At Steel City, we select seasonal branded gifts that avoid the common pitfalls – like scruffy print or items people just don’t use. Instead, we focus on branding methods that ensure the product is perceived as really good quality, packaging that lands well with the recipient, and formats that work whether you’re sending 20 premium boxes or handing out 2,000 items.
- Sharp print placement: We take a consultative approach to branding. We steer you towards engraving, clean 1-colour prints, or proofed full-colour packaging where the print area is known (e.g., 90 × 60mm, 210 × 75mm, box wraps). This setup avoids fuzzy edges or artwork that looks “cheap” when viewed up close. We always provide a visual proof for you to approve, ensuring you’re happy with the logo size and placement before we proceed to production.
- Deadline-first production: We know lead time is a popular question. We quote honest lead times from artwork approval and keep options that cover both faster 3-6 working day turnarounds and standard 10-15 day builds. This is the part of the process we can help you control. If you’re working back from an event date or a holiday cut-off, this ensures your gifts arrive in plenty of time to be useful.
- Specs people notice: We put forward items with the boring-but-important details nailed down—proper vacuum insulation, usable capacities (500ml-1182ml), lids that don’t slosh in a bag, carry handles, and cooler linings that actually slow warming. If you wouldn’t use the product yourself, there’s no point putting your logo on it. These formats get used time and time again—at desks, in cars, and on weekends—rather than ending up as clutter.
- Materials you can explain: Sustainability is a real buzzword, so it’s important we don’t greenwash. We prioritise products with credentials you can trace—GRS inputs, rPET fabrics, “90% recycled stainless steel,” Prevented Ocean Plastic™, plus home-compostable polybags and compostable board packaging. If your business needs to answer sustainability questions confidently, we make sure the product’s backstory is clear and the paper trail is straightforward.
- Packaging that holds its shape: We pick gift formats that arrive looking like a proper gift—two-part boxes, printed sleeves, Kraft tubes, and box panels that take branding cleanly. Flimsy packaging can crease or split, which reflects badly on the brand. If you’re mailing items or handing them out in person, this keeps the presentation consistent without you having to re-pack everything.
- Treats that stay tidy: We favour individually boxed or sleeved food items with clear weights and labelling—and we can often offer UK-made options. Loose sweets can look messy fast, which isn’t the impression you want to leave. If you’re putting these on desks or into mailers, this format stays clean and easy to hand out.
- Brief-led sourcing: We use the points above as a baseline—branding method, lead time, and usefulness—because those are the things that ensure a campaign is a success. However, if your budget or brand guidelines call for something different, we can take down a brief and source bespoke seasonal items specifically for you.