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Rewarding your staff and raising your profile with corporate gifts

 

 

Believe it or not it is possible to market your business effectively without having to spend
thousands on a high profile marketing campaign. You could advertise by simply investing
in corporate business gifts to raise the profile of your brand. Promotional gifts do not have
to look cheap or fall apart as soon as they are given out. You could get some great quality
gifts made for you that don’t have to cost a fortune. You can be as creative with the designs
and the products you choose too so that you can tailor the gift to the target market. There are
some great ideas out there that really do help businesses get their message out there and
increase their revenue.

Saving on costs with promotional items
The best thing about corporate gifts is that they are free and most people appreciate a free gift and will make use of it. Whether you offer out free chocolate or a free pen, you can guarantee your gift will be enjoyed, providing it is of reasonable quality.

Rewarding your staff with a corporate gift
If you decide to award your staff with accolades or plaques, then invest in something that looks good so that it will be warmly received. These can look great up on office walls and give the impression to visitors that you work as a team and that your staff are happy to work for you. Little touches like this not only motivate your staff but tell people that you are a good company to work for or work with.

Be original with your designs
The more original you can be with your corporate gift, and the more thoughtful you are, the better
you can expect the impact on your audience to be. Some opt to give out clothes that can be worn in
cold weather, or t shirts that can be worn to corporate fun days and events. Anything that can be
worn is highly visible so great at raising a company’s profile in a public setting.

 

 

 

 


Do your research and invest in quality
There are lots of companies out there that offer some very well made corporate gift items that suit all
generations and all occasions so it is well worth doing your research and getting some ideas together.
Remember that quality is important because a free gift that falls about is worse than no gift at all and
can actually be detrimental to your company’s image. Whatever you decide to invest in your corporate
business gifts though, will be far less than what you might have spent on an expensive television or radio
advertising campaign and yet could still have a considerable impact on boosting your business’ success.

Corporate promotional products are a great way of saying thanks

 

 

Corporate promotional gifts are used to thank clients for their business and so investing in ones that make a great impression and are of some use or value is invaluable. Thanking a client for their business is important because it conveys a sense of importance that you have attached to them and lets them know you appreciate working with them. The effect that this can have on the client is that they may decide they want to work with you again or they may even go and talk to their friends about you – which is the ideal result. The item you give should not be emblazoned with promotional ads though. The client already knows what you do and so telling them again would prove fruitless. Your item should just serve as a gentle reminder of the positive experience they had when they worked with you.

Matching your image
Glasses, mugs, pen sets and decorative ornaments are all common promotional gifts. Your gift should be relevant to what you or at least match the image you want to convey. Most importantly, though, it should match the interests of your clients.

Thanking your employees
If a client works with a company for a long time the company may wish to thank them on a regular basis, perhaps marking every year that the client uses the company with a special anniversary gift. Some companies will offer gifts in the same way to their employees, marking every year of loyal service with an extra days holiday, for example. This can be a great incentive for an employee, especially one that values their free time. Some firms will recognise employees’ birthdays or will mark the completion of a training course with a gift of some sort.

The gifts that have the greatest impact on a workforce are those that make the workplace as comfortable as possible, like a clock or a cup holder, or a pen set. A personal touch that makes the employee feel cared for and appreciated will always work well. Items that achieve this and make their working lives more comfortable are especially well received.

Boosting morale
What is crucial to remember when thinking about the gifts to give is that you must be fair and not show bias or favouritism in your gift-giving. Gifts should be of equivalent value and represent the same meaning and intent. If you can achieve this with your gift then you stand to raise both morale and productivity with a happier workforce. Creating a positive impression of your business to your employees may well aid recruitment too. If your workforce feel you are a good and fair employer to work for, then it is likely they will tell their friends about you.

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.

How to plan and implement a Promotional Gift Campaign

 

 

Many experts agree that a promotional gift campaign can be a very successful way to promote your company and the goods and services that it is offering. If you want the maximum impact possible it may not be enough to simply hand out gifts to suppliers and customers. To make a huge splash, it may be necessary to plan and implement a promotional gift campaign. This is a tactic that has been used by many companies to get the maximum clout possible.

But what is a promotional gift campaign? This simply means that you are giving out promotional gifts but doing it in such a way that it is actively tied to your business and what it is doing at the moment or what it plans to do in the near future. Here are a few tips that you can use to plan and implement a promotional gift campaign that will be truly successful and which will help increase your company’s profile as much as possible.

Planning Is Critical

Before you even get to the point where you are ready to choose your promotional gift you need to do quite a bit of planning. Many companies think only of setting a budget and then choosing gifts that will fit within that budget. When you are simply handing out customized items this may be enough but you need to do more planning when a campaign is being designed.

You need to consider:

  • What your company is doing, or will be doing that can be promoted using the campaign
  • Where you want to launch your campaign and what event will be used to kick it off
  • What items would fit well within this framework and what items may work as well in the event that the original item become unavailable

Consider how the Campaign will be publicized

Because a campaign is meant to draw attention to your company it is important to think how you will spread the news about its existence. Arranging appropriate publicity can be the difference between a successful product launch (complete with promotional gifts) or other promotional gift campaign, and one that is a flop and does not give the desired results.

Learn what Mistakes to Avoid

There are many things that can cause a promotional gift campaign to flop. If you offer the same items that you have in the past, this can send a strong message to the recipients that your company is not moving forward. If you want to offer a series of gifts that change only slightly from year to year you need to give the impression that they are meant to be collectibles and not just that you are sending the same thing again and again.

You also need to make sure that you are spacing out your campaigns as much as possible. You may find that if you hold them too close together that your customers and suppliers simply stop paying attention as the frequency of the gifts can simply overwhelm them and they will stop giving the unique impact that you are looking for.

As you can see, a lot can go into a promotional gift campaign but if you make the right choices the payoff can be immense.

How to save Money when Ordering Promotional Gifts

 

 

If your business is like most others operating today, your bottom line is something that matters very much to you. Although ordering promotional gifts can be a great way to promote your company and its products or services, you need to make sure that you are still able to save money wherever possible. This does not mean that you should purchase poor quality promotional gifts. It is simply a matter of learning where to look and learning tricks that will help you get the items you want more affordably.

A Specialty store or website can make great financial sense

One of the best tips for saving money on promotional gifts is to purchase your promotional gifts from a company that specializes in these items. This is because they will often have a better per unit price than a company that sells items for resale or retail rather than wholesale. Money is not the only benefit of ordering from a company that provides promotional gifts as a dedicated business. There is often a better choice of items to select from, free or low cost personalization methods that you can use to make your items work to promote your company, and a steady supply that makes it easier for you to get additional items if you suddenly require them.

Dealing with the same person repeatedly may help save money

Choosing a company that has one representative who work with you to fill your order will also likely be able to help you to save money. They can help explain the ordering process and will be available to answer any questions that you may have about items that you have ordered or you are interested in ordering. Keep in mind that you may not be able to speak with them directly but it can be good to know that you are able to communicate with one person about your order even if it is just through emails or other forms of communication.

Ordering a larger quantity can mean you have a lower total cost

If you are willing to order a larger number of items you may also be able to get a better per unit price and this can help you save money. Looking on a website will help you learn if you are going to be paying the same amount per unit if you a larger quantity of items. A company that gives different per unit prices depending on the number of items ordered is likely a wholesaler and this can be a fantastic way to save a little. If you want to ensure that your company will be able to use the items in the future you can always opt to pick classic items such as hats, shirts and other items that will not go out of as quickly as some specialty items might.

By picking the right company when ordering your promotional gifts you will often be able to get more expensive items that will help you promote your company as easily and effectively as possible.

How to choose Promotional Gifts that are Environmentally friendly.

 

 

If you want to show your customers that your company is ecologically and environmentally responsible there are many ways that you can do this. One of the ways that may surprise you most is through the use of certain promotional gifts. Even if they are not specifically “green” items you can link certain gifts to preserving the environment quite easily. Here are some guidelines that you may want to follow.

Do the items have a lot of packaging around them?

If the promotional gifts are packaged using a large amount of packing materials they may not seem to be environmentally friendly. Examples of excessive packaging can include products where individual components are individually wrapped instead of being packaged in one main container or items that have a large amount of plastic wrapping around the outside. These items can also be frustrating for your customers to try and open so it may be a good idea to avoid heavily packaged items even if you do not care about seeming to be ecologically responsible.

Do the items contain recycled materials?

Many items that are environmentally responsible will be made with recycled materials. Look for this information in the product description. Items can often use recycled materials in surprising ways. One good example of this is the use of recycled plastic or glass. Paper products may also contain a lot of recycled fibers as well. By showing that you want to reuse materials in the products you choose to promote your company you can put forth the image of being very environmentally responsible as you are preventing harmful materials from entering landfill sites.

Packaging can also contain recycled materials. Paper or cardboard wrapping or packaging materials can often be made using a high percentage of recycled fibers. The use of vegetable based inks in order to print information on your packaging can also mean that the items you choose are more environmentally friendly.

Do the items replace a less ecologically friendly alternative?

If the promotional gifts you are giving can be used in place of a less ecologically friendly alternative they can be great choices to use as promotional gifts. A great example of this can be a reusable water bottle, reusable coffee mug or reusable shopping bags. The best gifts to give are ones that are convenient to use and can replace items that are used on a daily or frequent basis. That way your customers will feel as though they are helping to preserve the environment by using the items you have given as gifts and will often be inclined to use them on a regular basis.

Every company can benefit from a reputation for being ecologically responsible. Companies that can show they are trying to reduce their carbon footprint are very appealing to potential customers and you may find that by choosing “green” promotional gifts you can end up building a customer base fairly quickly. These gifts work especially well if you are offering anything to do with gardening or the outdoors.

Tips on How to Make Ordering Promotional Gifts As Simple As Possible

 

 

If you are suddenly in charge of ordering promotional gifts you may worry that the process will be a very difficult one. It can be, but if you know a few tips it does not have to be.
It can actually be a very pain and stress free activity that you may enjoy doing again and again. Here are tips that cover every step of the ordering process that will make it easy for you to get the right items to promote your company.

Set Your Budget and Timeline

You want to set your budget and your timeline before you begin shopping. Make sure that you know how much money you have to spend and how much time before you need the items delivered. This can help you pick a company that has the promotional gifts you want at a price that you can afford. Remember that you need to ensure that the items are well made and that it is not that the prices are reasonable because they are cheaply made.

Decide What Kind of Items You Are Interested In

Is there a specific type of item that you are looking for? There are many different options that you have to choose from, and if you know the basic idea that you are trying to go for it can be very helpful. Instead of staring blindly at page after page of gift options you may be able to track down exactly what you are looking for.

Have All of Your Information Available Before You Order

You want to make sure that you have all of the information you need before you begin the final ordering process. Have your payment method ready and also any information concerning what will be printed, embroidered or engraved on your items. It can also be helpful to have shipping information handy as well as an email address so that you can get any notifications that you need. Remember to make sure you look over any proofs that the company sends you so that you can find out any mistakes or errors before they cause any problems with the ordering process.

If you follow these simple tips it can really help make ordering promotional gifts into a painless and simplified process. You really do not want to have to scramble around for any information or worry about whether the item can help you promote your company effectively.

What to avoid when shopping for Promotional Gifts

 

 

If you are shopping for promotional gifts there are things that you should look for and as many things that you need to avoid.
By learning some common mistakes that people make when ordering and purchasing promotional gifts you can avoid making
the same common and often costly mistakes.

One of the main mistakes that many people make when ordering promotional gifts is that they do not leave enough time for the job to be completed and for any setbacks to occur. You need to leave enough lead time that you can correct any errors that may be supplied in a proof, allow for the personalizing to be completed and for the items to be shipped to you.

Any time there is a rush order this increased the chances that something will go wrong and will also often cause additional charges to be added to your order. Rush shipping is usually far more expensive than regular shipping can be so if you
don’t want to break your budget leaving a good amount of lead time is essential.

Another common error is not proofreading the information that will go on the promotional gifts. If you have written out what will be put on the promotional gifts read over the information once. Then, read it again.

After, it can be a really good idea for you to have someone else that did not have a hand in typing out the information look over what you are sending in. They may see something that you do not. As well, if you are having a company personalize your items using any kind
of decorative font, have them send you a proof of what it will look like in that font. Some words may look very different and some lettering styles are too hard for your customers to read.

A final mistake that is often made is that people will sometimes choose a low-quality item to hand out because they think that these items are more affordable. They may be less expensive to buy but they will often break quickly and will not be worth the money that you are paying for them.
Ask around to other people who have given promotional gifts in the past. Find out which companies they used and whether the quality was what they expected. This can help you avoid making a costly mistake.

If you are careful about the kinds of promotional gifts that you hand out you will be able to relax and enjoy the increased attention that it can give your company and the products and services that it offers.

How to avoid costly mistakes when ordering Promotional Gifts

 

 

If you are ordering promotional gifts you may be worried about the cost. Many people have heard horror stories about other people who tried to order them and ended up racking up a huge bill that may end up breaking their budget. There are a few common mistakes that you can avoid easily when it comes to ordering promotional gifts.

Here is what you need to know:

  • The first thing is that you need to do your research. Read over product descriptions carefully so that you know what you are getting. Pay attention to descriptions of dimensions, colors and quantities. The last thing that you want to do is think that you have ordered one type of item only to find out that it is completely wrong. If the company made the mistake you may often be able to get your items replaced for little to no cost but if it is your mistake then you are left with no alternative but to offer the wrong promotional gifts or to reorder them, something that can end up costing your company a lot of money.
  • The second mistake that people make is not asking to see a proof of what the printing or embroidery will look like. This can be a huge problem since this is the time that any layout or spelling mistakes can be corrected. Often, people may request a proof but not take the time to read it.
    Again, if there is an error and the company did not give you the chance to review the information you may be able to come up with a compromise. If, on the other hand, you were too busy to check things over you will usually need to pay for items that cannot be handed out.
  • You want to make sure that you review your order before finalizing it. For example, check the quantity that you have ordered. It is far too easy for someone to accidentally add or remove zeros and this can mean that you end up with a much smaller or much larger order than you wanted to place. Smaller orders may be an issue because you may not have enough to hand out to everyone that is attending a conference or trade show. Too many items may mean that you have leftovers sitting around and taking up valuable space.

If you double check all of your information and take the time to do your research in the first place it becomes much more difficult for you to end up out of pocket for promotional gifts that you cannot use.

Top Promotional Gifts you can give your clients

 

 

If you are looking for great promotional gifts that you can give your clients, here are a few that you may want to consider. They all have a few things in common that make them great when it comes to promoting your business. They are all very visible and are not limited to one trade or industry. They are also very popular because people can find ways to use them in their daily lives. Choosing these promotional gifts may mean that customers will use the items you give them for a long period of time and may actually wish that they could replace them if they do get lost or become worn out.

Bags
Bags are fantastic because they are useful. Today, many people are looking for sources of reusable shopping bags. Look for ones with a twist, such as models which roll up so that they can be carried much more easily. This may make it easier for people to take them with them and have them on hand when they get to the cashier.

Computer Equipment
Computer equipment is a great choice for promotional gifts. Look at items such as unique USB sticks that make it easy for people to take data with them. Other good promotional gifts that are used with computers include USB hubs, mouse pads and printed CD cases. Again, these are likely to be used every day making a printed logo or company name very visible.

Umbrellas
This may seem like an unusual idea for a gift but they are great for a number of reasons. The first is that everyone is searching for a good umbrella when the weather turns sour. The second is that umbrellas have large areas where your company information can be printed easily. This makes it easy for others to see your company’s information. It can be a fun take on industries such as flood restoration, roofing or plumbing.

The right promotional gifts can really help you to improve your company’s visibility. By choosing items which stand out from the vast majority of poor-quality items that are handed out every day, you will be able to stand out in the minds of people you give the gifts to. Whether it is picking a gift that is functional as well as fun or one that is uniquely colored or shaped you will be able to attract new clients and keep your existing clients feeling valued and appreciated.