40 Percent of all promotional products are purchased in the last quarter of the year.  With the state of our economy this year, marketing budgets are shrinking for most businesses.  If your business is in the same boat, then the holiday season is your golden opportunity to hold on to the existing customers and gain new customers.  What you can’t afford a marketing budget? Here are a few suggestions, because your business can’t afford NOT to have a marketing budget for the holiday season.

• Plan ahead, start your holiday marketing planing NOW!
• Get creative with what little budget you might have
• Create your own ‘holiday gifts’, coupons, giveaway your own products
• Allocate your holiday budget now
• Place your order before the holiday rush so you’re not paying rush charges

In my years in the promotional business, this situation happens at least 2-3 times in December.  Clients decided they want to send a nice promotional product to their clients 3 weeks before Christmas, and they end up paying ridiculous rush charges.

Few years back we had a client that wanted 25 brass pens engraved  and delivered to their stock holders at the company Christmas party .  Normally this would be an easy job except the party is 72 hours away.  The cost of the pens with the rush charge was around $350 (over $10 a pen already), due to the holidays the manufacture couldn’t get the products in time for the party even with FedEx next day early AM delivery!   For $1,100  we few someone to the manufacturer’s facility, rent a car, pickup the pens and fly right back for delivery.

If your business can afford it great (a waste of your marketing budget), but a little early planing could of saved alot of money and trouble.

As materialistic as this may sound, your clients will appreciate your thoughtfulness.  The next time they’re looking for product or services, they WILL remember you.  Personally I pay extra attention during the holidays, I always remember which vendor takes the time to send me a little thank you note, or that little box of goodies to let me know that they want or appreciate my business.

Stay tune, some of our crew will be posting from now till the start of holiday seasons with great ideas that will give you the best bang for your budget!

Tags | holiday promotional products, promtional product ideas