Promotional Products Add Impact to Meetings and Events

By Joe Haddad

 

Promotional products can be a valuable communication tool when announcing or holding company meetings or events. They can grab attention, build excitement, motivate attendance and reinforce messages when incorporated into an event’s invitation and other activities. At the event itself, promotional products can reinforce the theme through decorations or recognize attendees’ achievements through awards. And because promotional products are often useful or decorative and may be imprinted with a logo or message, they can serve a number of functions for the business professional.

 

Planning is critical to successful integration of promotional products into a meeting or training event. Here are some helpful guidelines to developing an effective program:

 

1.   Define a specific objective. Whether the goal is to build excitement for a new company program or recognize staff achievements at the annual meeting, first clarify the program’s purpose. For example, is it to increase traffic at a tradeshow or boost sales with current clients?

 

2..   Create a central theme. An event or promotion without a theme can easily lose effectiveness. The theme and the promotional product should tie in with the event’s objective. Creating a recognizable logo and colour to all aspects of a meeting, event or campaign, from promotional products to printed materials, helps create an instantly recognizable image.

 

3.   Select a promotional product that bears a natural relationship to your profession or communications theme. A good example is a company that developed a magic motif for its conference at Disney World. Attendees received magic-related products to tie in with the theme “Experience the magic at Disney.”

 

4.   Don’t pick an item based solely on uniqueness, price or perceived value. Don’t fall prey to the latest trends or fads. Also, audience perceptions of a gift are not exclusively cost related. According to Promotional Products Association International, wearable items such as T-shirts, jackets and caps are the most popular, followed by writing instruments, glassware and ceramics, calendars and desk and office business accessories.

 

In addition to these basics for proper planning, here are some guidelines when ordering promotional products.

Obtain Samples

What may look good in the catalog might not please you when it is delivered. Obtain samples of items you’re considering.

 

Check Imprinting or Embroidering Quality

Some products look great but the quality of the imprinting or embroidery is not optimum. Ask your distributor to obtain an imprint or embroidery sample comparable to your job to review and approve.

 

Use PMS Colours

Be specific when specifying imprint colours. It is best to cite the PMS (Pantone Matching System) colour with your order.

 

Pre-Plan for Early Delivery

Let your distributor know what your deadline dates are so that he or she can advise you on what products are available within your time frame. Items from a catalog can take as long as four to six weeks from the time the order is placed, while custom products may take longer.

Be specific when specifying imprint colours. It is best to cite the PMS (Pantone Matching System) colour with your order.

 

Pre-Plan for Early Delivery

Let your distributor know what your deadline dates are so that he or she can advise you on what products are available within your time frame. Items from a catalog can take as long as four to six weeks from the time the order is placed, while custom products may take longer.