Everyone in the marketing business whatever the product, from hairpins to horse rugs wants a gimmick that will help boost sales. Much must be said for the usual paper clips and pens all stylishly created, bearing the company's logo wherever its owner goes but technology in the office has changed dramatically in the last 20 years and it's all going paper free.

The newest technologically advanced item on the market is the promotional USB drive for computers. This is a brilliant idea since a small 1GB drive which can be had at an affordable price can make an impressive gift for an important client. To improve the market of novelty logo items the manufacturers of these USB drives are now making them in different shapes, sizes and colours.

These are very attractive and can be a door opener for the very eclectic client since most colours are chosen to compliment the company's logo. There are several manufacturers waiting to take orders. Most are very comfortable working with standard colours; however the real challenge comes in customising certain colours.

Since this is a small investment it can be quite unpleasing and therefore frustrating, when the promotional item is a lower quality than advertised and do not add up to the company's expectations. Because of this it is important for companies to become aware that in ordering these customised items there are certain problems they may encounter.

Most suppliers will avow that their colour scheme is closely adhered to with pantone matching, therefore margins for error in the colour ordered is very slim. However major problems have been associated with specifying colour of promotional USB drives. Below are 5 major problems encountered

1. If pantone matching is not done with the paint to ensure the right colour, varying shades of the same colour ordered may be produced. Pantone is a system in which a number is assigned to each batch of colour mixed with the goal of achieving the same colour with subsequent mixes.

2. The underlying colour of the USB drive prior to the addition of paint will make a great difference in the final colour of the USB drive. For example a white colour when painted yellow will look totally different from a silver underlying colour painted yellow. Both will give a different shade of yellow when completed.

3. Another factor that can greatly affect the custom colour USB drive and create a problem is blending colour with plastic. Most outer shells of USB drives are made of plastic. Sometimes paints and dyes react differently due to the type of material they are applied to and the base they are mixed with.

4. Pantone matching is costly to produce due to the time and specifications that goes into the mixing.

By being aware of the above irritations and cost involved, a company can make the decision whether the product itself is worth the purchase. Also by evaluating the reception of clients to the first batch by distributing them to the larger accounts, a company can then make a good decision on further purchases.