Great promotional gifts
Discussion
Thinking about having some new promotional products made up and was wondering what would really stand out. What is the best corporate gift you've given/received?
I'm going to get the usual pens and mousepads done with the logo on but am thinking of trying something different. They have to be cheap (like my marketing budget
) and suitable for property/facilities managers. Any ideas?
I'm going to get the usual pens and mousepads done with the logo on but am thinking of trying something different. They have to be cheap (like my marketing budget
) and suitable for property/facilities managers. Any ideas?Cheers guys. I was thinking about block-pads or post-it notes too - nice and cheap and your logo is right in front of them when they need it.
I don't know about mugs, mainly because they are too bulky. I would consider them if I had a stall at a trade-fair but as I'm going to be posting the gifts they may be more hassle than they are worth.
The mousepads I really wanted to get are see-through and have colourful gel inside them which swishes around. I quite like these as they are different but seeing as they are twice as expensive as normal ones I don't think I'll bother.
Any other ideas?
I don't know about mugs, mainly because they are too bulky. I would consider them if I had a stall at a trade-fair but as I'm going to be posting the gifts they may be more hassle than they are worth.
The mousepads I really wanted to get are see-through and have colourful gel inside them which swishes around. I quite like these as they are different but seeing as they are twice as expensive as normal ones I don't think I'll bother.
Any other ideas?
I tried mugs once but they didn't seem to work so well - they seemed to spend most of the time in the kitchen, whereas pads stay on the desk. Plus, IMO you don't want anything that's going to live in a drawer, or be given away to their kids the same day.
So whatever it is, it needs to be useful to the recipient and kept on the desk. And ideally consumable, so that even if they have one already, yours will get a turn. I've been given promo mousemats but never used them as I prefer my own. Calendars, diaries, same thing. Every time I think it over, I always come back to blockpads!
So whatever it is, it needs to be useful to the recipient and kept on the desk. And ideally consumable, so that even if they have one already, yours will get a turn. I've been given promo mousemats but never used them as I prefer my own. Calendars, diaries, same thing. Every time I think it over, I always come back to blockpads!
Other than my endless collection of Client mugs, there is one item that is a permanent part of my desktop gear, no matter where I move.
Branded with a recruitment agency details, its a rear view mirror for a PC. Sits on the top of the monitor and gives a great veiw of everything behind you. Great for unobtrusive PHing
They've had a fair bit of business from it as a result as well...
Branded with a recruitment agency details, its a rear view mirror for a PC. Sits on the top of the monitor and gives a great veiw of everything behind you. Great for unobtrusive PHing
They've had a fair bit of business from it as a result as well...
dick dastardly said:
suitable for property/facilities managers.
dd,
I have no idea what these people do, but you are on the right lines by thinking of things that will be essential to their work.
Desk-based, paperblocks, pens, mug & coaster, etc.
Rolodex/contact card box?
Desktidy?
If they have a partition/pinboard by their desk, perhaps a clip/binder?
On the move?
Presuming they are occsionally off-site, doing inspections or the like, how about:
Clipboard (add a clip or elastic strap to hold the bottom of the page down)
Folder
Action list pocket notebook, with tearable pages
Filofax -punched pads
Look at having a full custom-print (lined pages, put "Date", "Location" boxes and the like at the top, so when they get back to the office each page is easy to file/remember what it related to)
As well as producing something really useful to have at hand, think of the little details that make it an essential (like the elastic strap or the custom-printing). And if you have one smart Client you gey on well with, why not show him a mock-up and ask what he thinks (don't just ask "How do you fancy a mug" - you'll get a blank stare. Show him something and see whether he gets really excited). As an example, a printer once asked me what I wanted, and I asked for an art bag "because whenever I need one, some git has nicked them all". There's no way he would ever have guessed, and I was really chuffed that I got something really useful.
Thanks Richard, some great ideas there. I'm trying to do just that - think of new gift ideas, things which they will find useful and won't just throw in the stationary cupboard. I like the idea of things for when they're on the move, will give it some serious thought!
I think I'll get the pens and blocks made up anyway and if I come up with anymore then I'll give them a go too.
I think I'll get the pens and blocks made up anyway and if I come up with anymore then I'll give them a go too.
Don't get anything that your client is likely to bin or simply give away.
I tend to buy things like golf umbrellas, golf towels, rugby or polo shirts, baseball caps or wollie hats, cloth briefcase type bags and sometimes interesting penknives or multi-tool sets.
I avoid cheapish pens or keyrings etc.
Look at it as though someone is giving the gift to you - would you want it, would you keep it, would you use it and would it give you a good impression of the donor?
I tend to buy things like golf umbrellas, golf towels, rugby or polo shirts, baseball caps or wollie hats, cloth briefcase type bags and sometimes interesting penknives or multi-tool sets.
I avoid cheapish pens or keyrings etc.
Look at it as though someone is giving the gift to you - would you want it, would you keep it, would you use it and would it give you a good impression of the donor?
The company I work for has a part in pharmacy, and the drugs companies send out tons of the stuff.
So heres my opinion.
Pens - Obvious choice, I have so many of these things its not funny. Saying that I do use most of them if only a couple of times and they are cheap. If your going down this route though better pens get more recognition. I'm not talking the parker style ones, I hate 'classy' pens with a big logo on them, but more good biros, I have one for example with a little rubber clicker on the end (you know to bring in the pen nib) now this may not seem like much, but when I'm stressed its the most relaxing thing to click it. I also got a nice one from London Electricity which looks normal but somehow goes translucent and lights up blue from inside and flashes and does all sorts of cool things, lost that one though
Rulers - Only recieved one of these but it was a good big strong one, so I use it, slightly less obvious choice then the above.
Mouse mats - Another quite obvious thing, but most of the ones I get are just basic mouse mats, crap in other words. Please just don't, people with computers have crap mouse mats they don't want more, on the other hand a good gel filled one will make you loved. (I once used a crap one from a supplier and nearly slit my bloody wrists when a bit of the hard plastic on the top broke off)
Pads - Good choice and useful, but if the pharm industry is anything to go by, everyone does it so not much penetration. Saying that I do have about 3 post it notes permantly stuck to my monitor which get good exposure.
Ties - Never understood this one, I have never used and will never use a tie with another companies logo on, what does that say about you? I have one of these ties, red, 100% silk really nice, but has a the name of a company on it, so it will never be worn.
T-Shirts - Bit iffy this one, really depends on the industry, if its for something quite cool, like a computer game or movie I might wear it, otherwise only for painting or bed, maybe thats the idea though, subliminal advertising.
Others - I got a stress ball in the shape of a kidney, which was cool. I got a USB data storage thingy which is used all the time (though a label covers the name of the company with my name and e-mail address) that gets used quite a lot.
My office isn't piccadilly circus, so anything obtrusive such as branded calanders, clocks, wall planners etc go in the bin.
Although after writing all that I now realise that they were all a waste of money for the companies involved as a) I don't remember any of their names and b) I don't have much involvement in the pharm side of the business so
all to do with the drugs that are advertised!
>> Edited by rpguk on Wednesday 17th March 13:14
So heres my opinion.
Pens - Obvious choice, I have so many of these things its not funny. Saying that I do use most of them if only a couple of times and they are cheap. If your going down this route though better pens get more recognition. I'm not talking the parker style ones, I hate 'classy' pens with a big logo on them, but more good biros, I have one for example with a little rubber clicker on the end (you know to bring in the pen nib) now this may not seem like much, but when I'm stressed its the most relaxing thing to click it. I also got a nice one from London Electricity which looks normal but somehow goes translucent and lights up blue from inside and flashes and does all sorts of cool things, lost that one though
Rulers - Only recieved one of these but it was a good big strong one, so I use it, slightly less obvious choice then the above.
Mouse mats - Another quite obvious thing, but most of the ones I get are just basic mouse mats, crap in other words. Please just don't, people with computers have crap mouse mats they don't want more, on the other hand a good gel filled one will make you loved. (I once used a crap one from a supplier and nearly slit my bloody wrists when a bit of the hard plastic on the top broke off)
Pads - Good choice and useful, but if the pharm industry is anything to go by, everyone does it so not much penetration. Saying that I do have about 3 post it notes permantly stuck to my monitor which get good exposure.
Ties - Never understood this one, I have never used and will never use a tie with another companies logo on, what does that say about you? I have one of these ties, red, 100% silk really nice, but has a the name of a company on it, so it will never be worn.
T-Shirts - Bit iffy this one, really depends on the industry, if its for something quite cool, like a computer game or movie I might wear it, otherwise only for painting or bed, maybe thats the idea though, subliminal advertising.
Others - I got a stress ball in the shape of a kidney, which was cool. I got a USB data storage thingy which is used all the time (though a label covers the name of the company with my name and e-mail address) that gets used quite a lot.
My office isn't piccadilly circus, so anything obtrusive such as branded calanders, clocks, wall planners etc go in the bin.
Although after writing all that I now realise that they were all a waste of money for the companies involved as a) I don't remember any of their names and b) I don't have much involvement in the pharm side of the business so
all to do with the drugs that are advertised! >> Edited by rpguk on Wednesday 17th March 13:14
dick dastardly said:
The mousepads I really wanted to get are see-through and have colourful gel inside them which swishes around. I quite like these as they are different but seeing as they are twice as expensive as normal ones I don't think I'll bother.
Any other ideas?
Be careful with these, we had a load to give away a couple of years ago but when our sales guys tried to give them to customers a lot of them had leaked. The gel ruins whatever it comes into contact with, literature, samples and suits....
I have just had some memo clips done- small aluminium blocks with a wire coming out of the top with a clip on top. I sent them out with a business card size advert in the clip, but they have also got the company logo/phone number on the block. They are great for photos/post it notes/memos etc so people tend to keep them on their desks.
Mouse Pads,
Don't worry about design or quantity let me know what you need and I will sort it for you. Will be a new web site on line soon (www.turtlebeachdesign.co.uk) with details. This is my new joint venture with a graphic designer and we have got some special offers coming up to start the business off.
Don't worry about design or quantity let me know what you need and I will sort it for you. Will be a new web site on line soon (www.turtlebeachdesign.co.uk) with details. This is my new joint venture with a graphic designer and we have got some special offers coming up to start the business off.
robjacksonsnr said:
Mouse Pads,
Don't worry about design or quantity let me know what you need and I will sort it for you. Will be a new web site on line soon (www.turtlebeachdesign.co.uk) with details. This is my new joint venture with a graphic designer and we have got some special offers coming up to start the business off.
URL wasn't working when I tried to use it.
I'd go with the Paper block with a hole positioned to insert a pen. If your looking to push the boat out, I'd make sure the quality pen was connected to the post-it note block, to stop it being unavailable just when it is needed most. Thus you have an indispensible freebie that will be used regularly.
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