The SUAVE way to Save on Promotional Items

By: Remy Lebeau

Who wouldn't want to save on a purchase? Everyone wants to cut a few cents or even some dollars on their shopping, so why shouldn't you. Even in the arena of promotional products, there are ways to pinch the penny without sacrificing the quality of your giveaway.

Here are some great ways to save on your promotional products purchase:

Study your market well
Knowing who your audience is will help you avoid wastage. Study your demographics. Is you target market dominantly male or female? In what age range? To what income earning bracket do they belong? Knowing the answers to these questions spells the difference between buying an antenna ball and choosing an executive gift set. Knowing who you want to market to also increases the possibility of your intended audience using your promo product for a longer period. One way to ensure that your branding and your customer-focused strategy is understood across the board is to sketch out your customer's persona. Make up a person to best represent the majority of your customers. Giver him or her a name, an age, characteristics, buying habits and other specifics. You can even pick out a picture and hang it in the office, this way you are always reminded to understand the mindset of your intended audience before making a purchase.

Use less colors
While a logo in the dazzling colors of the rainbow may look great on paper, having it imprinted on promotional products is another issue altogether. It would be nice, yes, but it would also be costly. So before you go psychedelic, consider it well. Ask yourself if it would really make a difference if you use less colors. Just remember this screen printing rule: More colors equals more ink. More ink equals higher cost.

Avoid the rush
Especially during the holidays, get your promo products as early as possible. Aside from avoiding the hassle of delays, early purchase may also mean big savings. Have items delivered to you express often cost a lot more. Some companies even jack up the price of regular items near the holidays in anticipation of bigger sales. Its a retailer rule of thumb, when demand is high, prices are high. Buying early will help you avoid all these.

View samples
Mistakes are costly. Shave down the incidence of returns and back-and-forth shipping by asking for product samples upfront. Knowing exactly what you will be getting after you place your order will not only lessen your costs but will guarantee your peace of mind. There's really no price tag on that.

Evaluate the success of your promotion
Before you set your promo product distributor's number on your speed dial, evaluate just how much you like them. Ask yourself questions like: Did they give me a fair price on my purchase? Was the service satisfactory? Did I get my products on time? You should also evaluate the promo product itself and the strategy's role in your marketing plan. Put yourself in the recipient's shoes. Test the quality of the product, find out just how long it's going to last. Don't forget to note down the residual effects of the distribution long after you've given the product away. Having solid data is the best way to know if there's ROI in your purchase. If your client comes back to you and tells you that they remembered you because of the promo product they received, then you know its a success.