Posted on 14th September 2022
by Jacqui Vear
If you know even a little bit about us, you’ll probably know that sustainable corporate gifts are one of our specialisms. Let’s go back to the basics on how this marketing opportunity could add value to your organisation.
Corporate gifts are promotional products, giveaways, and merchandise that reflect the brand and message of a business in their design. They are given away to ensure that the business remains in the mind of its contacts. There are thousands of different gift options; lifestyle items and products for the home and office. There are different product colours, personalisation areas and approaches, so with the right knowledge and artwork, unique and creative corporate gifts can be created for a business’ marketing resources. The days of ‘freebies’ being about inferior plastic branded pens should be a thing of the past!
Corporate gifts have many applications, from rewarding loyal customers and starting conversations with new contacts, to boosting the morale of team members. Our focus goes one step further, as we believe the best return on investment comes from practical, made-to-last items that help recipients live and work more sustainably.
Marketing budgets are often cut in tough times, yet there is a balance to strike. Data repeatedly highlights how much more cost and time efficient it is to retain an existing customer than find a new one! Corporate gifts can provide a platform for upsell, cross-sell and re-engagement campaigns. Also, with job vacancies at record high levels and home working more widespread, talent attraction and retention are added pressures that businesses face. Corporate gifts certainly help to engage team members in the brand and culture of a business.
To get the most from this marketing investment, corporate gifts should be relevant to the brand and target audience, there is a direct correlation between usability and the brand impressions that will make a business message memorable. It’s also best practice to keep campaigns focused on the contacts that make the biggest difference.
There is no doubt that values have shifted, and we are helping businesses to evolve their marketing tactics. Obviously, all kinds of events were cancelled for many months and even when they resumed, there was initially a reluctance to take any corporate gifts offered. In response, there is now a growing array of products manufactured with an active antibacterial ingredient. Contacts often prefer not to rely on communal resources, so water bottles, thermal cups and cutlery sets, or sporks are popular. It is possible to take this ownership theme further by adding individual names to certain products. Many office workers are more mobile and flexible in how they work and corporate gifts can respond to that development too, with best-selling products now including bags, multi-charging cables, powerbanks and earphones.
The biggest shift is around environmental awareness and recognition that all resources need to be used responsibly. If businesses do not adjust their corporate gifting accordingly the detrimental impact on the first impressions of their contacts can be hard to recover. Sustainability is reflected in corporate gifts being made to last, practical, and relevant to the contact, whilst sharing them in a targeted and consensual way.
We showcase our handpicked Sustainable Corporate Gift range on our website, www.systematic.uk/sustainable-corporate-gifts There you’ll find approximately 200 products that blend our ethical values with our knowledge of branded promotional products that create a return on investment for our clients, whilst improving the sustainability of their purchasing. Categories progress from the enduringly popular Writing and Drinkware, through to Promotions, Desk Accessories, Paper Products and Tech, followed by Bags, Leisure, Events and Branded Workwear options. Each product is coded to confirm its sustainable credentials.
We like to keep things personal, understanding what you need to achieve, before responding with ideas, quotes, visuals and samples. We can lead the creation of your artwork, and all services are wrapped up with full project management support. We can even hold corporate gifts in stock, for call-off and delivery when and where you need them!
First and foremost, we’d recommend that you seek specialist advice when looking to invest in corporate gifts. There are so many variables when you consider product ranges and branding options, plus we have a shortlist of tried and trusted products that we can adapt to different business sectors, briefs and budgets. As you develop an approach, we’d recommend following our What, Where, When, How and Why methodology, here’s a link to our blog which explains all!
In short, embrace the opportunities that come with making corporate gifting part of your brand marketing campaigns, yet keep your approach as sustainable as possible!
