Corporate Gift of the Week: Metropolitan Leather Photo Album & Picture Frame

If you're looking for a gift that your employees can really cherish, consider buying the Metropolitan Leather Photo Album & Picture Frame. The product comes with two miniature photo albums that hold up to 12 photos. It also allows for easy and convenient changing of the displayed picture.



Photo albums are a wise choice of corporate gift because they allow the recipient to fill it with pictures of whatever makes them happy--be it a family members, pets, or scenic landscapes. With objects of their affection in the album, they're bound to feel happy whenever they look through it. If your logo is conveniently placed right on the outside of the album, then they're likely to transfer the warm feelings onto you and your company.



Along this same route, picture frames are usually put on public display, and a branded one can really give your company high visibility as people walk by it all day long. All in all, because this product combines the benefits of both a frame and an album, it really is a wise gift choice

Corporate Gift Solutions

Buying corporate gifts shouldn't be difficult. In fact, a lot people work very hard to make buying corporate gifts easy. That being said, there are plenty of potential pitfalls that can make buying corporate gifts harder than expected. Let's take a look at one of the most common problems people experience when it comes to buying corporate gifts.

Problem: Not Planning Ahead

There is an easy solution to this common problem, and that is to allow enough time. For some reason, many people don't realize that they need to plan ahead if they want to find a unique and successful corporate gift. When you buy a corporate gift during a non peak time, you should plan at least one month in advance. This will allow you enough time to pick a product, order the product, and then wait for the actual production and shipping. If you want your corporate gift during a peak time such as the holidays, you should allow even more time. During the holidays, there is a huge increase in orders--especially for seasonal gifts. With that huge increase comes a delay in production and shipping. You also have to consider that many factories close for the holidays. When you add all of these factors together, you should probably start thinking about your corporate gift during the summer so that you can order early in the fall and manage to beat the rush.

While it may seem crazy to order your corporate gift so far in advance, it's extremely wise when you consider how embarrassing it would be not to have any gift at all, or settling for a gift that you don't really want. In short, the corporate gift solution is to plan ahead. You'll be glad you did when you have that perfect gift ready and waiting.

How Much Should I Spend?

When it comes to corporate gift giving, it can be difficult to decide how much money is appropriate to spend on each employee. We have already discussed using a tiered system to distribute gifts, but there are some other viable options to choose from. Here are some general guidelines any organization can follow to ensure a successful corporate gift giving program:

According to a Lands' End survey of 600 employees-
32% expect their employers to spend nothing on corporate gifts
17% expect them to spend less than $25 per person
18% expect them to spend between $25 and $45 per person
31% expect them to spend more than $45 on a gift

While it is not always feasible for some companies to spend a lot of money on gifts, the most important factor in corporate gift giving is to be sure all gifts appear to be of comparable value. Cynthia Yates, author of The Complete Guide to Creative Gift-Giving says, "The number one guideline is the importance of equality. Sooner or later everyone knows what the boss gave everyone else; and a smart manager will keep the playing field level."

But for those employers who cannot afford to give expensive gifts, fear not. The cost of a gift is much less important than its emotional value. If you take the time to search for items that have a lasting impact on your employees, spending a lot of money is not necessary.

To save money without seeming cheap, the best thing to do is plan ahead. Looking for gifts long before you plan on distributing them allows for comparison shopping and avoiding priority shipping charges (which can get very expensive if you're in a rush). Bulk discounts are also a great way to ensure equality in all your gifts and a low cost to you.

Finally, working with a corporate gift professional is the best way to determine how you can purchase high quality appearing gifts without necessarily breaking the bank. Companies like ePromos who specialize in corporate gift giving can help you save time, provide great gift ideas, and tell you when your desired items are most likely to go on sale.

Case Study Of The Week

Challenge: Finding the perfect gift
A women's business association was throwing its yearly celebration and wanted a gift to give to attendees who were celebrating membership anniversaries with the organization. The group also wanted to make sure that the gifts reflected their organization's culture .

Solution: High quality and practical gifts
The organizers realized that they needed gifts that the women would actually want to receive. They contemplated various ideas, but they finally decided that they wanted their gifts to fit the association's business image. The business association decided on a leather bag that could double as a computer case and business briefcase. They debossed their logo on the front flap for a clean, impressive look. To compliment this gift, the organization picked a quality women's watch with a laser engraving that marked the conference's name and date.

Result: A great conference
The organizers received countless compliments on their great choice, and many women who did not attend the conference inquired if it would be possible to still receive the giveaways. The organizers were very pleased with their use of corporate gifts, and they plan to use more high quality gifts at their next conference.

Corporate Gift Of The Week: Mahogany Wine Set

If you are looking for a classic gift that is perfect all year round, the Mahogany Wine Set may be the right choice for that wine connoisseur in your company. Its high quality nature is sure to impress, and when we say that it comes with everything but the wine, we weren't kidding. Included in this box set are: a collar, bottle stopper, corkscrew, bottle pourer with stopper, thermometer, and a black flock gift pouch. Basically, it comes with everything necessary to enjoy a great tasting bottle of wine.

If you want to add a personal touch to this great gift, your custom designed imprint can be laser engraved on an aluminum plate centered on the box top. This provides a classic look for your corporate logo and company name that is in keeping with the prestige of your business.

Without a doubt, if you are looking for a gift that projects elegance, this is the right choice. Everyone will be able to appreciate the quality craftsmanship and simple beauty of this sturdy and long lasting gift. Simply put, this great gift is destined to become a long lasting classic that will remind its recipient of your business for years to come.

Great Corporate Gifts: Be Prepared!

This September is National Preparedness Month. During this month, the government pairs with other organizations to educate the public about how to be prepared for natural disasters. They try to inform people of local help lines they can call or tell them what they need if disaster strikes.

You may be wondering what this event has to do with corporate gifts. During August and September, giving a corporate gift that helps people prepare for a natural disaster - or any disastrous situation for that matter – is a great way to show that your company cares about the people that keep it strong. For example, you can give out anything from promotional flashlights to emergency kits, all of which are items that will keep your recipients safe in any event. They can use these items in their homes, at the office, or when their car breaks down. Safety products can work well as corporate gifts, as many of them are available in sophisticated cases and classic colors.You can support National Preparedness Month and the people important to your buisness with any variety of useful custom safety products.

Case Study of the Week: Kick Up Your Heels

Challenge: How to build buzz around a new service, drive traffic to a new Web site and get as many people as possible to attend a launch party—all within a limited budget

Unless you’ve got a huge buzz-building budget, your promotional dollars need to work double—and sometimes triple—time. That’s what Arlington Transportation Partners was up against during the launch of Rides in the City, an informational Web site that promotes public transportation alternatives for trendy, young commuters.

Solution: Send “t-shirt” party invitations to put walking billboards out on the street
To build buzz, drive traffic to the site and ensure a good party turn-out called for the kind of promotional materials that work harder for the dollar. Enter the t-shirt “invitation.” The t-shirt, imprinted by us with the company’s signature pink pump graphic, was not the invitation itself; but it was a unique way of delivering it: when recipients unfolded the t-shirt, they found a die-cut, pump-shaped invite complete with the “who-what-why-when-and-where” party details. We also created branded party favors and promotional giveaways for attendees, including pens, cocktail napkins and matchbook-shaped notepads.

Result: Launch party turnout is “huge”; Web hits quadruple post-launch
Arlington Transportation Partners reported a “huge” response to their unique invitation; many attendees wore their new t-shirt to the launch party. The immediate bump in Web traffic pleased the company as well: the promotion brought four times as many hits as before.