This week at Sonic Promos...

We're in the holiday spirit! Well, considering a lot of our clients' holiday gifts require significant advance planning and production time, we've been in the holiday spirit since late September. But that's beside the point.

Wondering if that should be "besides the point"? I was too. Here's your answer.

For every gift idea that was chosen, at least five were not. That's a lot of ideas left on the table! Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Branded Gift Cards for Phone/MP3 Player/Laptop Skins

Custom skins are a really neat product, but it's not easy to do them as a gift for multiple individuals. It's nearly impossible to decide on one design that's going to suit everyone's unique taste, and you also don't know what kind of laptop or phone they use. A branded gift card is the perfect solution. Your branding goes on the card, and the recipient can redeem it for the skin of their choice.


2. A Customized Coffee Table Book

A good book has always been my go-to gift idea. More specifically, I like giving colorful coffee table books or cook books with beautiful photos- the kind that you would never buy for yourself but still enjoy having. Nowadays, there are customization options available that make books a good choice for branded, corporate gifts too. Choose a title that relates to your business or that would interest your client base, and decorate it with a custom belly band, book jacket, front cover imprint or insert page. I suggest a coffee table book, because it's something that the entire office can enjoy. Their clients will enjoy it too if it finds a home in the office's lobby or reception area.




3. Edible Gifts with a Leave-Behind

Food towers, chocolates and gourmet snacks are always a popular choice for corporate gifts. As employees sample the goods and ride their sugar high, your company's name will undoubtedly be the subject of positive chatter. The only downside to edible gifts? They get eaten! It's a good idea to include a branded piece- something more permanent than a card. We suggest an engraved cutting board, decorated drinkware or a small set of kitchen knives that will be be seen and used long after the last chocolate-covered almond is consumed.



Is your company still trying to decide on an end-of-year gift? Give us a call at 301.869.7800. We've got lots of creative ideas. Better yet, we have ideas that can be produced, packed and delivered before offices start to empty for the holidays!

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Manners are a funny thing. In general, I think we all know what kind of behavior is appropriate and what kind is not. That's not to say that we always act in accordance with those beliefs.

I can think of several instances when I’ve knowingly dismissed what I know to be polite and proper. Most often it’s when I’m in trusted company, and I feel comfortable enough to relax the rules. When dining out with strangers, I would never dare claim the lone roll in the bread basket for myself. On the other hand, the last of the strawberries in my boyfriend’s fridge might as well have my name on it.

There is one area where I feel etiquette should never be ignored- and that’s in business.

(source)

A lot of our projects at Sonic Promos focus on helping our clients improve or maintain relations with their customers. Though there is no substitute for consistent professionalism and good service, a small gift can go a long way towards preserving a positive rapport.

Gift-giving in business can be a surprisingly complex practice, with a lot of grey area. Before diving in, take the time to consider a few points below:

How much money are you willing to spend? Before you even start to think about what to send as a gift, think about how many gifts you plan to send. Let’s say you’re planning to send a holiday gift to your top 25 clients. 25 clients might mean that you need to purchase 25 gifts, or it might mean that you need to purchase 60 gifts. If you work with a team of individuals at each organization, would it be appropriate to send a gift to just one person, or should you send something to each person? Don’t do anything that might leave someone out. In this situation, consider sending a gift that the whole office can enjoy- an engraved cutting board for the kitchen or a woven floor mat for their entryway are two unique ideas.

If you have a small list of people in mind, you can afford to give a nice gift to each person. On the other hand, if your list is hundreds of people long, adjust your budget per gift accordingly.

What is your motive? Never send a gift simply because you feel obligated to. You should have a clear intention in mind. Leah Ingram, etiquette specialist and author of “Gifts Anytime: How to Find the Perfect Present for Any Occasion,” says:

There are two very real reasons to buy business gifts that are not necessarily warm and fuzzy. One is obviously to thank someone for their business for the year. The other is to make sure you remain top of mind, and to get your name in front.

Ingram brings up an excellent point- a great business gift should be regarded as a marketing tool. For greatest effect, consider a gift that has a utile value, something non-consumable that will be seen and used often.

What kind of relationship do you have with the recipient? Do you have a strictly professional relationship with this person, or would you call it a friendship? Let the formality of your relationship dictate the formality of the gift. A nice bottle of scotch and an engraved decanter might appeal to some, but offend others.

When will you mail out your gifts? A word of advice here- if sending a holiday gift, do so right after Thanksgiving, or wait until the New Year. Don’t forget that many people are out of the office between Christmas and New Year’s Day. If you’re giving a gift to thank a client for recent business, send the item within two weeks of the project’s close.

Did you know…

That gift-giving is forbidden in Chinese business culture? The official policy recognizes the gesture as an illegal act of bribery. Recently, this attitude has begun to relax, but there are still many guidelines one should respect. For example, be prepared to insist. It is customary to decline a gift at least three times before it is finally accepted. Additionally, giving a gift to the entire company is more acceptable than giving to a single individual.

I hope you find these tips useful. We may not be experts on good manners- note to self: elbows off the table- at Sonic, but we definitely know good gifts!

Deciding how to decorate an item can take as much effort as forming the message itself. When you have an abundance of options, virtual models that show different design methods can help souse out the extraordinary from the blase. This week's Print This, Not That exemplifies how useful a virtual proof can be. While "debossed leather" might sound fancier than a "polyurethane dome", for these Sonic Promos High Sierra backpacks, the plastic sure struck gold.

Happy [belated] New Year!

The entire Sonic office is looking forward to another successful year, but before we get too far into 2011 we'd like to revisit our favorite projects from 2010.

For additional photos and project details, please view our case studies library.

Sonic Drinkware Self Promotion

In January, Amanda developed a drinkware set to thank Sonic's top clients for their continued business and to welcome the year ahead. Amanda selected the Double-Wall Ceramic Coffee Mug and the To-Go Tumbler for this self-promotion after evaluating the newest drink items on the market at the 2010 PPAI Show in Las Vegas. The items were imprinted with Sonic's Starbucks-inspired logo and packed with a personal card bearing each sales representative's favorite coffee quote.



These drink items proved to be two of our best sellers in 2010, generating over $17,000 in business.

SMC Dental Care Promotion

In April, Seth worked with Southern Management Corporation (SMC) to develop a promotional products campaign that would encourage employee participation in SMC's "Passport to Wellness" health-and-wellness campaign. The first phase of the program focused on dental care, and Sonic Promos created a Pocket Dental Kit to be distributed at corporate wellness fairs. The custom kit contained dental floss and an educational wallet card that explained program details and highlighted proper brushing and flossing techniques.



The Pocket Dental Kit was a huge success, and SMC calculated that 40% of their employees scheduled dental exams, earning 20 points on their passports.

PAS Road Show Mailer Series

In June and September, Lindsay organized a three-part mailer series with Professional Accounting Solutions (PAS) to announce and generate interest in their Fall Road Shows. The main goal of Mailer 1 was to create a lasting first impression and boost booth traffic at an upcoming trade show. Mailers 2 and 3, sent later in the fall, sought to incite face-to-face appointments with key decision makers.

The first mailer adopted a "PASsport theme" and presented recipients with a debossed leather passport holder and informative marketing materials packed in a custom box. Mailers 2 and 3 shared the common theme of "back office pain", a play on PAS's tagline "The Experts in Back Office Solutions for Hospitality". They contained an imprinted wooden hand massager and a custom pain relief kit, respectively.



PAS reported surges in web traffic and call volume after each and every mailer, and Mailer 1 resulted in several face-to-face meetings that ultimately led to a multi-million dollar contract.

Gold Eagle Product Rollout with Wal-Mart

In October, Gold Eagle Company, an innovator and leader in product development, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of branded engine performance and maintenance chemicals, contacted Sonic to help them promote the rollout of a new product at more than 1,000 Wal-Mart locations nationwide. 

Sonic Promos designed, created, fulfilled, and helped to implement every element of the program. A total of 1,050 Wal-Mart locations received a promotional package of 50 die cut plastic bags stuffed with three decals and a custom scratch-off card. When revealed, the scratch-off card presented the consumer with a $2 discount on the purchase of one of three branded engine products.



Prior to working with Sonic, Gold Eagle had seen less than a 2% return on their promotional packages. This rollout program has so far resulted in sales that have more than doubled its overall cost.

2010 was certainly a great year, and we're looking forward to another twelve months of creative work.

One of my passions in life outside of promotional marketing is grilling.  Whether it is 100 degrees out and muggy, 70 degrees out and raining or 20 degrees out and snowing, there is never a bad time to grill.  and I do not just grill.  I make my own spice rubs or marinades.  I will brine a whole turkey one day and smoke it the next day.  I make a mean trout and my beef ribs are award-worthy.

So when it comes to my grill tools, they must be high-quality, functional and able to withstand extreme heat.  I do not care how cool it looks, if the tool can't help my BBQ cook to perfection, it can't join my team.  With that in mind, I tested out two promotional BBQ items.  The Swiss army style was cool but just not functional.  The actual set on the other hand really rocked.  The basting brush was great and the spatula did not leave any food residue on the grates.