What Are Promotional Products?
You've just returned from a business or tradeshow convention. In addition to the usual informational packets and your personal contact lists, you've also accumulated several free pens, shirts, key chains, and even calendars, all bearing the names of the company tables you visited that day. Although you have all of the office supplies you need, you still incorporate these little extras throughout your home and office. Several months after you attended the convention, you're still using those items. They're little reminders of the time you spent. They're useful. They're free. They're everywhere! They're also big business.
These freebies are called promotional gifts, and they're a common practice in today's business society. Often used by schools, politicians, or fundraising efforts, these items are meant less to reward you and more to remind you – the consumer – that theirs is an effort worth supporting. These days you don't even have to have gone anywhere special to receive a promotional gift. Many banks and other businesses are also cashing in on this business.
According to the Promotional Products Association International's website, product promotion is an $18 billion industry. Information from the website also stated that, based upon interviews conducted with business travelers in a Texas airport, a majority of them (more than 75 percent) remembered the advertisers' names on the freebies they'd received in the past year. A major part of the respondents stated that being able to remember the advertisers so clearly was probably due to the promotional items usefulness.
Using promotional items is meant to be a win-win situation. You get something interesting bearing the company's insignia, while the company gets a new customer. The items are meant to entice you to give them a try in the hopes that you'll become a faithful consumer of their products.
Before you start thinking that all of these products are insidious and you vow to never use one of these items again, consider this: all companies need to advertise. They can – and do – spend thousands of dollars advertising in newspapers, magazines, and television stations across the country. These ads may even grab your attention. But as soon as you flip the page or turn the channel, how likely are you to remember it? It's probably not likely. However, the next time you want to jot something down, you'll remember that breast cancer benefit charity you attended last month when you glance at your notepad and pencil.
All this talk about what promotional freebies are and how they work has made you think about how to make them work for your own little fundraising project. However, before you go out and order 500 of anything, you may wish to consider how much time you have to get the word out. If you have less than two weeks, you may want to keep this idea for another time. Assuming you have plenty of time, you'll want to decide what type of gifts you want to give, what you want printed on them, and your budget. If you're not involved in a tradeshow, you may also want to distribute them in advance to help generate interest.
Advance planning helps you find the biggest bargain for your money. Some engravers or manufacturers offer discounts if you buy in bulk. Buying wholesale is also a good way to save a few dollars. Websites such as www.procureapro.com offer good starting points. Don't forget to visit your local shops. They may be able to cut you a break or offer better perks. The more effort you make to make your promotional items fun and interesting, the more remembered your event will be.
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