Posts Tagged ‘business gift’
Monday, July 5th, 2010
The use of business gifts to promote a company and enhance the brand is a commonly accepted practice in the business world. When used properly, they can emphasise key features of a brand, enforce company ideas and also impress existing and potential clients.
If a company choose to use business gifts to further their brand it can bring obvious rewards, but in an increasingly austere world where every move is scrutinised for openness and fair play, companies need to be more aware of how business gifts can appear to the outside world.
The Fifa investigation into gifts given by the Australian World Cup bidding team raised the issue of just when is giving promotional gifts deemed to be inappropriate? Where is the line drawn when it comes to awarding business gifts?
It isn’t just the Aussies who have come under scrutiny for their gifts to Fifa delegates. Guideline on gifts were published last year after the England bid team were found to have given luxury handbags worth £230 to members of the executive team. But when does a symbolic gift turn into something slightly more sinister?
It isn’t just high profile bidders such as the World Cup team who have to be careful. In most sectors of business there are rules and regulations concerning the awarding of gifts, and companies have to be increasingly careful how they use business gifts to promote themselves.
In instances where contracts are awarded through a bidding process, it is often seen as ill advised or inappropriate for business gifts to be given from either the awarding contractor or from the bidder. Even once the contract is awarded, the most innocent gifts such as those given at Christmas could be seen to outsiders as a kick back or a bribe, so extra care must be taken.
In these situations, particularly when public sector organisations are involved, regulations are often in place to avoid any confusion. But in any grey areas, transparency and openness are always the best policy. By making sure the gifts are declared, it avoids any unnecessary confusion and if in any doubt at all, simply return the gift. Although this creates the inevitable awkwardness that returning a gift entails, it is more preferable than any alternative investigation might be.
In most cases, the awarding of business gifts is an entirely appropriate way of spreading the word about a company. As a general rule, the gift should be symbolic of the company that gave it or bring added value to their brand. Provided that the business gift is relevant to the company involved, there shouldn’t be any confusion. It cannot be seen to be an attempt to influence any financial decision, as this brings the obvious accusations of bribery and wrongdoing.
Bear these simple guidelines in mind, and make sure there is no confusion when you award your business gift.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts
Posted in Business Gifts | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Gadgets and gizmos make for extremely popular business gifts. They have a high perceived value and make a fantastic impression when branded with a company logo. It is flash drives however that seem to be the most popular business gifts, and it seems that offices around the country are being given them as the business gift of choice. But what is it that makes promotional usb drives such popular business gifts?
Promotional flash drives have many benefits. They are relatively cheap, come in a wide range of different designs that makes them extremely customisable to a brand, and they have a practical use, meaning they will be used a lot in and out of the workplace. This is important when giving a business gift, as practical, stylish items that are often used stand more chance of being seen by more people, giving more prominence to a brand.
There are further brand benefits too. As I discussed, they are extremely adaptable when it comes to shape and colour, meaning they can be customised to suit the image of any brand. In this way it is not just the logo that is being shown with a business gift, but the brand values of a company as well.
They are important from a security point of view too. Many companies are struggling to cope with the amount of viruses infecting computer systems as a result of employees bringing in their own virus ridden memory sticks. It is becoming a serious problem, with bosses enjoying the freedom of employees being able to take their work away from the office, but suffering when the usb drives being brought in infect the system.
When promotional flash drives are given to staff members, companies can ensure that the memory stick used for work has been consistent with their internal security, thereby lowering the risk of infection. This is particularly useful if employees transfer a lot of data between an office computer and a company laptop, so there’s less risk of them coming into contact with potentially harmful home PC’s.
So all things considered, promotional flash drives make for ideal business gifts, whether they’re for staff or for promotional products. The Corporate Gifts Company has a wide selection of promotional flash drives that are ideal for any business gift. Visit the usb flash drives section of the website to see our full range of state of the art business gifts.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, flash drives, usb drives
Posted in Business Gifts, Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
Monday, June 7th, 2010
With the “bonus culture” scandals still ringing in the ears of many high profile banks and businesses, it can be difficult to reward staff when the attention is focussed on employees’ pay packets.
With public scrutiny still running the rule over the practices of many of our biggest companies, it can be difficult to find ways to keep staff productivity high whilst raining in on the excesses that promote so much public ire.
It’s important when operating in a fragile economy to deliver the perks that keep staff happy. Whilst there is always the need to tighten the belt, keeping staff motivated and encouraging them to be productive and innovative is essential to any company in these fragile times.
Quality business gifts can be a fantastic way to reward staff and keep them motivated without paying costly bonuses that could risk the stability of a company. Business gifts can be personalised to suit not just the business’s needs but the individual’s needs. Personalised business gifts show that the employer is taking notice of the employee and is rewarding them in a way that is personal to them.
Staff rewards can help in all kinds of ways. Incentives for staff to improve sales, a reward for high achievement or a reward for successful completion of a project, all of these can be acknowledged by using business gifts.
Visit http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com to view our full range of business gifts that will motivate your staff.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts
Posted in Business Gifts | No Comments »
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
The Personal Touch
In times of economic downturn, priorities change. If you are planning a marketing campaign you will undoubtedly need to take this into account. For consumers, debt levels, mortgage repayments and fuel costs fuel costs take precedence over wider concerns. In business, too, companies take a more inward approach, concentrating on cost cutting and cash flow rather than new markets and revenue streams. Both consumers and business will gravitate towards safe options; good, services, and brands that convey reassurance and familiarity. Quality and reliability became increasingly important and whilst all this jittery uncertainly is certainly challenging, it also provides major opportunities for companies to engage with their customers in a closer more meaningful way. Personalised marketing and individual communication are the new watch-words and marketers who get their heads round this new concept will have a distinct advantage in a highly competitive market place.
Corporate gifts are an ideal way to connect on a meaningful and personal level with your key customers, most promising prospects, and even your staff. The Corporate Gifts Co specialise in a high quality business gifts that will convey a sense of familiarity in the classic styling of for example the silver plated Carriage Clock or the, Galileo Desk Pad, and reassurance in the quality of items like the premium leather range or the sterling silver collection. All our items can be engraved with your logo and promotional message using our in-house diamond engraving.
Why not add individually engraved or embrossed names to really create that personal touch. Call 0845 430 2902 for more details.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, Carriage Clock, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, engraving, promotion
Posted in About The Corporate Gifts Company, Business Gifts, Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
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.)
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, Carriage Clock, Champagne Stopper, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, executive incentives, gift box, gifts company, Handbag Mirror, packaging, promotion, promotions, sales promotion
Posted in About The Corporate Gifts Company | No Comments »
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 »
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Having a face for a radio – or even average looks – may hold people back in the workplace more. A report from the University of Florida have found that while we may like to think that we get paid for our abilities, the sad truth is good looks and a winning smile count for more.
Alarmingly, the research shows that preferential treatment based on attractiveness begins with the behaviours of the mother and other caregivers towards children – meaning that those with better looks are likely to have more confidence instilled in them. By the time they reach the workplace their combination of good looks and self – assurance has a good chance of winning them a better job and salary. Various studies have argued; one in four female executives would consider cosmetic surgery specifically to boost their career progression, over half of women having a better body and being more attractive would help them climb the career ladder. Good looking, slim, tall people earn 5% more than their less attractive colleague’s on the other hand overweight people get paid 30% less than their more slender colleagues.
Although this may seem a bit “tongue in cheek”, legislation for “lookism” (no really) already exists in the USA and is coming to a workplace near you in the UK!
So the rather tenuous link into this jaw dropping insight into workplace preferences is that The Corporate Gifts Company has probably the best looking selection of desirable premium incentives and business gifts on the web. In fact, if Carlsberg did corporate gifts, this would be their website! From fantastic desk accessories like the sleek Desk Set, to beautiful ladies gifts like the Handbag mirror, the Corporate Gifts Company is the best website for drop dead gorgeous promotional items. After all we now know a good look gets you further in business, don’t we?
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, gifts company, Handbag Mirror, premium incentives, promotion, promotional item, promotional items
Posted in Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
A recent survey from Barclaycard, stated that £500million of expenses go unclaimed by business every year. Behind this state of affairs lie a lackadaisal one in three travellers who simply can’t be bothered to fill out their claims. Apparently, the more senior your position, the more lax your attitude. Chairmen fail to claim on average £719 per year compared with PAs who fail claim £25. Women are more vigilant than men £293 slip through their fingers each year compared with £366, and private sectors employees fail to claim £397 compared with their public sector counter parts who fail to claim £199.
Obviously not politicians then!
Although business travel has taken a hit during the recession (prompting the Ryan Air boss to say that business class was dead but – he would say that wouldn’t he?), the corporate travel incentives and business related travel gifts are still integral to the corporate gift market. The Corporate Gifts Company have a comprehensive selection of travel related business gifts.
The leather travel wallet and passport holder are available from our standard leather range and our premium leather range and best sellers. Other leather items perfect for travel incentives are the A4 folders, luggage tags, and journals. Also popular are travel alarm clocks, business card cases and metal luggage tags.
Call the Corporate Gifts Company for more information.
Tags: business card cases, business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, gifts company
Posted in About The Corporate Gifts Company, Corporate Gift Range | No Comments »
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
In today’s climate of slashed marketing budgets, a little guerrilla marketing could go along way – but what’s it all about?
Guerrilla marketing can shake up markets and break the mould. It can make your company seen as innovative and daring with a reputation for creativity. That goes for all of your promotional activities too. Guerrilla marketing with its unconventional tactics and frequent run-ins with the law can be an ideal way to launch a new business or product. By bending the rules a little by using a lot of imagination you can execute cost effective ideas to get your target marketing buzzing. Guerrilla Marketing tactics can also identify your brand or company as one to take notice of.
To refer to a campaign as guerrilla, it has been surprising and use media in unconventional way. But more than anything, a guerrilla idea must try and get customers talking. Trying to establish marketing on a low budget is particularly challenging. Guerrilla tactics raise your profile and can also position your brand as an unconventional and innovative company. Traditional forms of marketing might not be able to convey the same message to the right audience.
Online Guerrilla tactics- the internet is also a hotbed for guerrilla activity, from leaving comments promoting your sites in a rival’s forum; to posting brands content on sites like YouTube and Flickr some search engines marketing also have a rebel about it. Until recently if you typed in “miserable” failure into Google, George Bush’s homepage would come up as first result!
The practice known as Google Bombing is now a common part of online marketing guerrilla marketing.
Guerrilla marketting is a cost effective and way of promoting your business. It can motivate staff and make people take notice. It’s not for every one; you would not see many banks using guerrilla tactics, and it doesn’t always work. But every once in a while, a great unconventional idea can be highly effective and won’t kill your budget.
Click below to find examples of guerrilla marketing
http://weburbanist.com/2007/06/06/15-coolest-craziest-and-most-innovative-guerilla-marketing-campaigns/
http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Great_examples_of_Guerilla_Marketing
http://www.bootstrappingblog.com/10-great-guerrilla-marketing-examples
Corporate gifts are one of the most traditional promotional methods, but used creatively and imaginatively they can form of a valuable part of a Guerrilla marketing campaign – do something different with your business gifts, engage your target audience and really get them talking about you.
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking;
- If you’ve got an event you need to promote or invite customers, to use metal post cards printed or embossed with individual details. They can be used like a normal postcard. Costumers would have never received anything like it before.
- Most companies just engrave a logo on a promotional product; but why not engrave a challenging message, question or riddle that drives traffic through your business’s websites or initial a response.
- Business cards holders are one of our most popular corporate gifts; but most are sent out empty – why not fill them with your own cards or printed leaflet.
Obviously different things will work for different companies so why don’t you ring our sales staff on 0845 430 2902 to see how The Corporate Gifts Company can help with your marketing campaign.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts Co, Cost Effective, gifts company, promoting, promotion
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | 2 Comments »
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