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Woking, Surrey,
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SOME DO's AND DONT'S
YOUR GUIDE TO BUYING GIFTS FOR BUSINESS, ADVERTISING GIFTS, BUSINESS GIFTS, INCENTIVES & PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISE

Successful marketing and communications campaigns that use promotional merchandise as part of their mix DON'T happen by chance. To achieve goals, promotional programs must be carefully planned and considerations given to the audience, the budget, the quantities and of course the ultimate aims.

We recommend the following guide lines to assist when creating effective marketing solutions.

Define a specific objective. Whether you're planning an advertising campaign, a marketing exercise, a sales promotion, a conference or exhibition, a sales incentive scheme, or a staff promotion.....or simply wondering what to give your clients.

Determine a workable distribution plan to a targeted audience. Distribution of any promotional product is as important as the item itself. A carefully executed distribution plan can significantly increase the awareness and effectiveness of theproduct. For instance a pre show mailing to a specially targeted audience may deliver more traffic to the show and qualified leads than simply handing out merchandise at the show to any old passer by.

Create a central theme. Use a recognisable logo and colour scheme throughout the campaign, for promotional products, for literature, for packaging and for advertising.

Develop a message to support the theme. Support a campaign's theme with a message to help make the targeted audience more aware of your corporate name and your services or products.  For instance, to promote its services to small businesses, a bank used the theme "Are you tired of being treated like a small fish?"; and sent fish related promotional merchandise to its targets along with campaign literature.

Select promotional merchandise that bears a relationship to your business, your industry or the theme being communicated. A good example is a company that developed a range of 'Magic' merchandise for a conference at Disney World. The targeted audience received magic type products to tie in with the theme "Experience the magic of Disney."

Some Do's

DO - plan ahead to meet deadlines - you want it when?
DO - Involve us at an early stage - Like NOW
DO - Brief us fully on your project - we may have some vital input.
DO - Keep us informed of changing requirements - if you move the goal posts let us know.
DO - Use the Gifts for Business experience - we know what will work.
DO - Use the Gifts for Business expertise - we know what won't
DO - Let us advise you - marking products can be technically tricky.

And some Don'ts

Don't - pick an item of merchandise just because it's unique, cheap or fashionable, dont fall into the trap of relying on the latest trends or fads. The most effective promotional merchandise is that which is well thought through, well planned and cohesive.
Don't - Leave it too late - customising products can take time.
Don't - Worry if your budgets are low - most products can be made to fit various price points.
Don't - Compare prices without comparing all the other parameters - we're not in the supermarket business
Don't - Buy from us if you purchase your advertising gifts, business gifts & promotional merchandise the way you buy your office stationery.


BUT IF you want objective input, Bright Ideas, concepts and advice (which is freely available as part of our service) and if you want more than just standard products and want to make the very best of your promotions.

DO Talk to us. Gifts for Business, we're the people who know but unless you
"ASK THE QUESTION" you may never find the answer.

SOME CHECKS

  • What does my promotion hope to achieve? - Set your goals.
  • Who am I aiming my promotion at? - Know your audience.
  • What is more important, initial impact or long term retention? - Throwaway or give away.
  • Do I need customised goods? - It would be a shame not to.
  • What quality do I require? - Skoda or Rolls Royce?.
  • What price point per unit can I realistically afford? - Be realistic!.
  • Have I taken into account artwork and origination costs? - Good design is paramount.
  • What about packaging? - Presentation is all.
  • When must I have delivery and where? - Where is easy, its when that's the trick.

Armed with this info we can then go to work for you. We'll offer totally unbiased solutions and a selection of products chosen for their all round relevance to your needs. The final choice is yours to make but with our wealth of experience we aim to maximise the potential of your advertising gifts, incentives, business gifts & promotional merchandise.





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