badge news, band merchandise info, competitions and more from Awesome Merchandise

21 February 2012

Hello Awesome people.

Firstly, a massive thank you to everyone that entered the photo sharing comp. We had 337 shares which is amazing - so cheers you lot! I know Facebook is fast becoming a dumping ground for stupid photos and I suppose what's funny or worthwhile is subjective, but we wanted to give you something in return for helping us jump on the 'what we do' photo-wagon. What annoys me more are the people that then go and make a photo that takes the piss out of the whole situation, whilst retaining the same format. I think it's kind of paradoxical and definitely a ridiculous contradiction. Even if it's a joke, most the people that then share it, don't get it!

Rant aside! Let's get on with the winners. If you're name is below, then e-mail me with your postal address to Jhon@awesomemerchandise.com and I'll sort the rest. If you've won a goody-bag, let me know your shirt size.

The winner of the 20 shirts - Red Wall Studios

The five winners who will each receive a goody bag - Colin's Guitar Repairs, Alison Doyle, David Lee Jones, Lee Timms & Jolly Along Art & Clothing.

Well that's it for another AWESOME comp. We'll have another one later in the week. Enjoy Pancake Day and if you're like me, celebrate Puncake Day instead. You too can batter yourself with some simple jokes. I was gonna say yolks, but flippin' hell even I'm not that unfunny.

Cheers!

Jhon x

Website, Facebook, Tumblr & Twitter.

What we do.

17 February 2012

Hello all!

It's just a quick update today. You've seen all the "what we do" photos going viral on the internet. Well we've joined the party. Get over to our Facebook page, check the photo out, share it and say something nice. One lucky person who shares it will win 20 screenprinted, one colour print t-shirts. There will also be FIVE runners up prizes of goody bags and the winners will be drawn at random. The competition ends on Monday Feb 20th and we'll announce the winners then!

Good luck and have an awesome weekend.

Jhon x

Website, Facebook, Tumblr & Twitter.

what we do -

We LOVE our Awesome Community!

14 February 2012

Hello Awesome people!

I think it's okay to capitalise the word 'Awesome' in this case as I'm describing you as belonging to us. Not in the mind control and cult sense but in the sense of an 'Awesome Community.' The Awesome Community is something we regularly use on Twitter when people get in touch to tell us about the awesome things that they do - we then in turn promote your skills to our followers or 'community.'

Today (the day of love) I've decided to take things one step further and blog about some of the awesome people that make up this Awesome Community. So sit back, have a read and forget about writing me that Valentine's card or wrapping me up that cuddly teddy-bear. You can do that later.

1. Trekstock

Trekstock is an awesome cancer charity that helps young people deal with the illness. I insist that you go and check out their website and get involved with what they do. They've updated their website this week and it looks AWESOME. You can also check out an interview with Luke Hodson right here. Once more, I will reiterate how AWESOME these people are and that you're a very bad person if you don't click the links.

2. The Rome Project

A while back we printed some shirts for this awesome project. To sum it up, two dudes basically rode from Bristol to Rome in only ten days. They raised a bunch of money for charity as well as achieving the adventure of a life time. Check the site out for the photos and some awesome branding!

3. Drop Dead Clothing

If you don't know who Drop Dead are by now, then what rock have you been living under? They're one of our favourite and best customers with AWESOME art and ideas. We recently made them some awesome Valentine's Day badge-packs which you can see below. Give their website and click and see if anything floats your boat.

4. Pied Piper Promotions

If I'm honest, these guys are one of the hardest working promotion teams I've ever met. I start to think something is wrong if I don't get a tweet from them on the hour. If you're in an unsigned band and you need some promotion or want to get help with some radio, play, then click the link and check them out!

Well that's it for now with our first Awesome Community blog. If you'd like to be included in the next one, then mail me at Jhon@awesomemerchandise.com with some blurb. I'll then choose the best. Make sure you join our Awesome Community on Twitter and if you need something promoting then tweet us and use the #awesomecommunity hashtag. We want to know about the AWESOME things you do. It's quite exciting and sometimes even humbling learning about the great things you do.

KEEP IT AWESOME.

I'm going to have to love you and leave you now :)

Jhon x

Website, Facebook, Tumblr & Twitter.

Badge-packs for Drop Dead.

drop dead

The Rome Project - the details!

Rome

If music be the food of love, play on our competition!

6 February 2012

Hello all,

If music be the food of love, play on! This is a famous quote from some bearded dude who was handy with his words. He was kind of like a rapper but without all the guns and bad words. Anyway, I digress. This competition has nothing to do with literature and all to do with MUSIC.

Last week saw the 18th birthday of the album 'Dookie' by the band Green Day. Heard of them? Anyway, I remember when I first heard this album. My mate at school (Alex Bray if you must know) had an import copy on tape and he recorded me a copy to take home. I then saw them play Basket Case a few months later on Top of the Pops and I was sold. I'm showing how old I am but I'm still down with the kids, I love bands like The Strokers, Enter Shakira and Wand Erection. See.

Anyway, this got me to thinking about having a little bit of comp fun for all the AM music lovers. So here we are! The plan is this. I want you to write on our Facebook, Twitter or Google the one album that has changed or influenced your life positively. Tell us the one album you love and the REASON why. I mean it can be anything from your mates band to a big band like Bon Jovi. You may not win if it's Bon Jovi. If anyone mentions Nickelback, you will be ignored. The person who gives me the best answer to why they love that one album will win 250 x custom shaped vinyl full colour stickers. There will be also eight runners up prizes of goody bags. So get social networking! Feel free to post the album art and a link too.

To make this even more fun, I will collate all the answers and do a top ten of albums that you suggest, which I will then blog and we can all hopefully discover some new music! So infact, if you enter this comp you are guaranteed of winning something - even if it's just an album to check out.

Let's make this one a cracker please guys! Use #thefoodoflove tag on Twitter. Winners announced Saturday Feb 11th!

Thank you!

Jhon x

Website, Facebook, Tumblr & Twitter.

Other than Dookie, the one album that got me into rock music was 'Earth Vs The Wildhearts' by The Wildhearts. I still love it today. So technically I've had two albums but it's my comp, so there. Now tell me yours!

The Wildhearts

Jhon's awesome update and February's special offers!

2 February 2012

Hello awesome people.

How are you? Great I hope. Right without further ado, let's get cracking with what's happening on all things promotional at Awesome Merchandise. As you may know by now, we have top secret plans in the pipeline for you all. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to give you any more clues but I PROMISE that these plans are awesome. To coincide with these marvellous happenings, I will be running competitions galore. My brain is working overtime on novel ways to get these comps out to you. I don't want to do simple RT giveaways or 'likes' comps on Facebook. I'm not saying there isn't a place for them but I just want to make you work harder for some AWESOME prizes and make the way we use our Social Media even more interactive. Anyway, enough of this - I'm gonna get my nose back to the grindstone and work on some ideas. It's beneficial as my nose is huge and needs some erosion.

As promised, we will have new items on offer every month. February's offers have just gone up! We have two crackers this month. We're giving you 10% extra free on all orders of over 100 A3 posters. We'll also be giving you 10% extra free on all orders of over 1000 A6 postcards. Two very popular products and we're sure that you'll be more than happy with these offers running throughout February.

Also in February, we have something called 'Valentine's Day' where it's tradition to gived a loved one or even an intended loved one a card. Heard of it? Well if like me, you've never got one other than from your dad (it's different in my family) then you can do something extra special this year. We have some awesome heart-shaped plectrums that will make an awesome present or which can be used as a giveway for your business. Click here and check these bad boys (and bad girls) out.

One thing which I'm really happy about is that AM is now able to show you the real life behind the scenes of our company! We've now got this awesome video by the dudes at Capture Lab which shows you HQ and how we make up all your orders. We've also got a Tumblr which Luke, Charlotte and other team members are using to show you the daily happenings at HQ in picture form. We're also using Instagram to get this across to you. You can follow lukeawesomemerch and charlotteawesomemerch on there.

So if you wanna make me happy (and I know you do) then give all the links a quick click and join the party. As always, please tweet us with what you're up to. I spend a lot of time telling you what AM does but we also wanna know about you. So drop us a quick tweet and tell us about the awesome goldfish picture you've just fingerpainted or even just moan at us about the weather. I'm happy to give you a virtual hug or even fill up your hot water bottle. I know I keep switching between 'I' and 'we' but really they're the same thing at AM. After all there is no I in we.

Okay I'm waffling a bit now but I hope i've got across some of what's happening at HQ! I'm genuinally excited about what's happening here and what we have planned over the coming year. I'm off to finish fingerpainting my goldfish design whilst strapping hot water bottles to my face.

Keep it awesome friends.

Jhon x

Website, Facebook, Tumblr & Twitter.

p.s Check out Dave from HQ being all cheeky and modelling the last of our Poster Roast shirt designs. I think he's in thr wrong job. Gorgeous!

Dave