About Giveaways

A pen is probably the most common, but useful, giveaway of all.

"Giveaways"---also known as corporate gifts or promotional merchandise--is the generic term for items which companies give away for free to their customers and others. The purpose may be to act as a reminder of the company and its products and services, or to reinforce the organization's brand value in the eyes of the consumer, for example through a quirky giveaway from a fun-loving company. The basic premise underlying giveaways is that everyone likes to get something for free, although customers can become disenchanted with unimaginative, throw-away items.

Purpose

The key to success when investing in giveaways is to understand the purpose behind producing the item. In some cases, this may be to act as a reminder of the company, with the company name and logo prominent. Pens and calendars are perennial favorites because of this, as well as being items which people not only use themselves but may pass on to others. Another objective may be to reward the customer, which will involve producing higher value giveaways such as computer accessories, cameras, and similarly desirable items.

Sourcing

There are numerous online, and catalog companies selling a wide variety of promotional items specifically for use as giveaways. Two initial decisions you need to make before ordering, are how much you want to spend, and how many items you need. The two factors are closely linked as the price of each item usually depends on the quantity ordered.

Cost

Evaluate the total cost of production assuming that you will want your logo on the products and may want to have them in your corporate colors. Check if packaging is included and whether delivery is extra---these additional costs can all be significant. Also factor in the mailing cost from you to the customer if they are to be distributed that way.

Quantities

Decide at the outset how you will distribute your giveaways as this will affect both which types of item are suitable and how many you will require. Steer clear of fragile, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items if they are to be mailed. Avoid over-ordering on any time-sensitive items such as calendars or anything linked to a "new" product which will eventually be superseded. If items are needed for a special event such as an exhibition, make sure you order early.

Branding

Any giveaway product needs to sit well with your company image and brand values. A law firm or dentist would be unlikely to have the same sort of giveaways as a skateboard manufacturer or jeans retailer. Make sure you receive and carefully check a prototype product to see that your logo and company name are well-placed and that details such as web addresses or phone numbers are free of errors.

Innovation

Although the range of giveaways available is extremely diverse, on occasion you may wish to develop a completely new giveaway product, for example for a new product launch. This has the dual advantage of being unique to your company and, if sufficiently innovative, of being a talking-point that people will want to show to others. Producing a unique product may require the services of product designers and graphic designers and is likely to cost significantly more.

References

• Promotional Merchandise: Homepage

Resources

• Phoenix Corporate Gifts: Homepage