Promotional products with your own logo are familiar to many companies: pens, sweets, and keychains pass from hand to hand at trade fairs. Fewer people realise how wide a range of functional everyday products can be produced with your logo and brand identity. Folders, desk pads, sleeves, cases, briefcases, and magnets serve you daily and keep your brand visible without a separate media budget. At Saintex, we manufacture all of these at our Kurkimäki factory in Eastern Helsinki — from design to finished product. In this article, we walk you through six product families, how to send us your artwork, the manufacturing process, and how branded products with your own logo go from idea to finished product.
Functional product or promotional giveaway: why the difference matters
Branded products fall roughly into two groups: promotional giveaways and functional products. The difference affects the impression the product leaves and how long it stays in use.
A promotional giveaway is an inexpensive item distributed to a large audience. The goal is to increase brand awareness. Typical examples include pens, sweets, and small keychains. The unit cost is low, so you can hand them out freely at trade fairs or events. A giveaway’s lifespan is often short: the item ends up in a drawer or bin soon after it is received.
A functional product is a more considered choice. A folder that travels from meeting to meeting, or a travel card case that accompanies your daily commute, generates repeated brand contacts over weeks and months. Every use reminds someone of your company without any additional marketing spend.
Practicality is the most important selection criterion. A product you actually use in everyday life communicates professionalism and thoughtfulness. A flimsy or unnecessary item can create the opposite impression. That is why it pays to choose branded products based on a real need: what does the recipient use, and in which situation will your product be most visible?
Once you know which type of product fits your purpose, the next question is which product family to choose.
Six product families with your own logo
Our products with your logo cover a wider range than most people assume. Our plastic-based products are lightweight, durable, and easy to personalise. The following six product families form the core of our range. We print every product on one or two sides in full CMYK colour at our Kurkimäki factory.
Folders
Folders are among the longest-lasting branded products. They travel to meetings, training sessions, and client visits, keeping your logo repeatedly on display. A folder protects documents and brings a cohesive look to all your materials.
Your brand identity printed on a folder makes every client meeting look polished. Material choices range from transparent to opaque, and the cover surface can also be reflective.
- Tray folder
- Corner-lock folder
- Clip folder
- Presentation folder
- Conference folder
Desk pads
Writing pads and billing pads are practical tools that keep papers in order. The pad surface offers generous space for printing, so your visual identity comes through clearly.
A desk pad works especially well in reception areas, meeting rooms, and customer service points. It is in daily use and visible to both staff and visitors.
- Writing pad A4
- Writing pad A5
- Billing pad
- Desk pad
Sleeves
Plastic sleeves protect individual documents, cards, and brochures. They are lightweight and affordable yet still offer a visible print surface. Sleeves are widely used at trade fairs, training events, and in mailings.
A sleeve with your logo is a simple way to unify the appearance of your materials. A transparent sleeve shows the contents while your brand frames the whole piece.
- Plastic sleeve A4
- Plastic sleeve A5
- Zip sleeve
- Snap-button sleeve
- Card sleeve
Cases and briefcases
Cases and briefcases suit situations where you need sturdier protection or a more representative look. A card case protects business cards and travel cards, while a document briefcase carries an entire set of presentation materials.
Cases and briefcases communicate quality and care. They work especially well as corporate gifts and staff tools, where brand visibility meets a practical need.
- Card case
- Travel card case
- Document briefcase
- Portfolio briefcase
Magnets and notepads
A fridge magnet or memo board keeps your logo visible at home or in the office. Small but effective. A magnet stays in place for months or years.
Notepads combine practicality and visibility. A branded notepad is an everyday tool used for phone notes and task lists — and every page carries your name.
- Fridge magnet
- Magnetic sleeve
- Notepad
- Memo pad
Everyday accessories
Everyday accessories round out the range with products that travel with people daily. A parking disc on a car windscreen keeps your logo visible every time someone parks. A keyring is a classic branded product that is always in a pocket or bag.
Accessories work especially well as promotional products with your own logo because they are affordable and can be distributed in large batches. At the same time, they are genuinely useful, which extends the product’s lifespan.
- Parking disc
- Keyring
- Name badge
- Reflective travel card case
Our range is not limited to standard shapes. We manufacture plastic products for specific needs too: prototypes, samples, or one-off pieces that improve a process or bring a personal touch to a service situation. You can browse the full selection on our branded products page.
When you have a rough idea of which product family suits your purpose, the next step is to decide whether you want a reflective surface.
Reflective surface as an added option
All six product families are available with a reflective surface. In practice this means we laminate a reflective film onto the folder cover, sleeve surface, or the reverse side of a travel card case so it reflects light in the dark. The product gains extra value because it improves your visibility in low-light conditions.
It is important to understand the difference between a reflector and a reflective product. A CE-type-approved reflector is a personal safety device that meets the requirements of standard EN 17353:2020. A reflective surface on a functional product does not replace a proper reflector, but it does provide useful additional visibility. According to Tukes guidelines, reflective products must not be called reflectors unless they have been type-tested.
A reflective surface is especially interesting if you want to combine practicality and safety. A folder that reflects light in a dark car park, or a travel card case you can wave at a bus stop, stands out from an ordinary branded product. Shape does not affect reflectivity. If you need CE-type-approved logo reflectors, you can order those separately through our reflector service.
The reflective surface does not significantly limit printing. We print full-colour CMYK on the reflective film at our Kurkimäki factory, though colour reproduction differs slightly from a standard surface. This is worth keeping in mind when you prepare your artwork — and it brings us to the next topic.
Artwork and printing: how to send us your logo
Quality print results start with the right artwork. Sending your logo in the correct format saves time and ensures the end result matches your expectations. This is the point where most orders get delayed. Usually the reason is a logo sent as a low-resolution pixel image.
Send your logo in vector format. Vector graphics can be scaled up or down without loss of quality, which is essential when printing on products of different sizes. The most common vector formats are .ai, .eps, .svg, and vector-based .pdf. A PDF file extension alone does not guarantee vector format, because the file may contain pixel images.
If you do not have a vector logo, a high-resolution image file (.jpg, .png, .psd) also works. In that case, the resolution should be at least 300 dpi at print size. A low-resolution logo copied from a screen is not enough for printing. If you are not sure which format you have, send us what you have. We will check it and let you know.
Colour definitions are another common stumbling block. Screens use the RGB colour space, but printing uses CMYK colours. Without the correct colour profile, a printed logo can look different from what you see on screen. Providing a Pantone colour code (PMS) is the best way to ensure that your brand colours reproduce correctly in the product.
- Best format: vector logo (.ai, .eps, .svg, or vector-based .pdf)
- Alternative: image file at least 300 dpi (.jpg, .png, .psd)
- Text converted to outlines (curves/outlined) so fonts reproduce correctly
- Colours in CMYK or with a Pantone code (PMS)
Your artwork does not need to be perfect. Our design team helps optimise your logo so it shows up well on the chosen product. Just send us the best version you have. Once the artwork is sorted, we move into production — and that follows a clear four-step process.
From idea to finished product: four steps
We manufacture branded products in a clear sequence. The process is designed so that you stay involved at every stage and there are no surprises. From design to finished product, the typical lead time is two to three weeks. Tell us your event date and we will count backwards from there.
- Needs assessment and ideation. The process begins with a conversation where we establish the product’s purpose, target audience, and desired look. You can bring a finished design or start from just an idea. A sketch on a napkin is a perfectly fine starting point. At this stage we select the product family, shape, and material together with you.
- Artwork processing and design. We fit your logo and other graphics to the chosen product. We check colours, optimise proportions, and define print positions. If needed, we adjust the artwork so it works on the selected surface. All of this happens at our Kurkimäki factory.
- Proof and approval. Before production, you receive a digital mock-up where you can check print positions, proportions, and colours. We also print a paper proof and review it by hand before the machines start. Production begins only after your approval. Always.
- Production and delivery. Cutting, printing, high-frequency welding, finishing, and packing are all done under one roof. High-frequency welding bonds the plastic films together without glue, making the product durable and clean. Welding and finishing are largely done by hand, in the same hall where we print. We inspect every batch before dispatch.
During the process you receive updates on the timeline as needed. Small special batches and runs of tens of thousands go through the same process. Faster delivery is possible within certain limits — tell us your deadline and we will work out what is realistic.
How we manufacture branded products
Saintex is a Helsinki-based family business founded in 1948. Our factory is Finland’s only reflector factory, and all production has taken place at Kurkimäki in Eastern Helsinki from the very beginning. Twelve permanent staff work here, and every step happens under one roof: cutting, full-colour CMYK printing, high-frequency welding, finishing, and packing — largely by hand on our own machines. Because design, printing, and welding happen in the same hall, we can react to changes even mid-production. Our products carry the Key Flag symbol, which indicates Finnish design and workmanship.
We have manufactured branded products for companies such as Finlayson, Pentik, and Putinki. Our range covers folders, desk pads, sleeves, cases, briefcases, magnets, and everyday accessories. Every product can be personalised on one or two sides, and a reflective surface is available as an added option.
- Design, printing, and packing in the same factory at Kurkimäki
- Full-colour CMYK printing on one or two sides
- Hundreds of ready-made shapes and the option for a custom mould
- From small special batches to runs of tens of thousands
- From design to finished product typically two to three weeks
Saintex received the Ekokompassi certification on 19 April 2024. The electricity we use in production is fossil-free, and our rooftop solar plant feeds part of the energy. Production waste is collected, baled, and recycled, and we use recycled polypropylene in products where a suitable material is available. We are still looking for a material supplier that would allow us to replace more oil-based materials. Packing is partly carried out by people in rehabilitative work activities at workshops and work centres.
Send us a sketch or describe your need in your own words. We reply on working days within 24 hours, and you receive a paper proof before anything is printed. Get in touch and let’s start designing.