| Giving away freebies is a great way to publicise your | | | | If you need more inspiration or are worried about 'being |
| small business, but before you place an order the | | | | seen to be green' how about looking at promotional |
| challenge is to find items that are likely to give | | | | items made from recycled materials? In an amazing |
| maximum impact and really promote your company. | | | | initiative in Oregon, USA, a non-profit organisation |
| Any such items will undoubtedly be more effective if | | | | collects approximately 3,000 pounds of used bicycle |
| they are also relevant to your target market, but | | | | parts from shops throughout 17 states every month, |
| where do you start? | | | | and then attempts to recycle as much of it as possible. |
| The first challenge is to find an item that people will use | | | | Any parts that can't be re-used are turned into usable |
| every day or on most days of the week, but isn't too | | | | items such as funky bike chain bottle openers, that can |
| expensive to supply. Ultra-cheap, tacky items should | | | | be used as a keyring or hanging from a belt. |
| be avoided for two reasons; first, they won't give a | | | | Indeed, keyrings with built-in bottle openers are a |
| very flattering impression of your company and | | | | pre-requisite wardrobe item for most youngsters these |
| second, they will be instantly discarded. People like to | | | | days, and if you are operating in a younger market |
| receive free stuff but that initial joy at getting | | | | you should certainly consider these as an effective |
| something for nothing will soon evaporate if they are | | | | marketing tool - especially if you can make them |
| simply not usable, or unwanted. | | | | extremely funky! |
| Unless you want it to spend most of its days stuck in | | | | Funky promotional keyrings also fall into the 'used |
| a dark drawer, also consider something a little more | | | | every day' category and a cursory search around the |
| adventurous than a branded biro. Although top quality | | | | internet throws up other such marvellous examples as; |
| pens will definitely be used by recipients, they are far | | | | hard hat keyrings, PVC keyring bottle openers and |
| too expensive to give away indiscriminately and so | | | | house-shaped bottle opener keyrings, amongst many |
| would be far more suited to being given away as | | | | others. |
| Christmas gifts to your customers. | | | | It appears the only limitation to buying innovative or |
| Look for innovative novelty value or go for something | | | | funky promotional items to publicise your company will |
| particularly visually stunning to distinguish your | | | | be your budget, as there is a plethora of material |
| promotional items from the many others out there. | | | | available out there. Enjoy deciding which is best for |
| Items that have a unique or everyday function are | | | | your company! |
| more likely to be accepted as a useful give-away. | | | | |