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December 2007 Article

Gift Trends and How to Generate Winning Gift Ideas

The client says the gala theme is “Fire and Ice.” What gift can represent the theme of this grand event and please its VIP audience? Fire and Ice? Cigarette lighters? No, not acceptable anymore. Diamonds? A bit too expensive, even for the most luxurious bash.
Fireplace matches and ice cube trays? Don’t laugh. Sometimes you have to go far out to rein in the good idea. Wine chillers? Close. Aha! Sleek classy thermos bottles with engraved logos. It’s fire and ice in one.

The thermos idea came from Larry Funk and his team at Zebra Promotions, a company that enjoys the creative challenges presented to them by event planners. Recently, they were asked to suggest in-room gifts for an incentive in Jamaica.

They proposed flip-flops and a bathrobe…but with a novel, brand-building twist. The flip-flops were custom designed with the company’s logo pressed into the sole. This meant that as the wearers walked the beach, they left the company’s imprint in the sand…over and over again. The program’s registration form called for shoe size, heightening curiosity about the event.

When Larry works with a client he asks a host of questions in order to hone in on the most appropriate and creative solution. His questions make a good checklist to fill out before you start the gift sourcing process. Some are obvious, some not quite so.

1. Who is the audience?
2. What is the age range of the audience?
3. How many gifts do you need?  Are there levels of gifts? (e.g. special ones for VIPs)
4. What is your budget?
5. Do you have a theme?
6. How will the gift be used?
   - Save the date reminder?
   - In-room gift?
   - Registration packet?
   - Post-event thank you?
7. What did you give them last year? The year before? What was the feed back? Were the gifts successful?
8. Where will the event be?
9. Will you need to transport the gifts a long distance?
   Larry cautions that if your event is overseas or across the country, you need to look for gifts that are lighter weight and can meet shipping and customs requirements. See below for a creative solution to the shipping challenge.
10. Are you looking for a “Wow” reaction?
11. Do you want something that will be kept for a long time? In the office? In the home?
12. Do you want it personalized…with your logo? With the recipients name?

This checklist can be edited and extended as you and your consultant work through the creative process.

What’s hot and what’s working these days?

There are tried and true items that are still viable, Larry says, such as gift baskets and popcorn tins when you need to thank an office, rather than an individual. Pens have a place, as do portfolios (especially personalized), and desk items such as clocks.

Items particularly in vogue right now, Larry says, fall into two main categories: electronic accessories and “Green” products.

Electronic Products

Flash Drives. They are more popular than ever as the price is coming down and you can give more memory for less money. Flash drives can be incorporated into many useful tools including key chains, laser pointers, and pens.

One great advantage of the flash drive, Larry explains, is that you can pre-load it with your own promotion material (from PowerPoint presentations to film) for free, giving you a double shot at your audience.

I-Pod/ MP3 Accessories. Great for younger audiences, the I-Pod offers lots of possibilities -- Power adapters, sports armbands, speakers, auto chargers, earphones, leather cases, docking equipment.

Digital Photo Frames. Here’s an item nearly everyone needs and wants these days. Costs are coming down though still on the pricey side. This is another product that you can pre-load with your own message and lots of exciting graphics. Depending on size, you would spend $40 to $100 each.

Memory Card Holder. Low cost but highly useful, these mini storage cases protect digital camera memory cards so you are never caught short with the “Out of Memory” message. Holders can come as part of key chains or even a business card case.

Downloadable Cards. No shipping problems here. Credit card size gifts where the content comes from the Internet in the form of ring tones, music, or games that appeal to hip, younger audiences.

Green Products

Green products come in two basic categories: traditional items made from biodegradable materials and products that use alternative power.

Biodegradable Products. Pens, packaging, key chains, water bottles--you can get a lot of promotional items and conference materials made from recycled waste and/or biodegradable materials. Corn resin is a particularly friendly material that makes plastic acceptable. Items come with a little corn tag explaining the environmental advantage.
Larry cautions that these products may cost a little more, but the goodwill you generate can be worth it.

Alternative Power. The basic choices here are solar powered items, dynamo (hand-cranked) products, or those that combine the two. Useful products that use one or both of the technologies include flashlights, radios, and phone chargers. Put your logo on them and save energy.

Soft Goods, Edibles, and More.

Name brand fleece, camp shirts, vests or sweaters continue to be popular items, Larry says, and are particularly appropriate when tied to the destination. Cookies and chocolate bearing or shaped into logos always please. And, to make them lasting, he suggests packaging them in a keeper with your logo on it – such as a mug, or duffel bag, or basket.

Almost anything is possible with personalization, Larry advises, including a silver engraved key chain with your logo on one side and your guest’s name on the other.

A complete cycle of gifts impresses with its coordination. As an example, Larry says you can send luggage tags and a lanyard designed to fit the theme or destination for a save-the-date reminder. Your in-room gift could be the customized flip-flops and bathrobe. And, after the conference is over, your thank you could be a leather or engraved photo album for storing memories of the journey.

Zebra Promotions of Commack, New York, is a full service promotional product distributor providing creative solutions to marketing needs ranging from awards and commemoratives to business gifts, from employee motivation to trade-show giveaways. They have access to more than 500,000 products.

A specialist in consulting for event planners, Larry can be reached at 888-689-3400. Email: Larry@zebrapromo.com  Website: www.zebrapromo.com


Personal Shopping Bonus

If you are still looking for out-of-the-ordinary holiday gifts for friends and relatives, check out www.uncommongoods.com. Among the more interesting items are earrings made out of Scrabble game pieces, a bowl fashioned from a bicycle chain, Smencils –scented pencils, a tie bearing diagrams of the various baseball pitches, and “Do Not Forget” door hangers if you want to be more precise than a string around your finger.

Happy Holidays from Global Events Partners and the Krisam Group.
May you be gifted with a joyous season.