Archive for May, 2009
Friday, May 29th, 2009
Against the current economic landscape, there is one bright, promising prospect – there has been an increase in the number of FTSE 100 companies that have opted for more than one token woman on their boards. Thirty-nine companies have appointed multiple women to their boards. In 1999, only 13 FTSE 100 companies had more than one woman on its boards.
• A study from Cranfield School of Management showed:
• A huge pool of talented women
• Women are ambitious for board directorships
• Women holding company secretary and HR director roles are consistently over-looked as potential NED candidates.
A report launched by Ernest & Young in January 2009 entitled:” Groundbreakers – using the strength of women to rebuild the world economy” concludes:” that it is the time to use the resources of women to rebuild the world economy”.
So with executive incentives at executive and board level being traditionally male orientated, in the future you will need to source your corporate gifts to appeal to both male and female executives.
Here are The Corporate Gifts Co’s top 10 unisex gifts:
1. Sterling Silver Photoframe
2. Shoe Horn with Lint Brush
3. Aluminium Tokyo Luggage Bag
4. Promotional Memo Pad
5. Linear Coaster Set
7. Puzzle Keyring
8. Floating Desk Pen
9. Perpetual Puzzle Calendar and Photoframe
10. Silver Plated Weather Station
The Corporate Gifts Co has a great range of unisex gifts ideal to facilitate your choice of gifts. So, call our efficient sales team today on: 0845 430 2902
Tags: Corporate Aluminium Tokyo Luggage Bag, Corporate Floating Desk Pen, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Linear Coaster Set, Corporate Perpetual Puzzle Calendar and Photoframe, Corporate Puzzle Keyring, Corporate Shoe Horn with Lint Brush, Corporate Silver Plated Weather Station, Corporate Sterling Silver Photoframe, Promotional Memo Pad, Promotional Spinning Clock and Thermometer
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Choosing a corporate gift for customers can be a daunting task; whether it’s for a launch, corporate event, Christmas gift, or exhibition giveaways. Profiling your customers will help choose the perfect promotional item as well as providing your business and marketing with many other benefits.
All customers are not equal and any client base will be made up of a mix of customers who fall somewhere in the range from high-value, loyal and low effort to low-value, disloyal and high effort. In order to develop a marketing strategy that focuses on capturing high-value, loyal clients or “Stars”, you have to know your clients intimately.
Categorising your clients and segmenting your client base to identify your Stars will have many benefits. During the process you will also identify the customers who fall into the “low-value, high effort” band and who can aptly be named as “Thieves”.
You are likely to have four broad categories of client; alongside the Stars and Thieves you will have the loyal but lower sales potential (Steady Eddy’s) and disloyal but high sales potential (Rogues). You can then develop a strategy to concentrate your efforts on the Stars and Steady Eddy’s and avoid wasting time with the Rogues and Thieves. The “Pareto” 80/20 Principle generally applies here: 80 per cent of your revenue is likely to come from 20 per cent of your customers. In other words, put 80 per cent of your effort into developing the customers who will hep your business grow.
Understand your key clients and build a profile of them to help identify tactics you can employ. Identify the common attributes of your Stars: size of company, industry sector, style of business, annual spend on your type of product or service. In addition, look for the common attributes of the people you deal with within those companies: job title, men or women, age groups, level in the company.
So once you’ve got your profile, match the corporate gift to that profile to achieve maximum value and impact. The judgement call is yours of course, but here are some ideas from The Corporate Gift Company’s range of promotional items to get you started:
1. Large Company, Professional Services, Procurement Department what about a desk item to stay on the desk – the Lunar Post it Holder would be perfect
2. International Company, Financial, Decision Makers – clocks are perfect for high level executives, and the time zone 3 City Clock is perfect for international organisations.
3. Medium size Companies, medium spend, travel sector – the affordable Aluminium Gifts are perfect, and the Tokyo Luggage Tag would be perfect for travel, related promotions
Call our sales team today on 0845 430 2902 to see how the Corporate-Gifts-co can add value to your marketing strategy.
Tags: Corporate Aluminium Gifts, Corporate Clocks, Corporate Desk Items, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Lunar Post It Holder, Corporate Three City Clock, Corporate Tokyo Luggage Tag
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Most professional companies attend exhibitions and trade shows at some time, and many of those use exhibitions as a key part of the marketing mix. It is very common, however, for companies to miss the fundamentals of what makes a successful exhibition and how best to lever your investment (in time and money). The Corporate Gifts Co has 5 top tips for how to get the best out of your exhibition, and our 5 best selling exhibition promotional giveaways.
1. Why are you doing what you are doing?
What passion drives what you are doing? Everybody in your company, and certainly those who are representing you on an exhibition stand, should share your belief in what you are doing. If you don’t visibly emanate the belief in yourself and your own company, how can you except visitors who don’t know you to believe in you?
2. What do you sell?
Try and articulate in less than eight words what it is you sell. Here again everybody on your stand needs to know how to describe what it is you sell.
3. Who are you targeting?
Flip it and ask yourself who you really don’t want to see. By eliminating the obvious time-wasters who don’t fit the profile and criteria, you can concentrate on your high-value prospects.
4. Who are your competitors?
Everybody has competitors – visible and obvious or invisible and unclear. Make sure you know what they’re doing and stay one step ahead.
5. Why are you different?
Why are you better than what’s out here? Visitors need to understand your message. You have to have the answers as to why you should be the only proposition for your prospect. What benefit will whatever you are selling deliver to them? This is the one question all your people have to be able to answer in a compelling way.
Top Selling Exhibition Promotional Giveaways:
1. CDC01/CH – Our best selling cardcase – everyone has business cards and this is a great cost effective, high perceived value solution.
2. LTG15 – Aluminium luggage tag – very cost effective and really practical – sure to be a winner!
3. KYR25 – Cushion keyring – great engraving area for your corporate logo or promotional message.
4. Eco Gifts – show off your eco-credentials with an eco-friendly cost effective pen.
5. Yoyo – unique and interactive – great fun to demonstrate on your stand!
You can find all our marvellous items on our website: http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/
Call our sales team today on 0845 430 2902 to see how the Corporate-Gifts-co can add value to your promotional exhibitions.
Tags: Corporate Cardcase, Corporate Cushion Keyring, Corporate Eco Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Luggage Tag, Corporate Yoyo, promotional products
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
If you want your corporate event to be the talk of the town, here are five tips to make your event truly memorable.
1. Create an atmosphere to “wow” your guests make them feel that they are part of something special. To create a spellbinding room which will draw them in, use fabrics, textures, flowers, smells of delicious food, and most importantly, great lighting.
2. The quality of your invitation will tell the recipient all they need to know about the effort being put into the event. Use the best paper and smart, creative design to ensure that your corporate event is the one they don’t want to miss! Consider using the Corporate Gifts Co’s unique Aluminium post card for the invitation. This can be posted like any normal postcard complete with individual printed addresses.
3. The host of the party, should be at the entrance when the party starts welcoming guests warmly, connecting them with other people, and making them feel special.
4. Make sure the food and wines are the best you can afford-complicated enough to impress, but not so fussy as to be unrecognisable. Really think the food through for example one bite canapés avoid mess, barbeque food should be skewered for a stand-up event, and sit-down food needs to be kept light and pretty.
5. Keep the event “high impact” and leave them wanting more. Don’t drag it out until the bar runs dry. Welcome them in, feed, relax, and entertain them and then say goodbye while they are still begging you not to switch off the music.
And now, here are The Corporate Gift Company’s top 5 promotional event products:
2. The Napkin Ring set of 4. Elegant and stylish silver plated, it’s an easy way to dress a beautiful table.
3. The Cocktail Shaker. It is essential to impress your guests with very delicious cocktails.
4. The Sterling Silver Photoframe; a great item – you can put it on a buffet and your guests can see it during your corporate event.
5. The Awards. Thanks to this product you can animate your corporate event and create a good atmosphere.
You can find all our marvellous items on our website: http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/ Call our sales team today on 0845 430 2902 to see how the Corporate-Gifts-co can add value to your corporate events.
Tags: Corporate Aluminium Post Card, Corporate Awards, Corporate Bar Tool, Corporate Cocktail Shaker, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Napkin Ring, Corporate Sterling Silver Photoframe
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Friday, May 22nd, 2009
The credit crunch and high-street crisis mean companies and marketing executives are less likely to take a risk on their budgets.
There are lots of methods to measure how successful a promotion has been. In the current financial climate, one of the key ways is that it has come in on budget.
Historically, we’ve seen that when budgets are pushed, a greater proportion of budget is put into sales promotion as it’s more measurable than above-the-line.
At the Corporate Gifts Co, we have 18 years of experience in getting your promotional products and premium incentives to you on time and in budget.
So how do we ensure that The Corporate Gift Co delivers on our (and your) promise:
1. We will give you a transparent quotation without any hidden extras.
2. We won’t accept an order unless we are 100% sure we can deliver.
3. We will keep you informed throughout the production and branding process.
4. We ensure each stage is completed on time and signed off by you the customer.
5. We will send you timely proofs of the branding to size and position so there is no misunderstanding.
6. And we ALWAYS deliver on time. It’s what we do!
Whether you’re looking for desk items, eco gifts, awards, or pens…
Call our expert sales team today on 0845 430 2902 and let us bring your promotion in on time and to budget.
Tags: Corporate Awards, Corporate Desk Items, Corporate Eco Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Pens, promotional products
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Thursday, May 21st, 2009
We can see increasingly every day, companies and organisations are more and more concerned about the environmental impact of all their activities and buying decisions.
At the Corporate Gifts Co we have seen the demand for awards and trophies with a recycled or renewable eco content grow.
Sometimes it is not possible to have a totally eco-friendly solution – and this is true for mainstream eco products too. The amount of recycled and eco friendly materiel incorporated into each award is limited by the design and budget available, but The Corporate Gifts Co can work to individually tailor each client’s specifications.
In the present economic climate, companies and organisations are keener than ever to recognise excellence in the workplace, but in ways that are more about personal recognition than monetary bonuses or pay increases.
Because of the recession staff are often working harder and often longer hours than ever and in many cases it’s not economically viable now to recompense them fully financially. However an award is cost effective and has an intrinsic value far greater than any cash payment, as it makes an open public statement of a person’s real worth to a company”.
The Corporate Gifts Co have launched a new range of eco-friendly state awards. State is a 100 million year old natural material, mined in the UK, and worked by local craftsmen. We have a range of standard designs that can be customised with metal plates in various shapes and finishes incorporating your corporate logo or promotional message.
The Q design is great for quality awards.
The Tick and Star are fantastic recognition awards.
The Cube Puzzle Paperweight is original and unique and perfect if you are looking for something a little different.
You can find all awards and trophies worthy of the largest ceremonies on our website http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/
Call our sales team today on 0845 430 2902 to see how the Corporate-gifts-co can add value to your awards.
Tags: Corporate Awards, Corporate eco-friendly State Awards, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Trophies
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Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Marketing to women has attracted much attention in recent years. Women influence 80 per cent of purchases in the UK and within 20 years it is predicted that they will own 67 per cent of Britain’s wealth. In the US, this is even higher.
So when marketing to women, what are the key things to consider?
1. “Brand female” isn’t the answer. Many companies make the mistake of thinking they need to create a separate brand to reach women.
2. Women are great at detecting inconsistencies. Watch out if your marketing message doesn’t match up to your product.
3. Respect her. And don’t patronise. Women have strong minds and views, they know their likes and dislikes and they’ll tell you about them if you ask.
4. Women are suckers for quality and, more importantly, when they find it, they’re willing to pay for it.
5. Show your commitment. Women are loyal when you gain their trust, you’ll benefit in the long term.
To summarise, marketing to women is no different than any other marketing challenge. Understanding your female audience and their needs is fundamental. An effective, targeted marketing strategy can then deliver on these.
The Corporate Gifts Company proposes several ideas for ladies gifts. You can find original ideas to satisfy the desire of women.
For example, the lipstick case is a perfect gift because all women have got a lipstick in theirs handbags. With its silver plated lid, it’s an elegant way to tidy up their lipstick.
The sewing kit is an ideal gift for women because all ladies need sewing kit, perfect so that hey can bring it everywhere with them.
And the atomiser is a gift which will excite women. Practical and chic, with its perfect proportions it takes a little place in theirs handbags.
You can incorporate a message or your logo on the gifts with a beautiful discreet and elegant engraving.
Tags: corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Atomiser, Corporate Gifts Lipstick Case, Corporate Gifts Sewing Kit
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
Even though we are in the middle of the worst economic situation in living memory, over 90% of the population will not loose their jobs, most companies will stay in business, and we will all emerge from the recession (eventually). So if you’re future seems a little uncertain at the moment, here’s some simple and effective steps that you can take to thrive in a challenging economy.
1. Definition
Define your niche. When you are clear who you are and what you’re about, you can then market yourself effectively.
2. Effective Perspective
Make sure you stand out.
3. Customer service
This really is the numero uno of retailing. Make sure that yours are cheerful and knowledgeable. Ensure that everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing and what are the objectives.
4. Needs, features and benefits
First, establish the customer’s needs. Make sure that your staff knows the difference between features and benefits.
5. Sell on value
In a recession economy, people place more emphasis on value. So make sure that your staff can convey the value of products.
6. Don’t lower your prices!
The majority of the population don’t make their purchasing decision based on prices.
7. Mailing lists
First of all, you must have a database of your customers which must be relevant because and classify the customers according to different criterions which make the canvassing more simple.
Once you have a mailing list, with very simple technology you can keep in contact your customers.
8. Loyalty cards
Loyalty cards are a necessary resource for the development of customer loyalty strategy. They work!
9. Extras
Throw in something extra, whether it’s a voucher for future discounts, additional information on how to use the product.
10. Innovate
The best companies continue to innovate during a recession. In fact, the innovation is the key instrument to distinguish oneself from the competition.
In a recession, generally, people are looking for a product that is better, more cost effective, and even smarter. Innovation is the path to serving those needs.
11. Promote yourself
Using promotional gifts is an effective way to promote your company. For examples the desk items are great because they stay on the desk for a long time with your logo or promotional message, the key rings are a cost effective promotional product and the clocks are perfect executive gifts.
Tags: promotional gift, Promotional Gifts
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Friday, May 15th, 2009
From 2010, women in the UK will see their pensionable age rise from 60 year on year until they reach their male counterparts at 65. And with talk of raising the pension age to 70 to help pay for thr country’s dire financial predicament our perceptions of when and how we will retire are challenged now like never before.
So is this a good or bad thing? Well I guess that depends on whether you want to retire or would prefer to continue working – and there seems plenty of people that fall into both categories. At the moment employers can legally force a worker to retire at pensionable age whether they want to stop working or not. Surely a more flexible system should be employed to ensure those that want to work can, and those that want to retire can do so at an appropriate age.
Experience and years of service can be incredibly useful to any company or organisation and in today’s fast moving celebrity culture, the value of a steady and experienced hand is too often highly undervalued.
Staff who retire after giving years of service should be recognised and rewarded when it’s time for them to retire. This sends a positive message to the workforce that hard work and loyalty are valued and recognised in your organisation.
Our sister website www.engravedgiftideas.com specialises in individually engraved quality silver plated and sterling silver gifts perfect for retirement presents. With fast and reliable turnaround, a free personalised gift tag, and free P&P, the website is packed with great ideas and gifts.
But it’s not just retirement presents that can reinforce this message and build loyalty; long service gifts and long service schemes are also fantastic motivational tools in the workplace.
Simple and cost effective lapel pins or cufflinks are a great visable method of recognising long service. Celebrate 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years service with a graded corporate gift scheme incorporating gifts such as clocks and sterling silver. And for that finishing touch add personalised engraving and gift packaging.
Call our sales team today on 0845 430 2902 to find out how we can help you achieve your corporate long service scheme.
Tags: Corporate Awards, corporate gift, Corporate Gift Awards, corporate gift schemes, Engraved Gifts, long service awards, long service gifts, long service schemes, retirement gifts, retirement present
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Thursday, May 14th, 2009
Expenses fraud has probably existed since the the very first expense form was ever created. Perhaps the most topical and burning question in the UK today is how our polititians have had their noses in the expenses trough. I’m surprised everyone’s so surprised and outraged; surely everyone who works in an office or corporate environment knows everyone’s at it.
Only a few months ago, The Chartered Management Institute released a new guide to help combat corruption and fraud in the workplace after it was revealed that 48% of UK offices have suffered fraud – and that’s just the ones we know about.
Apparently there are three problem areas that create fraud-friendly conditions; a lack of internal controls, unclear reporting structures and a “blame culture”. Well, most UK companies must suffer from at least one of those!
So here at The Corporate Gift Company we specialise in providing business gifts and executive incentives that promote achievement and encourage best practice. So what corporate gifts could we suggest to discourage an expenses fiddle here, or a bit of fraud there?
Well, how about our best selling “City Desk Set” ; perfect for making a note of all those expenses and there’s even somewhere to keep the receipts.
Or what about the very popular “Decision Maker Pen Stand” to help you do the right thing!
Or the diverting “Wobble” pen – for those who can’t stay on the straight and narrow.
Just a few ideas! What do you think?
Tags: advertising gifts, business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, executive incentives, promotional desk items, promotional desk set, promotional ideas, promotional pens
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