How to Tell The Difference Between Genuine vs. Faux Leather Corporate Gifts

We often hear clients but, I found a leather folder and half the price.

It is not always easy to distinguish between faux leather and real leather. It can be quite frustrating to purchase looks like a genuine leather folder or bag, only to later realize it is actually synthetic. Authentic leather is much more expensive than faux, so it is important to tell the difference between the two. Shoppers will be able to easily identify real and faux leather by mastering a few simple tips. Learning how to distinguish real leather from faux leather will ensure an efficient and enjoyable buying experience. Real Leather Real Leather corporate gifts are made from the skins of animals, such as cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. There are many types of leather. One of the brands that we prefer is the Adpel range of leather corporate gifts. The leather is carefully selected from the finest Italian sources. The vacchetta leathers have been vegetable-tanned in the traditional manner using water and tree bark extracts which highlight the individual graining characteristics and colour variations, thereby adding beauty to the natural leather. The no-uniform colour and veins are a physical appearance of an animal-skin which guarantees the authenticity. The finishing of fitting are of excellent quality and the same yarn used for stitching is high-strength Examine the Pores When making a leather corporate gift purchase, closely examine the pores of the fabric. Faux leather will have pores that are in a consistent pattern, while real leather will have inconsistently placed pores. Touch the Leather Depending on the quality, real leather can feel coarse or smooth, or anywhere in between. Leather is also flexible and soft. If the item in questions feels really smooth or has a similar feel to plastic, it is likely fake leather. Faux leather also tends to stretch more than real leather. To become familiarized with the feel of real and faux leather, go to a reputable leather store and feel real leather to compare it to faux leather. Smell the Item Smell the object for the distinct leather smell. The smell of real leather cannot be replicated by synthetic materials. It may help to go to a department store and smell real leather items and faux leather items to become acquainted with the smell. Choose Based on Your Needs There are many advantages to both real leather and faux leather. While genuine leather adds a look of luxury and prestige, faux leather can be a cheaper alternative for corporate gifts. Buyers should consider which factors are most important and aligned with their leather needs before making a purchase. Types of leather gifts to choose from Leather bags, leather briefcases, leather card holders, leather cheque book holders, leather desk items, leather travel wallets, leather iPad covers, leather Purses, leather wallets, leather trolley bags, leather folder, leather journals What is Bonded Leather Bonded leather is often marketed as genuine leather. However it is manufactured from leather extracts that are bonded together to make a leather feel surface. You will notice that the grain is far more uniform than genuine leather. They make affordable leather gift, but are not genuine leather items. Please make sure that you know what you are getting when you buy. For more information on corporate gifts contact us on www.belleregalo.co.za or e-mail us on info@belleregalo.co.za or call us on: (011) 593 2450

What are the Trends in Year End Gifts?

As the year is coming to a close, I like to review what our clients are spending on. It gives us a good feel of what trends are emerging and helps other clients to make decisions. Leather We have seen a strong move towards timeless classics such as leather gifts for year end gifts. Leather gifts have a timeless elegance. We have had a big boost in leather wallets, both personal wallets, ladies leather purses and leather travel wallets. In fact in none of the preceding years have we ever sold as many small leather items. When I say small, I mean in comparisons to leather bags, which are larger in size. After coming through some troubling global economic times, people are looking for security ad hope. Timeless classics like leather have distinguished and established look, which adds longevity and trust to relationships. In the past people have had the misconception that leather is expensive, however the smaller leather items, such as leather wallets and purses are not as expensive as one might imagine. These days decisions are about value and not just cost. Our clients want to know that the gifts that they give are actually going to be used and not just put into the bottom drawer. Another leather gift that has had a boost is the leather notebook covers. These are more visible than a wallet or purse as they are used in meetings, making your brand more visible. We have also had an increase in personalisation, where a person’s individual name is debossed onto the item. Diaries Diaries remain a firm favourite, with sadly many clients still waiting to order until the last minute. The challenge with diaries is that because of the dates on them, diaries that are not sold are counted as a loss. This means that printers would rather under print than over print. It makes logical sense, to minimise potential losses. However this means that at the end of each year, some people will be disappointed if they have not planned ahead. It is understandable that some corporates may wait until they feel more certain with budget. If this is a challenge, then we would recommend organisers instead of diaries. There are great leather organisers as well as PU organisers. The inserts are generic can be changes every year. Travel Gifts We have had a strong growth in the travel market and travel related gifts. Custom made passport covers, leather luggage tags and leather travel wallets has been very popular items. We have noticed a lot of activity in the travel/tourism industry and also with the amount of tour t-shirts that have been ordered. Outdoor Gifts As the holidays approach, clients are looking at giving gifts that can be used in a family outdoor setting. Our clients have shown a lot of interest in braai sets, cooler boxes and cooler bags. Picnic baskets and picnic bags remain a firm favourite. As a family we have a number of them. Some are for two, when you have a special couple date and some are for four, when you are having a family picnic. Alongside that, picnic blankets work well, with many families using two to three picnic blankets at a time. One picnic blanket to place the food on and the other two to sit or lie on. While there are thousands of year end gifts to choose from, these categories have emerged as popular year end gifts for this year. For more gifting ideas contact us on info@belleregalo.co.za or visit our website www.belleregalo.co.za or call us on 0829487461.