When you give someone merchandise it either becomes something they use every day or it gets thrown in a drawer and forgotten. There is no in between. A good laptop sleeve that someone uses for years can make them really like your company. A cheap pen that does not work well will have the effect. The thing you choose to give someone is like a handshake so make it a good one. Our website!
First think about what you want to achieve. Are you trying to get people excited about your company at a trade show or do you want to show your employees that you appreciate them or are you trying to welcome a client? Each of these things requires an approach. A good water bottle can show that your company cares about health and wellness. A nice leather folder can show that your company is prestigious and pays attention to details. Figure out what you want to say and then find the product to say it.
It is always better to have a few things than a lot of bad things. Ten good items are better than a hundred ones. If something is made with materials people can tell right away. If a zipper breaks the time you use it or a logo fades after one wash it can hurt your companys reputation. So it is worth spending a little money to get something good.
Think about what people use every day. Things like mugs, bags, phone chargers and hoodies might not be the exciting things but they are actually really useful. Someone I know said that if something is not useful on a Monday morning it is worthless. That might be a little harsh. It is true.
Before you buy anything think about who you’re giving it to. If you are giving something to a group of tech people they might like things like cable organizers and small gadgets. If you are giving something to a group of artists they might like notebooks and markers. If you are giving something to people who work outside they need things that’re durable. If you are giving something to people who work in an office they want things that’re comfortable. If you are not sure you can just ask them what they want. It does not cost much to ask. It can save you from making a mistake.
Do not put your companys logo over the thing you are giving. A small logo in a corner is better than an one on the front. Let the quality of the thing speak for itself. Do not shout your companys name just whisper it.
These days it is really important to think about the environment. Using recycled materials, reusable things and minimal packaging can show that your company cares about more than making money. A set of bamboo utensils can say more about your companys values than a page of writing.
When you are planning your budget make sure you think about all the costs. The cost of each item might be low. When you add in the cost of shipping, storing and giving them out it can add up quickly. Order things early plan for costs and always ask for a sample first. Test the thing out in the world to make sure it is good.