The Best Promotional Umbrellas That Are Eco Friendly
Updated: Mar 1
Choosing A Promotional Printed Umbrella.
When it rains, you need an umbrella so while some people prefer the classic fold up type of umbrella, others like to have a stick style or promotional golf umbrella. Some companies will use these as giveaways for customers or even give them out at trade shows and other events. They are useful for getting attention when advertising your company’s logo on them. The article reviews how to choose the best eco friendly promotional umbrella and how to brand them with a company logo.
Sustainability Of A Promotional Printed Umbrella
All golf umbrella frames and ribs come from China, so in the UK manufacturers either import the components into the country and assemble them here or import the finished article from China. I feature some eco friendly umbrellas that are assembled here in the UK.
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Promotional Umbrellas
When you talk about the benefits of eco-friendly promotional umbrellas, you're looking at much more than just a tool to keep us dry. It's about making a statement, a commitment to sustainability that reflects on your brand's image. By choosing eco-friendly materials, you not only minimise environmental impact but also align your brand with the values of responsibility and care for the planet. These umbrellas become a symbol of your commitment to a healthier planet, showcasing your brand's ethos in every aspect, from the materials you select to the message you send out into the world. It's a powerful way to connect with your audience, showing them that you share their concerns for the environment and are actively taking steps to make a difference.
What are the main promotional umbrella styles?
Straight / Walking Promotional Umbrellas
Straight or walking promotional umbrellas are the most popular
A classic, walking or city umbrella typically features a curved handle and a shaft which is made from either wood, fibreglass, aluminium, plastic or steel. Whilst canopy materials can vary, we usually use 190T Pongee fabric because it provides effective protection from rain.
The canopy offers both water-resistant protection and wind resistant too so it’s ideal even in heavy rainstorms
Promotional Golf Umbrellas
The promotional golf umbrella is a solid umbrella that has a wider coverage than a standard stick/walking umbrella. We offer either single or double vented umbrellas which are normally wind resistant.
Golf umbrellas are different, as they are much larger than a classic walking umbrella. Typically, 70” in diameter so a golf umbrella offers additional protection from wet weather. This enables golfers to keep their clubs and golf bags out of the rain, as well as themselves. Whilst we may use microfiber material for the canopy, we usually make the shaft of a golf umbrella with fibreglass, aluminium, plastic or steel, rather than wood.
Foldable/Telescopic Promotional Umbrella
As more and more of us spend our working life on the move, so telescopic/foldable umbrellas are the ideal choice. Compact when closed and protective when open, they ensure you arrive well presented for your meeting and then neatly pack away in a shoulder bag or briefcase when not in use.
Automatic Promotional Umbrella.
Auto open/close umbrellas are simply umbrellas that include a feature that allows you to automatically open and close the umbrella. These are umbrellas that are carried with you while you are out walking in the rain. They open and close when needed and you can easily store them.
Child Promotional Umbrella
Children umbrellas are under 16 to 21 inches in radius. This size makes it easy for children to carry around without it being a burden to them. Adult Umbrellas Size : umbrellas that measure between 21 inches to 23 inches in radius are suitable for adults.
Parasol Promotional Umbrellas
The word parasol is also occasionally used to describe the large umbrellas commonly seen on beaches and patios providing shade to several people at once.
What Is The Average Size Of A Promotional Umbrella
What should you consider when buying a promotional printed umbrella?
Consider what a promotional umbrella is used for?
Sporting Event
Use in building reception
Hotel rooms
Giveaway at exhibition
Gift with purchase
Consider what the promotional umbrella is being used for?
Small umbrella for giveaways or gift with purchase
Golf Umbrella for Sporting events or hotel rooms
Walking umbrellas for building receptions or hotel rooms
Consider the materials you want to use for your promotional umbrella?
Umbrella Frame
We make promotional umbrellas from fibreglass, wood, steel, or aluminium. Each material has its own advantages. Fibreglass won’t rot or corrode and is extremely robust. It also holds its shape and won’t expand or contract with the cold or heat with ease.
An umbrella made from fibreglass offers longevity and won’t bend or break easily. It won’t absorb water and won’t corrode over time like steel or aluminium.
We traditionally use wood poles for walker umbrellas and are a sound choice for an umbrella pole. They usually make wood walkers from ash trees including Rowan wood, which is common in Asia. Wood shaping machines such as lathes and turning machines create the proper shape for a pole.
Telescopic umbrellas utilise aluminium poles for a light and effective folding action. Telescopic umbrellas differ from standard umbrellas because of the way we construct them to a non-folding umbrella and has three parts to it, with the two narrower parts fitting snugly inside the largest section when folded down.
Umbrella Canopy
We make the canopy of the umbrella up of 8 panel sections, which can be printed and decorated with any design. This is the part that keeps you dry or sheltered from the sun. We usually make the canopy from pongee, which is high grade polyester that is treated with an acrylic coating on the underside and a scotch-guard finish on the top. The pongee can withstand heavy rain, dries quickly, folds easily and is available in many colours. Each panel is individually cut, printed and sewn to the rib.
Digital or screen printing of the panels is possible and in most cases, happens prior to the umbrella being constructed. The fabric can also be Pantone matched and dyed prior to cutting to shape.
The external canopy is the top of the umbrella that faces the rain or sun. The internal canopy, which can also be printed or dyed, is the inside of the umbrella that the user sees when they look up when the umbrella is open.
Umbrella Ribs
Umbrella ribs gives the canopy its structure and shape. The ribs closest to the pole hold up the canopy and the ribs that extend to the edge of the canopy hold the panels of the umbrella in a curved downward shape. Fibreglass umbrella ribs can withstand heavy usage.
Ribs are attached to the shaft of the umbrella by fitting a top notch (a thin, round nylon or plastic piece with teeth around the edges and held with wire). We connect the stretchers to the shaft of the umbrella with a plastic or metal runner, which is what moves up and down the shaft of the umbrella when it’s opened or closed.
We connected the ribs and stretchers with a joiner – a jointed metal hinge that opens and closes at an angle.
Two catch springs in the umbrella’s shaft are included. When the umbrella is opened these need to be pressed and pressed again when the umbrella closes. Metal shafts are usually hollow and the catch spring is inserted. A wooden shaft requires a space for the catch spring to be hollowed out. We usually place a pin into the shaft a few inches above the upper catch spring to prevent the canopy from sliding past the top of the umbrella when the runner goes beyond the upper catch spring
Umbrella Handle
Aside from the canopy, the handle is the single most customisable element of an umbrella. It can be a crook handle, straight handle or a telescopic handle with a push button for opening.
A crook handle can be wooden or silicone for a softer feel, depending on whether it’s a wood walker or city walker.
Manual golf umbrellas have an EVA foam handle and automatic golf umbrellas have the same handle but with a push button above it for automatic opening.
Folding umbrellas can include a push button for auto opening. We can apply branded logo discs to golf umbrellas and folding umbrellas.
How do you print a promotional umbrella?
Screen Printing Process for Branded Umbrellas
The most common method used for printing promotional umbrellas. We transferred your digital logo onto a mesh stencil (silk screen). The screen is then used to transfer ink onto an umbrella panel, except in those areas made resistant to the ink by a blocking stencil.
A squeegee is used to push ink through the stencil onto the umbrella. Gently lifting the screen away from the umbrella will show the image transferred onto a panel. When you require multi-colour prints, then this procedure is repeated one colour per screen.
Soft Feel Printing Process for Branded Umbrellas
For the orders that require a full panel print or there’s shading in the logos artwork, we offer soft feel printing. Soft feel print involves transferring your design from paper to the fabric panels. To do this, we feed both paper and fabric through a hot roller which turns the ink into a gas, and staining the fabric panels because staining the fabric means no colour deterioration will occur.
Eco Friendly Promotional Umbrellas
Ecovent Golf Promotional Umbrella
100% Recycled PET
90cm in length
Rib / Frame Fibreglass
Features
AUTO OPEN
This product opens with an automatic push button mechanism
ECO FRIENDLY
We make this umbrella using recycled materials and/or materials from a sustainable source
LOGO SUB
Allows for a full colour design to be printed on a white panel within the standard print area
STORMPROOF
This product has specially designed components that, when blown inside out, is brought back into shape without breaking
THERMOPRINT
Allows for a full colour design to be printed on a coloured panel within the standard print area
Ecovent Mini Foldable Promotional Umbrella
ECO FRIENDLY MANUAL OPENING TELESCOPIC UMBRELLA WITH VENTED CANOPY
100% Recycled PET
24cm length
Rib / Frame Steel
100% recycled PET canopy with four vented panels for increased stability in windy conditions, colour co-ordinated rubber coated handle with carry strap and sleeve
As an off-the-shelf item this umbrella is only available in certain colourways as standard on a 1-3 week lead time and with no minimum order quantity! But should you require a non standard colour contact us and we will source you a bespoke option
ECO FRIENDLY
We make this umbrella using recycled materials and/or materials from a sustainable source
LOGO SUB
Allows for a full colour design to be printed on a white panel within the standard print area
THERMOPRINT
Allows for a full colour design to be printed on a coloured panel within the standard print area
WINDPROOF
This product features higher flexibility and stability than standard.
FARE Promotional Umbrella
Sustainable manual opening telescopic umbrella with recycled PET bottle canopy and handle
100% Recycled PET bottle
27cm length
Rib / Frame Steel
Easy to handle thanks to sliding safety runner, high quality stormproof system for maximum frame flexibility in windy conditions, handle made of recycled PET bottles with decal option
ECO FRIENDLY
We make this umbrella using recycled materials and/or materials from a sustainable source
REACH COMPLIANT
This product conforms to all aspects of the REACH certification
THERMOPRINT
Allows for a full colour design to be printed on a coloured panel within the standard print area
STORMPROOF
This product has specially designed components that, when blown inside out, is brought back into shape without breaking
Promotional Umbrella Maintenance and Care Tips
To ensure the longevity of eco-friendly umbrellas, proper maintenance and care are crucial. It's not just about preserving the product but also about sustaining its environmental benefits over time. Simple tips like avoiding unnecessary exposure to harsh conditions, proper drying techniques, and safe storage can significantly extend the life of these umbrellas. By providing this guidance, you not only help your clients get the most out of their promotional items but also reinforce the sustainable lifecycle of these products, from production to prolonged use.
My Final Thoughts
We hope this review of the different promotional umbrellas has been helpful because I chose each umbrella we discussed for its unique features and options, but there are so many more out there to choose from! If you’re still not sure which one is best for your needs or budget then contact me with questions. I can help you find an eco-friendly options that meets all of your criteria—I may even have a discount just waiting for you!
Please DM on LinkedIn or email me at douglas@pinksheep.co.uk for further information
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