This past weekend I was looking through my closet for my winter clothes and came across an old sweatshirt that I was given from a past employer. This was one of the many corporate gifts that I have received over the years as a sign of appreciation or just to celebrate a new product launch. Every year companies provide promotional items to their customers and their employees as a way of saying thanks but also to create brand awareness. This is one marketing vehicle that can present your brand in front of thousands of eyes if given to the right person in the right situation.

It is also true with promotional products where you receive a free sample of am item to try it out in hopes that you will purchase additional units or replace your current item with theirs. You see this all the time with toothbrushes in the dentist office. You will get the latest Oral-B toothbrush and then more than likely you will purchase a replacement when that one gets worn out. One of the better promotional products that we received was a stadium blanket that folded up neatly, but had the companies main product branded on the front. It was warm and did keep us dry at this years game down in Pullman, but we had to keep explaining to people that we did not sell that product, so it did it’s job by creating awareness and probably some additional customers.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 11:20 pm and is filed under Advertising. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.