Never Too Soon To Start Planning For Holiday Giving

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So strange to be writing (or even thinking) about holiday gifts just as the kids in most places are starting back to school. The leaves haven’t even changed yet! I blame Christen Gruebel for raising the subject in a recent cover story in Promo Marketing Magazine that I happened to see. Now I’ve got holiday songs ringing in my ears, I realize, to my horror, that the holidays are closing in.
And I know Rich would remind me that when it comes to finding the right imprinted gift for customers (or employees), it’s never too early to start thinking about what you want to do, how much you want to spend and how you’ll deliver the gift. Just like gifts you buy for the friends and family in your life, business gifts take some time and planning.
And now more than ever, the investment you make in a token of your appreciation will go a long, long way.
Greeting cards have long been considered a staple of the season, but before you order yours, stop and think about the exposure you’re getting. Even after all the time you spend choosing and sending them, their ability to showcase your company name is limited. Once the card is received and opened the recognition is over… if the card is displayed this will add a few days, but as soon as the holiday is through cards go away… as does the reminder of your business.
Hardly the home run in terms of exposure.
Which is why gifts that carry your business imprint are a much better use of those holiday marketing budgets. They just have more shelf life, especially if they’re top-notch quality and everyday useful. Approach buying business gifts by thinking about your business… the standards of your industry and the image you want to convey. Are you down and dirty or understated and classy? Look for promotional gifts that work within that world… rulers for carpenters, pens for freelance writers, mugs for realtors… Tie something that your target customer likes into your business and you’ve struck gift giving gold.
When budgets are tight, sets are a cost-effective way to up the perceived value of the gift; not to mention giving you more places for your logo. Best of all, these gifts always make a very nice statement… and are remembered long after. Consider knife blocks or knife sets, wine glasses, spa kits or gift baskets… the choices are endless.
Of course you can mention the holidays… and business gifts without talking about food. It’s as much a part of the season as mistletoe.  is another well-loved, always-welcome holiday gift. These gift items, arriving in containers that bear your imprint,  are an economical choice as a holiday business gift. You can send one giant gift to an entire office or family instead of gifting each person. What’s more, since you’re buying fewer items, you can upgrade your choices of food, container or both more readily.
Sometimes, it’s hard not to go a bit overboard with the generosity of your gifts during the holidays, but when it comes to promotional products as gifts you can indulge this impulse, to a point. Rather than buying the best pen and pencil set, top notch insulated travel mug or a mini MP3 player for everyone on the team, choose elite gifts for your top performers and get a more modest gift for everyone else.
Once you’ve found the right promotional gift item, you’ll need to allow time to review your imprint and have it applied to the things you’ve selected. Different processes take different amounts of time, and a representative can typically tell you how long the processing time will be when you order. Shipping to your location adds more time… one of the most often forgotten steps in the plan. Start shopping now and you’re looking at having your promotional holiday gifts on hand in time… delay much longer and you’ll be scrambling.
Whatever you choose to do about your business gifts this year… now is the time to get started with your planning. We welcome your questions about unique business gifts… we’ll be glad to help solve your gift giving quandaries… or act as a place to share your own ideas and success stories with business gifts.
C’mon, let’s talk!

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