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