51ÁÔÆæ

51ÁÔÆæ partner Magellan Promotions recently published a list of best practices for all of the clients.

To do promo merch well, it goes way beyond the parameters of quantity, approximate budget, when you need the items by, product color and imprint.  The ideas collected came from the Magellan account team, including ,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý.ÌýÌýÌý

Product Search

While searching may seem easier, we always recommend connecting with an Account Manager as they will help brainstorm ideas based on your parameters. Our team of experts will cut through the huge range of options to quickly recommend creative and high quality items that will deliver on time. Here are a few tips to make brainstorming a success:

• Who is the audience and how are the products going to be used (are they handed out at an event, staff appreciation gifts, etc.)?  
• What has the audience previously received so there aren’t duplications?
• Are there types of products that should not be considered? (For example, maybe no items made from plastic are allowed to be purchased.) 
• While budget is important, it’s helpful to know what are the most important parameters for making the decision to narrow down the search for your particular project. Is it product color, turnaround time, full color imprint availability, imprint size or something else? 

Additional Considerations

Now that your brainstorming is underway, here are more parameters to think about when picking out promo merch.   

• An awesome attribute of promo merch is that it is useful and appreciated. A common strategy is to hand out promo merch people don’t enjoy buying but want to receive. Popular examples include ,  and .  
• While name brands are appreciated, often there are items that have similar looks and functionality at a significantly lower price point. If interested in retail items, determine first if the style/functionality of the item or the brand is most important.
• If the promo merch is going to be individually mailed, let us know so we can recommend appropriate options. In addition, we can discuss packaging considerations and fulfillment options.
• If possible, give your audience a choice of promo merch. This increases the likelihood of the recipients being excited and using the product long term. 
• If the promo merch is accompanying marketing messaging, consider how the two can be tied together. For example, in journals, we can incorporate a tip-in page in the front of the  that can accommodate messaging. Another popular solution is , as there is room to include an array of stickers along with any messaging on one or both sides of the sheet.