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How to tell Which Promotional Gifts are Right for your Needs

October 28, 2010 By

If you are giving promotional gifts you want to make sure that they are right for the occasion or event that will coincide with the gifting of the promotional materials. The kinds of gifts you will give at an event such as a convention or trade show may be completely different than the kinds of gifts you would hand out at a different kind of event. Here are a few ways that you can tell whether the promotional gifts you are giving are right for the particular occasion.

How the gifts will be distributed

How the gifts will be distributed can influence what will make an appropriate item to use as that gift and what kinds of gifts will be best reserved for another occasion. If you are sending items out in the mail or are using mass distribution methods it is not a good idea for you to hand out larger or more expensive items. This is because it will cost you more to distribute these items via the mail and if you are giving them out at an event where more than one company will be giving items a person may actually refuse a gift that is larger or heavier than the gifts that other companies may be handing out.

How the gifts relate to your products and services

The best promotional gifts are ones that relate directly to the products and services that your company offers. They do not have to be the same as the products you offer but they should bring what you are offering to mind for your customers when they look at the gifts you have handed out. A good example of a promotional gift that works well in this regard is a piece of computer equipment such as a USB thumb drive or mouse pad that is handed out by a company that repairs or sells computers.

What the cost of the items is

It can surprise people what the cost of promotional gifts can be. It is never a good idea for you to disregard your budget when you are shopping for promotional gifts. You need to consider the total cost of the items when deciding which are right for you. This should include costs such as shipping and personalization costs that can drive up the total cost of your order. When you know how much you are spending before you finalize your order you can avoid purchasing items that will break your budget and choose more affordable options instead.

Even with these guidelines it can still be difficult to choose the right promotional gifts for your company. There are many excellent products that are available from suppliers that will work very well as promotional gifts. By dealing with a dedicated supplier that can answer your questions and help you through the selection and ordering process you can feel confident that you will have made the best choice for your company and end up with gifts that will spread the message you want to send out in regards to your company.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts, Promotion Items, Promotional Items, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional items, promotional merchandise

How to Figure out the Actual Cost of Promotional Gifts

October 25, 2010 By

When many companies order promotional gifts they may not realize the actual cost of the items that they are ordering. This can mean that when they place their order and the final costs are calculated they may end up going over the budget that they had set. Here are some tips that you can use so that you can figure out the actual cost of the items that you are purchasing in order to avoid making the same mistake yourself. You can either figure out the entire cost of the order or you can choose to figure out what the cost per unit will be and calculate whether that particular item will fit in with the budget that you have set. Here is what you need to consider:

The cost per unit

The first thing to consider is the cost per unit. This is what each item you order will cost. This can either be fixed or flexible. Companies that offer wholesale products may have flexible per unit costs for their items. If this is the case you need to figure out how many items you are ordering and multiply the cost per unit by the number of units you are ordering.

Personalization costs

In order to promote your company properly your promotional gifts need to have your company’s name and contact information placed on them. This can be done a number of different ways. Some gifts may be engraved and others may be embroidered or have information printed on them. This often can be done for an additional cost. You need to factor this in when determining how much your order will cost. You need to find out whether a company charges per unit for personalization or whether the cost is for the entire order. That way you will know how to calculate this cost into your order cost.

Shipping costs

Next, the company that is supplying your promotional gifts will have to get them to you. There are usually fees that will be added on to your order when it is shipped to you. Some companies may offer free shipping if your order is over a certain amount or there may be additional charges if the items need to be shipped much farther than normal. These can really add up so you need to pay close attention to these costs when determining what the total cost of your order will be.

Additional costs or charges

There may also be additional costs or charges that may be added to your order. They may include charges for orders that are less than a certain amount. Like shipping costs they can also add up quite quickly and may turn an order that was affordable into something that can break your budget wide open.

Taking the time to figure out what all of the costs are and how they can add up may be just what you need in order to control your costs. This way you may still be able to give out the kinds of gifts you want but it may mean that you need to change your order a little or switch suppliers so that your order costs less than your maximum limits will allow you to spend.

Filed Under: Promotion Items, Promotional Items, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional items, Promotional products

How to Choose the Right Personalization Method for your Promotional Gifts

October 21, 2010 By

If you are ordering promotional gifts for your company you may be trying to decide how to personalize them. The right method of putting your company’s contact information on the items you will be distributing can elevate simple gifts into something truly extraordinary. Here is what you need to know about the different methods that are available.

Just remember that not every method will be right for all items and you need to consider this as well as your budget when deciding which method you will use. Remember that you need to make sure that the gifts do not break your budget when you are looking at your available options.

Why is the right method important?

The right method is important for a few different reasons. The first is that they can add a touch of class to your items and make them look like they cost you much more than they may have actually cost you. The last thing you want is for your promotional gifts to look cheap or shoddy. The right personalization method can prevent this from happening.

There is another reason why the right method is important. Part of the reason you are handing out these items is as a form of calling card. Customers can see information such as your phone number and company name and get in touch with you in order to provide them with services. If that information wears off you may find that the item is no longer useful as a promotional item.

Hard Items

If you are giving items made of metal, wood or hard plastic as promotional gifts there are a few different methods that can be used to personalize them. Printing your information on the side of your items can work quite well but you need to make sure that the printing method will leave information on the item that will stand up to washing, use and the random rough handling that all items will experience at some point in their lifespan.

The two main methods that are used to personalize these gifts is to engrave them, where the information is etched into the item itself or by printing information on the outside of the item. Engraving can cost more but it will often last much longer than printing will so if it is within your budget you may want to go with engraving.

Soft Items

If you are handing out soft items there are two different methods that can be used to put your company’s logo and information on the items. Again, one method is usually much more affordably priced than the other but again, is likely to last longer and be more durable in the end.

The first method is embroidery. With embroidery, colored threads are used in order to permanently mark an item with your company’s name and logo. Embroidery will be more expensive if you are putting a large crest on the items or you are using multiple colors.

The other method is to print your information on the item. This can be done in a number of different ways some of which are more durable than others. It can be a good idea to speak to the company that will be providing your promotional gifts before you choose which method you will use and pick the one which suits your needs and budget best.

Filed Under: Promotional Items, Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded merchandise, Branded Promotional Gifts, Corporate Gifts, Personalized Gifts

Top Promotional Gifts That Are Trendy and Affordable

October 13, 2010 By

If you are looking for promotional gifts, chances are that you are looking for the trendiest items as well as the most affordable. Here are some promotional gifts that you can offer your clients that are popular, easy to find and affordable for you to purchase. By giving any of these promotional gifts you will find that your corporate visibility really increases and that it becomes easy for you to get your company’s name and contact information seen more frequently.

Reusable Bags

People love receiving bags as promotional gifts. The fact that you need to pay for shopping bags at many stores have made these items much more sought after than they were in the past. If you are not interested in giving a reusable shopping bag you can find other styles that are very affordable to give instead.

Computer Equipment

There are many computer accessories that can be very affordable and trendy. You can choose printed laptop cases and wrist rests that make it more comfortable for people who need to type all day long. You can also consider giving memory sticks or even portable hard drives that have your company’s information and logo printed on them. You may find that some computer accessories can be a little more expensive than other types of promotional gifts but they are still quite affordable.

Portable Coffee Mugs

There are two reasons why portable coffee mugs make such great promotional gifts. The first is that a larger number of people commute to work and want to bring hot beverages with them when they are on the road. Another reason why they are popular is that people are becoming more conscious of the environment and are no longer interested in using paper cups every day. There are many different styles to choose from and they are available in different materials including plastic and metal.

Reusable Water Bottles

Like portable coffee mugs, reusable water bottles make great choices for you to use as promotional gifts. Giving someone a water bottle that can be refilled again and again can make your company’s name and contact information extremely visible. A bottle is likely to be used every day by people while they are at work and as a result they are likely to be seen by a large number of people. They are also quite affordable for you to purchase especially if you are buying them in larger numbers.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts, Promotion Items, Promotional Items, Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Customaries promotional gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional items, Promotional products

How to tell whether specific items will make great Promotional Gifts

October 4, 2010 By

If you are shopping for promotional gifts you may wonder if a specific item will be a good choice. There are many different criteria that you can use to decide whether or not an item will be something that you want to hand out. Here are a few tips that you can use to determine whether something you want to give is worth the money you will pay for it.

Is it well made?
One thing that you may want to consider is how well made an item is. If they are not well made they are often going to break too quickly to be of any use as a promotional gift. They may also give your company a bad reputation as well. Since this is the exact opposite of what you want to accomplish by giving promotional gifts you may find that you are better off going with a different item all together.

Can it be used by many people?
You need to consider whether an item can be used by many people or whether it is likely to appeal only to a select group of users. There may be some phenomenal items that are available for use as promotional gifts but they may only appeal to a certain group of people. If you are targeting a specific group this is generally not an issue but you may want to be careful if you are looking for promotional gifts for a larger group of people.

Will it be visible?
It is a good idea to pick items that are as visible as possible. This is because items that are very visible will work better at getting your company name and logo out to as large a number of people as possible. The idea of promotional gifts is to promote your company. You want to make sure that the items that pick will accomplish this as easily as possible.

Is it affordable?
It is also important to choose items that will work within your budget. If you set a budget before you begin shopping this can help you avoid items that seem wonderful but which may break the bank financially.

By picking items that are well made, appealing to a wider number of people, are as visible as possible and which are affordable as well, you will often find that the promotional gifts that you choose will be effective and worth the money that you have paid for them.

Filed Under: Promotion Items, Promotional Merchandise Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional merchandise, Promotional products

Top reasons why companies distribute Promotional Gifts

October 1, 2010 By

If you are trying to decide whether or not to distribute promotional gifts the decision can be a difficult one to make. These gifts do not always need to be expensive but they do cost money and for some companies it may be tough choice whether to use promotional gifts or go with another promotional method.

Here are a few reasons why companies may choose to distribute promotional gifts. Although you alone will know whether it is the right choice for you it may still be helpful to understand the reasons why other companies do choose to hand them out.

Visibility
Many companies will choose to hand out promotional gifts because they can be very visible. The right promotional gifts are ones that people will use every day and carry with them wherever they go. Instead of print, television or radio advertising campaigns that may be missed by some individuals, promotional gifts given to the right people can make your logo and contact information very visible. They may cause other potential customers want to find out more about your company and what it can offer them.

Affordability
Although the cost of distributing promotional gifts can be pricey at times it does not have to be. The right gifts are those that fall within your budget rather than those that may break your budget. They can actually be more affordable than many of the other forms of advertising out there and, as the gifts are usually things that can be used again and again, they may often get far more run time than other advertising methods that may be limited to a specific time frame.

Variety
Many companies love the fact that there are so many different types of promotional gifts available. This is a very good thing as it allows the companies that want to use them to be able to choose items that are very relevant to their products and services. It can be easy to find items that fit your company’s brand and image and can be tailored to fit in with many different types of promotional campaigns.

If you decide that handing out promotional gifts is the right choice for your company you will want to decide a few things before you go shopping. If you can decide your budget, the number of items that you will need to order and what kind of items you are looking for it can make the search process much easier. Then you can begin to promote your goods and services and attract customers that can breathe new life into your company.

Filed Under: Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional merchandise

Planning methods you can use to develop campaigns using Promotional Gifts

September 28, 2010 By

When it comes to planning campaigns using promotional gifts many companies do not know where to start. Do you start by browsing internet sites that offer promotional gifts? Is it better to start planning the event where the items will be handed out? There are benefits and drawbacks to each of these planning methods that you need to be aware of so that you can decide which method is best for you and your situation.

Shopping for promotional gifts

If you want to start your planning by shopping for promotional gifts you are still going to need a few basic pieces of information. You need to know how many items you need to buy and what your budget is. This can make it easier for you to eliminate those promotional gifts that cost too much on a per unit basis for you to afford to give. Remember, you want to be able to hand out the same items to all of your target audience. There is nothing worse than having to hand out one item to some people and a different item to others.

It can be difficult for you to plan campaigns that use promotional gifts if you start with the gifts themselves. This is because you will likely have no concept of how they can be used to further your company’s goals and elevate the company profile. Because of this it can sometimes be better to plan when and how the promotional gifts will be handed out before you decide which items you want to hand out as promotional gifts.

If you know that you have an advertising or sponsorship event coming up, using it as an opportunity to hand out promotional gifts can be an excellent idea. You can look at your budget and the event itself and find ways of incorporating your company’s message as well as tying it to the event. This way the entire effect will be much more memorable than if people simply think you handed out the same old items as you have handed out in the past.

You will still need some of the same information that you would need if you started your planning based on the items themselves but it can be easier to nail down the number of items you will need. That way, your budget per item can be set more easily and there may be less chance of ordering too many or too few items.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts, Promotion Items Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts

How to make Promotional Gifts work harder for your company

July 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you are planning on giving out promotional gifts as a way of increasing knowledge about your company and building its’ profile chances are that you will want to get the most out of the money you spend. Learning how to make promotional gifts work harder for your company is the key to making intelligent purchasing decisions. Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that the gifts you are buying will have the maximum impact possible in the shortest amount of time.

Tie Gifts In With Your Company’s Products
This may seem confusing but it really is not. The whole idea is not to offer promotional gifts that are similar to your company’s products. The key is to bring them in line with the kind of industry you are working in. For example, if you are a company that works with computers, offer products such as mouse pads, USB drives or USB hubs. If you are a gardening company or one that deals with landscaping, choose bags that can be used to hold garden tools or even engrave tools and use them as promotional gifts.

Be Current
Spend some time doing research before picking the products that you will give as gifts. There are always items that are popular at the moment.
If you pick these items, you can stand out as having some of the best gifts around. But remember, some items can go out of style quickly, so ordering these items in smaller quantities means that you will not have old or out of date gifts sitting around your office.

Look For Quality
If you are shopping for gifts, make sure that you are picking quality items. Nothing is worse than a gift that breaks quickly. We all remember getting pens that look fantastic but which do not work well. If you have received a gift from another company that seemed like it was good quality, find out where it was ordered from. This can keep you from making the costly mistake of purchasing shoddy goods.

As you can see, purchasing promotional gifts that work well does take some time and research. Make sure that you put some thought into the gifts you are giving and do not simply send the first pen or embroidered bag that you find on a website. You will have better luck getting your gifts and your company the attention that they deserve.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts, Promotional Items, Promotional Merchandise Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional items, Promotional products

How to choose Promotional Gifts that will get noticed

July 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you are trying to pick promotional gifts to ensure your company gets the attention it deserves, there are a few things that you need to look for. By making sure that the gifts you choose have at least some of these qualities there is a better chance that they will get noticed by the widest range of potential clients possible.

Choose Unique Items
If you want to make sure that the gifts you are getting are noticed, make sure that they are as unique as possible. Everyone has seen a desk container filled with preprinted pens but if you choose a pen that is a unique color or size, or it has added features such as a highlighter built into it, it will often stick out more. If you send out the gifts that everyone wants to use, you will end up getting more bang for your buck since your company name and information will be seen by a larger number of people.

Choose High Quality Items
Even if you are sending out items that are fairly common, such as shirts, look for good quality in the items that you purchase. Everyone has that one shirt that was given to them as a promotional gift that is such good quality or which is so stylish that they love to wear it. This means that people will sit up and take notice and this may just increase your customer base more than a run of the mill or poor quality item will.

Choose Items Which Have A Large Printable Surface
Because promotional gifts are all about visibility, choosing items which have a large printable surface can be a good idea. This means that your company name and logo will be more visible. In the end, this means that people may be able to see your name and logo from further away. Again, this means that you may be able to attract more than one customer at a time from the same promotional item.

It is not hard to choose items that are better suited for use as promotional items. By looking for unique items that are high in quality and which offer room for you to print your name and information in a fairly large format you will end up with a strong promotional tool that will help you increase your customer base quickly and easily. Using a company that has experience in providing these kinds of items means that you may be able to consult with staff about which items are the most popular and which have been most successful for their clients.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts, Promotional Items, Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded merchandise, Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional items, Promotional products

What you need to know when ordering Promotional Gifts

July 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you are ordering promotional gifts to promote your company and the products or services it offers, there are few things that you need to know when you do. If you ask about the following things you will be able to avoid making the costly mistakes that so many other companies end up making. This can mean that you are avoiding the loss of money and time that can come with ordering the wrong item or wrong quantity of items.
Here are a few things to make sure you are aware of:

How Long They Will Take To Arrive
One of the things that you need to be aware of is how long your promotional gifts will take to arrive. This may be a larger amount of time than you may realize especially if you are having them embroidered or engraved. If you are not ordering them for any specific purpose you may not have to worry about how long it will take your order to arrive. If, however, you are ordering them so that you have them for a trade show or convention or they are time sensitive (such as promotional gifts that are seasonal or centered around an upcoming holiday), you need to make sure they will be available in time.

Are There Any Extra Costs You Need To Be Aware Of
If you are ordering promotional gifts from a website or retailer, you need to make sure what any extra costs may be. These can include charges for printing or embroidering, charges for orders which do not meet minimum amounts, and even delivery charges if items are large, heavy or being sent over long distances. These charges can really add up and may make your overall order much more expensive than you may expect it to be. If you are working on a limited budget this may mean that you end up exceeding the money that you had allotted for your promotional gifts.

How Do You Get Your Company Logo And Information To The Company
If you are putting your logo and company information on products you will want the company that is providing them to have access to your files. It can be much easier if the company you are dealing with has a way to upload files rather than emailing them but email can also work well. You also want to be able to see a sample or proof of a finished item first. This may only be possible if you are dealing with a company that is local.

By keeping these things in mind it is often easier to get the kind of promotional gifts you are looking for.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts, Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: Branded Promotional Gifts, Promotional Gifts, promotional items