Argon Promotional Products and Promotional Gifts. » 2009 » November

In these days of heavy cost cutting, the choice of promotional items becomes crucial as the items have to justify the costs and the return on investment is a key criterion. The accent is on maximizing the bang for the buck and companies are taking a hard look at some of the promotional items to review whether they are really providing them the advantages initially perceived. Most companies have however not given up on promotional bags as an effective advertising tool and are still placing orders for distributing these bags to not only their customers but also to vendors, third party associates and employees. Besides companies, promotional bags are very popular with a whole host of other organizations like hospitals, educational universities, schools etc.

What is the reason for such demand and popularity?
There are many reasons and one of them is the tremendous variety that is on offer. So whether it is the luggage and trolley bag best suited for airlines staff, the backpack ones for those on the run, vanity and cosmetic bags for the beauty conscious or simple laptop bags for the busy executive, you get them all in the form of promotional bags. The list does not end here. You can get eco-friendly designs, duffel bags and a whole spectrum of high quality and high utility items which are sure to meet with everybody’s requirement and get you a lot of appreciation. This variety really sets this popular product apart from all other promotional items as there is hardly any other item that offers such diverse utility value and that too at very reasonable prices.

Coming to specifics, the air porter trolley varieties are truly for the busy traveler and though they cost more than their other peers, these are gifts that you would do well to give your high profile customers who are always travelling. The practical utility of such items is sure to impress your customers and they will continue to favour you with their business for a long time. The brand recall will also be very strong as you have given the customers something they are going to use regularly and it is human nature to remember what is dear and useful to us. These products travel with your customers to locations which may be outside the country and thus provide superb exposure to your brand even at those locations. Nothing can be more value for the money spent and since your customer is a regular traveler, he is going to make your brand visible to many people many times, which definitely would not be possible with conventional advertising. So the money spent in this case on a luxurious air porter bag is well worth it and you should not have any regrets.

Whichever promotional bags you decide on for your campaign you are sure to reap the rewards and increase your brand awareness.

It is always a tough decision to take on the feasibility of a promotional campaign during such recessionary times. You do not have much of an option if you wish to keep your present customers in good humour and also want to enlist new customers into your fold. In fact during times as tough as this, it is all the more important to maintain goodwill and strive to retain existing business as they are more profitable and you might not want to take on the acquisition costs of new customers for the moment. So the crux is to utilize the budget at hand in the most prudent and thrifty manner to achieve your objectives. A couple of business gifts would serve your cause very well as they are both inexpensive and at the same time good for the visibility of your brand.

The first one is the promotional calendar. They are great items to gift due to their utility and will pay you back adequately. People will not stash away these calendars, but will prefer to hang them on the wall providing a lot of positive publicity to your brand through the year. This is one promotional piece that is required by all offices and custom printing them in themes of your choice does not cost a lot. It is of course necessary and ideal to hand over these business gifts at the beginning of the calendar year to rake in the full benefit of this gift and enjoy brand recognition for all twelve months.

The other business gift is the calculator which again is a necessity for every business meeting and a handy tool in general. These calculators are always well received due to their utility, portability and durability. They are very inexpensive to procure and present adequate space to advertise your company trademark. They are a hit with all departments and hierarchies in a company – from the sales person to the finance guy and from the ordinary accountant to the top boss. In fact these items are useful and used by everybody. They are practical tools and can be gifted to anybody irrespective of gender or age. Due to the need to perform accurate and swift calculations on a daily basis, your brand gets noticed every time they are used and staff within your customer’s organization will thank you for making their task easier. They are not items that people will discard and will thus present your brand in good light for a long time. High quality calculators will not tax your limited budget and yet provide you with a good marketing option.

The ubiquitous coffee mug is everywhere. Wherever you go, you can notice people having one in their hands and that is one of the primary reasons as to why promotional mugs continue to remain a hot favourite amongst promotional items. The company brand can be easily noticed and the probability of this happening is very high with coffee mugs.

These mugs can be made of plastic, ceramic and even acrylic and they are now available in many shapes and sizes as well. You can see many personalized designs propping up a particular company’s brand at many places and very often if the design appeals to somebody, they even purchase it off the shelf. That is because the mug is so functional and nobody would grudge a nice looking design adorning their shelf or table. Promotional mugs can also be handed over as gifts to employees with some goodies inside and this gesture from you is sure to be well received by the employee.
There are other reasons as to why these products are so sought after by both the company and the recipient. They are:

• Majority of us are coffee drinkers and this represents a huge advertising opportunity first thing in the morning.

• Due to the attractive designs on these products, they have acquired the status of becoming collector’s items and many people want to keep adding them to their collection thereby ensuring continued exposure to your brand and remembrance for a long time.

• The durability of these items also makes sure that they remain on the shelves or tables for a long time, again boosting the visibility of the brand over an extended period of time. No amount of traditional advertising can achieve this for you at the cost associated with these promotional mugs.

• These can also be customised to requirement and will suit the needs of the recipient without any problem.

Though these products come made of ceramic, plastic and acrylic, one type which makes for an excellent gift is the stainless steel travel variety. This item can be designed in the manner the company wants and helps convey the message very effectively to the recipient. They are more expensive but worth every penny as they are stylish and present a very favourable impression about your company. These promotional mugs are fitted with a lid that is spill resistant and fits in snugly into all vehicle cup holders. Its sweat proof design will ensure that there are no ungainly water rings and the superb insulation keeps the coffee warm for a long time.

Moreover its non-slip base guards against any accidents. This gift is surely for the top honcho in your customer’s organization, who is always on the move and there is no better gift to keep reminding him about your company and brand.

The basic aim of any business establishment is to have the maximum profit margin it can attain. For maximizing profit, it is really important that it has a base of customers who are loyal to the company. For increasing the overall profit, it is imperative that this customer base is augmented on a regular basis. Here comes the role of the marketing team in a company. It is the responsibility of the marketing team to popularize the company’s products among the common people, and create a positive image of the brand in the minds of the general public. Good quality products are of primary importance. But equally important are the right marketing strategies according to the target audience. Good advertisements always work. In addition, it is often very useful to launch a range of promotional items to popularize the brand’s name among members of the target audience.

In general, promotional items are inexpensive items bearing the company’s name and/or logo. After the target audience is decided according to the nature of the products, such freebies can be distributed among the public to make them aware of the company and create a general curiosity regarding the products. People never say no to something they are getting for free, so most likely they will carry home the item you give them. As this will probably be their first interaction with your company, it is important to make a really good impression. They will judge the quality of the products you offer on the basis of the promotional item you have offered them… so be sure that whatever it is, the item should be of the best possible make. If your item makes a favourable impression on someone, they are likely to try your products at least once. And if they are satisfied with the products, then bang! You have got yourself a new customer!

Certain studies suggest that on an average, people use good promotional items for a minimum of 5-6 months. Also, freebies sent through the mail are supposed to be more effective at building a brand image than giveaways distributed randomly. Keep in mind, selection and distribution of an appropriate item is no mean task. It takes a lot of planning and preparation. Depending upon the nature of the organisation and the target audience, a variety of products may be chosen from. Such items may have one of two kinds of value for the potential customer: aesthetic value or utility value. Corporate houses may favour scratch pads and conference folders, whereas a computer peripherals company may go for decorative mouse pads. Soft drink companies may go for bottle openers, and baseball caps will do pretty well for sports manufacturers and retailers. Bags also tend to work well and also corporate planners and yearly diaries, etc.

Promotional items, if handled correctly, can get you a multitude of new customers. A few pointers: make sure that the item bears clearly the logo of your company, and has the same colour scheme. Some caption which generates interest regarding the promoted products should be clearly visible on the item. Make sure you plan well ahead and distribute the freebies amongst the right audience. Follow these simple guidelines and you should be good to go!