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Promotional products for smaller business

In the current economic climate it is important for businesses to find new and exciting ways to save money. Marketing firms no longer have the spending power to launch high profile television or radio campaigns and so they must think of different methods through which they can market their company, products and services.

There are lots of tools a marketer has at their disposal, but one fantastic way to market a business is to use promotional products and gifts. Investing in worthwhile products and gifts is a great way to raise the profile of a product or service without spending huge amounts of an already limited budget. They can be given away at almost any corporate event from exhibitions to presentations and are always welcome. Their inexpensiveness is obviously an important aspect of their popularity, but they also have the ability to make a big impact on the intended audience.

Promotional Specialists
Promotional products do not need to be designed in-house. They can be designed, created, and produced by a promotional specialist that has experience in making quality promotional products. This not only saves time, but it saves man power, which saves on costs too. Specialists in this area can be contacted and given some basic information about the event that you wish to promote at and the product or service you want to promote. Your specialist will then take this information away and create a marketing strategy for you, complete with customized promotional merchandise. The inventive ideas that a promotional specialist can develop is invaluable to a small company with restricted finances.

Promotional merchandise
Promotional merchandise can incorporate any item that has been given away with the purpose of promoting a brand or image or new product or service. The item will probably carry a logo or image that is associated with the company, together with contact details. The information will not be too detailed or complex but will convey a message that the person who receives the gift will take away and remember. The item will probably be loosely associated with what is being promoted too.

Promotional merchandise for larger companies
Merchandise such as this is not exclusive to small companies. Large companies around the world give away promotional products to their target audiences because they are proven to work and to raise awareness. Using products as promotional tools is not a recent idea either. It is true to say that promotional products have been used by marketers for over 50 years and with great successes.

It is a common misconception though, that promotional merchandise must be cheap. There are companies at the higher end of the spectrum that will give away anything up to a car to promote their products just as fashion designers will give away their clothes.

The purpose and intention of creating promotional merchandise is simple; it is to raise awareness and generate business. If your product is seen to do this then your marketing strategy has worked. Quality products that clearly display your brand or logo will work best so thinking through what product you will give away will pay dividends.

Postcards an effective marketing tool for your business

It goes without saying that for a business to thrive they must have reliable customers that continue to use them on a regular basis. The most savvy business minds will want to generate more business through their already established customer base by delivering an outstanding service that their consumers will want to rave to their friends about. A clever marketer will look to use what information they have gained from their loyal consumers and apply it so that they can expand their market and generate more business. To tailor a service or a product to a particular segment of the market it is important to know as much as you can about the people that make up that segment and try to meet their needs as fully as possible.

A great option for smaller businesses
One hurdle that a marketer in a smaller business must overcome is restricted finances. In smaller companies the marketing budget is likely to be much tighter than in larger firms and so it is important to be creative with the marketing campaign. Far too many marketing departments feel that they must have grand TV advertising campaigns or radio ads when this is not necessarily the case. It is easy to generate interest and increase business in other, less expensive ways.

One idea that has shown excellent results in the past has been to use postcards to draw attention. If they are created well with the customer in mind, pitching the product, service, or brand correctly, then a postcard can make the world of difference. If you are aiming for a specific demographic then find out what you can about your target audience. Where are they financially and what can they spend? What are their interests and activities? Find out what their average earnings are too. If you can identify what they are likely to think they need then you can position your product or service as a possible solution.

When to send out your cards
Once you have created your postcard you can then think about how often or when you are intending on sending it. You will want to mail enough so that your postcard is seen on a regular basis and strikes a chord with the customer but not so much that you have overwhelmed and bombarded your customers. Striking a balance is ideal. Your target audience need to recognise your brand without feeling pestered or frustrated with junk mailing.

One option is to send out your postcards and then make a follow-up call to see how they were received and introduce yourself properly. You could also provide your customers with the opportunity to direct their enquiries toward you and answer any questions they may have had about your service or product.

Building great relationships for the future
If you create a purpose for your postcards, so as to add value to them, then why not add in a discount or incentive or advertise a sale you have on. You could even enclose a coupon that your customers can use with that postcard, for instance. If you can effectively market yourself with postcards, incentives and follow up calls then you are likely to build up a strong relationship with your targeted audience and increase your customer base over time.

Marketing campaigns using customized stickers

When operating on a tight budget, it is important for a marketer to be careful with their spends and not to waste money. If you are buying products to help you market your brand then make sure that you are buying quality products that won’t let you down, like stickers that will fade before they even reach your customers.

Customized stickers are a great option because for attracting the attention of your target audience. They are cheap to make and printing costs are relatively inexpensive so if they are planned and designed well they stand to make a significant impact. One consideration of course, is to find a printing specialist that you can trust who will give you the stickers you want at a high specification.

Choosing the right printing company
There are many things to consider when working on a marketing campaign that involves the printing of stickers. The budget for the project needs to be allocated and a printer company needs to be found that will work within this budget so that you don’t spend more than you need to and go over budget. Your sticker must be of a high standard of your customers are to use it or put it up somewhere. If it is of low quality then it is likely that your sticker will not have made very much impact at all.

In addition you will need to think about the information you include on the sticker and what it looks like. If it is plain and unattractive it is again unlikely your customers will want to put it up somewhere and if they do it isn’t likely it will get much attention. It must be bright and well designed so that it is interesting to look at. A poorly designed sticker will not only fail to grab attention but it could also be detrimental to your business too. A poor quality, badly designed sticker will not scream success when creating an impression of your business and what it does.

Get the most from your budget
Get the most out of your budget by choosing a printing company that will offer discounts for large orders or wholesale purchases. A label that has been customized doesn’t necessarily mean one that is of a lower quality so make sure you give enough consideration to the printer you use and make sure you benefit from as many discounts as possible.

Some ideas re seasonal branded promotional merchandise

In marketing it is important to be able to create products that will work for people regardless of the time of year or the season. A product should be good all year round to increase its usefulness and maximise on its visibility. A product is no good if it can only be used once or twice a year. There are some really good ideas around to help get a marketer started.

T shirts
T shirts can be worn as a clothing item on its own or underneath a shirt or jumper to keep you warm. A t shirt can even be worn as pyjamas for bed if need be so is handy to have around. People tend to keep t shirts if they are given to them and they are always welcomed. They are also a large platform on which a big brand name can be displayed – with contact details if necessary.

Polo Shirts
Polo shirts work in the same way but are a more attractive option for slightly older clients that may not have much use for a t shirt. They are a little more classic and provided that they are not emblazoned with logos and designs are likely to be worn. Having a small logo embroidered on to it does give it a personal touch though.

Toys
Gift ideas like a Frisbee or toy of some sort are great for kids and so are always appreciated by adults. They can be used on corporate family outings or just given away to be used by your employee’s family on a nice day.

Drinks bottles
A sports drink bottle is very useful to have. They can be used at the desk to save endless trips to the water fountain and keep employees hydrated whilst at work, boosting concentration. They can also be used outside of work during exercise and at the gym. They can display the company’s logo clearly and so can be seen by fellow gym-goers during a workout. If they are used during charity fun runs then they will be viewed particularly positively.

Caps
Baseball caps work in the same way because they can be worn during exercise and are highly visible. They are practical in the same sense too because they can keep the sun out of your eyes. Practicality, usefulness and visibility are all strong characteristics that a promotional item should have.

Jackets
Jackets that can be worn during colder months or during rain are very useful to have because no one can predict the weather. Even if they are kept in the car for most of the time, if they are ever needed in the event that someone should become stranded if their car is broken down then they will be very grateful for the thought. Just knowing that they have access to this should they need it can make a person feel considered.

Hoodies
Hoodies work in exactly the same way. They are a platform for logos and brands, they can be worn around the house, they can be worn to keep warm outdoors, and they can be fun to wear too.

Fleeces
Hoodies may seem like a particularly youthful item, and fleeces are a great alternative for older generation. Working in exactly the same way but using a different design, a fleece is always a good product to give.

Mugs

Thermal mugs that can be kept in the car, taken camping, transporting hot liquids are great to have. They are carried around too increasing the potential for them to be seen by others.

Umbrellas
Umbrellas are of course good to have and when opened can be seen by lots of people as one walks through the street.

Whatever the weather, the idea for a successful marketer should be to show off your brand as much as possible by using a product that can be used as much as possible no matter what time of year.

We were established with a clear focus on developing a service focusing on sourcing and branding custom made to order promotional merchandise from around the world to support your sales and promotion activities. Gain from our valuable experience and allow us source and brand that perfect item for your promotional campaign.

Brochures are a great way of promote your products or services

No doubt you will have received a brochure or leaflet quite recently. You can expect that the leaflet will be folded in two or three and that the format is invariably the same. Brochures are a great way to convey information about a company’s products or services, providing valuable contact details and a paragraph or two about what the company does. They can be posted through the door or handed around in the street. A brochure is highly flexible so can be used by anyone to be given to anyone. People tend to keep their leaflets around the home and when a particular service is needed, they will sift through their leaflets to see what services exist in their area.

Giving your customers helpful information
A brochure or leaflet can hold information about a company and its history so that its potential customers know as much they need to about who they are and what they do. An advertisement cannot give this information in the same detailed why, which is why a brochure is the preferred option. Attracting the audience’s attention and designing the brochure is the responsibility of the marketer. Businesses will usually provide some budget for this kind of work because of how important it is to get it right and appeal to as many people as possible. Brochures are gaining popularity because of how successful they are at drawing in business. As such, particular attention is given to printing the brochures and many printing suppliers have gone into business to provide bulk orders to lots of different companies from many different inventories.

How a brochure can be printed
A brochure can be created through digital means or through more conventional means, using a printer. Most printer companies will offer different options to give you what you want in the highest quality possible depending on your design. Colour options are most popularly selected because they are brighter and more eye catching, but traditional black and white copy can be just as effective if the message is simple and clear. A local painter may choose to advertise themselves in this way if they just want to convey their contact information and some brief details about their services.

Why brochures are so popular
A brochure is great for giving across information without the expense of a large and costly marketing campaign. Once you have worked with a printer company, it is possible to simply print more as and when required so that you never spend more than what you need to and you don’t end up with lots of wasted copies.

Branded promotional merchandise that can also enhance the health and wellbeing of the recipient

Bathing items
It goes without saying that looking after yourself is an important part of life. But it is not just the physical well being that is important for an individual; it is the mental well being too. Bath promotional merchandise is a great way for people to take the time to relax and shake off the hassles and strains of everyday life without having to fork out for the expense of the products. Men as well as women are targeted with promotional products for the bathroom. Scents and candles, bubble baths and oils can all be enjoyed by men just as they can by women. Companies are increasingly offering these kind of sets because a blissful bath with expensive products can be seen as a reward for a hard day’s work. The more pleasant the experience the more positive the link will be between the employee and the company for which they work. Best of all, if the products are particularly luxurious then it is likely the individual will want to talk about them to their friends and family, boosting the company’s image in the process.

Anti Bacterial Gel
These days, given the hype about the wonders of anti bacterial gel it is little surprise that companies offer sanitizers such as this to their employees. A bottle of the product can sit on an employee’s desk to be used as and when. Because there are lots of situations in which someone might want to use the anti bacterial gel, the product is very useful and can be a relief to have. After eating, the gel can be used to clean away stickiness on the hands and at the same time keep the keyboards and work surfaces clean from sticky fingers. Not only is a hand sanitizer a preferred product to have around, it has been recommended as needed to keep people healthy. As such, providing this product as a promotional item can give the employee the feeling that they are being cared for and considered, further building the relationship between corporate and staff.

Lip Balms
There are lots of different products that a company can offer to their employees. You could think about providing lip balm for instance. This is a great little product for employees to have around and does not necessarily need to be seasonal. Whilst lip balm is especially useful during the colder months to keep lips free from chapping, it can also be useful in air conditioned environments that can often dry out the skin. Thoughtful gifts that can make an employee feel cared for and considered will boost a company’s reputation and build up a positive link between the people at the top and the people that work on the front line. Things that make the day go a little smoother and look after the employee’s well being are always warmly appreciated. What’s more, if an individual feels cared for and appreciated it is likely that they will want to work harder and give more so for both the company and the employee, the results are positive.

We were established with a clear focus on developing a service focusing on sourcing and branding custom made to order promotional merchandise from around the world to support your sales and promotion activities. Gain from our valuable experience and allow us source and brand that perfect item for your promotional campaign.

10 promotional items that are also effective corporate gifts

Corporate gifts are a great way to build relationships with customers and clients because if they are created with the individual in mind and their needs are well thought of, it is likely that this kind of merchandise can really make a big difference. Think about what kind of gifts you could give away and how they might be perceived. Think about your different consumer groups and what gifts would appeal the most.

Polo T Shirts
T shirts are great for young people, for instance but perhaps a polo shirt might be more appealing for older audiences. They are classic and can be used on multiple occasions. A little embroidery might give an edge to the gift too and you could use your company logo as a badge.

Pens
A set of pens is always welcomed because they can be used with regularity and are great to have around in case they are needed. They can be used by anyone too, so as a personalised gift they are very flexible. They have a sense of importance attached to them so can give the impression of respect towards the client, creating a positive relationship from the outset.

Umbrellas
An umbrella bearing the company logo is a great marketing pitch but also a great gift to give. Even if it is kept on the back seat of a car, an umbrella is useful and will be very welcome in the event that it is needed! Being rescued from the rain by a large corporate umbrella will make the client feel cared for and considered. Positive perceptions like this pay dividends in the future.

Ruck Sacks
Ruck sacks are great to give away, especially at busy conventions where people must take away lots of information, leaflets and documents. Useful products that actually help are always a good idea.

Card holders
Business card holders are a great idea too. All too often the classic business card is simply tossed away but with a business card holder, you can guarantee your client will not only keep hold of your card, but they will keep it in a business card holder you have given them.

Frames
Photo frames are a well received gift. They are something nice that can sit on your clients’ desktops and be used to keep pictures of loved ones. It is also a way to subliminally build a positive image of your company because every time the client looks at the image they will see your brand and think positively about it.

Cuff links
Personalised items like cuff links are always a good gift because they can be expensive to buy. They look great and others can ask about them. They can only be worn with expensive shirts and so to give a gift such as this assumes the importance of the wearer. They can be engraved if budget will allow to give them that extra feel of personalisation.

Paperweights
Paperweights are highly collectable and brighten up anyone’s desk. They are practical and do a lot to keep things organised. Because they sit on top of items rather than being buried underneath them, they are always visible both to the client and anyone who comes to their desk.

Clocks
Clocks that sit on the desk top serve the same purpose. They are visible and practical and because they serve a use they are well thought of items.

Cell phone holders
A holder for cell phones is quite a new gift to give and can be given in different designs too to create that personal touch.

There are lots of gifts that can be given to clients and with a little imagination it is more than possible to find the perfect gift and start to build a great relationship for the future.

We were established with a clear focus on developing a service focusing on sourcing and branding custom made to order promotional merchandise from around the world to support your sales and promotion activities. Gain from our valuable experience and allow us source and brand that perfect item for your promotional campaign.

Ideas for great promotional giveaways

Promotional giveaways are incredibly important for any firm looking to reach out to their target audience and generate business without the massive expense of organising a high profile television campaign. There are lots of ideas to help you get started too so it is worthwhile thinking about differentiating them to suit your client. While T shirts might be a good idea for the younger market, they might be viewed less favourably by older clients, for instance.

Polo Shirts
Polo shirts are a great idea for a clothing item that can be given away. If they are kept relatively plain so that the wearer doesn’t look like a walking advertisement then they will usually be warmly received and possibly worn on occasions.

Pens
Pens are another classic item because they always appreciated. Everyone can say that at one point or another they have been stuck for a pen. A classic pen set that can be used not just be the person you have given it to but passed on to others to use is a great way of increasing the visibility of your brand.

Umbrellas
Umbrellas are fantastic in achieving high visibility. Whilst your brand and company name might lie unseen while the umbrellas is left unopened, once the rain starts, everyone, including passersby will get to see your details. Umbrellas are thoughtful gifts that can be left in the car and brought out in the bad weather.

Backpacks
Backpacks are a great canvas for displaying your company logo and are always gratefully received because they are very handy for keeping lots of things together. If you are giving them away at an event where lots of other companies are giving items away as well then your backpack can be used to store information and free gifts.

Business Card Holders
Business card holders are also useful. Instead of giving away business cards that will be shoved into a wallet alongside all of the others, why not create a card holder. Every time the holder is opened, your logo will be the first image that is seen by your potential client.

Photograph Frames
Frames for photographs are also a great company giveaway because they can sit on your clients desk and carry a photo of their family inside. As your client looks at their photograph they will also see your company’s logo. This can only create a positive association over time.

Cuff Links
Cuff links for shirt sleeves are a classic gift. They can be engraved and worn at smart business occasions. If they are seen then they can act as a conversation point and drawn in the eye of other potential clients.

Paperweights
Paperweights are practical, decorative and usually seen on desks to hold down documents. This gift is ideal in the corporate world and has the potential to be highly visible if they are used frequently.

Clocks
Desktop clocks are actually incredibly good ideas. How often do you look at a clock every day? Every time the owner looks at the time they see your company’s details staring back!

Phone Holders
Mobile phone holders work in the same way, because we reach for our phones so many times throughout the day. If you create a mobile phone holder then every time your client takes out their phone they will be seeing your brand.

The more creative you can be with your ideas the more favourably your clients are likely to view your company profile!

What are promotional gifts?

Promotional giveaways are extremely beneficial for every company wanting to expand their horizons and reach out to their target audience. They can come in many forms and in many designs and can serve different purposes, but they are all similar in the sense that they are a platform on which to display company information, such as contact details, people to contact, website addresses and a list of services, for instance. There are lots of things you can think of when designing your own, but this feature will tend to stay the same. The larger the gift, the more information you can fit on to it, which is an important point to consider, but on the whole you can be as creative as you want to with your promotional merchandise.

Why create a promotional giveaway?

Why would you think about sending out free gifts? Well there are many reasons why you might want to send out a gift. You might be thinking about sending out a gift to remind your customers about who you are if they have not shopped with you or used your services for a while. You might want to speak to your customers about some new product or service you are marketing, or you might just want to thank a client for using your company. Whatever you are hoping to achieve, a free gift is always warmly received.

Different kinds of gifts

There are different kinds of gifts that are available to send out to your customers, all of which fall into 4 distinct categories. There are gifts that can be given to promote a business and can include awards for instance, to boost the image of a company. There are also free novelty items that are designed to simply display a company’s details and logo, such as mugs, for example. There are gifts that are given to incentivise employees to reach certain goals or targets, and there are items that are known as ‘loss leaders’ which are sold (and so differ to other free items in this regard) but are sold cheaply in the hope that customers will become more interested in a particular brand and want to buy more items in the same line.

The value of promotional giveaways

Many businesses do not give enough consideration to promotional gifts. They do not think they will work as well as expensive advertising campaigns, when in truth they have the potential to be seen by more people and have a greater impact. Promotional merchandise can and does generate business providing they are created thoughtfully and to a high standard.

Best of all, promotional gifts are relatively inexpensive and affordable for most businesses. Once designed, they can be ordered on demand ahead of business conferences, award ceremonies and other gift giving opportunities that may present themselves throughout the year. In this way no unnecessary expenses should be incurred and costs can be kept to a minimum.

Different ideas for promotional gifts

There are a great many promotional gifts that companies around the world give to their customers, old and new, as well as their employees. There are lots of ideas for you to choose from but before you make a decision you should really think about the kind of gift that is most suited to your audience and what will make the most positive impression. You might want to choose an item that is associated, however loosely, to what you do as a business and the kinds of products or services you offer. You might want to think about what kind of information you will display because the smaller the item, the harder it will be to get all of the details on there without the gift looking too overcrowded.

The quality of your products
You will want to think about an item that serves a purpose and can be used regularly to maximise the number of opportunities for people to see it and take in the information it displays. You will want the item to be of a certain quality so that it can be used on multiple occasions, but more importantly won’t break and leave your customers with the impression that if your gifts are of poor quality then maybe your products will be too.

Raising your company’s profile
The more useful, creative, colourful, and unique your products will be, the more likely you are to generate business from them. An unbelievable amount of money goes into TV campaigns and radio adverts without much evidence that they increase business or brand awareness. Promotional gifts raise a company’s profile considerably and the more aware your customers are of what you do, the more likely your customers are to use you.

Promotional gifts – An affordable option
Promotional gifts are much more affordable than other types of promotional campaigns but that doesn’t mean they should be done too cheaply. Your goods should be of the highest quality you can afford within your marketing budget. If you can’t afford large expensive items then focus on smaller ones that are of considerable quality and get creative with what you will give away. To save on costs order only the number of items you actually need and then this way you won’t incur waste. You can always order more if need be and if you think you have a corporate event coming up that has presented the ideal opportunity for you to give your gifts away then simply order more. If you build up a good relationship with your suppler and you already have a design in place then there is no reason why you can’t expect to receive your gifts quickly.

Recycled gifts – The eco-friendly option
A great idea for small businesses with smaller budgets is to use goods made from recycled materials and promote the fact that they have done so. In a world that is becoming increasingly environmentally aware it is important for businesses to be seen to be eco-friendly. Gifts that evidence a company’s commitment to being ‘green’ are very popular with some customers!