One of the most common warnings that accompany articles on the etiquette of gift giving is the warning to avoid giving promotional products as executive or “personal" business gifts. This may be good advice in general – no one wants to get printed coffee mugs with your business name on them as a Christmas gift. That’s an obviously self serving gift – but there are ways to give promotional products as business gifts that will enhance your reputation rather than damage it. We’ve seen our customers use promotional products in very clever and unusual ways.



Keep in mind that any time you get a promotional product printed with your company’s name into someone’s hands, you’re increasing the name recognition for your business. Items that are used often are the best kind of promotional product – that’s why printed pens, mouse mats and travel mugs are among the most popular promotional products sold today. But giving those items as gifts can be a poor business decision – or it can be a creative and memorable way to get your company noticed. Here are some ways that we’ve seen promotional products used in creative and clever ways.

Personalize promotional products with a

note for business occasions

Acknowledging the business accomplishments of your employees and business associates can be a great way to foster good business relationships – but how do you turn those leftover printed golf tees from an event into a personalized business gift? One salesman managed to do just that when an executive with whom he does business scored a major coup. He wrapped up a box of printed golf tees left over from last year’s company sponsored golf tournament, booked a tee time at the local green and included a personal note inviting his associate to a celebratory round of golf. The round alone would have been a pleasant morning away from the office. The inclusion of the golf tees memorialized it and made it a very special occasion.

Include promotional products as part of a larger gift

Promotional products like printed coffee mugs can be an “aside" to a larger gift. At the holidays one year, one company gifted the administrative staff of each company with which they do business with a gourmet food basket that included breakfast pastries, a pound of gourmet coffee and half a dozen mugs printed with a holiday message from their company. The gift was greatly appreciated, and the printed coffee mugs are used daily by many members of the staff, a constant reminder of the generosity of the gift-giver.

Use promotional products as part of a charitable gesture

Nothing raises the image of a business like good works. One of the most effective ways to increase the visibility of your company in the community is to sponsor or contribute to the good works being done by the non-profit sector. One company hosts an annual party for the community’s children and hands out t-shirts printed with the name of the event and the name of the company. The t-shirts are seen all over town, increasing company exposure and good will.

Personalize promotional products as thank you gifts

Acknowledge sponsors for events and conferences with gifts that can be personalized, like picture frames. When a non-profit hosted a major conference in town, they ordered quality picture frames engraved with the name of the event and the date. During the event, the photographer concentrated on getting shots of the major sponsors. After the event, each sponsor received a thank you note with the picture frame – personalized with their own picture at the event.