Corporate gifts have a special place within the annual marketing plan. These are reserved for business to business use most of the time. They are presented to business associates who have been especially helpful. They also can be used within a company as a gift of appreciation to loyal employees, managers or suppliers. Another place you might be able to use corporate gifts are as part of an incentive program or sales contest.
Promotional items that are used for corporate gifts can be as large as a car or small as a gold cufflink. They may be purchased alone or in a small number. These items generally are much more expensive gifts that the ones used for ordinary promotions to persons unknown. Imprinted items can be purchased one at a time; it is not always necessary to purchase large quantities of promotional products.
Corporate gifts usually carry the corporate name or logo, rather than individual product names. There are exceptions, but in general, the corporate gift is something that is above and beyond the normal free gift category type of merchandise. Some possibilities include laptop bags, digital photo frames, wall hangings, sports accessories or clothing, golf umbrellas and other better quality gifts. These are much different than pens and pencils, although a very nice boxed executive pen set does make a nice business gift.
This type of promotional gift can be used for many purposes. Use these gifts to show appreciation to current customers and clients. Present a nice corporate gift when you sign a deal with a new client. Use them at holidays to say thank you to loyal employees and suppliers. During sales contests, a high quality executive gift always is a good incentive to add to possible rewards.
Desk clocks, glassware, electronic gifts, furniture, crystal vases, weather centers and food baskets are all good corporate gift selections. Small executive gifts include fancy clocks, collectibles, wallets and desk sets or accessories. Each item is capable of being imprinted and that definitely should be taken advantage of for best results.
When you present an executive gift, it is smart to have that item carry a tasteful imprint of your company logo or name. The imprint does not need to be large and flashy; it just needs to be there so your recipient will remember who gave them that nice business gift. It also helps to keep your business name in their mind.
Imprinting does not always have to be in ink. The same effect can be achieved through embroidery on fabric or embossing on leather. Some metal or glass products require that branding be done by etching or affixing a small metal engraved plate with the pertinent information on it. As long as the corporate identification is showing somewhere, the ultimate purpose of promotional items is achieved. The gift recipient and all others who view the item know who presented it.
Imprinting on promotional items accomplishes a marketing task: advertising. The gift is enhanced in your eyes by the fact that it will continue to provide advertising for your company. Use corporate gifts for advertising purposes whenever it is appropriate.
