A gift for marketing sees Aspect win major clients

Aspect Direct, based in Bedale in North Yorkshire, which began as a print firm and now has a promotional arm, has grown after winning clients including electronics firm Bosch UK, vehicle parts distributor Andrew Page, cash and carry firm Makro and Endsleigh Insurance. It also works with Lawrence Tomlinson's LNT Group, the Garforth-based cars to care homes conglomerate.

Steve Anderson set up the firm in 2003 and left his job at an Otley print and marketing firm to go solo three years later. Paul Kettlewell joined two years ago after being managing director of The Food Weigh House.

Aspect Direct, initially set up as a print management and point of sale business, began offering promotional merchandise and clothing after receiving requests from clients.

Mr Kettlewell and Mr Anderson have since found the promotional gifts arm is overtaking rest of the business, with total turnover expected to reach 500,000 this year.

As well as traditional merchandising, such as t-shirts, Aspect has had unusual requests including a request for branded environmentally friendly toner cartridges and personalised chocolate bars.

Mr Anderson said: "Promotional gifts were all the rage a few years ago, but with economic challenges and the rise of e-marketing, they seemed to drop out of favour.

"I think that businesses are now starting to realise that promotional gifts and clothing are a great way to get their brand out into the market place."

The company also plans to launch a sportswear promotional catalogue for local teams and a workwear clothing division over the next few months.