| When many people think of promotional gifts, they | | | | their efforts. The gesture went down very well and |
| usually think about what the best gift might be to | | | | they staff were delighted at their gift. The MD of |
| promote their company to their customers. This | | | | Company ABC then decided to take it one step |
| makes sense as promotional gifts are an excellent | | | | further. |
| means of promoting brand awareness. Promotional | | | | As customer relations on the telephone was very |
| gifts are also ideal for promoting your company to | | | | important to their key business, he decided to ask a |
| your employees. | | | | friend to phone and pretend to be a person enquiring |
| You may ask why you would want to promote your | | | | about Company ABC's products and services. |
| company to your staff. After all, they should know | | | | Company ABC had 20 offices nationwide so he |
| and understand your company better than most. This | | | | phoned each office and took notes about who |
| may be true, but if you are creative, your employees | | | | offered him the best customer service and really sold |
| might just see a part of your company that they | | | | the company well. |
| never knew before. They may get to know the side | | | | When the lucky unsuspecting employee was chosen, |
| of the company that really appreciates their hard | | | | the MD phoned the employee to thank them |
| work and wants to demonstrate that appreciation to | | | | personally for selling the company so well. He then |
| them. | | | | told the employee that they would be receiving a |
| Promotional gifts can be used in a number of ways | | | | top quality jacket with the company's logo |
| to say thank you to your employees that have really | | | | embroidered on it as a special thank you gift. Word |
| made a difference in the company. These gifts do | | | | soon spread throughout the company that the |
| not need to be expensive gifts. It is often the small | | | | employee had received the gift and the competition |
| things that count. You could also choose a | | | | was on! All of the employees wanted to win the |
| combination of gifts to give to employees at | | | | company jacket and 24 other employees did over |
| different times. Business gifts can be used as a | | | | the next 12 months. |
| means of employee retention and fun competition to | | | | In the years that followed, the competition never |
| inspire your staff do their personal best for the | | | | changed but the gift did. The MD always ensured |
| company. One UK based company has used business | | | | that there was something new on offer to thank his |
| gifts very successfully in this way and their success | | | | excellent staff such as desk clocks, watches, rugby |
| deserves a mention. | | | | shirts, and executive pens. Each of these sought |
| The company, we will call it Company ABC, started | | | | after products were accepted with pride. It was |
| by offering all their employees a printed Parker Pen | | | | always exciting to learn you or someone in your |
| at the end of a very busy month to thank them for | | | | office had won one of the top employee prizes. |