It will be Christmas Eve in about a month’s time.  With all the special events, promos and sales, the competition for consumers’ attention and share of wallet is getting tighter and tighter.  Same with the affections of business partners, investors, and other internal stakeholders.  Companies are each coming up with their own special campaigns, activities, and rewards to bump up their quotas and figures before the year closes.  Business owners and managers can maximize the season’s shopping and relational highs with a few yuletide marketing promos and giveaways tips that we have learned in our line of work through the years.

Some predictability can be a good thing.

While it is true that offering something unusual and unexpected is an effective way to make an impact, there is also something to be said for offering something known and predictable.  This creates the idea of a tradition in the minds of customers and makes your promo or giveaway a special part of their season.  Some stores do a special sale on a certain date.  Some brands give a special free reward for certain purchases.  Some companies like to give a certain corporate gift (ie. planners or diaries) to their partners.  You can be the store that is open by 6am; the brand that gives cookies and coffee for every midnight shopper; or the company that gives a calendar with discounts for the year.  Find a way to offer something useful, convenient, and enjoyable, even if it does not seem terribly innovative, and it will still win people over and authentically increase the “talkability” of your business.  By giving it a sense of regularity, your company’s Christmas promos and giveaways become something people look forward to and can plan their yuletide schedule and budgets around.

But you still have all the license to be creative.

This may seem like a counter-proposal to above, but simply consider it as another door that is open, just like the first idea.  Obviously, injecting a sense of the unexpected is one of the best ways to be remembered.  And if a business does it right, its brand will stick with the right customers and stakeholders for a long time.  There is no limit to the kinds of promo and gift ideas your team can come up with.  But apart from scouring the top suppliers to find something someone else doesn’t offer, you can be innovative in other ways.  For example, an app developer can give its biggest users a yet-to-be-released app upgrade or extension first and for free; a sportswear brand can organize a “have you been nice to your body this year?” event with a Christmas sale of its latest line, exclusive to loyal customers.

To work with the first idea, businesses can also keep giving their regular gift or freebie, but with different themes or even beneficiaries every year.  How about premium pen designed by a local artist every year – this way, it even becomes a collection.

Do remember that consistent packaging is key as well.

Even if your promos, gifts, and giveaways are tiered (ie. luggage for executives, duffels for managers, tote bags for junior staff, etc.), they can all look premium when they arrive at the gates of your business partners’ offices all with a uniform look.  Are you all doing boxes but just of different sizes? Have them professionally designed and use quality materials.  Are you using the stores’ bags?  Create Christmas gift tags and cards that can be used for all.  With consistent packaging, your brand will look super posh and professional, helping your customers and stakeholders really feel and share the holiday cheer.

 

Let us help you bring your marketing promos, events, and giveaways game to the next level. Drop us a line and we’ll discuss the best options for your brand and business.