Corporate Gifts: Goodbye Freebies, Hello Thoughtfulness

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This week’s episode of Marketing + Margaritas is the gift that keeps on giving… quite literally. We’re giving you three of our most effective, yet simple tips on choosing a corporate gift that will make an impact. We’re saying goodbye to ‘freebies’ that clog up handbags and counters, and saying hello to gifts that really connect with your audience.

So, what exactly is a corporate gift?

Anytime you give something out as a present, or promotional merchandise - it’s a corporate gift (think stubby coolers, canvas bags, pens etc - with your logo on it).

TIP 1: Don’t just slap a logo on it.

Use design to your advantage. Where possible, make it interesting, funny, and memorable.

For more cost-effective merch, like mouse pads and coffee cups, use an interesting design on them. Like mousepads with a fun little quote that relates to your industry and who you are. For example, we’ll be getting coffee cups soon, with a quirky, brand-aligned quote about coffee on it.

You can have merchandise that’s cost-effective but still make it “desirable”. Desirable in the sense that when people get it, they’ll actually keep it or maybe even check in to see if you have any more! Use design to your advantage and be strategic with the placement of your logo or branding.

TIP 2: Items that only have/include your logo are okay… just make them useful.

Consider what your audience uses daily and find an item that will benefit them. Something that might make their life easier, or they might want to keep.

An example of logo-only merch that would work could be a water bottle, if you’re in the health and wellness industry. This would even work for mining, where you know miners constantly need to stay hydrated and most likely always carry a water bottle on them.

Consider what your audience uses daily and what is useful for them. Even if the only design element is your logo, people are most likely to keep it and use it, because it serves a good purpose.

Another good one to consider is the wireless mobile chargers or charging banks – everyone has a mobile phone and is bound to need a boost while they’re on the go.

It all depends on what your budget is and what you’re willing to spend. Sometimes things aren’t as expensive as we may think, especially when you consider the cost of other types of gifts like a good bottle of wine.

TIP 3: Make sure the item is brand-aligned.

We’ve touched on this briefly but consider who you’re trying to reach. If these gifts are purposefully for clients, you want something that says “Thank you for working with us”. Then you need to think of who you’re working with and what they would use and like. However, if you’re doing a sponsorship or donating items for a goodie bag, then think of what’s expected in those goodie bags, and try to do something that’s slightly outside the norm. Something that will stand out a bit and is also very representative of your brand.

For example, if a pivotal part of a company’s brand is cutting edge and high-tech, you’re probably not going to want to do something like pens or notepads - because it wouldn’t align with your brand message. There are loads of cool things you could consider instead, like USBs in every shape and size, or a a USB charging station.

Merchandise does not have to be expensive, but if you take a moment to put some thought behind it, it can make a lasting impression.

Bonus Tip: If you’re going to get merchandise, don’t get shit because your name is on it.

Imagine someone uses your pen twice and it breaks, that’s a representation of your brand. Don’t put your name on something unless it’s quality. Most likely, suppliers – especially in our region – are able to source samples for you. So give them a test drive, feel them out, and see what your staff think.

You could definitely order stuff online and see how it goes, but get a merch supplier, whether it's online or someone locally, that you can trust. It’s possible to have orders from a supplier where out of 1000 pens, there might have been two not working. It does happen, nothing is ever perfect. But because you know and trust them, you can rest assured that that situation is also incredibly unlikely. And if it does happen, you’ve got a good working relationship where your supplier will jump in and fix the situation.