Not Your Average Swag - A Guide to Giving Gifts

Week Two of Relationship Building Month here at Crafty and we are talking about following up.  So, we made some great connections with our tips last week, now what?

I can not even begin to tell you how many pens, post it notes, stress balls, desk calendars, etc I have had dropped off at the office or picked up from a trade show.  Most of which will never get used or my kids end up playing with until it's gets lost.  While this typical swag is easy and usually pretty inexpensive - what sort of impact does it actually have with the receivers?

Some of my favorite gifts I have ever received from partners are personalized and things of value to me.  For example, I still have and use the book I received from my rep at the Oregonian - a book of recipes collected from their Food Day section.  She knew that my husband and I enjoy food and even more so cooking at home.  It's branded AND I use it.

I not saying you need to publish a book or even break the bank to make it meaningful.  Below are some tips and tricks for putting together a gift that may leave a longer lasting impression.  My biggest tip - make the vessel for the gift the branded portion and fill it with your personalized items.

Branded Portion:  re-usable bag - it can be the shopping size or even try a lunch bag size.
Personalized Portion: Fill it with something you know they will personally enjoy.  This requires some deeper conversations and keeping notes.  Could be wine, their favorite candy, a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or even items for a picnic they can enjoy with their significant other.

Branded: Desk or Wall Calendar
Personalized: Mark on there significant date; birthdays, anniversaries or my favorite was a calendar that had the due dates of when I needed to have ads turned in for their publication.  Guess what, that one is on my desk and I use it to track all my other deadlines.

Branded: A re-usable box, or cardboard with a label containing logo and contact information.
Personalized:  Deliver it to the whole office.  Summer time - fill it with all the fixings for an ice cream party.  Cones, bowls, sprinkles, chocolate chips, gummy bears, chocolate or caramel sauce.  Pick up a couple tubs of ice cream on your way.  Winter - fill it  with hot cocoa packets, marshmallows and whip cream.  Even throw in a couple mugs if you have them laying around.

Cheers!

-Kristen