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As we seek to build relationships with those we do business with this holiday season, it is important to remember that gifts are meant to communicate. Little things like timing, usefulness, and delivery can often convey as much or more than the actual gift. This holiday season consider these seven sure-fire ways to make your business gift-giving more effective and more appreciated by your customers. |
1) Start Early. Target to have your gift delivered to your recipients the week before Thanksgiving. Not only will your gift stand out by being early, but more of your recipients will be in the office to receive the gift. In addition, if your gift is a consumable, your customer will appreciate the opportunity to share during December Holiday events.
2) Be Unique. Although food baskets, desk accessories, and corporate logo apparel are frequently given, there is always a new twist that can create buzz and a lasting impression of you and your company. If you are giving a food basket, look for one with unusual items, such as local delicacies. A Texas-themed basket with five-alarm chili and Texas hot sauce will stand out with an out-of state customer. The drawback to consumables is that once they are gone, there is only the memory of the gift. Instant Imprints recommends that you add a corporate logo mug stuffed with jelly bellies or miniature coffee flavors. Then, your gift includes a lasting memento.
3) Be Useful. Try a practical gift that will actually get used. Logo thumb drives or memory sticks are very popular. Another useful idea is a commuter travel mug or thermos with your company logo. Or consider a nice fold-up umbrella. Since they are easy to misplace, another one always comes in handy.
4) Be personal, but not too personal. Know your recipient, and look for gifts that go with their hobbies. If they are a golfer, consider a nice Ping shirt or wind shirt. By monogramming that shirt, jacket, or winter scarf, you have added a personal touch. Stay away from overly intimate items such as perfume or jewelry. Your present needs to be appropriate when opened in the office in front of others. Another good idea is a book on a current business topic with a personal inscription.
5) Be memorable. Desk accessories remind your customer of you on a daily basis. Nice pen sets, tastefully embossed folios, or picture frames never go out of style. You might also consider something unique like a crystal paperweight with a corporate design. Another approach is a gift that keeps on reminding. A Dallas staffing firm delivers a logo candy jar to hot prospects. Then at off-beat times through out the year, such as the 4th of July and Halloween, the firm sends candy refills. Needless to say, that candy jar stays in the break room all year round for all to see.
6) Go for quality. If your budget is $5 per recipient, pick the best $5 item you can buy. Don’t try to find a more expensive item and get a $5 bargain. The quality will not be there, and your recipient will be disappointed. For example, purchase a nice $5 pen or some candies or goodies, and don’t try to find a bargain-priced bottle of wine.
7) Deliver personally. If at all possible, deliver the gift personally. This is another reason to talk to your customer and to get to know them better. Take advantage of it!
Some gifts have universal appeal for universal purposes. T-Shirts bearing your company name and logo are always a hit regardless of whether you are motivating employees, introducing yourself to potential clients or saying thank you to customers.
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The key to giving shirts that will be worn is to think outside the box like using this camo shirt or this Compressed Custom Shape T-shirt.
When it comes to styles, colors, and materials, here are some trends to consider. |
Going Green - People are becoming more conscious about the products they're buying and how these products are made such as recently introduced styles crafted from sustainable resources. From sport shirts to fleece to accessories, eco-friendly products are a welcome alternative...working in harmony with nature.
Compressed Packaging - You can hand prospects your T-shirt OR you can hand them a T-shirt compressed into the shape of something relevant you your business or promotion. Examples include a star, a guitar, an airplane, a hard hat or a cell phone. Go the extra mile with an imprinted message or logo on the compressed shape.
Soft Tees – When it comes to T-shirts, the softer the better. New materials (such as fine jersey) allow for durable tees that feel like they’ve been washed hundreds of times. And just like the fabric, colors are soft and heathered.
Bolder Patterns - Don’t shy away from patterned fabrics! Bolder patterns actually tend to support simple logos better. Of course, complex logos are better suited for smaller or tighter patterns or solids.
Performance fabrics – Fabrics that work overtime on tasks like wicking moisture away from the body are an excellent choice for golf or tennis shirts. An added bonus: they are lighter, and they don’t fade or shrink. Other big performers: no-wrinkle and stain resistant fabrics.
Let us know if you need help – we’ll give you the shirt off our back!
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Non-profit agencies often find themselves working on public awareness advertising and marketing campaigns. While radio PSAs and flyers are good ways of spreading the word, promotional items can really launch a message in a way that it can't be ignored.
Whether your message is a greener Earth (using these organic shirts) or cleaner lungs, here are five ideas for non-profit campaigns using promotional items. |
Get peer leaders on board.
One of the most effective methods for getting your marketing message out to the widest audience possible is to get peer leaders on board first. That works just as well in the executive business community as it does in the world of teens and school. Start your campaign with an event targeted at peer leaders, using promotional items to reinforce your point. Give out promotional t-shirts and conference folders emblazoned with your brand logo and advertising message. The conference participants will wear them or carry them; bringing additional publicity to your cause and highlight your brand and organizations message even further.
Get viral.
The tactics used by guerilla marketers work just as well for non profit PSAs. Put your slogan or logo and web site address on a range of inexpensive promotional items and start handing them out on street corners. The visibility will raise brand awareness and the curiosity factor will bring people to hear your message. If you choose wearable promotional items, every one that you hand out will reach dozens of other eyes.
Give out goodies in return for a pledge or work.
Give to get is a time-honored tradition in the advertising world, and it can work for you too. Need signatures on a petition? Hand out car stickers to those who sign. Looking for a commitment to eschew teen drinking? Give out “I signed The Pledge” lanyards or jelly bracelets. Be sure to choose promotional items that have a high visibility factor to ensure that your campaign gets the most visibility possible.
Use promotional items for membership drives.
Whether you hand out an inexpensive promo item to every new member or choose higher value items as recruitment incentives to existing members, promotional items can boost your membership numbers into overdrive. Increase their draw by choosing highly visible promotional items like t-shirts and carry bags as your message carriers.
Choose promotional items that are appropriate for your message.
If you’re raising green or environmental awareness, it doesn’t make much sense to hand out disposable items or those made from petroleum based products. Make sure that everything you hand out fits your specific message – but don’t be afraid to give it a clever and novel twist. Hand out imprinted breath strips for an anti-smoking campaign with the message “You wouldn’t need these if you didn’t smoke” or mug snugs imprinted with the message “I Don’t Drink!” for a teen drinking awareness campaign.
For additional information on promotional items, please contact your nearest Instant Imprints store for great selections and competitive pricing!
Planning a big event in the near future?
Create invitations that ask the guest to attend the event and also serve as a leave-behind promotional gift.
For example, a well known ballet theater invited people to its Family Day fundraiser with paper doll ballerinas that invitees and their children could play with long after the actual event has passed.
More ideas: imprinted bandanas make great invitations to cowboy or western-themed parties while branded golf flags are perfect for soliciting participation in golf outings. Custom imprinted shirts or mugs to give as reminders for “that great party” you throw for your anniversary, graduation, birthday or just for fun. |
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