Archive for August, 2009
Friday, August 21st, 2009
Make your promotion special
Promotional campaigns come in all shapes and sizes. Quantities, target audience etc all vary; from hundreds of thousands of plastic pens at a few pence as give–aways, to a prestigious item for heads of state. When budgets are squeezed like now, there is always awareness that a “special” corporate gift for selected customers or staff can have a bigger impact and can be more cost effective than adapting a scattergun approach that is so often prevalent when times are better and budgets are more liberal. If you allocate the same budget but purchase fewer items coupled with a targeted approach, your promotional campaign can be cost effective with greater results
Segmentation of your database is key. You can slice your pie any number of ways (dependant on your goals and targets along with your particular market) from top spenders to key decision makers, or from most profitable customers to lapsed customers. Good data, of course, is essential, and put good use a series of highly targeted campaigns to defined customer groups will always be better than a blanket campaign to your whole database.
The Corporate Gifts Company
specialise in high – end business gifts and executive incentives ideal for targeted promotions. Engraving individual names onto a corporate gift such as a desk item adds little cost will have a huge impact. So, the next campaign you plan, try to segment into customer groups with different messages and choose your corporate gifts accordingly.
Make your promotion special
Tags: Branding, business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, Cost Effective, engraving, executive incentives, gifts company, promotion, promotional campaigns, promotions
Posted in About The Corporate Gifts Company, Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Back to school bounce!
Anyone working in marketing and businesses that support and supply it will all testify that many companies (if not all!) have been holding back on their marketing activity in 2009. Let’s face it, you’re not going to get sacked if you under spent on your marketing budget this year!
Come September, however, with a full 16 weeks to boost sales before the end of the year, will we see an increase in activity and a release of pent up demand? Have our attitudes to marketing spend been curbed forever (or at least a very long time) or will under-used budgets get used up? I know which one my fingers are crossed for! It’s hard to imagine, as things stand, any growth in 2009, and even the most optimistic out there would surely predict nothing more than modest growth in 2010.
Ultimately this impacts an marketing activity; if potential return is not there, why spend precious budget chasing low ROI?
Sales promotion is a sophisticated market in the UK and a lot less dependent on Christmas sales than it was a couple of decades ago, so perhaps any pick up in activity will be less evident anyway. At The Corporate Gifts Company, we’ve seen a “back to school” bounce in every one of our 18 years in business and we’re sure it will happen this year, but at what level; who knows. What does anyone else think out there?
Whatever happens, The Corporate Gifts will be here to supply high end executive incentives and business gifts.
You know where we are.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts
Posted in About The Corporate Gifts Company, Business Gifts, Corporate Gift Awards, Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Fashion and fads in the recession.
There are some things that are recession proof such as food – we’ve all got to eat, of course. But for the majority of industries and businesses, the recession will have some adverse effects (some more than others). Right at the sharp end of these effects, however, are things that are subject to fashion, fads and crazes. In a recession, this year’s model is likely to fast become fodder for the scrap heap as quickly as you can say, “Quantitive Easing”.
Think of all the momentum built up behind eco–friendly and ethically sourced products; whilst we all still share the ideals that made this 2008’s hot topic, it’s rather slipped down the pecking order of our concerns as more immediate financial concerns and more pressing. And what about organic food – are huge growth area and a retail star in recent years? According to recent data, sales have taken a battering.
Imagine, then, how real fashion or fad items have fared now consumers are tightening their belts; fashion accessories, high tech gadgets, etc.
Sales promotion, too, has been hit hard. What holds up in recessionary times in sales promotion (as well as other markets) is tried and tested products, especially those with a classic style and high perceived value. Not only does it say; safe, it also feeds the desire and for a little bit luxury (much needed in hard times).
The Corporate Gifts Company specialise in premium incentives, particulary silver plated and sterling silver gifts diamond engraved with your corporate logo or promotional message.
Our products are classic with a timeless style; a reliable corporate gift solution with just the right amount of luxury and wow factor.
Tags: corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, fashion, gifts company, little bit, premium incentives, promotion, sales promotion
Posted in Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
RECRUITMENT
Let’s start at the very beginning. Building a great team starts with recruitment. Have a clear idea what type of attitude you ideally want from your staff – most skills can be taught, getting the right attitude is a very different matter.
BALANCE
Like a good football team, it’s not all about outstanding individuals, but more a balance of complimentary strengths and skills. Have a look at www.belbin.com for different team roles and how to identify who should be doing what.
MOTIVATION
It’s not always about money, especially in a recession, job security is vital, but so is a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. From this transparent and cohesive team situation, you can build motivation and incentive programmes that will be able to drive performance and deliver results. Don’t forget, corporate gifts can be extremely cost effective and play an important part in staff motivation.
FEEDBACK
Let people know when they are not performing, but more importantly tell them when they’re doing well. Good teams are self policing - staff don’t want to let each other down and sub-standard performance is quickly identified and stubbed out
OPPORTUNITIES
Provide clear and achievable career opportunities – keep them interested and striving for the next level.
Tags: corporate gift, corporate gifts
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Trust is very topical this year at home and abroad whether it’s the MP’s expenses or who really won the election in Iran. In a recent report by the Bar Standards Board, not surprisingly policians and estate agents polled as the least trusted profession with journalist not far behind. Among those most trusted were lawyers (perhaps surprising) and accountants.
Buying online is a far more common place now than even a couple of years ago, but not a week goes by without some scam or other being reported. So trust is a big issue when buying from a website, and if you’re sourcing corporate gifts or promotional items, then there’s enough wrong to worry about with hitting deadlines, getting branding right, and quality issues, without worrying about whether you can trust the website.
Here are some reasons why you can trust The Corporate Gifts Company
1) we’ve been supplying promotional items since 1991
2) we have been ISO9000 accredited for over 10 years (the international quality standard)
3) we’ve been members of the BPMA for more than 10 years
4) we hold the Investors in People standard
5) we have thousands of the satisfied customers – check out our testimonials
6) stock is held in our warehouse and branding is done in house so we’re always in control
And furthermore our friendly and professional staff will always be on hand to answer any queries and will keep you informed throughout your order every step of the way. You can trust The Corporate Gifts Company with your promotional gift requirements – call today on 0845430 2902
Tags: Branding, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, gifts company, promotion, promotional gift, promotional item, promotional items, testimonial
Posted in Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
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