I couldn’t post on Friday as I had the most amazingly busy day getting ready for the ball.

On Thursday night I was trying on my dress, and Les popped his head round the door to say hello. I was in the middle of zipping the dress up the side. He gave me such a fright I yanked the zip straight through and ripped the bloody thing. I went ballistic at him. What was he doing sneaking round my flat like gollum or something.

Anyway, total bloody disaster. I tried to fix it and made it look even worse. I had such a mental block I didn’t know what to do. By Friday morning I was even more confused. I ended up taking the damaged dress and three other possible outfits to work. What a pillock.

So there I was in the office holding up these three alternative outfits, “C’mon guys, what do you think?” Everyone was great, very supportive. Actually it became really funny…everyone had an opion, I was getting more panicky and in the end the whole office was laughing. Very hillarious……but it didn’t help me one bit.

Finally Carol said, “For God’s sake Penny, tell me where you bought it”. She then disappeared into her office and five minutes later (after some raised voice exchanges on the phone) came out calm as you like, “they’re delivering a replacement in about 15 minutes - just meet them at reception”.

Fan-bloody-tastic. How does she do it?

I was all set for the ball, and tomorrow I’ll tell you all the juicy gossip.

My Dad says that. I never did know what it specifically meant, except that he always said it after certain phrases like; “Do your homework, it’s not all beer and skittles you know”, or “Do the washing up……”,  or “Tidy your room…..” .

I’ve had quite a few beer and skittles days since I’ve joined here. But this isn’t one of them. This is a “do your homework” day. Oh well, it’s not all beer and skittles! Aha, I’ve finally worked it out.

Shopping with Fran yesterday was a blast. Unbelievably Carol let us go early if we promised to work our lunch today. Honestly, what a fab place to work.

Fran was really great, so much fun, and a bit of a chip off the old block as far as Carol is concerned - if you know what I mean. Sassy, stylish, and takes no bull from board shop girls! I know that’s a bit sexist, but that’s OK - I’m a girl so I can say it. And lets face it, they can be so infuriating when they can’t be bothered to even speak to you, never mind help you. They gather in clusters like a cockroach convention and getting their attention is impossible.

Actually we both got a little black number - classic, right?

Identify your key assets, OK. Show off the back, expose a little shoulder, and low-cut of course. And spotlight on the legs. Alright so it’s more of a tea towell than a dress. But I do look fantastic. Fran’s was more understated, but she looked great.

Now for accessories; classic chic or funky and fun. You guessed it. Fran was classic chic. And me? Yeah, you know it; big turquiose jewellery, a big belt, and a hip metalic silver bag. We’re ready to rock.

I’m sure there’s some sound commercial reason for me going to this ball, but I’m buggered if I know what it is. Quite honestly, I’m having too much fun to really care. And I’m not even there yet.

Fair play. Carol said her piece and was as good as gold afterwards. No scowling, sulking, serious stares or scarcastic insuations. (Did you like that - I’m reading a book on creative writing - Write for Success by some geezer who used to write for Smash Hits - about my level really) and apparently this is called illiteration). Well, if I’m writing a blog every day I reckon it’s worthwhile.

Anyway, to further prove she is the top boss in town, the UK,and the Wolrd - she announced that she was going to the (apparently very infamous) Distribubtor Ball on Friday for some key customer and I was going with her. Carol, Fran (remember the hot shot sales exec), and ME!

YES, ME!

Not any of the others, me. OK, not sure why me, but who the hell cares.

What to wear? Bloody Hell, what a great excuse for a shop fest.

“Fran, what are you wearing?” I asked trying to contain my excitment.

“Actually Penny, I haven’t got anything to wear. You know, if you have to get something too, why don’t we do a bit of retail together - it’ll be fun”.

Too bloody right. I love this job.

 Promotional Pens

Pens have always been a great promotional item and something which most companies always always use to promote a company. a few years ago more and more companies started to drift away from plastic promotional pens and started to use more corporate imprinted pens.

Why may you ask? Well its simple really because of the old pens been plastic they not only felt cheap but also looked tacky which put a lot of potential buyers and new clients off. As they would look at the company and feel that they were not valued customers.

SO what sort of things do people use now? Well promotional pens never ever went completely and have always been coming back and making appearances and are still used by quite a lot of companies.

But now the corporate gifts company offer a bigger range of promotional pens for people to have a custom promotional message imprinted onto. The corporate gifts company have a wide range of promotional pens which are all made from a high finish and not from a cheap plastic. This will ensure that your company will be seen and reflected to its best ability.

A full range of pens which can be used for any promotion can be found on our promotional pens page.

Promotional Products Seen to be making a large impact

Promotional products seem to be used more and more within companies to help promote them and extend various marketing techniques but why are they proving so popular?

Well its simple really I’m not going to bore everyone with how this and that can help boost your company but I’m just going to post a few quick tips as to why they can help and how quickly you will be able to see an improvement in your company.

When your company looks at promoting they need a good way to help increase various aspects and features of that company which is where promotional products and items can come into play.

A promotional product has a few key reasons why it can help increase you and your company’s reputation. There are a few key reasons why promotional products are proving popular this year.

Below is a list of reasons.

Good Engraving Space

Great Advertising material

A good way to make a client remember you

A new and exciting alternative to promotional pens

Huge Marketing Potential

As you can see although not all of the reasons some of the key reasons why promotional products are proving very popular this year.

A full range of promotional products can be found on our website under promotional product.

“One more time, Penny, and you’re out”.

I openned my mouth to protest (which would have been a total lie of course) and was stopped short.

“You don’t work for David now. I expect and demand more. I can spot a sicky from a hundred paces.  I haven’t got the time or inclination to put up with amatures with no ambition. If you want an easier job, then find another job. If you’re along for the ride, then get on the bus and stay on. Understood?”

I nodded and with (not for the first time, and I’m sure not the last) a high degree of admiration, turned and fled.

“And oh Penny,” Carol called after me, “If you can manage to last the pace, It’ll be worth the ride”.

What you need for a perfect Corporate Gift!

Well over the past weeks some people at trade shows and various other meetings have asked me what they need for a perfect corporate gift. I started to think about it myself and as I was doing this I thought I would let users know.

Well in my eyes I would personally say that to make a perfect corporate gift or a range of well thought out corporate gifts you need a few key things.

After Carol and I went our separate ways after our drink last night, I decided to “Party On” - I was on such a high. This morning my head felt like Marie Antoinette’s after she’d been guilloteened.

God I feel so bad for this, but I threw a sicky. I texted into Carol had said I had sickness and diorreha (it’s so disgusting  no-one ever wants to question you on that - too much information). I didn’t get a reply from Carol. God is that really bad. Yeah, I know it is. We’ve all done it. But I love this job. It’s so pathetic, how’m I going to progress if I do stupid things like this? Maybe I should just go in and say I’m feeling better. That’s just stupid. You know I’m my own worst enemy - 1 step forward and two steps back. 

Carol and I went out to a meeting today - how fantastic - Carol has all the responsibility, and I just take notes - certainly beats working for a living.  En route back to the office, Carol gets a call - a great opportunity came up for an interview for some trade association (someone cancelled or something). The interview was to be filmed and shown on the association website. Well, Carol went into overdrive, “My God, Penny I can’t possibly go on air like this, we’ll need to find a hairdressers or beauty salon”.

“It’s only a trade website, Carol. You’re not being interviewed by Jonathon Ross”.

“This is more important, Penny. It’s business not personal”

I’m sure I’ve heard that before, but I can’t think where. I’m sure it’s not original. Anyway, the studio was only a few miles from where we were and we had a couple of hours to spare, so we curb crawled along trying to find a beauty salon like a couple of desparate pervs looking for quick blow job rather than two professional women on the look out for wash and blow dry.

We found a great place not too far out of our way and Carol marched in like she was in charge of a tank division looking for a target, “I’ve got a TV interview in one hour and I need a wash and blow dry - do a good job and I’ll mention your salon on air”.

Yeah right - worked though!

Carol was amazing - she looked great and sounded so professional. Afterwards she was on such a high, we went for a drink rather than back to the office.

What a fantastic day!