B2B businesses are likely to feel appreciation to its clients, partners, and even international teams during the holidays. The promotional products tend to be a regular addition to this gesture and may have the form of wishing gifts, cards, or items with the logo of a company. But the problem is that most of the holiday-related objects are generic, over-used, and they can be simply dismissed. An obligatory or artificial holiday campaign will make no impact or even an adverse one.
Cliche gifts may occur when business organizations use templates or when they just copy what others are doing. Holiday mugs shaped like snowflakes, candy-filled tins or plain holiday cards, with a printed logo, may have a practical use, but it is rarely conveying an intelligent branding, or the authentic message. In the case of B2B relationships that tend to have longer sales cycles and require larger investments, one should be more purposeful during the holiday season.
Aligning with Company Culture and Values
Special offers during holidays provide a special chance to express corporate culture and ideals. A company that has a reputation of showing environmental concerns, say, can support that reputation in the form of environmentally friendly gifts or a packaging that can be recycled. Such gestures as purchasing gift items made by local artisans or donating them through charity tie-ins can make gift giving even more meaningful without involvement of conventional symbols of holidays.
This also aids in the differentiation of a brand in jammed inboxes and mailrooms. Personalizing the whole experience, it feels better when promo products or corporate gifts can also include a small story describing what the business is all about. In a B2B setting, this personal relation will also help build long-term relationships.
Making the Brand Message Clear Yet Subtle
Promo products based on the holiday theme do not have to shout Christmas or New Year. Rather, using the season as a background is what companies should do to support the brand positioning in a less direct manner. To take only one example, instead of going with a red-and-green branded calendar, one company can provide a high-quality desk planner with a classy winter style and moderate yet subtly-designed branding. It is aimed at associating with the season and at the same time maintaining a touch with the core image of the company.
Branded corporate clothing is a smart option for this. Scarf or high-quality pullover in neutral winter colors can be a refined gift that can be used and liked by its recipients, and the logo of the brand, when pinned strategically, still reminds about your connection. Promotes that are sold during holiday seasons should not look or sound like advertising gimcracks but they should be feel- good extensions to the business.
Prioritizing Utility and Quality
Promotional products that can be used by the people have a better chance of being used or appreciated thus being retained. In the case of holidays, it can be taken to mean the selection of products that are season-sensitive yet that do not have their time limit within the short holiday period. As an example, it can be insulated drinkware, blanket, or products with a winter atmosphere dedicated to desktop devices. These are the items that nevertheless refer to the season but are helpful not only until the end of the holidays.
Quality is more expensive than ever because in the holidays, many recipients will receive many gifts from different vendors. The quality and the price of promo items should not be cheap, or to be honest, of poor quality as it can be used to project that the business has not made much effort to show its appreciation. Rather than purchase a load of novelty gifts, the businesses would be much more effective investing in less novelty, and of higher quality items that project the sense of care and professionalism.
Timing and Messaging Make a Difference
The decision as to the when and the manner in which promo products with a holiday theme are to be handed out may be more relevant than the selection of the item being handed out. Instead of going by the flow and sending gifts during mid-December, you can consider going ahead or even after the holidays. An advertisement that comes as a New Year package in the early days of January, e.g. will be unique just because it cannot be hidden in the Christmas mess.
The message that accompanies the product also matters. An ordinary promo can be turned memorable by adding a handwritten note or a short personal message, or even a message that mentions a certain experience the person had with your company. Even a basic item turns into a sincere gesture of gratitude when the message is genuine.
Avoiding Oversaturation of Holiday Symbols
Overusing holiday imagery can be considered one of the major pitfalls that should be avoided during holiday promotional campaigns. Although snowflakes, reindeer, Santa hats, and glitter can be quite festive, they are bound to sound too commercial or empty. Rather, there should be designs of themes that allude to warmth, renewal, or gratitude, all concepts that can be linked to the season without using cliched imagery.
Holiday-oriented themes in promo products should be crafted with regard to refreshment of the products, instead of monotony. Conscientious design, good sense of timing, and sincerity of messaging seal that corporate gifts and corporate clothing will not become a cliche during the holiday season.
