Do you want to take your corporate name, logo, slogan or ATTITUDE and get it OUT THERE?? There is a plethora of product choices! Since there are so many purposes for logoed product, we’ve taken our strongest choices, and grouped them into some of the applications for which you might need them.
Client Gifting
Client gifts are best used for appreciation purposes, or reminder advertising. These gifts stay with your clients. Be very careful about choosing a dollar value – the gift must never appear to be affecting the client’s judgment (i.e. so it doesn’t seem you are “buying off” the client). If your clients are large companies with purchasing departments, they may have to return them due to corporate policies. Many “purchasing department” clients are very strict. Some corporations actually collect all vendor gifts into a draw pool and offer them as door prizes at their corporate functions. Nonetheless, here are some common, tried-and-true choices for types of items:
- Memory sticks
- Mugs
- Padfolios
- Road Safety kits
- Coasters
- Pens
- Lens Cleaner Kits
- Golf products (tees, balls, divet fixers, markers)
- Clothing (be very careful of quality – must be subtly marked, and nice.) Only give to clients who are really valuable/supportive of you.
Trade show items
There are lot of great items you can use to pump up your trade show identity.
- For Employees attending the show: Good to have them identified with corporate-branded clothing, lanyards
- For Prospective Buyers: You might want to consider two groupings… the serious prospects, and the casual prospects.
- Serious Prospects: Spend a little more money on these– keep the items under the counter, or out of view. Sit down/chat with these people and then decide if you’d like to give them an item. These can be shirts, fancy pens, memory sticks, etc.
- Casual Prospects: Here’s an inexpensive “freebie” you might wish anyone to have. eg. Recycled carrying bags, candy, pads of paper, inexpensive pens.
Golf Tournaments
Products are given as a “swag bag” for each entrant. Common contents include branded product such as umbrellas, a package of golf balls/divot tools/tees, a stroke counter, a good golf shirt.
Staff Tip: Let’s face it – there are not many “new” inventions in golf related items every year! Why not consider something non-golf related for your offering? It could be something that appeals to all possible golfers – from summer BBQ related items like aprons to something that speaks to the name of the Tournament (ie – Oilmen’s Classic – wine glass markers with oil related fobs such as derricks, drill bits, map of Alberta and your logo.)
Calgary Stampede Party Items
Common products include bandanas, cowboy hats, drink holsters, tee-shirts, belt buckles, sheriff badges, bolo ties, balloons, wristbands, and foam toys to throw at the parade (assuming you have a corporate float entered).
Staff Tip: Start to formulate your plan for Stampede in March. It happens at the same time every year, and every year there is a “stampede” to buy staff shirts or other western related items in June. Be ahead of the crowd on this one – and make sure you get the look you want to achieve before time has run out! Don’t be afraid to stand out – “retro” design cowboy shirts complete with roses and rope patterns, to relaxed fit short sleeve “cowboy” pattern camp shirts for comfort.
Christmas
It’s Christmas, but if the gift is for business purposes, it’s still recommended to include a logo. Otherwise, someone else within the client’s company can get it by accident, and the intended recipient may never know it’s from you. It’s good to choose something with a high perceived value, and a feel-good factor. When choosing a client gift for the holidays, we recommend a budget of about $25 – $50 each, or more. Here are some ideas:
- Food/Drink: Usually it’s good to avoid alcohol, but fine wine can be acceptable if you really know the client. A good rule is “eat or drink it in a day” or choose something communal so everyone can enjoy it a the reception desk or lunch room. Make sure there’s a logoed ribbon or card, or mug inside, so they know who it came from. Gift baskets are good because everybody gets to eat something from it.
- Other Gifts: Winter-themed gifts such as car blankets, small leather goods, road safety kit, donation to food bank in lieu of….but still nice to give a small logoed product. (Electronic Christmas cards sent by email generally seem impersonal and too quickly done to be regarded as thoughtful…they can also harbour cookies or viruses.)
Staff Tip: this is truly a gift – either to your staff for another successful year or to your clients who supported you through another 12 months. Saying thank you in this instance needs to be well thought out – as it is a traditional gift giving time in our culture. Your staff may appreciate a subtly embroidered jacket to keep them warm whereas the sizing implications of the same gift for your clients will make this choice totally unsuitable.
Company Anniversaries
Gifts for company anniversaries are generally given to:
- Employees or Clients – these would typically be a desk/office item such as mug, pen, picture frames, clothing works well.
- Support a Party (Take-away) – key chains, pens, something at a place setting, wine glass. Try to choose something with a high perceived value. Could also be a bag to contain a few items.
Conferences
Gifts are grouped into several areas for conferences:
- Speaker gift – art is preferred, especially local art. Name plate/recognition on it works well. Padfolios also work well.
- Participant Items – eg. Lanyards, clothing, padfolios, pens, sticky notes, tote bags.
- “Save the Date” Promotional Item – to tell people “the conference is coming” and get the buy-in with anticipation.
Branded Products – Great Ideas
Do you want to take your corporate name, logo, slogan or ATTITUDE and get it OUT THERE?? There is a plethora of product choices! Since there are so many purposes for logoed product, we’ve taken our strongest choices, and grouped them into some of the applications for which you might need them.
Client Gifting
Client gifts are best used for appreciation purposes, or reminder advertising. These gifts stay with your clients. Be very careful about choosing a dollar value – the gift must never appear to be affecting the client’s judgment (i.e. so it doesn’t seem you are “buying off” the client). If your clients are large companies with purchasing departments, they may have to return them due to corporate policies. Many “purchasing department” clients are very strict. Some corporations actually collect all vendor gifts into a draw pool and offer them as door prizes at their corporate functions. Nonetheless, here are some common, tried-and-true choices for types of items:
Trade show items
There are lot of great items you can use to pump up your trade show identity.
Golf Tournaments
Products are given as a “swag bag” for each entrant. Common contents include branded product such as umbrellas, a package of golf balls/divot tools/tees, a stroke counter, a good golf shirt.
Calgary Stampede Party Items
Common products include bandanas, cowboy hats, drink holsters, tee-shirts, belt buckles, sheriff badges, bolo ties, balloons, wristbands, and foam toys to throw at the parade (assuming you have a corporate float entered).
Christmas
It’s Christmas, but if the gift is for business purposes, it’s still recommended to include a logo. Otherwise, someone else within the client’s company can get it by accident, and the intended recipient may never know it’s from you. It’s good to choose something with a high perceived value, and a feel-good factor. When choosing a client gift for the holidays, we recommend a budget of about $25 – $50 each, or more. Here are some ideas:
Company Anniversaries
Gifts for company anniversaries are generally given to:
Conferences
Gifts are grouped into several areas for conferences: