| Over the past fifteen years I have seen thousands | | | | wasting your time and money. If you need to squint |
| of logos, designs and text printed onto business gifts. | | | | to read your message on a pen, then it is the wrong |
| The majority of these gifts were intended to | | | | pen for you. Choose another pen with more space or |
| promote a company's products, services or facilities. | | | | another product altogether. |
| Thankfully, many worked as intended but there are | | | | Look For Products That Can Be Printed As You |
| also those that did not. This could just as easily be | | | | Want Them To Be: Many companies now have |
| down to a novice business gifts supplier as it could be | | | | beautiful full colour logos or shiny gold crests. Others |
| customers set in their ways. Here I would like to | | | | have bright, almost neon colours. This is great |
| offer tips on how to get the most for your | | | | because color and pictures sell! If this applies to your |
| marketing budget and really make those business | | | | company, then look for products that will look good |
| gifts work for you. | | | | printed with your logo. There are now many products |
| Know Your Audience: In some industries, this is more | | | | that can be printed in full color and even florescent |
| easily done than in others. If you promote cookery | | | | color. Some of the most popular are pens, mouse |
| equipment to weekend chefs, for example, chances | | | | mats, mugs, t-shirts and note pads. Ask your |
| are you will be able to choose the perfect cooking | | | | business gift supplier for assistance in finding the best |
| related gifts for them from the hundreds available for | | | | products for your design. You could be very happy |
| promotional purposes. If you do not know your | | | | you did. |
| target customers' likes, dislikes and hobbies, it is best | | | | Consider How You Are Going To Get The Gifts To |
| to go for something that is not industry specific such | | | | Your Target Customers: There is no point spending |
| a promotional pens, mugs and t-shirts. | | | | your whole marketing budget on the most |
| Print Gifts with A Purpose: Expanding on the tip | | | | spectacular gifts if you do not have enough left over |
| above, try to find gifts that your target audience will | | | | at the end to get the gifts to them. Popular ways of |
| use regularly. Gifts that have a purpose are used | | | | presenting promotional gifts are at exhibitions, trade |
| much more and longer than gadget gimmicky gifts. | | | | shows, company visits and of course through the |
| Good quality pens, mugs, mouse mats, highlighters, | | | | post. |
| and desktop gifts such as clocks and desk tidies are | | | | In my first year in business, I purchased 100 |
| all gifts that are used daily. Each time they are used, | | | | engraved crystal glasses to send to my key |
| they are promoting your message. | | | | customers. I also purchased protective packaging to |
| Choose Gifts That Have Enough Print Area For Your | | | | prevent breakage. Of the 100 I sent out, I know |
| Message: I am often contacted by people who were | | | | that 10% did not make it in one piece. That's right, |
| not happy with the promotional products they were | | | | the person I was trying to impress opened a box of |
| supplied by their last business gift supplier. Usually, this | | | | shatter glass. As I was sending the gifts through the |
| is not down to the quality of the products but to the | | | | post, I would have been a lot better off sending |
| way their logo and message looked when printed. | | | | something that was not breakable. As they say, you |
| You must look for products that offer enough space | | | | live and learn. I still give a lot of crystal gifts to my |
| for your message! Get this wrong and you are | | | | customers but now do it in person. |