4imprint Group has become joint approved promotion licensee for the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The Manchester-based firm will sell solely to the Commonwealth Games committee and sponsors, which currently include Adecco, Asda, Atlantic Communications, Cadbury, Cussons, Guardian Media Group, Manchester Airport, Microsoft and Xerox.

The other joint licensee to the largest athletics event hosted by the UK since the 1948 Olympics is fellow Manchester-based company SIB Communications.

4imprint chief operating officer Nigel Brabbins said that the company would offer product development and sourcing services, along with merchandise catalogues, handling and fulfilment.

"Were hoping to build on our successes with Euro 2000 and the last World Cup," he said. "It effectively means that we can pitch ideas to sponsors. Weve already put forward some ideas to a number of companies, and we think we have done it well."

The company, which was ranked at 19 in the PrintWeek Top 500 with a turnover of 116.6m, has already supplied document bags, car stickers and mouse mats to the Games organisers. However, it is also offering its full complement of products and ideas to sponsors, including clothing, desktop mascots, key rings and pin badges.

Brabbins said that he expected 4imprint to achieve sales in the region of 1m during the Commonwealth Games, which take place from 25 July to 4 August.

The companys other clients include BT, DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Microsoft, British Airways and Hitachi Database Systems.

Story by John Davies