The corporate gift business is worth several million pounds in the UK alone and several million more in the United States. It has grown from supplying cheap pens with the company logo on to supplying high tech, green and high design items that truly leave a lasting impression and leave a business firmly at the front of customer and client minds.

Yet for some reason many companies still insist on choosing the cheaper end of the corporate gift range, from those cheap pens through branded mouse mats and coasters to t-shirts and mugs. Yes, it gets your logo into people’s offices but only briefly before they end up in the bin or the back of a drawer or cupboard.

In today’s more sophisticated world you need to think more cleverly and be prepared to spend a little bit more if you want to impress your clients.

Here are some ideas for corporate gifts that will present you in a good light and please your customers and clients.

USB MEMORY STICKS

In this modern, technology obsessed world the USB memory stick is an essential piece of kit for most people and receiving a free one will always be welcome. They can be branded with a small logo and you can guarantee they will be used constantly, ensuring your brand is always in front of your audience.

In the big scheme of things, they’re also relatively cost effective to send as a gift and if you’re in the IT business in anyway are also relevant to your business, though this is not a major consideration it does help.

GREEN GIFTS

As people become more and more environmentally aware and friendly they increasingly only want to deal with companies that share their principles. Sending out corporate gifts that demonstrate your company’s green policies is a great way of doing this, engendering trust and respect from your audience.

This is one instance where you may be able to get away with the ‘cheaper’ end of the corporate gift range. Examples include pens, bags and even mugs made from recycled materials. Spend a bit more and you could send water powered calculators and clocks!

DESIGNER GLASSWARE

At the more expensive end of the scale but highly sophisticated and guaranteed to impress, designer glass items from well-known glass designers like Kosta Boda are ideal gifts for your high value clients and customers. They also make very good rewards for your staff at the end of a good project or a good year.

Items include photo frames, candle holders, elegant desktop clocks, vases and bowls, art pieces and, of course, wine glasses! A quick Google search for designer glass or Kosta Boda will find you suppliers of these gifts.

GIFTS FOR WOMEN

Don’t forget that many of your clients, customers and staff will be women. Targeting your gifts for your audience shows you care and careful selection will reap very good rewards.

Don’t be tempted to brand every gift. Not many women will want to use something with a logo all over it. You needn’t worry that your gift will be wasted if you don’t brand it – your recipients will always remember who they got their beautiful lipstick holder, perfume bottle or mirrored compact from!

You could, depending on how many you plan to send and budget allowing, even personalise the items with their name for that little extra touch.

The point is, there are hundreds of options open to you in the corporate gift market. Steer clear of hundreds of plastic pens and put some thought into it. The world has moved on – so should you!

Author Bio: Ian Grainger is writing on behalf of Pyramid Designer Glassware & Gifts, retailers of Kosta Boda designer glassware.

Category: Advice
Keywords: corporate gifts, designer glass, green gifts, gifts for women