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You are here: Home / Archives for Promotional products

Promotional merchandising – A versatile approach to marketing

 

 

December 16, 2011 By

There are lots of reasons why businesses choose to give away promotional products and there
are lots of people that they will choose to give them to. Not everyone business will choose to
direct their products to potential customers, in fact some will decide to use their products in
a different way to help motivate their employees and reward them for their efforts. Some
businesses choose to give away their gifts to thank their existing customers for their business
and to keep their brand fresh in the minds of their client base. Often, businesses will opt for far
more expensive advertising campaigns in the belief that this is the only way that they can bring
in more business but promotional merchandising can work in so many ways and can help raise
your profile as well as motivate people to work hard or show your appreciation. Considering all
of these benefits it is recommended that you think carefully about how developing a promotional
product could work for you too.

Be flexible with your ideas for free gifts
The plethora of promotional items that exist is such that you will be spoiled for choice. It is important that you go for a quality product and that you choose a supplier that will help you with this but you can be flexible when it comes to the nature of the product you will give out. You can be as creative as you wish or you can select an item and a design from tried and tested  items that have been popular with so many people in the past. Pens and keyrings always work particularly well and for those  with slightly larger budgets, t shirts and polo shirts can be given away and can carry large designs and plenty of information, including your contact details. You can increase the potential audience you will reach by thinking of an item that is likely to be used a great deal or shared around, or perhaps an item that is large enough  to be seen at a distance,
such as an umbrella on a rainy day. An umbrella or t shirt is in some ways like a walking billboard
but without the cost.

Use your promotional items to their fullest
When it comes to marketing strategies it is very difficult to imagine one that is quite as versatile
as promotional merchandising. Even if you initially decide to use your items to draw in business
at an upcoming corporate event, you can subsequently decide to use them to thank your existing
customers and provide them with a lasting reminder of their positive experience of working with
you. Consumer loyalty is something no business can do without, especially during the difficult
times and so it is fundamental that you remind your customers of how important they are to you,
not only to keep them on board but to encourage them to pass on their comments to their friends.

Shop around for the best deals on promotional items
There are plenty of excellent deals to be had if you decide to start looking for a supplier so take
you time and shop around. Make sure you check out the level of quality available and where
possible, ask for a sample of the products they produce. You should also ensure that you are
able to build up a good enough relationship so that in the event that you need an order at short
notice, your supplier is able to provide you with what you need.

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts Tagged With: , ,

Save on costs through promotional advertising

 

 

December 14, 2011 By

When you are thinking about what kind of promotional item your company is going to
use to advertise its goods and services, or to raise consumer awareness of a new store
you have opened, or to promote a new product you have developed, it is important to
think about how you will target your prospective client base and how best to appeal to
them. You might want to think about holding an event or simply finding other
opportunities to hand out your products. Whichever way you choose to distribute
your products you should ensure that you are able to reach the people you are
intending to target.

Promotional Marketing Vs Media Advertising
Your marketing budget will no doubt be restricted unless you are a large multi-national company so you will be looking for ways to save on costs and there is no better way than to invest in promotional merchandise. You will find as you begin developing the product
and measuring the associated distributing costs that they pale in comparison to those of  a media advertising campaign. Low cost does not equate to ineffectiveness and you can expect your promotional items to potentially draw in some considerable interest.

Creating a Positive Impression with your Free Gift
Your potential clients and customers will be delighted to receive your gift in whatever  form it comes, whether it be a sticker or a pen set, primarily because it is free and has
cost them nothing. This does not mean though that you can then forgo quality as a
poorly made product can damage your reputation just as a well-made product can
bolster it. If you create a quality gift then whatever the item is should hit all the right
notes when you decide to give it out. It is possible to maximise the number of people
who will see or use your gift by thinking about its size and portability as well as its
usefulness but if you are just looking to give away a gift that will encourage people to
look upon you in a favourable light and perhaps tell their friends about you then
something quite simple should suffice.

Increase your profit by spending time developing your gift
Because of the inexpensiveness of creating promotional products you can expect that
you will save a great deal of money and spend much less than you would if you had
thought about a billboard, for instance. You might want to think about spending a
little more on your branding and corporate imagery in that case and consider how
you can use your brand to encourage people to remember you even past the
usefulness of your promotional gift. You might also want to spend a little more
time in the development phase and think about how you can increase the impact
of your product by ensuring that it will be seen by the most number of people possible.

Maximise your return by focusing on thoughtful detail
To maximise on your profits by achieving a large return on your marketing investment,
promotional merchandise is the way forward for you. Take the time to develop your
product with thoughtful detail and you will find it will work well for you, whoever you
are aiming to appeal to. You may find that you can grow your business and your profits
so that you can expand your marketing budget in the following year and in the years to
come!

Filed Under: Promotion Gifts Tagged With: , ,

Using promotional pens to raise the profile of your business

 

 

November 21, 2011 By

The promotional pen is a fantastic commodity to have at hand simply because of the value
of the thing. Everyone at some point needs a pen and having one at hand that displays your
company name and contact details can help raise your profile. What is great about promotional
pens is the fact that they can be handed out to anyone at any time. You don’t need to be too
focused on the occasion because you can order pens cheaply in large quantities, so you can
never really waste them. Even companies with a strict budget and with limited finances should
be able to stretch to promotional pens because they really need not be very expensive at all.

Save money by purchasing your order in bulk
Pens can be bought in bulk and you will find that the more you order, the more money you will save, so make sure that you order as many as you think you will need bearing in mind that you will always find an opportunity to hand them out. You can identify opportunities such as exhibitions and trade conferences and take your pens with you, handing them out to people that approach you. You could even proactively seek people out, offering your pens around. Because pens are incredibly useful
to have and not at all difficult to carry around, it is very unlikely that anyone would reject your offer.
If anything it I more likely that you would run out of pens than it is that you would not be able to give
them away.

The younger target market
You might be a business that is looking to reach out to a younger target market and if this is the
case then pens are a great idea, particularly if you focus your efforts on educational institutions
such as higher education colleges or universities. Everyone needs a pen when they are studying
so why not have them use yours and see your company logo and contact details at the same time?
If you do decide to focus on this audience then you will almost certainly get maximum use out of
a bulk order of pens because free promotional items are always popular amongst students.

Promotional pens can be used in many ways
Pens can act as a great gift whether you are raising your profile as a company and reaching out
to your audience, or whether you are thanking existing customers or even if you are offering your
staff your appreciation for their hard work. You can be creative with your design too because
pens can be as versatile as you want them to be. You could have a fountain pen designed or a
simple ball point with eye catching colours or a colourful ink. Your options to not have to be
limited in this regard and you can be as imaginative as you wish.

 

 

 

 

 

Order more now to save later
Bulk buys will save you a great deal of money because you will often find that your discounts
become greater with the quantity you buy. It is likely that if you only purchase a small order
you will end up buying more over time, so it is more financially viable to order a large quantity
outright.

Filed Under: Promotional Pens Tagged With: ,

Giving away promotional gifts to expand your business

 

 

October 20, 2011 By

The beauty of promotional gifts is that they are versatile enough to appeal to everyone.
You can choose to be as imaginative as you want to be or you can choose a generic gift
that is useful to all of your clients and potential customers regardless of age, sex, or occupation.
The usefulness, longevity and thoughtfulness of your gift are what will impact the success of your
gift the most. Some people will choose to vary the gifts they give according to the target market
they are trying to reach while other businesses will decide to keep their items the same to minimise
the level of effort that is needed.

Promotional Gifts are the popular cheaper option
It mustn’t be forgotten that not all businesses have the staff or the budget to come up with a varied marketing strategy but this doesn’t negate the importance of having something in place to help you build your business. This is where promotional gifts are of particular relevance. They are great for growing your client base by getting your brand out there and into the public sphere. If you can think of an item that will be seen by lots of people then you will be increasing your brand awareness on an even greater level.

Consider who you will give your gift to
It is important that you consider who you will give your gift to and when if you are to make the biggest impact. You will need to identify your target audience and work out how you can reach them. It might be that your target audience work in a particular industry and as such you may
be able to meet with them at trade fairs or conferences.  You may be able to get a stall and give out
your promotional gifts from there.

Make sure that what you give won’t fall apart
You may decide to use your promotional gifts to thank existing customers for their business and to
serve as a lasting reminder of their experience of working with you. Whatever you choose to use your
promotional gift for, your main concern will be to ensure the quality and purposefulness of it so that the
people you give it to appreciate your gesture.

Choose your promotional gift supplier carefully
The supplier or manufacturer you decide to work with will impact on the quality of your gift. Don’t be too tempted to go
with your cheapest option. You need to make sure that you aren’t going to give away gifts that will fall apart as soon as
they are taken away. This will only leave a negative impression on your target audience and will be worse than if you
had not given any gift at all. You should remember that your clients will tell others about their experience of working
with you and will talk about the gift you have given. The more positive their impression of you the more likely it is that
they will tell others about your brand.

Filed Under: Promotional Merchandise Tagged With: , ,

Using imprinted promotional products as an effective way of promoting your business

 

 

September 28, 2011 By

Lots of businesses feel the need to promote themselves  to stay ahead of the game
and  remain competitive.  Very few businesses  have the luxury of claiming to
operate in a monopolised market without any rival threatening to take away
their custom. Because of this it is important to think of new and interesting ways
to put your brand out there and get people talking about who you are and what
you do. Of course cost is a factor that requires careful consideration. Not all
businesses can afford to get their advertisements on the television or up on
enormous bill boards at the side of the road so it is necessary to think about
cheaper options that are open to them. Promotional products are one way to
go and whilst some companies may overlook the benefits they afford, they are
a very viable way of attracting interest and attention to a brand.

Create a marketing campaign around your promotional products
It is possible to create an entire marketing campaign around your promotional items and develop a strategy that
will look at how you give out your products and who you give them to. When deciding on the product you will give
out you should think about what it will look like and who you will get to create it because the quality and usefulness
of your product will go a long way towards creating the right impression with your customers.

Imprinted promotional products will carry some form of information about your business and your brand. It is
always a good idea to display your company details on your products so people know how to get in touch with you
at a later date. Choosing a brand that enables you to inform people about your services is your next step and so you
will want an item that is large enough to carry the information you need it to display. A t-shirt offers you the space
to display a large amount of information whereas a pen may only allow you to show your name and phone number.
You could choose to offer out a calendar so that your clients can see your brand and contact details every day, or a
lighter which can be used multiple times each day.

Think about quality when designing the products you will give away
The quality of your item is essential if you want to create a positive impact. It is important that you do not assume
that people will just be happy with anything because it is free. You should ensure that it does not fall apart after the
first use because if your customers think your item is not up to much they might make the same assumption about you.

Vary your products to suit each of your target markets
You might want to think about varying the products you give away to tap into different consumer markets. The
products you choose to give to older generations may not suit the interest of younger clientele and so the products
you give to each target market could be differentiated. You might want to give a hoody to a younger client but a polo
shirt to an older client as an example. Being able to customise your gifts will also give your clients or customers the
impression of thoughtfulness and consideration.

Imprinted promotional products can have a great impact if enough thought goes into them so ensure you put enough
thought into your options during your design process.

 

 

Filed Under: Printed Promotional Items, Promotion Gifts, Promotion Items, Promotional products Tagged With: , , ,

The promotional pen is still the perfect give away

 

 

September 26, 2011 By

If you are about to head off to meet a client or attend a corporate meeting,
you will no doubt be thinking about what you should take with you so make
sure you don’t leave without a pen.

You might be looking through your pen drawer or your stationary cupboard
but don’t pick up any old biro. Think about the impact that having your very
own Promotional pen could have.

If you attend with a smart looking pen then not only are you prepared for
your meeting, but you are exuding the image of a professional with a smart
looking brand. In addition, if you meet with someone who doesn’t have
access to a pen then you can lend them your own, thus creating a memorable
image.

What to include on your Promotional Pens
Now think about what you might include on your pen. Will you personalise it so
that it has your company logo and information running along the side? These details
can make your pens look so much more appealing and interesting to those who might ask to use it,
so why not think about personalised, customized pens to create the strongest impact.

The importance of the quality of your promotional pens
Think about the quality of your pen too. It should write with a smooth finish rather than leaving inky, blotting stains
on the paper. It should feel relatively sturdy and weighty so that it doesn’t break easily and feels as good as it looks.
You can play about with the design of your pen and you can tailor it to look however you want it to with lots of
choices out there to choose from.

What to think about when designing the look and feel of the pen
If you are thinking about giving away Promotional Pens then you should think about accompanying them with a gift
box or presentation box to add to the look, feel, and style of the product. Your pen should be crafted to perfection so
that it not only works well when you are giving it but for a long time afterwards, so that every time that the receiver
uses it they are impressed with the quality and remember your brand. Your Promotional Pens will speak to people
about who you are and create a lasting impression, so it is important you make it a good one.

You can give your pens to people that you meet through corporate events or to your clients and existing customers.
Include your brand name and your contact details so that they are left with some information about you to take
away with them.

The beauty of corporate promotional pens
The great thing about Promotional Pens is that they are an inexpensive way to promote your brand and so can be
produced relatively cheaply. Find the right producer and start to think about how you will create your promotional
pens and what design you will go for.

 

Filed Under: Promotional Items, Promotional Pens Tagged With: , , ,

The long-term benefits of using promotional items to promote your brand

 

 

September 24, 2011 By

Much research has gone into the field of marketing
and what works in terms of getting your brand out
there and increasing consumer awareness. Results
have shown on a continued basis that promotional
products work and can have a substantial impact
upon potential customers. Imprinted promotional
items can have an even greater impact because they
can carry your corporate brand and contact details to
let people know a little more about you.

Being creative with the gifts you choose to give away
If you decide to go ahead with your promotional gifts then
you have room to be as creative as you wish. The more original
your product the better, because the more likely it is that it will
stick I your customers’ minds. You could think about giving
away products that are useful too such as pens and umbrellas.
The best products are the ones that are useful, functional,
original and long lasting.

Different ideas you could try when thinking of good promotional products
Promotional pens are quite common gifts, but are always appreciated because everyone always needs a pen and
will carry one at all times. The more people that get to see the pen the more people will be exposed to the brand.
Mugs are treasured items because everyone enjoys a hot drink at work, around the office, in the canteen or in
the home and they are big enough to carry a little more than just the branding. You can be a little more imaginative
though and think about practical items such as business card holders and calendars or diaries, for instance.
The idea is to think of a promotional item that will get maximum exposure and be seen or used by as
many people as possible.

Getting started in developing your corporate giveaways
It can be tricky to get the ball rolling when thinking about what gift you are going to give away, and you will need to
think about your target audience as much as all the other aspects of the product. Your gift will need to be suitable for
all of the people you intend to target unless you are thinking of customizing your product to apply to each segment.
Aside from the actual nature of the product you will be giving away, think of where you will give it away and on what
occasions. If you decide that there are lots of occasions in the business calendar that you are going to attend and that
you wish to give away your promotional products at all of them then it may not be sensible to think of a gift that is
going to cost a great deal of money. This does not mean skimping on quality, though, it just means that you will need
to produce a cheaper product but to the same high standard.

Long-term brand affiliation and customer loyalty
Your promotional gifts will ensure that your potential customers look fondly on you when they use their product and
over time they will become accustomed to your branding so that it is instantly recognisable. The effect of your product
should be that every time they consider a service you provide or a product that you make, they will think of you and
only you. In this way you will grow your customer base substantially.

 

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

Using promotional merchandise to generate business

 

 

September 9, 2011 By

Promotional items have long been used to promote businesses
around the world, but it is how you use them that will affect your
success as a business and the growth of your custom. If you choose
to give away different items to promote your business then you can
vary them to specify what you will give away to whom. If you have
lots of different clients of all different ages then you may want to
differentiate what you choose to give away. If you giving away clothing
items for example then you may want to give something like a hoodie
away to younger generations and something more classic to the more
mature clientele.

Who will you give your products to?
Think about who you will give away your product to. You might have some very
influential clients that you work with and you may want to give them some high
end gifts like brief cases or cuff links. If your clients are particularly influential then you can expect that they will talk
about you to other clients and colleagues, which in turn will raise your profile significantly. Generating business is
about promoting yourself and getting people to want to use your company, and what better way to do this than with
promotional business.

Raising your profile in your local community
It may be that you want to direct your energy to your existing customers or those that you think you will attract on a
more regular basis. Securing the loyalty of your everyday customer may be the key to your success, and thanking them
with gifts or encouraging them to think of you with promotional merchandise is certainly one way to do this. Your
customers may be local members of the community and so thinking of clever ways of raising your profile, such as
supporting a local youth football team by purchasing their kit could be a great way to do this.

Things to think about when creating your promotional merchandise
You might want to find out what community events are being held in your area and attend them so that you can hand out
flyers or promotional items that will encourage community members to think of you. Ensure that all of the items you
hand out are of good quality as anything that is poorly made may be detrimental to your reputation. Another
consideration is making sure you have the right quantity because attending an event where you do not have enough
to give out to all who want them can also be detrimental. Of course it is important to consider your own costs and so
thinking of items that you can produce cheaply but to a good standard in large supply, will help you immeasurably.

Other ideas you could try
You could thank your existing customers with gifts so that they will continue to come to you. This will not only encourage
loyalty but motivate them to talk to their friends about you because they were so impressed with their experience. In this
way, your existing customers will promote your business for you. There are lots of ideas that are open to you but being
as creative and thoughtful as possible will pay dividends in the long run. 

 

Filed Under: Promotional Items, Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: , , ,

Why businesses still use promotional merchandise to promote their goods and services

 

 

August 29, 2011 By

It seems that  most businesses – that have the budget for it at
least – opt for glamorous and expensive marketing to push
their products or services forward when really there are some
far cheaper, and equally effective options they should have
considered first. To save yourself some time and money,
think about promotional advertising with promotional merchandise.

The impact of promotional merchandise
If you think about how long any given television commercial might last, you are probably talking a matter of minutes. Now think about how long an item such as a promotional key ring might last. The item will last far longer, be seen repetitively and therefore have a greater impact and has the ability to be seen by others too. Now think about how many people you can give away these key rings to.

The usefulness of promotional items for your customers
Think about the usefulness of a television commercial. It serves no use to the viewer whatsoever
in a practical sense, it is simply something visually stimulating that the viewer will either engage with
or disregard. Think about the usefulness of a promotional item such as a photo frame, wall clock,
business card holder, backpack etc. The more useful your promotional merchandise is the more likely
it is to be well received.

Potential costs savings of using promotional items as a marketing tool
It is goes without saying that television commercials are hugely expensive to produce and distribute.
Promotional merchandise costs almost nothing in comparison and can be ordered on demand so that if
you need more you give away more. In this way any unnecessary waste can be controlled and you will
never over order.

The feel-good factor of your promotional products
Promotional foods can be a great idea so think about how appealing your product could potentially be.
Some choose to give away promotional chocolate. This is a fantastic idea because it has enormous comfort
value and tastes great. If you can make a quality food product such as this you are likely to stick in people’s
minds even after the food has been eaten!

Choosing which products to use
Promotional merchandise serves two purposes; to retain clients and generate business. It is true that these
products are given away to simply be nice to be people and as such a great deal of thought must be put into
the development stages to make sure that the product has the desired effect. In consideration of this,
thought should be given to who you will choose to supply your products. The quality of the item is as
important as how much it costs to produce.

There are some worthwhile products out there that really work for businesses. Promotional merchandise
would not exist if it had not been shown to work. Think through how these products could work for you and
what you would give away to retain your clients, after all there are plenty of options to choose from.

 

 

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

What to think about when deciding to use promotional merchandise

 

 

August 26, 2011 By

You may have made the decision to market your business using promotional
products rather than expensive advertising campaigns. Because of the costs
savings businesses stand to make by deciding to use these products it is quite
common that a lot of cheap low quality products are bought in the belief that
they will work but then don’t. Just because promotional merchandise is less
expensive does not mean that the same degree of thought should not be given
to the development process. It is important to think through which products will
serve you best and choose a supplier that will deliver high quality products that
will be gratefully received.

Have you created your company logo to display on the products you’re going to give away?
It goes without saying that your logo or brand will need to be added to the product
so that once you have given it away your client will remember who has given it to them.
You want your product to be a continuous reminder to your customers of who you are
and what you do. If you have not some to a decision yet about what your logo will look like
then you will need to work on this first. Ordering a large batch of merchandise displaying a
logo that you will change in the near future will not serve you as well.

Do you have any corporate colours you can use?
Your logo or branding may be made up of certain colours that are instantly recognisable.
If so, it would make more sense to use these colours when you are developing your product
because this will help people associate your product with your company. Keeping in with the
themes you have already established when creating the logo for your company will help your
clients identify with your product.

What to think about when choosing the right supplier
If you already have an idea in mind about what kind of product you will giveaway then this is an
important step but you will still need to give consideration to who will supply it for you. You will
need a reliable company that will deliver on time and to order. It is always a good idea to build up
a strong relationship with your supplier so that you can order more products at short notice should
a promotional opportunity arise.

Shopping for your products online
Online suppliers are always a good choice because you can scan through their products with ease and
without having to visit the supplier at their location. There may even be the facility to customize your
item and so you can plan what your product will look like before you even make contact with your
supplier. This will all help in the planning process.

You might want to think about items like key rings because these are always added to the key ring and
seen every time that key is used. Make your product bold and bright and in keeping with your corporate
colours for maximum effect.

 

Filed Under: Promotional Items, Promotional Merchandise, Promotional products Tagged With: , , ,
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