (this is particularly useful when you are just starting out) – ideal for promotional branding

Eco-Friendly Products

We offer a range of eco-friendly products for when you want to align your brand with a modern, green message. This includes reusable items, recycled items, and ethically sourced items.

Research by the ASI in 2020 suggests that sustainability is a growing trend, with 1/3 of people 55+ purchasing eco-friendly products. Steel City are here to make your eco-focused marketing campaign a success, so contact one of our account managers today to get started. We will help you through the entire order process, including getting the right artwork with your business logo, printing information, embossing advice, and everything else you need to take you from request to products in hand.

Why choose these products?

Companies using branded products for their marketing campaigns tend to improve brand awareness/brand recognition, which should result in more sales and a positive ROI in the long run.

This comes through familiarisation with the brand logo/messaging, and sparking conversations about companies in social/work settings, with high-impact results for brand exposure.

The BPMA reports that 81% of consumers keep promotional items for at least a year, which means your logo is getting a lot of free exposure.

It can also be a different way to get in front of a new target audience, or convey a new marketing message for a new or existing product launch.

Effective Campaign Types for Product Use

Branded items serve many needs in campaigns, from customer loyalty promotions to lead generation and management branding. Here’s how to apply them strategically in each context:

• Customer Loyalty and Retention: For loyalty campaigns, items that feel like special gifts convey appreciation. Include selections that genuinely make life easier or more enjoyable. Premium, functional products such as an executive notebook with rich paper quality or a drinks tumbler designed to keep beverages at the ideal temperature show clients they’re valued. Adding a note explaining why this specific item was selected (e.g., “To keep you hydrated on those busy days”) can make the gesture feel more personal, enhancing retention and expressing a deeper brand story.
• Lead Generation Events: At trade shows and other lead-focused events, compact, travel-friendly items make a lasting impression. Examples include portable phone chargers, hand sanitisers, or multi-use pens equipped with styluses or screwdrivers. These items attract attention and direct people to sign up, allowing you to qualify leads. To increase impact, consider buying a few premium items to offer as a raffle or prize, creating an incentive for attendees to fully engage with your brand and potentially bring it up in their own news feeds.
• Internal Branding & Team Engagement: Branded products foster team identity, encouraging employees to represent the company in and out of the office. Choose items that signal value and competitive functionality, like sleek branded apparel or high-quality planners. Aligning gifts with established employee milestones, such as quarterly goals met, builds morale and strengthens a house culture where team members feel connected to the brand mission.

Pro Tip: Matching items to the specific context of each campaign ensures relevance and elevates the benefits for recipients.

What are the most popular types of merchandise?

The most popular types of merchandise, as reported by the ASI in 2019, are:

• Writing instruments
• Drinkware
• T-shirts
• Bags
• Headwear
• Outerwear
• Polo shirts
• Desk accessories
• Calendars
• Usb drives
• Umbrellas
• Mobile power banks.

Techniques to Maximise Branded Product Effectiveness in Campaigns

Distribution strategies play a significant role in the impact of branded items. Here’s how to amplify results through strategic timing, personalisation, and engagement.

1. Time Distribution to Reinforce Key Campaign Moments: Maximise effectiveness by distributing items at critical touchpoints. In loyalty campaigns, consider sending a branded gift after a major purchase or subscription renewal. For lead generation events, use these items to encourage further engagement, such as distributing them at key sessions or booths with a clear call-to-action. Timing products with campaign moments ensures relevance and reinforces a well-timed brand experience.
2. Use Personalisation to Increase Relevance: Adding a personal touch—such as customised packaging or a handwritten thank-you note—creates a sense of thoughtfulness. Options like including a client’s initials on the product (e.g., a leather notebook) or custom packaging that reflects their industry can add perceived value. Even a simple message that aligns with the product’s use enhances the impact, creating a meaningful connection rather than a generic transaction.
3. Encourage Social Media Engagement to Extend Reach: Branded items can serve as mini-social campaigns. Including a campaign hashtag or prompting users to post their new items creates organic engagement. An “unboxing” moment—with visually appealing packaging and a small instruction card about sharing on social media—encourages clients to share, expanding reach without added costs.

Can you print my company logo on your products?

Yes, all products are designed to have your full-colour company logo printed on them, to then be distributed as advertising products. This will be done in the artwork part of the order process.

Shop the range of products on our site now. We sell products from generic and well known brands, helping you create a unique collection for your campaign. We provide support during and after your order, and our advice can help in promoting your company online and in real life.