Archive for August, 2009

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Christmas is coming

 Friday, August 28th, 2009

Christmas is coming Notebook and pen
Cone wine stopper
Champagne stopper
Carriage clock
Deco clock
City desk set
Puzzle globe
Handbag mirror
5 x7 photo frame

In these very uncertain times, there is still one thing we know for certain; Christmas will be here again on the 25th December! And whilst this has certainly not been a year to write home about, there will be still many companies sending (and receiving) corporate gifts this yuletide. The promotions market is, of course, much more sophisticated than a hamper or bottle of Bells at Christmas, nevertheless, Christmas is still the busiest time of the year with last minute decisions and turnarounds at break-neck speed.
Companies still want to recognise customers and staff at the end of the year by showing their appreciation and loyalty for the past and ushering in hope of prosperity in the New Year. Business gifts at Christmas are also a favourite for winning new customers too.
If chosen carefully, a desirable and appropriate promotional item branded with your logo will stay in the mind and on the desk long into the New Year.
The Corporate Gifts Company specialise in silver plated and leather items perfect for yuletide marketing and sales promotion. Our stock is held on site and carried out in –house so that we can achieve those impossible turn around times needed in the run up to the big day.
Be careful not to buy a cheap “stocking filler” promo give-away that will be discarded with the junk mail (so often a false economy that rarely delivers the desired results) but choose a truly memorable and desirable silver plated or leather gift. We offer some fantastic packaging options to compliment our gift box available as standard. All you need to do now is choose. Here are our ten top selling Christmas executive incentives (in no particular order.)

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The 4 M’s

 Thursday, August 27th, 2009

The 4 M’s
The renowned business school Cranfield School of Management extoles the virtues of running a business. And like any business mantra for improvement, it has a catchy phrase to get you hooked; “the Four M’s.”
So what is it all about?

ME

Articulate your personal goals and focus your business so that it is aligned with those goals. Take time on your business rather than in it, and make sure the business is not too reliant on you day to day.

MANAGEMENT

Your management team is key to your success. Allocate enough of your own time to coach your team; delegate real responsibility to your key personnel and work on your team’s dynamic to ensure effective performance.

MARKETS

“Stick to the knitting”. Sell more of the some type of stuff to more of the same type of customers. Profile your ideal customer for existing product and find more of them.

MONEY

Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity. Concentrate on profit, rather than turnover. Maintain margin and beware of discounting. Cash is king (especially in this economic downturn).so look after cash–flow.
So how does your business measure up to the “Four M’s”? for more information, check out the Cranfield BGP programme.

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STAFF INCENTIVE SCHEMES

 Thursday, August 27th, 2009

The carrot or the stick- the age old question when it comes to staff motivation. In the 21st Century we like to think we’re a little more enlightened – no dark satanic mills for us, no sir. In a job market where the employee is king (well, until the recession came along, that is) it’s been all carrot and no stick.

And whilst the economic downturn may well have “redressed” the balance somewhat, the future is still orange! And it’s not all about money, other factors such as job security (very topical) and career developments are big winners. So what are the key issues to consider?

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE COMPANY?

It’s very easy to get caught up with what works for the employee. Any scheme or incentive must be aligned with business goals and objectives. As with Investors in People, training incentives must have bottom line benefits for the company.

CREATE OWNERSHIP

Get your team involved up front. Buy in will come from involvement and that will effectively drive performance. Listen to what really motivates them and centre on that and that will effectively drive performance. Listen to what really motivates them and centre on that, especially for goal hungry sales staff.

BE COMPETITIVE

Check out the competition and make sure your scheme is up to scratch. Otherwise …..

MEASURE
If it can be measured, it can be managed. Staff will respond better to specific, measurable targets. Build in those KPI’s (key performance indicators).

EVALUATE

Don’t cast anything in stone; test, evaluate, review and develop. Failing schemes can be de-motivating and may see staff walk.

REWARD AND RECOGNISE

Finally, don’t forget to make individual or team achievements public and visible.
The Corporate Gifts Company has loads of great ideas to help your motivation scheme along. Staff will be highly motivated by awards, plaques, corporate jewellery such as lapel badges, or a well chosen gift to say thank you such as sterling business card case.

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SPORT AND BUSINESS

 Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

There are many parallels between business and sport; goal orientated, staying ahead of the game, focus, training, individual achievements, working as a team. It’s not unusual for retired sports stars to become business coaches as the skill sets are so seamlessly transferred to the corporate arena.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

As a leader you have to set an example. By showing a strong work ethic you will reap the rewards and have a positive effect on the people around you. Just like in sport the more you put in, the more you will get out, and the more likely you are to succeed. And like a rower training at 6am in the dead of winter, sometimes businesses can be cold and lonely places and seem a long way from your ultimate goal.

TAKE SMALL STEPS

Keep you and your staff motivated by breaking down your “big hairy goals” into little bite size chunks; short term targets. This is a tried and tested technique for athletes training towards a goal that can be daunting and seem unachievable.

TEAM WORK

Trust is key in high performing teams. Like in football, each individual on the team has to trust each other so that they can perform well and win together as a team and it also applies for business. A great team can pull together and compensate for possible weaknesses in some areas. Make sure everyone knows their roles and understands them.

TRUST YOUR LEADER

Both businesses and sports teams need strong leadership, but also total faith in their leaders throughout of the team. There will always be disagreements but for the dynamic to work everyone must trust the leader’s judgement.

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PR – The Right Way

 Monday, August 24th, 2009

PR can be an invaluable part of the marketing mix or it can or it can be a complete waste of everyone’s time and money. So what are the things to look out for when considering PR for your company?

• Agency or in–house?

Cost is the biggest consideration when deciding whether to outsource your PR. Most PR agencies charge a monthly retainer and you’ll need a hefty budget if you want a good agency delivering relevant results. So if you have the budget, a good agency can offer a level of experience and influence difficult to rival in- house, although the focus and commitment from a dedicated employee is hard to match. You pays your money and you makes your choice.

• What to look for

Outsource or in house what sort of person or team are you looking for? Knowledge and affinity for your brand or company is essential. A willingness to research thoroughly (both your company and titles and journalists) is also very important in the digital age it’s not just enough to rely on just traditional mediums – PR must know now encompass online media channels also.

• Strategy

Make sure you discover the angle behind your story or business, without it no-one will be interested. A human angle is usually more powerful than simple product
related pieces

Used effectively, with either the right agency or staff, PR will be a powerful addition to your marketing arsenal.

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