Don’t Forget Anyone, Tips for Holiday Buying

Greeting Cards

 

In the holiday rush it’s easy to overlook the things that are needed to promote goodwill, generate buzz, and grab attention for your company.  Your name, logo, advertising message, contact information and website can’t get lost in the sea of advertisers that will be competing for your customer’s time. 

We’ve identified areas that are commonly overlooked when planning holiday purchases for promotional items.  Consider these tips when ordering promotional items for the holidays: 

• Don’t Forget About Uncommon Holidays and Uncommon Dates

We normally think of ordering items for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  But it’s common to forget about important dates and Halloween which by the way, is the 2nd largest selling season!  If your product or service is targeted to children and families, and in the case of costumes; adults, this is an excellent time to buy imprinted items. Imprinted treat bags, candy and other decorative items can be distributed to customers, schools, community groups and other organizations to spread the word about your company.

It’s common for communities and schools to have Halloween parties for children as well as those children trick or treating door to door, and bags would be a perfect choice for any of those activities.

 Breast Cancer Awareness month is in October.  Imprinted bags, shirts, caps, calendars, appointment cards, and other health related items are a excellent reminders for women to get health screenings and create awareness. We also list important dates in our planning calendar.  Check it often for dates that might apply to your product or service.

• Planning Only for the Major Holidays and Overlooking Opportunities that Happen During Common Business and Social Events

Even though the major holidays are approaching, you can’t stop doing the normal business building activities that go you to this poin! Order items for trade shows, networking events, sales presentations, conventions and training workshops. Those continue throughout the holidays. Parties, weddings, anniversaries, and other social events will also occur during this time of year.

• Overlooking Employees During the Holidays

This is a big one.  If the budget is tight, it’s common to overlook employees to make room for customers, prospects and associates outside the company.  The holidays present an optimal time to recognize and reward employees for their efforts during the year.  Start early, and whatever you do, don’t forget to add employees to your gift giving list!  Apparel, office items and food gifts are excellent choices to show appreciation for those who contribute to your success!

• First Quarter Promotions

Don’t lose momentum generated from your end of year promotions by forgetting to buy promotional items to get you through the beginning of the year.  Buy for promotions that will happen especially right after New Years. 

The end of the year is a busy time for everyone. Order now to avoid rush charges, shipping delays and limited selection.  Need help planning? Contact us with your list and we will send sales and items to your email address for review!

Are You Ready for Holiday Season 2008?

Best Buys Catalog

Will you host or attend any events between now and the end of the year?  If so, you’ll need promotional items to spread the word before the event and to leave your message after the event has ended.  You’ll also need imprinted holiday gifts for employees, associates and prospects!

Browse our online KB Best Buys Catalog, a 227 page catalog packed with some of the best deals in the industry! Bookmark the online catalog or request a free hard copy for your office so that it will always be at your fingertips! Pricing and quantity discounts are listed with each item. See something you like? Contact us to place an order or with product questions or Request a quote! You can also order by fax.

Avoid Last Minute Hassles, Order Early!

The holidays will present many wonderful opportunities for promoting business and social activities. Whether you’re a small business just starting out or a seasoned expert, you can’t afford to miss the opportunites presented during this time of year.  Use this time to connect with buyers and spread your message.  You’ll need the power of promotional items to get the word out and planning these purchases effectively is the key to success.

If you’ve ever ordered anything during the holidays you know that last minute ordering usually results in additional charges for rush delivery, limited selection, and nail biting frustration. 

In the retail market, you can find bargains by waiting until the day before the big day.  However in the world of B2B high volume custom imprinting with engraving, screen printing and embroidering, this is not necessarily the case.   These customizations take time for both production and delivery. 

When ordering promotional items (custom printed logo items) make sure to allow time for engraving, screen printing and embroidering and other special services. After printing, shipment time can vary depending on weather, time of year, volume etc.  Let us know your deadline date so that we can advise you on getting the items delivered in time for your event.  

Holiday sales for promotional items are listed earlier than retail shops and some provide incentives for getting orders submitted by a certain date to avoid being bombarded with orders they can’t process by your deadline. 

Some manufacturers require extra lead time during the holiday season for normal production and some even close during various points in November and December to allow their employees time off to be with their families.  Major carriers like UPS, FedEx and the postal service will experience delays for weather and increased volume as well.  If you wait until the very last minute, you will pay handily for expedited production and shipping. Popular items sell out early and some plants stop doing rush orders as the holidays get closer.

It’s best to look at your planned events, your goals and budget now.  Then determine which promotional items will best suit your needs. Planning and ordering as early as possible will help you meet your goals, and help you enjoy the holidays by keeping nail biting and nightmares to a minimum.  Use our planning checklist to help in planning purchases.                                

Need help planning? Contact us with the items you’re looking for and the dates of events you’ll be attending and we will suggest items for your review! Browse our website for t-shirts, apparel and gifts.