subject: Promotional Merchandise As a Marketing Strategy [print this page] Promotional Merchandise As a Marketing Strategy
The current economic climate means that businesses are coming under increasing pressure to ensure the continuation of their success. To this end, marketing and aggressive sales pitches are becoming ever more important. Here, we will focus on the use of promotional gifts as a proven marketing strategy, that manages to be both far-reaching and inexpensive a feat unique to this form of marketing. We will consider the purpose of promotional gifts, their efficiency for raising awareness of a business, and the various types of gift available, such as printed mugs.
Promotional gifts are everyday objects that specialist businesses manufacture to sport another business's logo, they form part of a company's overall marketing campaign. More often than not, promotional gifts are distributed at large corporate events, such as exhibitions, conferences, trade shows and training seminars.
Specialist companies often called promotional consultants' provide the services needed to create promotional items. Such businesses frequently consult with their clients, and develop a marketing strategy to suit the required promotional purpose. Such consultants offer advice on which items are most likely to benefit the client, where distribution should be undertaken (for example, some items may suit trade fairs, others may suit seminars) and the volumes needed for a decent campaign. With proven success, these companies offer invaluable advice to other companies regarding their marketing techniques.
A promotional item, such as a printed mug, is imbued with the company logo and perhaps a slogan too, in order to heighten awareness of the given company within its target market. The business providing the item will liaise with their customers on matters of correct formatting for logos, the creation of artwork where needed, as well as providing advice on the best places to distribute the merchandise.
The promotional merchandise industry is a lucrative market. Promotional items are used on a global scale, with almost every multi-national company making use of this marketing strategy. As a technique for business promotions, promotional items have a long history of success, the strategy has been in progress since at least the 1950's, and as an industry, it is one of the most profitable.
Most items of which you can conceive have been implemented for use as a promotional item, from printed mugs to key rings, bumper stickers to plasters, a plethora of items have been used for promotional ends.
The majority of promotional items tend to be inexpensive and relatively small, however much larger, high-end items are used to, including boats and cars.
The basic aim of a promotional item is to ensure the recognition of the business whose logo appears on the item. Promotions are used to increase sales, to forge business relationships, to act as an internal incentive mechanism used to increase employee productivity , and to generally heighten awareness of the business and the services that it offers.
