Gifts & Premiums

Some new designs are made of wood-free paper that contains recycled cotton strips and hosiery.

Suppliers of paper crafts and stationery in India are underscoring environmental protection in their designs.

China's suppliers of promotional calendars are employing cost-effective ways of increasing design differentiation. This comes as the major export markets exhibit price sensitivity, hindering the development of novelty forms.

Makers adopt imported LCDs and ICs, while some incorporate talking features and thermometers to separate themselves from rivals.

With the industry facing rampant product homogenization, China suppliers of calculators are developing ways to widen the variety of their releases.

One such measure is increasing functionality.

Wenzhou, Zhejiang province-based Best International Co. Ltd, for instance, offers a three- to four-piece gift set consisting of a calculator, ballpoint pen, keychain and money clamp. Other items that can be included are notebooks, ashtrays, letter openers, knives, wallets, belts, watches and ties.

China suppliers of glass and crystal crafts are starting to incorporate cleaner energy into production.

One way of doing so is through the use of LNG in the heating and forming processes. Compared with LPG, coal and electricity, LNG is the cleanest and safest energy source. It is also 30 percent less expensive than LPG.

Some midrange and high-end models incorporate ceramic balls from Japan and Swiss-made tips to enhance writing quality.

Makers of ballpoint and gel pens in China are using better manufacturing inputs and upgrading product features to boost competitiveness. In line with these efforts, suppliers of midrange and high-end models are purchasing most of their requirements overseas.

China makers of promotional hats and caps are emphasizing product aesthetics to boost flagging sales. Among the steps taken is the use of advanced logo application techniques. In particular, many companies are now offering 3D embroidery. It requires complex technology and more threads, and therefore has a higher cost than flat needlework.