It is, apparently, 72 days until the World Cup starts.

I know we have a more pressing and pertinent event before then, in the shape of Ipex (48 days away), oh and the Champions League final that will take place during the show (22 May). But I'm attempting to keep tabs on promo activities surrounding the World Cup in particular. It, like the upcoming Olympics, is expected to provide a significant boost to print.

As such it's good to see printcos being on the front foot in creating opportunities, and Bexleyheath's Marstan Press has scored an early winner by sending out a nice World Cup wallchart. Judging by the fact that my copy was removed from my fingertips before I'd had a chance to say "ooh must sort out a sweepstake", such items are enduringly popular.

The Marstan mailing is clever because it's both a good promotion for the company itself, and a new business pitch at the same time. The pack includes a simple letter with an offer to produce similarly branded wallcharts for the recipient to send to their own clients.

Fan-footy-tastic. Surely this is one of those brilliant but simple ideas that should prove a real winner.