Archive for February, 2009

Low Cost Promotional Products are Always a Winner

Friday, February 27th, 2009

The prospect of being handed a smaller marketing budget but having to achieve more with that spend must be incredibly daunting this year and this is a message we are hearing up and down the country as we speak to current and potential clients. It is proving difficult for everyone involved and we are all being put to the test in various ways on a daily basis, be that on price, on ideas that are different or making sure service levels are maintained to the highest standards.

However, on the promotional products side of marketing there is always an option and it must be remembered that these are some of the best marketing tools to use to promote your company or brand and that something can be purchased to suit pretty much any budget no matter how small.

Businesses often have a standard set of promotional merchandise that they rely on and the weigh up facing most marketing buyers this year is having to look at obtaining products that achieve the same results but reducing the spend.  This can be done in a number of ways.

1. Use the same product, but reduce the quantity. This is a solution many companies are using, allowing them to maintain existing merchandise and maybe target a smaller client base.

2. Using the same product, but reducing the quantity and purchasing a cheaper alternative as a back up. This follows the theme of point 1, but for the same spend, a cheaper alternative product could be used in conjunction with existing giveaways, allowing new client list to be targeted. For example a Prodir pen may be relied upon, but a Super Hit Icy ballpen could be used as an alternative.

3. Move away to an alternative product. This is something we are seeing a great deal of. Marketing departments message is that they are satisfied that promotional gifts do work, but are not loyal to one particular product. Therefore with cost down requests from superiors, time is being taken to find a good alternative that provides the right savings. A company that traditionally buys the Marrow earthenware mug, is more like to consider swapping the order for a Bell earthenware mug in tough times for example.

Steel City Marketing have been established as a promotional gifts distributor for over 28 years and have an experienced sales team who are ready to take on any challenge in terms of reducing your unit costs, coming up with new ideas or discussing ways to promote your brand effectively.  Call now on 0114 275 4150.

Promotional Golf Items from Wilson Hit Par

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Lighter mornings and evenings, slightly warmer weather and hopefully the winter months are behind us now. It is a great time to start looking ahead with anticipation to the summer months. For promotional items, this can take the form of the company golf day, where giveaways and merchandise are required, or prizes that are usually chosen or finally the company’s sales reps require a stock of golf balls for their client visits. There are usually some fantastic offers to try and kick start the season and Wilson have done just that with an early bird deal.

Promotional golf items are collectively in very competitive area, with famous brand names across the board all competing for the corporate logo side where a printed design will sit alongside their own and add prestige. To look at the early season discounts is a really good idea, securing good prices on your chosen brand for balls, accessories, bags and clothing.

Wilson Golf have put together a very striking product range and are targeting the promotional gifts market with all items. With the commercial sponsorship deal they have with one of the best golfers in the world, Padraig Harrington, the company now has significant weight and presence with which to take most markets by storm. One of the flagship products for this year is the Wilson DX2 Soft golf ball, which aims to take on Titleist with a product that performs equally as well but at a lower price point.

Moving onto bags and accessories, the Wilson golf glove is a popular item that can be produced a low as 50 units min with branding to the back of the Velcro flap. The bag range available are great looking products with a shoe bag, holdall and suit carrier, all possessing good branding areas sitting well next to the Wilson logo. Finally there is a top quality velour golf towel, which again embroiders for a great corporate look.

The current offer on accessories is for free origination on your branding and the pricing on the DX2 soft golf ball is incredibly low on top of free originations on these.

Should you be planning a golf event or any client giveaways, please contact a member of the Steel City Marketing sales team on 0114 2754150 who will be more than happy to quote you the best prices available.

Promotional Gifts Sheffield for Your Local National Distributor

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

There is an almost equal split of preferences when a promotional gifts buyer looks to make contact with either an existing or new distributor. There are those that will not need the satisfaction of dealing with a local company and will be happy to consider price, initial rapport and word of mouth above all else. Then there are the purchasers who prefer to be in contact with a company that is more local, providing the knowledge that the account handler is on hand to discuss new briefs face to face if required, or be available to sort any issues that might arise, after all no one can ever say they have a problem free business year.

It is therefore every promotional gifts company’ aim to wear both hats and to provide both types of solutions to merchandise buyers. So therefore if you are a company based in looking for promotional gifts Sheffield or anywhere in the UK, you should be able to find what you need in one company. At Steel City Marketing, a business that has been uniquely in this industry for over 28 years and with a dedicated and experienced sales team, you can be sure that your requirements and orders are in safe hands.

There has to be a real focus on the customers needs. Should a local company not require the face to face contact, and be interested in making quick but informed decisions, obtaining competitive pricing at speed and trusting the company to see the order through to delivery swiftly, then this is not a problem at all.  Being local to a client does then add the bonus of being available should anything out of the ordinary require discussing.

For a company that isn’t local to their chosen distributor it is again vital to adapt to their needs. It is not necessary to have that face-to-face contact and a good promotional gift distributor will make every stage as easy as possible for the client. To have a product directory that can be mailed, that is different from the rest and easy to use is the first point. Knowledgeable sales staff working in front of a great team is the second. Online access to a great range of business gift ideas is also a must. All this must be seamless and provide the client with that local feel on a national level.

Whether you are based in Sheffield or anywhere else in the UK, Steel City Marketing are confident we can meet your needs when you next look to purchase your promotional merchandise. Put us to the test on 0114 2754150.

Cheap Promotional Items the Order of the Day

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

It is very clear to see trends developing in the promotional gifts industry. Traditionally in recessional times, this would be a spend that would immediately be halted across every type of customer base and across all industries that use this as one method to promote their brand. Marketing spend and departments would also be cut and there would be a bleak outlook for anyone involved in this type of business. This has not been the case and indications from the end users is not one of cutting out this activity, but more concentrating on using cheap promotional items as alternatives to the normal merchandise.

If the client has started to focus on a lower price range of products, so too does the promotional gift distributor need to focus on ensuring that the choice available reflects this and that more items in the lower price brackets are visible on websites and in hard copy brochures. The Steel City Marketing website has an ever evolving range of business gift ideas and we have been making a concerted effort to ensure that the choice of lower budget items is being updated weekly. This not only ensures we have the best selling products available to view but also that anything new and different to come into the marketing is also seen, thus giving the client an opportunity to reduce spend as well as having something the recipient hasn’t seen before.

The desktop range of promotional gifts can suit every budget, no matter how low. From coasters, to erasers and pencils sharpeners, the cheap promotional item idea is well catered for. The production and sheer choice of mousemats, has also led to a reduction in costs, making this a large print area product that is now at the low budget end of things.

There is also a really good choice of ideas away from the office, such as car air fresheners, stress items, message bugs and fridge magnets, all possessing perfect promotional qualities but at minimal spend.

The final product area that should never be forgotten for a cheap promotional item idea is that of pens. If you have a pen and are contemplating reducing your marketing spend and not going for the next order, consider a cheaper alternative instead.

Please contact a member of the Steel City Marketing sales team on 0114 2754150 who will be happy to suggest item based on any budget you have available.

Last Minute Business Gift Ideas

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

With the fact that many budgets are being stretched at present, it is almost certain that the purchase of promotional gifts will be left as late as possible, due to the fact that this will be a spend possibly deemed surplus to requirements during a recession. However, for the most part, this decision is regretted late on and clients are now making contact with last minute rush enquiries for events, promotions or campaigns where they have to sort out some promotional merchandise with little lead time in which to do it in.

All is not lost in these situations, lead times are becoming shorter as production speeds up and newer machines allow quicker turnaround in orders.  This is sometimes relied upon by clients who regularly leave it late, a buying philosophy not overly recommended should you have already decided what you are looking to purchase in case of any hitches.  Nevertheless this is a result of how technology streamlines an industry and improves production speeds. There are now so many products that are possible for that last minute order and a client should never assume that they have left it too late. Always call your promotional gift company (Steel City Marketing’s sales team can be contacted on 0114 2754150) and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Promotional pens is one product ranges where you can easily achieve a 5 working day turnaround with a proof, printed in more than one colour. Sometimes this can be even shorter - down to 24 or 48 hours on some product lines, but is then normally a one colour print and no proof. The Calico ballpen is a popular choice achieving the tight lead-time, good colour choice and more than one print colour.

Many other business gift ideas are now also achievable on a delivery time of around 5 working days from proof approval. Ice scrapers (popular during these long winter months) and a good range of recycled & Eco promotional gifts can hit a tight lead time. Mousemats, along with a whole host of desktop business gifts are now easily achievable in under 10 working days.

It is easy to think that something just cannot be done and that surely it is impossible. Today, however, this is just not the case, and the sales team at Steel City Marketing pride themselves on achieving whatever last minute order you are looking to place. Put us to the test today.

Promotional Gift Distributor is the Only Way

Friday, February 20th, 2009

It is very interesting to take a look at how an industry is perceived and with information being so readily available, this task has become easier in recent years than it would have been. With forums, blog and hard copy publications all accessible, a company can quickly gather a snippet of market intelligence and try to react accordingly. The promotional merchandise industry is no different.

There is a common misconception around that selling business gifts is symbiotic with a number of others, including stationery suppliers, print managers and the like. It is true that often the client uses all these forms, orders regularly and this would theoretically show that one company could supply all services. However, this is clearly not the case from the feedback received and unfortunately the companies that believe this are the ones that are muddying the water, doing a bad job and giving a bad reputation to a very good industry.

The occasional search around some business forums and you can quickly get the impression that there is a good percentage of the end client base that get tired of the daily calls from companies asking about promotional items and asking to be considered as a supplier. Therefore if a stationery supplier offers the service, and if a print manager does the same, what chance have the genuine promotional gift suppliers got in persuading a client to think more positively about us.

Competition is great, it is necessary and it makes a good company tune in to what is going on, allowing us to assess and react accordingly. Any business that claimed otherwise is not going to achieve more than they already have done. However, the companies who are trying to tag this type of activity onto their core are genuinely making a bad job of it – this is a common thought amongst the promotional gift suppliers and producers. They do not understand the complexities, they have not gained competitive supply pricing and the errors made are countless. They have entered into something without analyzing the market, without testing their procedures. There is even an organization that is holding workshops on how to sell promotional items. If they can’t work it out for themselves, they shouldn’t be doing it.

The promotional gift distributor, a company that is purely in that business area, is the only type of company to deal with if you want the best ideas, the lowest pricing, the most effective delivery. Try Steel City Marketing on 0114 2754150 and the whole team will ensure you have not made a mistake in making that call.

Promotional Gift Distributor of the Year

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

The directors of Steel City Marketing attended the trade association awards dinner this week – which covers suppliers and distributors of promotional gifts. After a successful day visiting the show, where some good new business gift ideas have been found, it was onto the dinner.

There are two thousand plus distributors of business gifts across the UK and Northern Ireland and this doesn’t count companies who tag this type of sales onto their existing core business. As a company, Steel City Marketing would fit into the top 50 nationally, but an exact position is very difficult to work out.

The awards dinner recognizes the suppliers but also breaks down into regions the distributors. Suppliers vote for their top 3 (gold, silver and bronze). Steel City Marketing was lucky to be the winner in 2008, and were delighted to have achieved this recognition from our trade association in a fiercely competitive market. Unfortunately we did not take the top prize this year, but we were shortlisted for the second year in a row, which again was something to be proud of.

The management are delighted to have been shortlisted by the suppliers and know that this is a great indicator of how well the company is continuing to progress and that we have good foundations, the right systems in place internally, a great team and a great work ethic. Still one of the only companies in the country to put together a promotional gifts directory (rather than use a trade catalogue), a website to mirror this range (constantly being updated), an end user show which will take place in September 2009, we are continuing to raise our profile locally and nationally with the aim of being the number one promotional gift supplier in our turnover category.

Please contact a member of the sales team should you wish to discuss any product ideas, pricing or request samples. The number is 0114 2754150.

Chalk Mug as a New Product Idea

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

There is a fantastic new item in the mug section of promotional gifts and it is something that is receiving a good amount of interest. It is an earthenware mug with a black coating, supplied boxed with a piece of chalk to accompany it. The Chalk Mug is something different, is a good impact item and with the addition of your corporate identity is a product that you can be certain will be talked about and used for a considerable amount of time.

Should you have run out of post-it notes, you can scribble down you note or message on the mug. If you have lost your pen under a pile of paperwork on your desk, then you can write on the mug and action your idea later. It is a promotional item that encourages a degree of interaction and could be used simply to personalize the mug with the owners name or note down the tea or coffee requests, including how many sugars! A meeting planned can be jotted down and the mug will act as a reminder not to forget where and when.

The surface can be wiped clean easily to start again. As with a standard earthenware mug, the print are is great, 185 x 70mm and it is probably a good idea to consider adding your logo to just one side, leaving the other side as a blank canvas to doodle away. 

As with any product, please take advantage of the in-house studio which can put together visuals to show how products can look. Contact Andrew (studio@steel-city.co.uk).

As a sales team, we are always seeking out new business gift ideas and will try to make people aware of new ideas as much as possible. Should you want to be included in our non entrusive email marketing campaigns, please mention this to your account handler when you call on 0114 2754150 with your next promotional item enquiry.

Business Card Cases Hold the Key to Success

Monday, February 16th, 2009

One of the traditionally great selling promotional items range that remains popular even now is the business card case. This has been a product considered vital to the company sales representative, with the person being confident of having a good collection of business cards constantly to hand in a neat and compact form. It can often be seen as giving off an executive image and can be an icebreaker taking the client’s focus for an instant. The business card holder has also been an item given as a business gift, and is often used for years to come given the durable and hard wearing material forms it is produced in. You can then be sure your branding is enforced well.

There is the possibility of providing your sales force or key clients with a business card case on a reasonably low budget with the aluminium cases being low priced. They are not as durable as some of the metal products, but they provide a solution and a good level of protection for the cards, which is the most important thing. The branding options are usually engraving, but this item could also be screen printed if required.

Going up in the price range and you really start to see this product category come into its own. There are some fantastic looking products using both matt and polished metal giving some stunning design details, which can really compliment your branding. One of the more popular products to show this is the Wave Card Case. Engraving is the only way to add your logo onto these.

Leather and leather look PU are also products that are extremely popular for business card cases and these can be slim line taking a few or even have a larger capacity to take a good stock of cards. The great thing about these materials is the ability to foil block, screen print or even blind emboss, giving flexibility and subtlety to the required logo.

Steel City Marketing has a great range of business card cases and can source numerous other options if required. Please contact a member of the sales team on 0114 2754150 to discuss any of the options on the website or others you might have seen elsewhere.

Biodegradable Plastic is a Standard Material

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

The production of business and promotional gifts has had many changes over the decades. There has been the move from traditional UK manufacturers to the cheaper Far East factories, meaning a shift in our focus to a more service led economy. Materials used have also changed and evolved with a constant look at costs, durability and the demands for longer lasting products. One of the most interesting developments over recent years has been the focus on the environmental issues relating to production methods. There is a demand for items that look towards the Eco side and there has had to be developments and new products produced that meet these requirements.

A great range of promotional items are now produced out of recycled materials such as CD cases, vending cups, plastic packaging, car parts to name but a few. The methods do not stop here however with regard to Eco merchandise available as there are now those made from materials that will naturally break down and degrade when they are finished with and microorganisms can metabolise them. This is a fantastic selling point for products that can often have a relatively short lifetime and will eventually need to be discarded. Knowing that this can be done and that the environmental impact has been reduced to minimal levels if any at all is a real bonus for an advertising tool.

The amount of products now produced spreads across several categories. There are several pens that have these properties, the Vegetal Frost ballpen and this pen is approx 80% biodegradable. Another interesting development has been the Bio Sports Bottles, available in two sizes. This is an already extremely popular promotional item in its own right, which can be down to the current gym culture and popularity of outdoor activities. So now to have the option of a product that will break down naturally should it reach the end of it’s useful life is a bonus to say the least. This product is being showcased as a new idea alongside some great offers on Recycled and Eco promotional gifts over February and March 2009.

Each member of the Steel City Marketing sales team is more than happy and experienced enough to discuss greener options within any product range where these exist.  Please contact us now on 0114 2754150.

Recycled Promotional Gift Offer

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

There is a constant drive to find new and interesting offers in most markets these days and business and promotional gifts is no different. Marketing budgets are being cut with most other overheads coming under great scrutiny. Never has it been more important to ensure all businesses work hard to retain and increase their client base.  With this in mind we have been looking at a plan to put forward regular offers across a broad range of product categories to ensure that if there is a call to aggressively market your business, you have the opportunity to do this with best selling ranges and new product ideas.

Recycled promotional gifts are a fast growing area. There has been a big demand for a good solid base of products that are made from recycled materials, organically produced or sourced ethically. As this has become established, more and more alternatives have come on stream with these attributes.

During February and March, we are not only showcasing some of these items with regular postings, but have also negotiated some great deals to try and stimulate ways of promoting your brand, service or simply a recycling initiative:

Jute bags, also known as bags for life are becoming a regularly used household item. People are trying to move away from the plastic bag options which are harmful to the environment and don’t have long-term usability. Eco bags are being used to carry branding more and more and the item carries a positive message to all that see it. That is why the first of our offers that one certain lines, you will receive 10% extra free on your order.

One of the best selling product areas in the business gifts industry is that of promotional pens and we have looked at putting together an offer on one of the best selling recycled options, which is the Realta ballpen. Not only do we consider this a good value for money unit price, but also there is an offer of a free screen, saving £35 on your order.

Desktop promotional items are always a fast moving product range and still feature on a high volume of orders. With the wheelie bin pencil sharpener, made from recycled material, there is a simple everyday product that will carry your branding as well as a subtle reminder to act more responsibly to waste produced. Therefore, with every order for these, you will receive the same quantity of free recycled newspaper pencils, which although plain, could be single colour branded for a very slight additional spend on your order.

We believe each of these offers stand-alone well, but as a set to choose from cover all aspects of the recycled promotional gifts range. Please contact a member of the Steel City Marketing sales team (on 0114 2754150) who will be more than happy to discuss these or any other items you are interested in.

Recycled Pens Grow in Popularity

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

One particular range of Recycled and Eco Promotional gifts that is growing quicker than any other and with an ever-evolving product range is that of recycled ballpens. Within the biggest selling area of the industry it makes common sense that this should in turn show the highest sales with the recycled side as more and more companies are switching their standard merchandise to a more eco friendly alternative. Enforcing a brand or a campaign using something that has a green angle is showing improved results. More and more companies are in turn being asked to fulfill their social, environmental and economic responsibilities.

Pens are available in various material options, which all fit into a category of being either recycled (or partly recycled), made using organic materials or ethically sourced. Looking to cover most materials that promotional pens are produced in, these are as follows:

Paper: Highlighter pens are being product from layers of brown kraft paper plus an inner layer of substantial FSC paper with a natural wax coating to prevent ink seeping through. Plastic trims are made from environmentally friendly polypropylene.

Biodegradable Pens: There are plenty of pen options that are made from natural ingredients (corn starch being one such) and these pens will break down quickly and naturally, returning to “where they came from” when it has been finished with.

Wooden Pens: This are made from either reclaimed or sustainable wood sources, and is a natural raw material.

Recycled Plastic (such as the Realta ballpen) : Various sources of material that can be re-used, including car parts, CD cases, ABS plastic, vending cups, packaging. All of these can carry a very powerful message that there is a great deal of wastage, and also that products can be produced from these materials and then sold economically.

Branding options are not limited in most of the eco promotional pens options and it should also be pointed out that there is a good colour choice in quite a few of the recycled plastic options which backs up the popularity.

Pricing wise, there is very little difference in comparison to promotional pens made from virgin materials and this should also be taken into account when considering options for your marketing campaign, as there is usually a recycled or eco option to fit your budget constraints.

Steel City Marketing have a great deal of knowledge and experience in all aspects of business and promotional gifts and each member of the sales team is contactable on 0114 2754150 and would be more than happy to discuss this or any other product area to ensure you have selected the right product for your requirements.

Jute Bags on Offer For February and March

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Recycled & Eco Promotional Gifts are continuing to gain a high level of interest and exposure. For the many campaigns and initiatives that we hear about outlining our impact on the climate and the environment, it only makes sense to use ways of advertising that don’t then have a negative impact. Over the next week, each of the blog entries will focus on one of the great offers we have put together in the Eco product area. The first one will be the Jute bags.

It is estimated that in the UK we use 13 billion plastic bags per year. That is over 200 per person, man, woman and child. This is obviously too many and only a few get recycled.
Many councils are now looking to promote the use of reusable bags, Jute being one of several options available. Supermarkets and large retail outlets are also using the trend to reduce the number of plastic carrier bags they purchase and give out and have made a concerted effort to encourage the reusing of bags.

There are many different sizes, shapes and styles making this a very versatile product. Bags can be used not only for the supermarket or high street shopping trips but additional everyday use such as trips to the gym and a day trip. Jute bags can be used to gather, collect and then transport items to the recycling facility.  The Basic Jute bag has flat handles for carrying and comes in the traditional biscuit colour. The Everyday Jute shopper is the next bag up in the range and this comes with a cotton webbing over a rope handle, which not only improves the look of the product but also the comfort when carrying. Larger bags are also available which then open up the flexibility for a number of uses and these are the Large Jute Bag and the Multipurpose Jute bag. Both have larger capacities made possible by the reinforced base and wider gusset.

The branding area on a Jute bag is fantastic and this can be to one or 2 sides allowing maximum exposure of the logo and a reinforcement of the brand you are promoting. Reusable is the buzzword and anything reusable that carries your advert will be something that works for you for a long time to come.

With an offer of 10% extra free on a selected range of Jute Bags over February and March 2009, please contact a member of the Steel City Marketing sales team on 0114 2754150 to get a fantastic promotional item working for you.

Plan Your Business Gift Purchasing Strategy

Friday, February 6th, 2009

To ensure you gain the maximum from your promotional merchandise and business gifts, it is essential that this is done in a structured and well thought out way, to ensure that the exposure your brand or campaign receives is maximized. Given that marketing budgets are so closely focused on and each penny has to be accurately accounted for to make sure that none is wasted, any spend on promotional gifts holds a high level of importance.

Companies often start to consider the giveaway items or business gift ideas at the start of the financial year when budgets are set, this is a great way to get an initial plan together and using a brochure, website or listing items that have worked well the previous year is an ideal way to start. The marketing department can then set clear objectives and goals they want to achieve from any promotional merchandise purchased.  It is always advisable to look at holding back some budget for later in the year, this allows the company a degree of flexibility and the ability to react to outside forces such as a new competitor entering the market requiring aggressive action or a new product launch that wasn’t not initially planned, but requires advertising to a client base.

Once budgets and aims are set – the final list of products can be decided upon.  It is obviously purely dependant on the individual company as to what will work, but there is usually a promotional item to suit whatever industry you are in. Low value, budget items are fantastic giveaway ideas to promote a product or service to a mass audience, raise brand awareness and generate increased turnover levels with reduced spend. Higher value business gifts veer towards the client retention side, protecting established revenue streams and ensuring that your competition is kept at bay.  One particular product area that covers the entire spend spectrum is promotional pens, with something for every budget from pence to pounds.

Timing is a final area to be very wary of when planning your merchandise purchase. Although lead times are reducing all the time, it is always worth considering that any delays in decision making on placing the order, choosing the final product colour, deciding on a design and approving the proof, will affect your final delivery date and these stages must all be completed before the actual “lead time clock” starts ticking. This front end work should all be concentrated heavily on and a good promotional gifts distributor will focus on all of these factors ensuring a smooth order flow and a client that is confident, happy that the timings will be met and satisfied that they are being kept informed at every stage.

Steel City Marketing has been uniquely in the promotional gifts industry for over 28 years. With a hard working sales team, eager to proof their worth to your organization, you can be sure that when calling with your next requirement on 0114 2754150 you will be dealing with the right company.

Promotional Products Marketing Mix

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Most businesses are always striving to achieve the perfect marketing mix with whatever product or service they provide. They must have the right PRODUCT, at the right PRICE, be selling it in the right PLACE and done using the right PROMOTION. Not only must that be the case for the core business that is established but it would also be a good idea to apply this to the promotional items that you use for raising awareness of your company’s brand.

The PRODUCT chosen to promote your business and therefore have branded up with your logo is of vital importance. It must be selected with the target audience in mind and whatever message or goal you are trying to achieve by using it.  Construction site workers would be greatly appreciative of thermal travel mugs, tape measures or beanie hats and less so if they were given desktop items, expensive pen sets or crystal.  The reverse would be true if you are targeting a set of company CEO’s, a beanie hat might not go down too well!

Price is the next important decision to make when considering your promotional merchandise. This would again have to be thought of in terms of who is the intended recipient, and are you looking at simply raising awareness or encouraging sales as a result of the giveaway. There is a huge range of budget items that can be used and all have good qualities as a reminder of a service or a point of contact.  Once you start looking at higher level spend such as USB flashdrives and desk clocks, you begin to journey into client retention or revenue generation as your aim.

The interpretation of place is done slightly differently for this exercise in that you should consider carefully where your audience will take possession of the promotional item. If you are working on giveaways for your exhibition it is better to go for small, high volume items allowing easy transportation. They can be achieved on a low budget and could be used in conjunction with a smaller set of more expensive items for key client visits. Direct mail campaigns are affected by postage cost and this needs considering. Finally if you are looking at business gifts for your client base, you can decide to increase the spend and give out over face to face.

Promotion is the final “P” to consider and this is the essence of this entire article, with the use of promotional goods achieving fantastic results for raising awareness of a brand or service and with the ultimate aim of increasing revenue for a business that has got the correct marketing mix in place for its business.

Steel City Marketing has a great sales team who would be more than happy to discuss any promotional gift ideas that you may be looking at. We will pass on the lowest prices and will guarantee a first class service.  Call now on 0114 2754150.


Business