Posts Tagged ‘Business Gifts’
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 »
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Giving business gifts is the most successful advertising and communication tool that a business can use. Corporate gifts remain the most enjoyable method to strengthen the relationship between staff in the office and to express your thankfulness to your customers, corporate gifts have come an extremely long way and do not necessarily mean plastic pens or bumper stickers!
Of late businesses have increased marketing budgets for business products, they have realized that it is one of the most cost effective marketing tricks available and frequently the most effective one. It doesn’t matter what the size of your company is or your budget, it is still possible to fit the promotional product campaign to your limiting factors.
Perhaps the most appealing thing about business gifts is the ability to articulate that certain sentiment you can’t communicate through other advertising strategies. People love to get gifts, especially gifts that are specially picked out for them and that illustrate how much you value them as a customer, a client, a business partner or a part of your team.
While business gifts are not the solution to start the ball rolling on new commerce contacts and dealings, they certainly play an important part in maintaining the associations you have already established. Giving corporate gifts is not just a way to construct relationships, but it’s more a way to continue them and it’s also a very good way to promote your commodities and services. In addition to that, business products can be used to improve your company’s image.
Tags: Advertising, business gift, Business Gifts, business products, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Cost Effective, promotion
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
Promotional giftware is a simple, low-cost, pleasurable, and successful promotional technique. Nevertheless, clichéd gifts like stress toys & Frisbees aren’t as effectual as they once used to be. When you come to choosing be sure to pick a gift that you think people will use frequently and that will remind them of you when they use it. The correct gift creates the correct reaction… Every action has an equal and opposite reaction! So picking your promotional giftware shrewdly is an imperative stride to getting the best return on your investment.
Business Gifts Tip 1 – Factor in what you know about your target audience are.
Be carful when choosing what events to use your corporate gifts at. If you pick an event whose target audience is not compatible with your own, you will be throwing your money away. So, think about who your target audience is and where they would likely be.
Business Gifts Tip 2 – The time of cheep and nasty promotional gifts is long gone.
Happy c**p has had its moment on the business giftware pedestal, but those style of products are not going to be able to speak much about your company. You should choose a gift that has attributes that are comparable to your company’s. If your business is adaptable, then give away a Swiss army knife). This gift communicates your company’s characteristic and can be regularly used.
Business Gifts Tip 3 – Creativity is the way forward.
Being scared to move outside the standard arena of business gifts is boring! Humans remember the extraordinary and we want them to remember you so be extraordinary!
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, promotion, promotional gift, Promotional Gifts, promotional products
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help, Corporate Gifts Business Opportunities | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Maintaining and promoting you brand recognition is a huge issue that faces many companies that have been merged or acquired. The potential loss of identify can’t be detrimental.
These takeovers are driven by economic trends and can be unavoidable in today international marketplace. These consolidations mean that marketing departments must develop new promotional strategies to build up brand recognition and consequently loyalty & trust. They need to use an integrated strategy that markets their product or service with the consumer or client on a 1 2 1 basis through every available marketing and promotional system.
Understanding who your customers really are is the 1st step towards eventual success. Promoters will need to know and consequently fully understand their products or services nuances, and also how their own particular industry operates.
An increase in targeting promotions and marketing is imperative. How promoters use marketing techniques to promote their product or brand, as well as use the information that these techniques provide, will be a key feature in shaping their success.
An obvious promotional technique would be with the use of promotional giftware to reinforce the brands identity. We can help with choosing the right product for you, contact us for help.
Tags: Business Gifts, corporate gifts, Corporate Gifts company owners, promoting, promotional gift, Promotional Gifts
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help, Corporate Gifts Business Card Holders, Corporate Gifts Business Opportunities | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
A SWOT analysis will help you identify your business’ strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You can then use that information to inform your marketing strategy.
Your strengths could be:
• Excellent customer service
• Specialist knowledge
Your weaknesses could be:
• Limited finances
• Inefficient administration
Opportunities could include:
• Increased demand from a new sector
• Use of the Internet to reach more markets
Threats could include:
• A new competitor
• Cheaper versions of you product
1. Work out your marketing message
Once you have identified your market niche and worked out your SWOT analysis you can begin to work out your marketing message which will play to your strengths and minimise your weaknesses.
Your message should show exactly what your product offers and persuade people to become your customers.
You should include:
• An explanation of your target customer’s problem
• Proof that this problem needs solving for your customer to be successful
• An explanation of how you are the ONLY business that can solve it
• Evidence of the benefits of using your solution
• Examples of people who have used your solution successfully
• An explanation of prices
2. Communicate the benefits of your products and services
Once you have identified customers, worked out a marketing message and a plan, you need to decide which types of marketing activity best fulfils your objectives.
You could consider:
• Advertising (in print and online)
• Exhibitions and trade shows
• Seminars and talks
• Public Relations
• Flyers and brochures
• Incentives
• Email campaigns and websites
• Letters or mail shots
• Networking
Of course there are many ways to communicate with people but you want to choose the most effective and efficient method of reaching the people you have targeted. Try to make sure your campaigns fit in with your strategy.
3. Set objectives
It’s worth setting objectives for your campaigns so you know whether or not you are achieving your aims.
You can follow the SMART route:
Specific – you will find 10 new customers
Measurable – check how many leads were identified and how many became customers
Achievable – can your sales people realistically meet your targets?
Realistic – you want to stretch people not de-motivate them
Timely – if your deadline was six months, try and stick to it.
One of the most important marketing tools you can use is examples of how you have successfully met another customer’s need. Showing a potential customer that others have used your services and benefited from them in a real-world scenario gives your business credibility. They will start to believe that you can achieve the same success for them.
4. Keep customers happy in the long-term
Looking after your customers is one of your most valuable marketing tools.
Up-selling, or selling more or different products to existing customers, is generally more cost-effective than finding new clients. So it’s more than worthwhile to be continually searching for ways to improve the relationship with existing customers rather than just concentrating on attracting new ones.
Customer care is a major part of this. You can do that by ensuring that your customer-facing workers adhere to strict guidelines in the way they handle customers. However, it can also help to ensure that every part of your business is geared towards making clients happy – and make sure that is understood by every member of staff.
Of course, nothing will build loyalty like delivering a product or service that matches your customer need, offers value for money and is delivered professionally in a timely manner.
5. Indicators (KPIs)
Identify KPIs which reflect how well you are responding to your customers’ expectations.
For example you could track:
• The amount of sales renewals
• The number of complaints
• The amount of goods returned
• Your average order-fulfilment times
Using that information, you can see whether you customer service levels are at a high enough standard.
6. Encourage customers to stay with you
There are plenty of ways that you can encourage customers to keep bringing their business back to you. Loyalty schemes or cards at supermarkets, shops or even petrol stations are now commonplace. Can you offer a similar incentive?
Some ideas include:
• Discounts for regular customers or big orders
• Extra goods if people order more products
• Prizes
These can be offered on the basis of repeat custom, high spending, large orders, prompt payment or length of time as a customer. However, take care that a discount is still profitable – do not just slash your prices to win the business if it is not in your best interests.
Above all, make sure all customers understand that they are highly valued.
The Corporate Gifts Company is an expert in building good relationship with customers by proposing a great range of business gifts.
Here are some great ideas from The Corporate Gifts Co:
• Engraved Twister USB Flash Drive
• Sterling Silver Keyring
• Pocket Notebook & Pen
• Silver Plated Toothpick Holder
• Barcelona Black Cardcase
• Black Single Frame – (4 inch x 6 inch)
You can incorporate your promotional message or logo with an elegant engraving.
Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see The Corporate Gifts Co’s great range of corporate gifts.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, Corporate Barcelona Black Cardcase, Corporate Black Single Frame, Corporate Engraved Twister USB Flash Drive, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Pocket Notebook and Pen, Corporate Silver Plated Toothpick Holder, Corporate Sterling Silver Keyring
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
Marketing can often be viewed as a nice-to-have extra rather than an essential part of a business strategy. Perhaps that is because it can be quite difficult to define marketing as a subject. There are so many different facets to it including identifying target markets, advertising, customer care and loyalty, sales and public relations.
However, those who do not take marketing seriously may find themselves at a disadvantage in the long-term. A good marketing strategy can help you decide which customers to target, how to reach them and what to do to keep them happy once they are hooked.
As well as telling you what you need to do, your strategy can also help ensure that you are not wasting your time and resources trying to appeal to the wrong people or even to too many potential clients – and consequently winning none of their business.
Here are some great tips that can help you to market your business:
1. Create a marketing strategy
The most efficient way to attract customers and keep them happy is through an effective marketing strategy. So what exactly does this strategy involve?
• Identify your potential customers – Essentially, your basic requirement is to identify groups of customers and find out what they need.
• Identify how you fulfil their need – Then, you need to work out how you can fulfil their need more effectively than your competitors. You therefore need to give serious thought to your unique selling point (USP). If you can’t identify a reason why someone should use your services above all others, what is to stop them going to another supplier?
• Communicate the benefits of your products and services – A large part of your marketing strategy will be based on how you can tell or show people why your products and services are the best for them to use. You will need to decide on which types of marketing activities you undertake – and, of course, you should make that decision based on how to get the best from your marketing budget.
• Keep customers happy in the long term – Your strategy may need to be flexible as your business matures and changes or your customers’ needs change. You should monitor your strategy to decide whether or not it is working. Start by asking each new customer where they heard about your business and why they chose you.
2. Write a marketing plan
A written marketing plan can act as a reference document you use to execute your marketing strategy. You can work out what your marketing plan is by using the four headings above. Your plan should be a written explanation of how you intend to build long-term, profitable relationships with customers from your chosen market.
3. Identify your potential customers
Among the most important starting point for your marketing strategy are questions such as “who are my potential customers?” Clearly, you are looking for groups of people and businesses (or perhaps existing customers) to whom you are most likely to be able to sell the greatest amount of your product or service. You need to attract the customers who are the most valuable to you – make sure you can keep them – and then find others with similar profiles.
You might want to ask yourself:
• Which types of company would want my products?
• Why do they need them?
• Which existing customers currently spend the most with me – or with my competitors?
• Why do they do that?
You could also carry out market research to find out what people want and identify a market niche. It may be worth looking at people of a certain age, gender, occupation or a group with a particular interest or hobby. It may also help to profile your target customers. If you understand what they need, you can concentrate on providing it in the most cost-effective way.
4. Profile your customers
Make a list of your target market or best customers.
• Work out what they do and any special interests
• Understand their size and location
• Find out the name of the main buyer
• Start to think about the best sales channels to them
Customers are such a valuable commodity it can be useful to collect data about them. You can then use that information to identify other opportunities for your business. However, if you intend to store data it may be necessary to check you are complying with the data protection act.
5. Research your competitors
As well as understanding who your customers are, it’s worth knowing more about your competitors. A detailed knowledge of their products and services can help you differentiate your own and gain more share of the overall market.
Ask yourself:
• How are their products or services different to yours?
• How do their prices compare to yours?
• What is the quality of their goods like?
• Who are their customers?
• How do they promote their products?
The Corporate Gifts Co has a great range of promotional gifts perfect to express your recognition towards your customers.
Here are some great cost-effective items which can help you to maintain good relationship with your clients.
• Concetta Business Card Case
• Sterling Silver Letter Opener
• Silver Plated New Yorker Business Card Holder
• Silver Plated Cushion Keyring
• Aluminium Oval Compact Mirror
• Chrome Rocket Rollerball
Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see The Corporate Gifts Co’s great range of business gifts.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, Corporate Aluminium Oval Compact Mirror, Corporate Chrome Rocket Rollerball, Corporate Concetta Business Card Case, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Corporate Silver Plated Cushion Keyring, Corporate Silver PLated New Yorker Business Card Holder, Corporate Sterling Silver Letter Opener, promotional gift, Promotional Gifts
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Marketing budgets are traditionally the first thing to be cut by businesses in a recession – which perhaps goes some way to explaining why so go bust. In challenging times, it’s even more important to maintain good communication with your customers. This is the time your marketing can be more targeted and successful. Your competitors may be cutting their marketing agent, the bolder companies can take this opportunity to stand out, get noticed and win new customers.
Before embarking on a marketing project, it should be part of a wider, long-term strategy to be properly effective. It’s essential to have a strategy that co-ordinates activity, continuously identifies customer need and sets in place measurable outcomes.
It is understood to costs five times more to win a customer than it does to keep an existing one so, looking after your client base is essential.
The key to good marketing in a recession is to measure constantly. Companies should be developing targeted messages and offers for sections of their customer base that they know from experience will respond well.
Targeted corporate gifts have been shown to be extremely cost effective. The Corporate Gifts Company has almost 20 years of experience in providing business gifts and promotional items that, when used effectively, are highly targeted and measurable. Our state of the art computer diamond engraving can add value to your corporate gift with an engraved logo, promotional message or even individual names or initials can be added at very little extra cost. We can also print and emboss leather – our new range of premium leather can be engraved, printed or embossed.
So the message is; don’t’ forget to market your company (it can be a false economy) and look for cost effective ways to promote your organisation.
Ask our expert sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 how to make corporate gifts and promotional items work for your company.
Tags: business gift, Business Gifts, corporate gift, corporate gifts, Leather Gifts, promotional items
Posted in Corporate Gifts Advice and Help | No Comments »
|
|
