Create Your Own Gift Giving Occasions With Promotional Products

By Tina Rinaudo

Everyone expects business gifts during the holiday season. If you really want to establish your company's relationship with clients, customers and even staff, try giving business gifts at times when no one else is doing so. Acknowledging off-the-cuff holidays is a great way to increase your company's recognition by using promotional products as business gifts. Here are five non-holiday occasions when you can give promotional products as special gifts for business associates, customers and staff.

• Show customers you care on their birthdays.

This really is an occasion where it's the thought that counts. In survey after survey, people have told business that the reason they're most likely to switch their loyalty from one company to another is that they feel like they don't matter. Reinforce customer loyalty by showing them that they do matter with a small promotional product as a gift on their birthday. It could be as simple as a free sample of your product, or you could invest in inexpensive coffee mugs, travel mugs - even key rings or refrigerator magnets. It's not the cost of the promotional products that matters. It's the acknowledgment of the occasion.

• Acknowledge support staff both in your own company and those of your associates.

Business people often overlook the support staff at the companies where they do business most often, but you can score extra points by recognizing the others there who contribute to your relationship. Is there an administrative assistant at a company where you do business often who always paves the way for appointments with her boss? A receptionist at a company you visit often who always smiles and makes you feel welcome? Remember them with a small gift from your company on Secretary Appreciation Day. Not only will the receptionist remember it, but you can bet that his or her boss will hear about it, too.

• Recognize significant business achievements.

Nothing makes a business owner or executive feel special like having his company's achievements recognized by outsiders. Keep your finger on the pulse of your business community and acknowledge those special occasions with a gift and short note. You can turn the simplest and most inexpensive promotional items into personalized business gifts with the inclusion of a small note relating it to the achievement.

• Acknowledge important business occasions for your business associates.

Remember business anniversaries, promotions for associates and other important business occasions with a small gift from yourself or from your company.

• Introduce yourself to new businesses in town with a gift.

Every new business could be a potential customer, so start off your relationship on the right foot with a congratulatory gift. Take the opportunity to introduce your company and your services, but be careful with promotional tie-ins to avoid looking self-serving. There are ways to do it though - a month's coffee service coupon along with half a dozen printed coffee mugs for staff or customers is a great, but subtle way to promote your business.

Tina Rinaudo is one of the leading lights in the UK promotional products industry. Tina is a key member of YesGifts, the UK's fastest growing online promotional items resource specialising in promotional pens, mugs, mouse mats, umbrellas, conference items and much more. For more information please visit our promotional gifts blog.