Archive for August, 2010

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Promotional Gifts for the Office – Ideas for Christmas

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Do you give your customers and employees Christmas presents?

What a great way to let people know that you are thinking of them. Promotional Christmas gifts are usually purchased in small quantities and given to your top customers or employees that have really made a difference to you and your business.

Think of the products that you use every day and that should give you a good idea of what your customers would appreciate receiving.

Unless you know your customer quite well and know what their favourite brand of wine is or their hobbies, I generally tend to stick to promotional desktop gifts. These will more often than not give you the biggest bang for your buck. Here is why…

Every day we sit at our desks working. Often we could be on the phone or speaking to a colleague or customer across our desks. The desktop is therefore hot property. Offer your customers and employees a quality gift that sits on their desktop and it could remain there for years.

You could purchase good quality metal desk clocks. This is the type of gift that people will look at regularly. If you take the time to have your logo printed or engraved on the front, your contact details need rarely be out of view.

For your computer savvy customers you might like to look into the many different USB products on offer. There are USB hubs, calculator/clock mouse mats, USB fans and USB reading lights just to name a few.

The key to a successful Christmas time promotion is to look for gifts that people need or enjoy using.

I will never forget the year I received a cheap plastic luggage tag from one of my biggest suppliers at the time. I hope this does not make me sound snobby. Luggage tags have their place and are perfect for bulk mail shots and given away at exhibitions.

But this was different. I was one of my supplier’s biggest customers but rather than acknowledging that they sent all of their 2000 customers a plastic luggage tag as an end of year thank you gift.

Instead of sending gifts to the masses which could give your customers and employees the wrong impression or even make you look cheap, try to look for better quality gifts and purchase fewer of them. Thanking your top 100 customers and/or employees can be done quite inexpensively and will keep you in their thoughts.

What is the worst promotional gift you have every received? Have you ever received a surprise gift from a good supplier. Last year I received a case of really nice wine from one of my suppliers and their gift went down very nicely! How about you? Please feel free to share your ideas, thoughts and/or experiences by leaving a comment here.

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Custom Made Promotional Stress Balls-The Google Android Stress Toy

Monday, August 30th, 2010
Android Stress Balls

We can manufacture special shapes for your too!

One thing that sets promotional stress balls apart from other types of promotional gifts is that they can so easily be custom made.

Unless you have been living in a cave for the past few years you have no doubt heard of the Google Android. Android is a mobile operating system that was created by our friends at Google. Android phones offer a nice touch screen interface with a host of Google applications from weather apps to headline news feeds to and assortment of free messaging systems.

Well I am not really in the telephone sales business so I will leave you to get more information about the Google Android. I will, however remind you of that now famous Android character.

People recognise the Google Android instantly so it was little wonder when a couple of months ago I received a phone call from a major mobile phone supplier wanting to order Android shaped promotional stress balls.

No problem! In fact, the Google Android loans itself very nicely to being manufactured as a stress reliever. It is quite pudgy with no long dangly bits.

Side view of our custom made stress ball

Call us today on 01642 782455 to discuss you custom requirments.

This is what you need to consider when having made to order stress balls created. The stressballs that work the best and last the longest are those that are roundish or square with no long antennas or other extensions such as arms and legs.

This is why most animal and people shaped stress relievers have proportionately fat legs and arms. If they were any thinner, they would soon fall off or be torn off. Often legs and arms are brought in to become part of the main body of the stress ball for this reason.

It is important to note that in order to have made to order stress balls manufactured there will normally be a 1000 unit minimum quantity. You may also need to purchase a new tool for the shape. This is a small cost to pay when you consider you are getting a product that is manufactured for you that no other company will have!

Promotional stress toys can also be manufactured in the colours of your choice. This offers you a chance to promote your brand in its own Pantone colours without the need to spend a large amount of money. Stress relievers are still considered to be low cost promotional items.

If you are considering having a character created into a stress ball that is not your own, be sure to get permission first. You do not want to purchase 5000 Mickey Mouse stress balls in your own company Pantone colours just to be told by Disney you cannot use them!

Do you have a company mascot or other shape you would like to use to promote your brand as a promotional stress toy? Perhaps you have already done so. It would be great to hear about your experiences or any questions you may have so leave a comment here.

By Dan Toombs

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5 Familiar Promotional Gifts That Will Promote Your Brand for Less

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Attend any trade show and your are sure to see five types of promotional gifts. These are the top five promotional gifts. They are popular because they are used everyday in offices and homes around the world.

If you consider using one or more of these five promotional items you will get great value for your money. This is especially so if you take some time to really plan your promotion and ensure your promotional products match your corporate image.

So here they are… These five gifts will be used and will promote your brand for longer than most other forms of promotion could ever do. Television, radio, magazine and newspaper ads will not last as long and they could be quite a lot more expensive. Give away a well planned and targeted promotional gift and it could be promoting your brand for years.

Promotional Pens

Cheap promotional plastic pens such as the lightweight capped pens you see all over the place are good for mega-sized promotions. This is especially so if you want to make a big impact and you are not concerned about how your brand will be perceived. Charities and churches use cheap pens very effectively. They want to get their message across without looking as if they have spent a lot of donated money to do it.

In business, however, you may wish to consider better quality plastic or even metal pens. Look at the styles available from Senator, Prodir, Roubil, Prodir and Lecce Pens. These European brand name pens are available worldwide. They are all fitted with good quality long-life refills that will write for months. I have a Lecce plastic promotional pen that have been using for over two years.

Each of these well known brands offer mix-n-match options so you can choose the colour of the nib, barrel and clip. You will usually need to allow a little more time for this service but doing so makes a simple promotional pen into a designer colour coordinated corporate pen at no extra expense.

Gift pens are the excellent choice for top clients, employees and used as graduation presents. You can normally purchase these in much smaller quantities. Gift pens are usually engraved and they look even better when presented in a pen case.

Check out the styles offered by Lamy, Parker, Cross and Waterman.

Promotional Mugs

There are now so many different mug styles to choose from. From high quality earthenware latte mugs engraved with a logo to the more simple non-breakable plastic mug you will be spoilt for choice.

On average people take a coffee or tea break five times every business day. If your customers happen to be using your logo printed mug that means your logo and brand are enjoying prime advertising space regularly.

If mugs are of interest toy you, I strongly recommend taking a little time to see what is available. Ask for samples and choose wisely. The mug you choose could become your customers’ favourite mug and that could offer you years of free advertising.

Mouse Mats

Promotional mouse mats are used by almost everyone. I recommend looking for mats that people will enjoy using. There are a lot of cheap options available but be careful. If people do not enjoy using a mat because it is too lightweight of flimsy, it will end up in the bin instead of on their desktops where it belongs.

I love mouse mats because they offer so much printable area. Get creative with your design so that your brand really stands out.

Digital Photo Frames

Promotional digital photo frames are special executive gifts. They can be quite expensive but do not let this stop you from considering them.

Do you have a few top clients who are loyal to you? Why not give them one of these top quality eye-catching frames to store all of their favourite pictures. It could sit on their desktop for years. They will look at it often and your logo and brand will always be right in front of them.

Almost everyone has a digital camera. We all take many more pictures than we did in the days before digital photography. Take advantage of this and give your top customers a gift they will really appreciate and use.

I have even seen digital photo frames given away on trade show stands. They are not to be put on the front table as you would plastic pens or stress balls but they can be handed personally to you VIP customers that come on the stand.

Eco Friendly Shopper Bags

These are the perfect gifts for trade shows as they offer visitors to your stand a place to put all the other stuff they pick up at the show. Print you logo nice and large on the side for all to see.

We are all trying to use our own bags when we do our weekly or daily shops. It is eco friendly to do so. Giving your customers a nice large reusable carrier bag will keep you in their thoughts long after your promotion is over.

I hope I have offered you a few things to consider. Plan you next promotion with one or more of these promotional gifts and you are on your way to a successful campaign. As always please feel free to share your thoughts or experiences by leaving a comment.

By Dan Toombs

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Are You Happy With Your Current Promotional Gifts Supplier?

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

We all know that the best things in life are free.

This is true in every aspect of our lives including our work lives. What has your promotional gifts supplier given to you free of charge lately?

I am not talking about products. That’s easy. Service is what should be free but in our increasingly technical world many promotional gifts suppliers are still playing catchup and their service is suffering for it!

Fifteen years ago when I started my online promotional merchandise company I purchased a Mac and the most up to date artwork software. I also paid to learn how to use it. My small company, at that time still based in my garage, became the first in the UK to offer a free artwork service.

Those were the days when artwork usually had to be printed onto colour separated clear plastic and sent through the post to suppliers because they did not have the know how to accept artwork by email.

At a recent industry conference I was surprised to learn how many promotional gift suppliers still do not offer the most basic of artwork services. It was suggested that that might be one of the reasons 10% of my UK competitors have ceased trading this year.

Service goes much further than artwork alone, however.

When was the last time you looked around for and spoke to possible new suppliers? It is easy to stay with what you know but often you may be using a supplier because it is easy to stay with what you know. It’s your comfort zone.

You may not be getting the service you deserve and you could be paying dearly for it. If you don’t believe me, then test me. Pick up the phone and test a few suppliers today. Many of the people answering the phones know about as much about promotional merchandise as a turtle. They are trained to answer question about products in their catalogue by looking at the answers on their computer screen. This is especially the case with the larger promotional gifts corporations.

If the supplier you use is not able to look around and find the best products for you then you lose. If all they can do is read from a corporate script, you lose. You lose if you do not ensure on a regular basis that you are getting the best results possible.

To win you need to regularly step out of your comfort zone and ensure your are getting free unbiased and professional service.

So how about it? Have you looked around for suppliers lately? Any good supplier will not have a problem being tested because they know you will come back to them. It is the many substandard, poorly trained suppliers that have something to be worried about.

Please share your thoughts or experiences by leaving a comment.

By Dan Toombs

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Promotional Gifts-5 Ways to Promote Your Brand for Less

Friday, August 27th, 2010

It goes without saying that the more you know about promotional merchandise the less you will pay for it. Take some time to learn where to find what you are looking for and not waste time with those suppliers who are either too expensive or do not offer the service.

In this article we will look at 5 ways you can promote your brand for less using promotional merchandise. Follow this advice like many other have and you will save on your text promotion.

Allow Yourself Time

Every day I receive phone calls from panicking people who have left things a bit late. Yes there are hundreds of promotional gifts that can be express printed in as few as 24 hours but leave it this late and you will be limiting yourself to those products. Many suppliers still charge an express fee though I don’t know how they stay in business doing so.

By allowing yourself time you will have thousands more products to choose from. Many promotional items can be manufactured and imported directly from the manufacturer by good promotional gift suppliers for additional savings.

Expect Amazing Service

You should not be penalised just because you left placing an order a bit longer than you should have. You should also not have to pay extra for typesetting or redrawing bad artwork. Professional suppliers who appreciate your business should have no problem doing this for you!

Keep Your Supply Chain Short

It does not hurt to ask whether your supplier imports their promotional merchandise or not? By asking around and checking prices you will often find suppliers who work directly with Far East manufacturers of promotional merchandise. Finding these suppliers and cutting out as many middlemen as possible will help keep the price down.

Know What You Are Looking For

At the end of the day, none of us are looking for products. We are looking for outstanding results. Finding a supplier that is the cheapest does not mean you will save money in the end. You want a supplier who will offer you the results you want at a competitive price and excellent service. Your supplier should be passionate about what they do and convince you that the dream promotional you so desire is exactly what they have on offer.

Ask for Pro-Forma Discounts

Some suppliers will offer you up to 10% off their normal retail prices if you pay up front or on despatch. This is an excellent way to save a large sum of money. Pay with a credit card so that you do not lose out should your supplier not deliver their side of the bargain.

I hope I have offered you some advice you can use. Many people have used this advice and realised huge savings. Have I left anything out that you think I should have included here? Please feel free to share your thoughts or experiences by leaving a comment.

By Dan Toombs

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Free Promotional Parker Pens For Every Reader

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Did that title get your attention?

Many businesses have found that offering a free incentive such as a free promotional Parker Pen has an amazing way of attracting new customers.

Just the other day I opened my daily newspaper to see a full page advert for insurance. The ad promised a free Parker Pen just for requesting further information.

Now you may think that’s crazy but the promise of a free pen obviously works. The well know company has used the same strategy for years.

Think of promotional gifts as a carrot that entices people to do what you want them to do. That could be something as simple as subscribing to your daily blog or registering on your company website. You could also think of other executive gifts that could catch your target customers’ attention.

One of my customers does this in a very big way and has done so for the past three years. They offer each and every visitor to their website a free promotional Parker Pen just for registering on their site. By doing so they are building a valuable customer database. They ask for their customers’ address, telephone number and email address which they check before sending the gift pen. Their target customers also fill out a small questionnaire about what products they are interested in receiving more information about.

This has made it possible for my customer to properly target people and keep them informed about new products and services of interest to them though their monthly newsletter.

My customer does not stop there. Their website is full of offers that make their clients want to take the next step and make a purchase. Some examples include a free winter fleece for purchases over £250.00 and an engraved crystal decanter set for purchases over £500.00.

Is that not what business is all about? At the end of the day we want to show our customers how our service and/or products is better than the competition. Offering an incentive to get those target customers to click through for more information is key to business success.

If your target customers are not taking that next step either online or in the offline world than they will not be learning what sets you apart from the rest. You could be missing an excellent opportunity to show them why they should be doing business with you.

Would you like to try promotional Parker Pens as incentives? Why not give it a try and see how this tried and tested strategy works for you?

Purchase your promotional Parker Pens from CompuGift and I will give you an addition 5% absolutely free of charge.

By Dan Toombs

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Promotional Pedometers Make Outstanding Christmas Gifts

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

So I’ve been wearing a promotional pedometer for the past two and a half years. It sits there on my belt just under my slightly oversized belly. The battle of the bulge has been an unfortunate part of my genetic makeup but it is a battle that I am slowly winning.

Every day I attach my promotional pedometer printed with my company logo somewhere onto my person and ensure that I walk the 10000 steps recommended by someone I have never heard of who is quite high up in healthy lifestyle research. Some days I have to work out extra long at the gym to get to the 10000 mark but I get it done.

So what you might think. Well, Christmas is approaching quickly. My company handed out 500 of these pedometers to our top customers in Christmas 2007 and I am still wearing mine. Through regular conversations with my customers I know they are still using theirs as well.

Can you imagine the years of free advertising you could receive if your customers do the same?

Pedometers are usually of good quality and many of them are quite stylish and innovatively designed. You can give them away knowing that no one in their right mind would throw away such a nice gift.

In fact they will treasure it. I saw the same pedometer I am wearing in the sports shop at my gym. It was on sale for twice what you would spend if you were purchasing promotional pedometers in bulk for your customers.

Promotional pedometers are not only for customers. They also make outstanding gifts and/or incentives for your top employees. A healthy workforce is a happy workforce so giving your staff gifts that will help keep them healthy is a good thing.

There are so many different healthy lifestyle gifts you can have printed with your company details and logo. A pedometer this year could be followed up with a nice metal sports bottle or stopwatch next year. If your budget allows you could opt for a sports gift set which includes pedometers and other sporting equipment.

Be sure to order early if promotional pedometers are of interest to you for Christmas. Usually they will be purchased by your supplier in bulk to meet the Christmas rush. Once they sell out you are out of luck.

Giving promotional pedometers can offer you years of advertising for one low prices. You can usually purchase printed pedometers in low quantities so you need not break the bank to give your customers and/or employees a nice gift they will surely appreciate and use for a long time.

By Dan Toombs

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Looking for Promotional Gift Ideas at The Supermarket

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Next time you are at the supermarket, look around and observe what is for sale. You will find so many useful products that are also available as promotional gifts. Buyers for the major supermarket chains are experts in knowing what the general public want and are willing to spend their hard earned cash on. Take their lead and you could just be in for a supercharged promotion.

Think about it… You will find things such as brand name and also cheaper generic pens. Notebooks, erasers, pencil sharpeners and staplers will also all have their place on the shelves.

Closer to Christmas you could find products such as candles, mug and chocolate sets, stuffed animals and photo frames.

The larger chains will also stock calculators, clocks and of course clothing. Almost all of the products you find at your local supermarket will also be available from online promotional merchandise suppliers. The difference is the unit price will be substantially lower from promotional gift suppliers because you will be buying in bulk.

In the summer you can expect to find things such as BBQ sets, sports drink bottles and fancy salt and pepper shakers.

Most of these products are manufactured in the Far East. Supermarket buyers will most likely deal with the same Chinese suppliers as promotional merchandise suppliers. Both will purchase large quantities of products but the supermarket will not have the often difficult job of personalising the gifts.

You may also like to make your way to the magazine rack. Often you can find great promotional gift ideas by looking in specialty magazines. If you are in the restaurant business, for examples you could look at a fishing magazine or home decorating magazine to see what people, the same types of people who could frequent your restaurant are being sold.

There are so many promotional merchandise ideas out there. All you have to do is look around and you will soon see what people are buying. If people are buying a certain product, they will love receiving it from you printed with your logo and details for free.

Can you think of a product that is selling exceptionally well? Have you seen the same product online being sold as a promotional gift? If not, why not ask if you can have that product as a promotional gift for your customers. Just because a product is not being promoted online or in printed promotional gifts catalogues does not mean it is not available as a promotional item.

By Dan Toombs

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Promotional Gifts-How To Get the Best Results

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

I was just contacted by a woman who said she needed pens in a hurry. ‘When do you need them,’ I asked. ‘Tomorrow!’ she answered in a quite, pleading whisper.

I receive similar phone calls almost every day from people who have left things a bit late. Luckily for them, there are many different promotional gifts that can be express printed.

But think of what could have been if they had only left themselves a little more time.

Promotional gifts get results but properly planning your promotional gifts campaign will achieve sensational results.

Here I would like to offer you 3 tips that will get you the results you want from your promotional gifts.

Target Your Customers

Try to find gifts that your customers either need or will enjoy using. Useful gifts work best. Promotional items such as printed pens, notepads, photo mugs and highlighters are all examples of promotional items that your customers, regardless of their industry will use regularly. If you cater to a specific niche such as walking clubs, you may wish to offer your customers well thought out gifts they will use like sports water bottles, walking sticks and printed backpacks.

Allow yourself time to find what promotional products are best for your target customers.

Look for Better Ways to Present Your Gifts

A good quality promotional pen will promote your business just fine. A promotional pen presented in an attractive clear pen tube or full colour printed plastic case will do the job even better. Presentation is a key factor in the most successful promotional gifts campaigns. Why not present your customers with a t-shirt wrapped in a nice clear plastic sleeve or give them a photo mug in a personalise card and clear plastic box?

Get the presentation right and you are bound to make a big impression.

Take Time at the Design Stage

Don’t just jump in and buy. Look for promotional items that can be personalised to represent you as you want to be represented. If you have an attractive printed catalogue cover and brochures, why not have that design printed onto full colour printed pens or photo mugs. Many gifts such as promotional stress balls, mouse mats, trolley keyrings, pens and notepads can all be made to order in your company colours, Pantone matched to perfection.

The most important part of getting the most out of your promotional merchandise campaign is time. Time allows you to find the perfect design for your promotional items. Time is what you need to properly consider your customers’ needs. Time is what is required to look properly into the many ways of presenting your promotional gifts.

Have you ever left ordering your promotional merchandise to the last minute? What were the results? Have my recommendations given you any ideas for your next marketing campaign. Have I left out anything you feel I shouldn’t have. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

By Dan Toombs

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Attention Grabbing, Elegant and Stylish Promotional Glass Mugs

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

So I am sitting outside my favourite coffee shop this morning as I do every Wednesday when Lisa brings out my large latte and bagel. Placing the promotional glass latte mug in front of me I am surprised by how much nicer the presentation is than it was last week. I am familiar with the glass latte mug because I sell a lot of them myself and deep down I am kicking myself for not having sold these to her. It’s not Lisa’s fault as she has no idea what I do for a living.

Last week she had brought me the same latte and bagel but the old porcelain latte mugs just did not have the same effect. These new mugs are printed with the coffee shop’s fancy three colour logo. I am impress. I can see that the people around me are also commenting about the new glasses.

When I go in to pay I am slapped in the face with a range of trendy t-shirts, Prodir pens and those classy latte mugs. They are all for sale. The mugs are actually being given away to loyal customers so I put mine in my pack. Did I mention already that I am kicking myself for this one? Would my competitor please leave my local?

That said, I am glad Lisa found a supplier that recommended such nice mugs and promotional gifts to her. It makes a big difference: an elegant and stylish difference that I am sure will be very beneficial to the business.

Have you ever considered promotional glass mugs for your business? They are not just used by coffee shops and restaurants. Glass coffee cups are attention grabbing promotional items in the boardroom, at conferences and used as special employee incentives.

Glass Latte mugs and other shapes are printed differently to most earthenware mugs. The print is usually transfer printed. Transfer prints are really no more than a permanent high quality decal that is applied to the mugs by hand and the heat cured onto the surface. This allows for spot colour and also full colour printing.

You can also transfer print in unusual places like inside the mug and along the handle.

Do you know what? I think it is time I stop describing these eye-catching promotional items and encourage you instead to order a printed sample. Why not. Any promotional gift supplier worth their salt will be happy to show off the printed work they have done on behalf of their other customers!

So what are you waiting for? Order a few samples now. When you do, be sure to drop back here and leave a comment. You could share your favourite styles with other readers. That would be great!

By Dan Toombs

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