Archive for November, 2008
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008
ISO9000 is a standard for quality management in an organisation.
ISO9000 certification is recognition of a company being consistent and reliable, delivering goods and services of a high standard and providing good customer service levels.
It sends a message that an organisation takes quality and customer satisfaction very seriously. Its purpose is to assure customers that its suppliers can provide quality products and services.
The Corporate Gifts Co has held ISO9000 accreditation since 1995 and has to pass an annual external audit, and last week the audit was passed with flying colours.
So what does this mean for the customers of The Corporate Gifts Company? It means that when you source your business and promotional products from us, you can rest assured that your advertising gifts will be of the highest quality, fit for purpose, delivered on time and with the correct corporate branding.
Tags: Advertising, advertising gifts, Branding, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, corporate promotional products, gifts company, promotion, promotional gift, promotional products, quality promotional products
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Recent research has shown that in a multicultural society mass marketing messages are less effective. What dilutes the message even further is the number of channels those “above the line” messages reach us by; television, magazines, etc. In the present economic climate it’s even more imperative that marketers engage with their target audience in the most cost effective way. Promotional merchandise is an extremely effective below the line way of engaging with customers, product launches, and creating brand awareness.
So what makes promotional merchandise so persuasive?
1. Engaging; touch and feel (something that TV and the internet cannot do). Imagine how powerful your logo engraved on a promo business card case would be http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_card_holders.html
2. Personalise; add an engraved individual name to make the promotional item even more effective; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_single_engraved_gifts.html
3. Longevity; a well chosen business gift can stay with the recipient for years – like this classic swiss army knife http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_victorinox.html
4. Lots of delivery mechanisms; events, face to face, conferences etc – like these very versatile keyrings; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_key_rings.html
5. Give to Get; you always need a response measurement to a promotion. A gift will help create a response and increase brand awareness like these high perceived value clocks http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_clocks.html
Call our sales team for ideas about how we can help you get the most for your below the line marketing activity.
Tags: advertising gifts, business gift, Business Gifts, Cost Effective, product launches, promo products, promotion, Promotional Gifts, promotional incentives, promotional item
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
Sunday, November 16th, 2008
On average it takes seven “touches” to convert a cold customer to a sale. Sounds daunting doesn’t it? If you’re using only one vehicle for your message (eg traditional advertising), that’s a lot of exposure, a lot of cost, probably over a prolonged period of time. Smart companies utilise more than one “channel” to get to their marketing target. 360 degree marketing in the modern jargon, although it’s good old fashioned common sense when you think about it.
So what “channels” are available to corporate companies for their promotional activities? Advertising, emailers, exhibitions, face to face meetings, post mail shots or catalogues, pr, and promotional advertising gifts. Obviously that’s where the Corporate Gifts Company comes in.
Corporate advertising products are an essential part of the marketing mix. They are, however, often the poor relation in the marketing family, left until last minute without much thought or attention. If it does indeed mean that seven touches of marketing activity are required to convert prospects to customers, then it’s obvious that marketeers need every weapon in their amoury.
Choosing the most appropriate promotional product, therefore, is essential and as much time, effort and care should go into the selection of your business gifts and advertising items as any other aspect of your marketing budget. Appropriate is the key word, of course, and like any marketing activity an ill considered “off message” piece of marketing can actually harm your company’s product or reputation.
So what about some examples from the experts? Who’s that, you cry. Why, the Corporate Gifts Co, of course.
How about these cufflinks for a conference including men and woman? http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_cufflinks.html . Rediculous you say. Of course you’d be right, but this is a true story. These are, however, perfect for an executive male option, and if you choose something for the men and something for the ladies, it really says you’ve put some thought into it.
How about this smart, contemporary yet traditional clock. http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_deco_clock.html Can’t go wrong? A safe bet for virtually any promotional activity, unless some or all of the intended targets are Chinese (where the clock signifies death).
This great hip flask http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_3oz_hip_flask.html, used for an AA promotion! Alright I made that one up (in fact it would be disasterous for either AA’s, alcholic and motoring). But great for a Christmas promotion.
Business card cases are one of the most effective and popular business executive gifts and the Corporate Gifts Co has a fantastic collection of these promotional stallwarts. http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_card_holders.html . Just make sure your target audience actually uses business cards – not great for the guys on the shop floor.
But don’t be alarmed at this potential minefield. Over the last 20 years The Corporate Gifts Co has seen it all (promotionally speaking), and our experienced sales team are available to help you make the right choice for your promotional gift, whatever the audience and event. Call them today on 0845 230 2902 and make sure this part of the “seven touches” of marketing is done right!
Tags: Advertising, advertising gifts, advertising products, business card cases, business gift, Business Gifts, Christmas, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, executive gifts, executive incentives, fashion, gifts company, ladies promotional gifts, promo cufflinks, promotion, promotional business card case, Promotional Clocks, promotional gift, promotional hip flasks, promotional marketing
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
As hot topics go, green issues are red hot (if that’s not mixing my colour pallet too much). And this applies just as much to the promotional market as any other industry. My favourite eco-friendly buzz word is “greenwash” and refers to all those half-truths, misconceptions, and outright lies that surround the selling and marketing of so called green products.
For consumers and professional buyers alike, the whole area is a minefield, and to help us all out, environmental marketing company TerraChoice published the six sins of greenwashing. So helpful, in fact, I thought I’d share them with you all;
SIN OF THE HIDDEN TRADE-OFF : for example energy efficient electronics that contain hazardous materials.
SIN OF NO PROOF : self explanatory – buying a eco-freindly corporate gift? Ask for the proof.
SIN OF VAGUENESS : 100% natural promotional item, but naturally occurring substances can be hazardous like arsenic or formaldehyde. is
SIN OF IRRELEVANCE : marketing a promotional product as RoHS compliant when it is actually law that it is so.
SIN OF FIBBING : lots of examples but an obvious one is falsely claiming a business gift is cer tified by a recognised body.
SIN OF LESSER OF TWO EVILS : my favourite – eg organic cigarettes, a hybrid SUV, or dare I say it, an eco-friendly disposable promotional giveaway.
My (often irrelevant) opinion is that a truly eco-friendly or green corporate gift is an unattainable holy grail. Certainly true if you consider every aspect of the product and supply chain. Buy responsibly by all means, but corporate buyers should also be realistic about what’s possible and reasonable.
At the Corporate Gifts Company we’ll be delighted to offer you truthful and realistic advice on sourcing your promotional products responsibly – just call our sales team.
Thanks to TerraChoice for the Six Sins of Greenwashing.
Tags: business gift, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, eco-friendly promotional products, gifts company, green business gift, promotion, promotional giveaway, promotional item, promotional products, sourcing promotional products
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
Monday, November 10th, 2008
In 2007, of every 1000 students admitted to degree courses in the UK, 546 were women and 454 men, moving in favour of women by 0.5% every year. The ratio is expected to be 60/40 by 2015. However, many professions are already at this ratio (such as Law or Medicine).
What does all this mean for the Promotional Gift industry. Well, for starters, as a buyer of corporate gifts you’re far more likely to be female than you were 5 or 10 years ago. The executive and professional arena was male dominated and corporate and promotional business gifts were bought by blokes for other blokes; and, it has to be said, without much enthusiasm, imagination or flair. Female buyers have certainly raised the bar when it’s come to promotional gift buying, demanding more choice, a greater retail-type buying experience, and quite frankly, better service.
All this means that a token geasture to the one or two females on any mailing list or at a conference or event are a thing of the past. Promotional gifts must have genuine appeal to both sexes and not stoop to the lowest common demonitor effect.
At the Corporate Gifts Company, we like to think we have met these demands and can offer a broad range of promotional business gifts appropriate to the new order.
If it’s actually a ladies gift that is required, we have some great ideas that will appeal to the 21st Century professional; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_ladies.html
This travel clock is an ideal travel or conference related promotional item : http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_duo_alarm_clock.html
Desk items are still very popular and this desk tidy is both practical and stylish with universal appeal; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/info%5fcorporate%5fgifts%5fcity%5fdesk%5fset%2ehtml
This leather travel wallet is available in black but also in pink, ice blue and chocolate (if you’re feeling adventurous); http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/info%5fcorporate%5fgifts%5fblack%5fleather%5ftravel%5fwallet%2ehtml
For more great ideas check out our website www.corporate-gifts-co.com and we hope our range of promotional business gifts is right up your street, and if it’s not, well, then get with the programme.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, conference gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, corporate incentives, engraved business gifts, gifts company, ladies promotional gifts, leather business gifts, promotion, promotional gift, Promotional Gifts, promotional item, Students, Travel Clock, travel promotional gifts, unisex promotional gifts
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | 4 Comments »
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
We can’t get away from gloomy economic news, and there’s no doubt that company staff will really need to pull together to get through these challenging times. Keeping morale high when all around you are losing theirs is no small task. So how can you keep the momentum going? At the Corporate Gift Company, we have a few ideas for affordable premium incentives.
Big Ideas : we all need to be thinking hard about how to save costs or find new customers. Reward good ideas with an engraved gift as a token of appreciation. This star paperweight is perfect and The Corporate Gift Company can engrave individual items; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_star_desk_award_paperweight.html
Team Building; it doesn’t have to be a trek through the Amazon rain forest, you can effectively team build in all sorts of ways (even a night out bowling will do the trick). Comemorate or recognose the event with a celebrational item like this champagne bottle stopper; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_celebration_champagne_stopper.html
Celebrate Birthdays; it gives a real lift to everyone when their birthday is recognised in the workplace; what about this travel clock engraved with the person’s name… Employee of the month? An old cliche (and brilliant film if you haven’t seen it yet), but still effective; This star award was made for this http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_star_trophy_award2.html
Say thank you to the team for hitting a target or getting a big order; just a little thankyou like this torch keyring will go a long way; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_torch_keyring.html
And that’s just a few ideas, the list of opportunities is long and the list of our products that will help you make it happen is even longer, so give our expert sales team a call or browse the website to give you some inspiration.
Tags: award, birthday gift, corporate gift, corporate incentives, premium incentives, promotional corporate gift, thank you gift, Travel Clock
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
There’s so much misinformation and misunderstanding about what makes a product green or eco friendly that when sourcing promotional products that need to be ecologically sound, you need to take a step back and really consider what you’re being told.
At the Corporate Gifts Company we have a range of promotional awards to fit any budget and fulfil any brief. And if it’s a “green” award your looking for, then we’ve got just the thing for you. http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/info%5fcorporate%5fgifts%5fbespoke%5fawards%5f8%2ehtml
This is an example of green slate; a totally natural material, 150 million years old, mined and manufactured using traditional craft techniques in the UK. This traingular shape has been laser engraved directly into the surface.
Also very popular is our black slate. We can also use metal plates and designs to give your promotion maximum effect; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/info%5fcorporate%5fgifts%5fbespoke%5fawards%5f6%2ehtml
Slate or marble can be cut into any shape and size and has a very high perceived value.
Other award options can be found at; http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_engraved_awards.html
Ask our experienced sales team for ideas on how we can help with your promotional award requirements.
Tags: award, awards, Corporate Awards, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, eco friendly awards, gifts company, promotion, Promotional Award, Promotional Awards, promotional products, recognition awards, slate awards, sourcing promotional products, trophies and awards
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
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