Cast your mind back to the last promotional gift you received from a supplier. It may have been a pen, notebook, or calendar, or maybe a mouse mat or drawstring bag if you were lucky. Did it make much impact on your buyer relationship with the
supplier?
Everyone appreciates receiving a promotional gift, but the trouble is most ideas are overused, or they have limited practicality. There is nothing inherently memorable about most promotional gifts, or anything that stirs the imagination. This
isn't to say that promotional gift ideas don't work" they do. It just pays to think outside the box a little for some alternative ideas if you want to get the best return on your investment.
Here are five unusual promotional gift ideas you may not have thought of:
1) Message Bugs
These fluffy little chaps were a staple of marketing gifts in the 80s, but have since fallen out of fashion. We're not sure why, as whenever we come across them they are sure to be stuck on top of people's monitors, on speakers or other places
scattered around the office. Great exposure for simple marketing messages. Fortunately, message bugs are starting to make a bit of a comeback. They are fun, colourful and extremely cheap, so if it's your kind of thing, go for it!
2) Golf Ball Markers
Corporate golf days never grow old. It may be a cliche that the most valuable business decisions are made on the golf course, but there is no denying that more than a few company directors enjoy a round or two when they get a chance. Custom
golf ball markers keep your company brand at the forefront of your prospect's mind whenever they are playing a game " whether they are at your own golf day or one organised by a competitor.
3) Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers and heart rate monitors are extremely popular accessories these days, so it comes as no surprise that some promotional gift companies are now offering branded versions. It's one way of keeping your brand name in view at all
times " literally at the end of your prospect's arm. Needless to say these gifts are pricey, so they may be better suited as customer rewards rather than marketing gifts.
4) Cocktail Shaker
Your prospects come home after a long day, reach into their drinks cabinet to twist themselves a well-earned martini " and see your brand smiling back at theme� Customised cocktail shakers are quirky gifts that cannot fail to be appreciated by
prospects. It beats a biro or printed tea mug any day. However, this is another expensive choice. You are looking at a high cost per unit and a limited circulation.
5) Custom Playing Cards
Call us biased but this is our favourite idea of the lot. The reasons? Of all the more unusual promotional gift ideas,
custom playing cards are the ones that offer the best value for
money. Speaking of price first, a deck of custom cards will cost a bit more per unit than a message bug but not too much more than a golf ball marker. For that you get an extensively customisable product that is fun to use, and has the
potential to carry valuable brand and product information.
You can customise a classic playing card deck with your brand, which will appeal to people who enjoy playing patience, poker, bridge and so on. But you don't have to stop there. There is nothing to stop you making up your own game, or
designing a set of brand-specific top trump cards. You can give these out at trade shows, distribute them instead of business cards, or use them as interactive games at product demonstrations. The strength of custom playing cards is their
flexibility, and that is why they've proved so popular. It's also the reason behind the impressive ROI that many customers enjoy, and why they return to this method time and time again.
Bespoke Playing Cards From Ivory Graphics
For nearly 25 years, our team at Ivory Graphics have been in the business of designing and producing high quality custom cards for businesses around the UK. A custom deck of cards is more than just a gift: it is a marketing tool that is very
effective at delivering core brand and contact information to your target market. Cards can be designed to include phone numbers, product information, training or promotional details. To find out more, please call free phone 0800 458 4137.
More information can also be found in our free guide to
How To Promote Your Business Using Custom Playing Cards. With sections on choosing the right design, planning your messages and allocating your marketing spend wisely, the new
e-book is a useful resource for any business considering investing in promotional gifts.
Click here to access your copy.
