Promotional Items Buying Guide
So you are starting your very own business venture and wish to spread the word? If your not sure where to begin then maybe this guide is for you! Large companies like McDonald's, Legacy, Nike, And various charities all know the benefits of using Promotional Items give away items and corporate gift premiums to spread the word about their latest advertising campaign, event or fund raiser.
Identify your audience and target an item specifically that will be seen by that audience!
For example if you are advertising a car dealership then promotional car air fresheners are perfect as they are hung from rear vision mirrors and various other spots in the car, making them visible all the time. Or if you are a sports club trying to raise money then something like drink bottles or sweatbands that will be kept and used all the time by sports people!
Make sure your logo can be printed clearly and visibly onto the item you are using.
It is a mistake I see too often. People manufacture a promotional item that does not have eye catching and and direct branding which are both a must have on promo items. Remember A Strong Logo and a Memorable Message will always stay in peoples minds.
Determine How Long the promotion will last.
If the items are for an event souvenir intended to encourage people to come to the next event then you will want a long lasting item, flags, caps or even t-shirts are all perfect for the job! However if the promotion is only for a short time (a month or two) then don't go overboard on budget if you don't need to.
Leave enough time for the items to arrive.
Promotional items take anywhere from 7 days to 6 weeks to arrive, so make sure to get your orders in and approved within a certain amount of time, always allow time for hiccups like customs holding, shipping delays and manufacturing times. If your items are seriously urgent then be prepared to fork out for air express delivery.
Check, Check and Check again.
Promo Firms that know what they are doing supply an artwork called a "PrePress Sample" it is a document with printing dimensions, colours and logo placement illustrated. In most cases a client will need to approve the document for their order to be placed in production, This document will outline exactly what your items will look like. So if its wrong make sure you tell somebody!
Order in Bulk and save money.
If your budget allows for a larger quantity of items then I recommend it, single unit cost drops significantly when you order more promotional items, So if you plan on ordering a load of items then get them all at once rather than small order after small order, it works out a LOT cheaper in the long run. This can save mould costs too if the promo company charges tooling fee's and such.
Lan what? Lanyards?
Lanyards have been rather popular in recent years, for the rest of us who don't know what they are. Lanyards are a strip of material with a clip sewn in that can be used to attach keys and photo ID, some people use them for car keys, others use them for ID Carrying combined with a retractable cord that can extend for swiping cards. They are an excellent promo item because people basically wear your logo around their neck while they carry keys and other bits and bobs. There are also some rather spiffy designs out there.
Ultra Cheap Chinese suppliers.
Promotional items are usually made offshore and then brought into the country by people lucky enough to own or operate factories over there, however a lot of Chinese suppliers advertise in Australia now and most of them are just a tad bit shonky, They do not offer return policy on most of their items, they only accept payment by payment handling gateways popular overseas and then there is the obvious translation issues that are tied up with product conformity. Because these manufacturing groups are located outside Australia they are not required by law to adhere to Australian standards and quality guidelines.
Electronic Promotional Items.
USB Drives, MP4 players and portable music devices are all popular gadgets that people re-use on a constant basis because of this, printing your logo or message onto the front of a MP3 player can yield excellent brand awareness with people of all ages. Make sure you only order electronic items with TOP Grade mechanical parts and the CE Certification sticker.
Outdoor Events are a whole different ball game.
Outside events are usually things like, football games, golf and assorted concerts. There is a whole range of outdoor specific promotional items out their including plastic poncho's, rain coats, Umbrellas, Whistles, and various waterproof items. These are much more suited to outside fundraisers and promo campaigns.
There are more tips available in part 2 of this guide so remember so remember to check back soon!
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