OnFulfillment Blog | Corporate Gifting

Gift kits have become the preferred vehicle for recognizing, rewarding, and communicating with different audiences.

Previously popular paper- and text-based methods such as flyers, mailers, and e-mails have fallen out of favor as the sheer level of material rose, leading to messages being tossed or deleted before they were even read.

Gift kits, on the other hand, have a significantly higher open rate and lifespan than paper-based communications. Unlike e-mails and letters, receiving an unexpected package delivers a welcome and memorable boost of serotonin.

Spring has sprung. Warmer weather is on the way. People are shifting their social activities outdoors. And that means one thing: it’s time to start thinking about your spring and summer promotional campaigns.

Seasonal gifts and giveaways are available in all sorts of price ranges, from under $5 to more than $100. No matter what your budget, there are plenty of warm-weather items to choose from that will make your brand stand out.

Here are some of our favorite spring and summer giveaways, organized by price point, to help you rise above the competition.

There might still be snow on the ground in many areas, but it won’t be long before golfers start dusting off their clubs and hitting links. And golf season means opportunities for companies to host or sponsor tournaments, whether to raise money for charity or attract new prospects and customers.

No matter the reason, there is a lot to consider when participating in a golf tournament. Like any outdoor event, tournaments must be treated differently than the typical indoor trade show or seminar. Signage must be designed to withstand the elements. Giveaways should be tailored to the event and activity. Golf tournaments also generate a high level of energy and friendly competition, all of which present unique and memorable branding opportunities for a highly targeted audience.

At the recent Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo, held in January in Las Vegas, we got a peak at the popular trends experts believe will influence purchasing decisions by marketing organizations and fulfillment vendors for the year to come.

As a marketing professional, you probably don’t need to be told that branded promotional products are big business.

Companies today devote millions of their annual marketing budget to corporate-branded swag, apparel, and various other promo items for prospects, customers, partners, and employees. According to an article on LinkedIn, companies allocate 15% to 20% of their marketing budget to events, trade shows or external branding, a large portion of which is earmarked for promotional products. In the U.S. alone, that translates to between $21.2 billion and $26 billion annually, depending on the source; worldwide, that figure is far higher.

That is a lot of money. Yet shockingly, despite the huge budgets devoted to this space, many companies have no idea what promotional materials they currently have in inventory, where those items are, or how much of that inventory has actually been handed out.