If you cater to upscale customers, luxury promotional items are in order.
Promotional products help establish a positive first impression with potential customers. They don't have to be expensive, but should always be good quality. Think of them as an extension of your brand, so they could be an item from the same industry. For example, you might give flash drives if you are in the computer industry. However, you can also give promotional items that represent your corporate culture. Perhaps reducing your carbon footprint is part of your mission statement. In that case, giving green items would be an excellent idea for you.
Eco-Friendly
Many promotional items are now made from recycled paper.
With the ever-increasing focus on green products, items like Grow Cups, from the Far From Boring Company, are a good choice. Grow Cups are economical (just over $2 each in 2011) recyclable planters, complete with flower seeds and soil. Visually stunning, they are 100 percent made in the U.S. Even more economical, at $1.29 each, are biodegradable seed stakes. Just plant the stake, add water and watch plants grow. Your message is printed on the front, with planting instructions on back. There are also a wide assortment of mobile-phone solar chargers, ranging from $25 to $40 each. Customers can charge mobile phones or MP3 players with the free, abundant power of the sun.
Humorous
Common wisdom says, "Make someone laugh and you've gained a friend for life." That sentiment is never more true than with promotional items. Corporate Snobs' Sole Decision Maker game sells for around $19 in 2011 and is designed for that harried corporate executive who needs to take a break from too many decisions. This electronic version of the "8 Ball" directs executives to ask a question, then press the button and the wheel will spin to tell you the answer: "No," "Maybe," "Buy," "Go For It," "Try Again," "Yes" or "Ask again Next Week."
Creativity-Enhancing
Ball of Whacks, from Garrett Specialties, is designed to get the creative juices flowing again and to refresh the mind. The game is an ideal creativity tool for innovators, artists, engineers, writers, students and educators. It consists of 30 magnetic design blocks that can be rearranged into many shapes. Each individual piece is a ''golden ratio'' rhombic pyramid, held together by magnets. The game also comes with a 96-page illustrated creativity guidebook filled with exercises, strategies and insights into the creative process.
Thoughtful
T-shirts are a preferred promotional item among men.
Purchase a range of promotional products to fit the various segments in your target market. The November 2008 survey "Advertising Specialties Impressions Study: A cost analysis of promotional products versus other advertising media" conducted by the Advertising Specialty Institute showed that seniors (ages 55 and up) tend to keep more of the top cost-per-impressions promotional products like pens and calendars, while younger people (ages 21-34) prefer safety products and promotional food items. Women have received more bags, calendars, health-and-safety items and writing instruments than men. Men received more T-shirts, electronics and caps. Don't discount the tried-and-true, however. Mugs, T-shirts and jackets appear to be favorite freebies for all ages.
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