Promotional giveaways are free gifts or prizes that are made available to prospective and current customers. The purpose for these promo gifts is twofold. First, the free items often function as a means of advertising the company and its products. Second, the items are a handy way to keep the company name in front of existing customers, helping to build customer loyalty. Promotional giveaways come in all sizes and shapes, with some gifts designed to be practical while others are intended to inspire a sense of fun.
There are several different types of promotional giveaways. Some of the more common examples are everyday office supplies that are emblazoned with the company name and logo. These include such helpful items as rulers, note pads, pencils and pens, magnets, and desk calendars. Small but useful promotional products of this type are ideal to take along when calling on an existing or current customer. At some point during the visit, the salesperson provides the client with one or more of the items, many of which can be kept on the desk and help to keep the name of the vendor in front of the customer all through the workday.
Not all of these simple but effective promo products are designed just for use in the office. Imaginative but inexpensive giveaway items make it possible to maintain a connection with the client after working hours. For example, golf ball markers are an excellent way to keep a company’s logo in front of clients who golf, as are sports towels or baseball caps. At the same time, these types of promotional items also provide free advertising for the company, as others notice the logo and the name on the markers, towels, and caps.
Other and often more costly promotional items are utilized as prizes at trade shows and conventions. These can include items like laptop bags, light jackets, sweatshirts, and portfolio cases. Higher end giveaways are excellent for prizes at a drawing held at a trade show or convention, or as secondary prizes in a sweepstakes promotion aimed at upselling products or services to existing clients.
Whether used as prizes in promotional drawings or as goodwill freebies to existing customers, giveaways of this type are one of the least expensive ways to create a promotional advertising campaign. The products are often ordered in bulk, with manufacturers offering tiered pricing based on the total number of units ordered. This makes it easy for even small companies to afford the purchase of a few promotional giveaways that can be handed out at local Chamber of Commerce events, a business fair, or a convention.
Since many of the items are small, they can be slipped into an invoice mailing to customers as way of saying “thank you” for the business. In some cases, the promotional strategy may involve sending two units to an existing customer. One unit is for the customer, while the second unit can be passed on to someone the client knows that might be interested in the services or products offered by the vendor.
There are a number of businesses that design and produce promotional giveaways. Many printers offer a limited line of promotional items to their customers, while other companies focus on the exclusive creation and manufacture of these handy marketing tools. Just about any city or town will have one supplier of giveaway items operating locally. However, promotional giveaway items can also be ordered online with ease.