In today’s competitive world, where all businesses are striving to outdo each other and establish their brand name in the minds of their audience using all the tools at their disposal, promotional gifts are an exceptional opportunity to achieve this goal.
What we are witnessing is a proliferation of producers and service providers in most sectors compared to the past and the end of the era of monopolies. This diversity is to the customer’s advantage. Among the multitude of producers available, it is the customer who chooses which one to go to, and thus the era of customer orientation has begun and has progressed to the point where it is now the customers who determine the direction in which businesses move.
Since the reins have been handed over to the target audience of businesses, there has been a lot of competition; sometimes businesses compete on price, sometimes on quality; variety, durability, after-sales service, packaging, and… all other issues are endless competitions and tournaments that invite businesses’ customers to participate. Surely you, as a business, have always been in the middle of these games and have been spending budgets from the very beginning to participate and win these competitions, and maybe sometimes despite all your efforts and expenses, you have not been successful. Promotional gifts, however, are that magic that goes beyond these long-standing and traditional competitions to be a helping hand for businesses to attract more and loyalize customers.
In this article, we will try to delve deeper into the concept of promotional gifts, their importance and application, the types of these gifts, tips for choosing them, and… Please stay with us.
Corporate gifts: A helping hand for businesses to attract and retain customers
Corporate gifts are a helping hand for businesses to attract and retain customers. If you don’t necessarily offer the best price on the market, don’t worry; people these days are looking to spend their money where they are respected, valued, and appreciated. So by giving a small, valuable gift, you can tell them that you value them too and start a win-win game.
If the quality of your services and products is the same as some of your competitors, by giving a promotional gift and making the customer feel good, you will make them loyal to you and end the constant dilemma of choosing between you and your competitors. And this story continues in other cases as well.
Of course, it goes without saying that corporate gifts are not meant to compensate for our shortcomings in other areas. If a brand does not have satisfactory price, quality, variety, etc., promotional gifts will not help it. But for brands that try to meet at least the minimum requirements of their customers and have gained a place among their audience through their performance and are striving to improve and enhance this position, promotional gifts are a useful and effective tool.
If we want to look at this lovely magic from another perspective, we can say that a promotional gift is your brand’s ambassador, an ambassador who tells your audience that they are more than just a customer to you. In fact, promotional gifts are more than just a physical object; behind this object, we have sent a message to our audience that receiving this message will be a sweet experience for them because our message is full of value, respect, attention, and affection. You have communicated your human connection to them beyond the business relationship, and in response to this message, they will respond with loyalty to you.
Of course, it is worth noting that promotional gifts are not only the gifts that we give to our potential and existing customers, but also corporate gifts. In other words, every business needs to sometimes prepare corporate gifts for its employees as well, with the aim of improving relationships and strengthening bonds.
By doing this, they will eagerly use everything they have to make our business successful. On the other hand, they will become our brand ambassadors and will gladly promote our brand among their friends.
When we give our precious corporate gift to our employee, they will take it home and tell their family members about the positive feeling we have given them, and in this way we will bring the members of that family with our brand. Here it is necessary to say that valuing the human resources of the organization is not only about giving them corporate gifts, but if our other actions in the direction of valuing and appreciating our human resources are accompanied by valuable corporate gifts, it will have a very positive effect on the brand and will be a complement to our other activities. In addition to this individual, we will also have other members of his family as our brand ambassadors, and this is a miracle that businesses sometimes overlook. (What he had, he asked for from a stranger.)
You will always be remembered with practical and creative promotional gifts
By doing this, they will eagerly use everything they have to make our business successful. On the other hand, they will become our brand ambassadors and will gladly promote our brand among their friends.
When we give our precious corporate gift to our employee, they will take it home and tell their family members about the positive feeling we have given them, and in this way we will bring the members of that family with our brand. Here it is necessary to say that valuing the human resources of the organization is not only about giving them corporate gifts, but if our other actions in the direction of valuing and appreciating our human resources are accompanied by valuable corporate gifts, it will have a very positive effect on the brand and will be a complement to our other activities. In addition to this individual, we will also have other members of his family as our brand ambassadors, and this is a miracle that businesses sometimes overlook. (What he had, he asked for from a stranger.)
The tradition of gift-giving is a deeply ingrained human practice that has existed for centuries across cultures and social strata. Gifts have been exchanged for a variety of reasons, ranging from expressions of affection and respect to strengthening bonds of friendship, expanding networks, and even paving the way for requests or negotiations. (Recall the gifts exchanged between the Russian and English ambassadors in the Iranian TV series “Gahveye Talkh” – each present served as an opening gambit for presenting new demands and securing the Shah’s approval!)
In today’s dynamic and competitive business landscape, the age-old tradition of gift-giving has not only endured but has also taken on even greater significance. Promotional gifts have emerged as a cornerstone of marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes. As creating a positive customer experience has become the overarching goal guiding all organizational activities, well-chosen promotional gifts can serve as a magic wand, propelling you to the forefront of this endeavor.
Promotional gifts: A key to building and maintaining business relationships
As we have discussed earlier, promotional gifts play a significant role in shaping and maintaining business relationships for any organization. It is natural that before making a selection, a comprehensive review of the different types of promotional gifts should be conducted to ensure that the cost and budget allocated for procuring these gifts yield a good and logical return on investment for the organization. Various methods are used to categorize corporate gifts, and we will explore some of these methods below.
Digital promotional gifts
We live in the age of technology, and our lives are intertwined with technology and digital devices. In Iran itself, a report in 1400 (2021) stated that around 76% of people have access to a smartphone!
Therefore, it is natural for some organizations and companies to turn to digital promotional gifts, including various types of flash drives, power banks, headsets, and more. You have probably also received some of these digital promotional gifts in recent years. The reality is that many of these digital gifts are Chinese-made and are not of good quality, and after a short period of use, they break down. Thus, all the organization’s efforts, along with the budget spent on purchasing this digital corporate gift to keep it constantly in front of the customer’s eyes, suddenly go up in smoke;
We live in a country that is the cradle of handicrafts. Therefore, it is natural that many companies turn to handicraft promotional gifts, the most popular of which are: tablecloths, brocades, enamelware, inlaid dishes, pottery, ceramics.
In recent years, some companies with relatively suitable advertising budgets have preferred to prepare mixed handicraft packages. A hard box of several handicrafts together that can be a precious promotional gift. These packages are usually used as management gifts.
Sometimes, when the hands of purchasing managers of organizations are open and they are not forced to cut corners due to budget constraints, handicrafts such as marble products, silverware, turquoise inlay, copper and processing are included in the purchasing process.
Combined package of handicrafts, including a marble napkin box, a calligraphy table and an inlay machine
Combined package of handicrafts including Isfahan penman’s tablecloth and enamel vase
Combined package of handicrafts including Isfahan penman’s tablecloth and enamel vase
Handicraft combined pack, including a 10×10 marble box, backgammon board, and painting tabletop
On the other hand, many companies, in order to control their budget, turn to products that are mass-produced. In handicrafts, there is a term called “market products”; market products are those productions that are mass-produced due to high demand, and although these products are also handmade and are considered a work of art and valuable, they do not have a high artistic value and uniqueness, and the designs on them are not that delicate and artistic. It is obvious that when, due to manpower limitations, 1000 pots need to be painted in 2 days, quality is sacrificed for quantity.
It is precisely for this reason that some people feel that although handicrafts are inherently unique and no two products can be found exactly the same because they are handmade, sometimes these products become repetitive for them, and if you are the third or fourth company that gives this product to him, it is likely that your product will end up in a corner of the house because there are many similar ones in the house in terms of color and design. Therefore, if you decide to buy handicraft promotional gifts, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the uniqueness of that handicraft is your trump card.
If you want to spend your budget in this area, go for handicrafts that have preserved their artistic essence and are full of creativity and beauty. In this way, your customer will be overjoyed to see it, because he has not seen it before, or even if he has seen it, this product is so creative and different from the others that he will prefer to receive such a product from you not only this time but also the next time.
That’s why we recommend marble promotional gifts to you. Marmris Company can produce promotional gifts with unique designs and patterns for you in any quantity you want; without neglecting quality.
Certainly, one of the factors that we should consider when choosing promotional gifts is their practicality. Practical promotional gifts mean that this gift is intended to fulfill a need of our audience. For example, around the Nowruz holidays, many companies decide to include a package of nuts in their promotional gift sets, or in our beautiful city of Isfahan, many companies offer a package of Ghoz (a traditional Persian nougat) along with their New Year’s corporate gifts to their audience. Car sunshades, which were once offered as promotional gifts by many insurance companies, are another example of practical gifts.
There are many examples of these gifts. You have probably received a gift pack that includes a leather belt and wallet. Handicraft promotional gifts are designed to fulfill the need for beauty. Often, after meeting their basic needs, people seek to make their living spaces more beautiful.
People have different needs, and a company that can identify and address one of its users’ most important needs is likely to be more successful than others. However, this is certainly a difficult and strange task.
Undoubtedly, practicality is one of the key factors to consider when selecting promotional gifts. Practical promotional gifts are designed to fulfill a specific need of the recipient. For instance, around the Nowruz holidays in Iran, many companies include a package of nuts in their promotional gift sets. Similarly, in the beautiful city of Isfahan, many companies offer a package of Ghoz (a traditional Persian nougat) along with their New Year’s corporate gifts to their audience. Car sunshades, once a popular promotional gift offered by many insurance companies, are another example of practical gifts.
Examples of practical promotional gifts abound. You have probably received a gift pack containing a leather belt and wallet. Handicraft promotional gifts aim to satisfy the need for beauty. Often, after fulfilling their basic needs, people seek to enhance the aesthetics of their living spaces.
One of the most attractive examples of practical promotional gifts is a gift card. The choice of this lovely talisman is highly controversial. With a gift card, we give freedom to the person to buy whatever they want, which is definitely very pleasant and pleasant for our audience. But it has one drawback and that is that it remembers our brand name until the gift card is not used. Definitely, after using it and turning it into something else, after a while he will not remember the original money. So, although the gift card seemed like the best and most practical promotional gift at first glance, it didn’t help our brand name in the long run.
But at this moment, if our audience is members of our organization and not our customers and business partners, this gift can still be the most special and best organizational gift. We don’t need to imprint our brand name on the minds of our employees, it’s done by itself. We have to please him, show him that we appreciate his efforts. We should be proud of him in front of his family for working in a company that cares about its employees on all important occasions and is open to spending more.
Have you seen how much a gift card can be a controversial gift?! This is the beginning of the controversy of this gift. Maybe we should have a category for the employees of our organization. Maybe it is better for an employee who is a bit stingy and his hands and heart are trembling in spending, we should buy it ourselves and not give him money and thus make his family happier.
Another way to categorize promotional gifts is based on the cultural events and occasions during which organizations decide to purchase them. Certainly, one of the most important factors in choosing a gift is its relevance; when and on what occasion is this corporate gift supposed to reach the person, and does it have enough thematic relevance? Do you remember to give your customers a religious promotional gift on Eid Ghadir and a special and luxurious promotional gift with an Iranian identity on Yalda night? In the following, we will briefly discuss the most important occasion-based promotional gifts.
New Year Promotional Gifts
New Year for most of us Iranians is intertwined with sweet, happy, and pleasant memories that fill us with excitement and a smile on our lips when we think about them; memories of childhood and the happy days of those times, when we went to visit our relatives on New Year’s Day and they gave us Eid money or gifts as a souvenir, expression of love, and congratulations. This is why the tradition of New Year’s promotional gifts is exciting for most of us, as it reminds us of our happy childhood memories.
New Year’s promotional gifts are one of the most important advertising actions for any business; because in the field of advertising and marketing, businesses are always told to strive to create a good feeling and experience for the audience. Make people proud and satisfied to be customers of your brand. Be present in a time and place where people’s emotions are engaged.
Given this, many companies and organizations also allocate a specific budget for New Year’s promotional gifts and try not to miss this special and valuable time, even if they do not have a plan to prepare corporate gifts during the rest of the year.
In the past, around 10 years ago, wall and desk calendars and diaries were the go-to corporate gifts exchanged between companies and their customers during Nowruz. Diaries were like tireless brand ambassadors, always in use, and people usually carried them around until the last days of the New Year. It was a success if the recipient used this calendar in their business meetings and took it with them wherever they went. This way, not only was our business brand engraved in their minds, but others would also become familiar with our brand name in the corner when they saw our gifted calendar in their hands. If the calendar was very special and, as they say, chic and luxurious, they might even be curious about the name of our business that had splurged and chosen such a luxurious promotional gift, and sometimes they would even search and inquire.
Of course, the peak of this story was that few companies gave out this calendar and diary to the individual. When the number of companies increased, the individual would cherry-pick among all the diaries, and unfortunately, our special gift did not have the luck to be chosen. As the famous proverb goes:
“In a pond where there are no fish, the frog is a general!”
With the increase in diaries, it sometimes became very difficult for our diary to stand out. However, there was still hope.
The situation worsened when people stopped using diaries in their meetings. This was another blessing of living in the technology age. They preferred to bring their smartphone notes to meetings and avoid the hassle of carrying these beautiful diaries around.
The Shift to Digital and Handicrafts Promotional Gifts
These troubles aside, the issue of cutting down trees to produce these diaries and the skyrocketing prices of paper and cardboard came to the fore. As a result, many businesses, due to social responsibility and other reasons mentioned, decided to move from this promotional gift to digital promotional gifts and handicrafts promotional gifts, which we discussed earlier. This was indeed a positive approach.
Of course, handicrafts corporate gifts were and still are a better option. Because if you offer a special and unique handicraft as a gift to individuals who are either your customer, a member of your organization, or your business partner, during Nowruz, when people are trying to renovate their homes, this gift will certainly find a place in a corner of their home. The more special and chic the promotional gift, the more beautiful and special, the more magnificent and important the display location! In this way, you have been able to keep your brand in front of their eyes in the best possible way and ultimately make your brand memorable in their minds.
An example of Nowruz promotional gifts; A set of flower and chicken paintings on marble including a tissue box, a pencil case, a large cube vase, a hanging vase, a business card holder and a reception box.
An example of Nowruz promotional gifts; Gilding painting set on marble including reception box, small cube vase, stone wall clock, pencil box and tissue box.
An example of Nowruz promotional gifts; Flower and chicken painting set on marble including tissue box, pyramid vase, medium business card holder and reception box
Yalda Night is another highly popular occasion among Iranians. On this night, despite the daily hustle and bustle, we make an effort to return home earlier to participate in a gathering at the home of an elder family member or at a café that we have arranged for days or even weeks in advance. We spend our time with those we love.
Yalda Night is not only an important time for individuals, but many companies and organizations also allocate a budget for purchasing promotional gifts during this time, depending on their target audience and the pleasant memories associated with Yalda. Even if the purchases are small, they remind their customers of their presence at different times of the year and express the respect and value they have for their customers and employees.
Many of the Yalda promotional gifts that the Marmaris Group produces during this time are corporate gifts that a company intends to give to its members and employees.
Yalda Night promotional gifts typically feature an element of this special night or incorporate the night’s red color theme. Orders placed with Marmaris during this time are usually mixed orders. A company may decide to provide its staff with an exquisite and beautiful marble plaque, Termeh tablecloth, and some nuts in a marble hospitality box. Sometimes we are asked to design and produce our pyramidal marble tabletop vase in a color theme and with similar patterns to the قلمکاری tablecloth that they have sent us a picture of.
Trade shows are another excellent opportunity to utilize promotional gifts effectively. These events present a golden opportunity for businesses to connect directly with potential customers without intermediaries. Attendees at these shows are often actively seeking new suppliers, producers, or service providers. Therefore, having a strong presence at a trade show and offering unique promotional gifts can significantly boost your business’s success.
In most general trade shows, such as those for food, décor, and construction, the number of visitors is typically high. On the other hand, businesses often have limited advertising budgets, so they allocate a small amount of money for each promotional item. This is a reasonable and understandable approach.
However, it’s worth noting that if your business operates in a highly specialized or niche market, or if you primarily deal with B2B clients, it’s worth investing more in your trade show promotional gifts. In such shows, attendees are typically business owners and potential clients, and the number of visitors is relatively low. Therefore, if you offer a unique promotional gift that no one else is offering, or even if someone else is offering a similar gift, your gift can still stand out due to its unique nature, and you can take a significant step towards converting potential customers into actual ones.
In the past, many organizations preferred to allocate their trade show promotional budgets towards printing high-quality, beautifully designed catalogs showcasing their products or services. These catalogs were often accompanied by branded mugs, inexpensive electronic devices, or mousepads. This approach made sense given the limited budgets of most businesses. After all, what could be more important than a catalog that effectively and meticulously presents an organization’s offerings?
However, we now live in the digital age, and we should utilize the possibilities that digital technology provides to advance our goals and streamline our operations. Consequently, instead of expending resources on printing elaborate catalogs, it might be more beneficial to create a digital catalog with an engaging and brand-aligned design and provide it to visitors via a barcode. Nowadays, it’s rare to find someone without a smartphone equipped with a barcode scanner app.
From a realistic standpoint, the aesthetic appeal, uniqueness, or luxuriousness of a catalog doesn’t matter. The printing technology used for product images and the cover, the quality of paper and cardboard employed, none of these factors alter the catalog’s fundamental nature. Despite the considerable expenses incurred, it remains just a catalog. A catalog serves as a tool for conveying product or service features and details.
Whether a customer is new and potential or an existing one, it’s true that they will be impressed by a beautiful and unique catalog, recognizing the prestige of the company and gaining confidence in the value placed on products and services. This can even lead to increased trust. However, it’s important to remember that after reviewing the catalog, it will likely be set aside, perhaps immediately discarded into the recycling bin or tucked away on a bookshelf or desk drawer, only to be thrown away during the next pre-holiday decluttering session. In all these scenarios, the outcome is the same: the catalog will no longer be used and won’t remain in plain sight.
Instead of spending a significant amount of money on a catalog that will likely end up unused, it might be more prudent to share this budget with the mutual benefit of the customer and create a more positive experience. When presenting the trade show promotional gift, explain that the intention was to print a beautiful catalog, a digital version of which is now available on their smartphone. However, the company chose to fulfill its social responsibility towards environmental conservation and instead provide a small gift or token to ensure they are always remembered and that the business relationship remains strong. The impact of this gesture will undoubtedly far exceed that of an elaborate catalog.
If you’ve decided to purchase promotional gifts for your brand for an upcoming trade show, cultural or religious event, let’s briefly review a few key points:
Planning and Timing:
Relevance and Versatility:
Functionality and Impact:
Uniqueness and Differentiation:
Building Relationships and Brand Value:
Considering Marble Painting Products:
If you’ve opted for marble-painted products instead of digital, electronic, or imported promotional gifts, keep these two points in mind:
Customization: Marble painting allows for personalization, making each gift unique and memorable.
Durability and Sustainability: Marble is a durable and sustainable material, ensuring your gifts remain valuable and usable for an extended period.
By following these tips and carefully considering your options, you can select promotional gifts that effectively promote your brand, enhance customer relationships, and leave a lasting positive impression.
At Marmaris, we believe that promotional gifts should not just be branded items; they should be experiences that leave a lasting positive impression on your recipients. We specialize in creating unique and personalized marble-painted products that perfectly align with your brand identity and resonate with your target audience
Mrmaris is a leading provider of exceptional marble-painted promotional gifts, catering to a wide clientele across Iran. Our exquisite handcrafted products are designed to leave a lasting impression on your recipients, enhancing your brand identity and strengthening customer relationships.
Our Clientele:
We proudly serve a diverse range of clients from various cities in Iran, including:
Isfahan: Our home base, where you can experience our products firsthand at our cozy workshop or showroom.
Tehran: The bustling capital city, where we deliver our unique gifts to our valued clients.
Mashhad: The holy city of Mashhad, where we help businesses enhance their brand presence through our personalized marble creations.
Shiraz: The city of poets and roses, where we bring a touch of elegance and sophistication to promotional gifting.
Tabriz: The historic city of Tabriz, where we showcase our artistry and craftsmanship to our esteemed customers.
Marmaris is the name of a new and captivating handicraft. Wood inlay, enamelwork, penmanship, and turquoise inlay are familiar names in the world of handicrafts that we often hear. Marmaris, however, is the new and young member of this family that has come to be a valuable heir to its ancestors. Marmaris is the art of painting on marble.