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Promotional conference folders come in many different shapes, materials and sizes. You can choose from excellent quality Chinese or Indian made folders or opt for made to order folders in the west. These are often more expensive but could represent your business better.

In this article I would like to offer you advice on what you should consider when purchasing folders to represent your brand.

Print

What is it you want to print? Are you going for a traditional style such as a simple logo gold blocked or embossed into leather or another expanded material? Or perhaps you have a full colour design which would be better suited to printing onto PVC or polypropylene. Often it is a good idea to email your design so that suppliers can better advise you on what type of folder will work best for you.

Material

You wouldn’t give a leather folder to Stella McCartney now would you? Perhaps you would if you enjoy a bit of confrontation but usually it is a good idea to consider those who are receiving your free gifts. What material do you think will be best received by your clients?

Extras

Often promotional folders are supplied as standard with a note pad and pen. This is especially the case with imported folders. Sometimes they are good quality. More often than not they are a cheap add on. If you really want to make a good impression you may want to order specially printed pens and notepads that better represent your business.

Pockets

I once had a customer who asked for samples of three different folders and then chose the one that she liked the most. She purchased 5000 without checking first to ensure the brochures and other material she was handing out at a conference would fit into the folder. They didn’t. It was a bit of an inconvenient embarrassment for her. Don’t let that happen to you.

Lead-time

Most promotional folders are imported from China and India these days. If your folder of choice is an import, be sure not to delay ordering. These folders are purchase and imported in bulk. Often, the more popular styles sell out and you could find yourself needing to wait weeks for the next shipment to arrive or indeed choosing another folder you do not like as much.

I always recommend requesting samples before placing a large order. It is difficult to tell the difference between one folder and the next when it is pictured online or in a printed catalogue.

Promotional ice scrapers make excellent low cost gifts

One of my first jobs out of college was working for a well known car hire firm called Enterprise Rent a Car in California. Back then, the brand was still quite young and not very well known. Whenever we opened a new office or offices in a new city, promotional gifts played a major role in getting our name out to the insurance adjusters, car dealerships and body repair shops who were our target customers. One of the most popular promotional gifts we handed out in the winter were promotional ice scrapers.

As I write this I am watching the snow fall outside my office window in the North East of England. In winter time we need ice scrapers almost every day as apposed to once a month in California. So it is little wonder that personalised ice scrapers are such popular low cost gifts here. They are a must have item for drivers during the cold months.

The best promotional gifts are always the gifts that people use and want to own. They do not need to be expensive to be effective and this is evident from the popularity of promotional ice scrapers.

A good guide price for promotional ice scrapers is around 50p each but there are more expensive and less expensive options. Generally speaking the price is down quality and the number purchased though you can also find better deals from promotional gift suppliers who actually import their own promotional items from the Far East and/or work closely with local manufacturers.

One good thing about promotional ice scrapers is that they will be kept in the car for years. Most are made to last many winter seasons so you will be enjoying the benefits of handing out these popular low cost business gifts for a very long time.

There are ice scrapers on keyrings, larger versions with handles and some are even manufactured with recycled materials which will show your company’s interest in preserving the environment.

All of your clients should have a good quality ice scraper with your logo and details in their cars. Don’t just stop there, however. Give all of your friends, employees and work colleagues a couple to put in their cars. They will then see your logo and details through the winter as will anyone riding with them.

By Dan Toombs