How Personalized Items As A Marketing Means Began

Putting to work promotional cups and mugs in promoting a business is a common practice nowadays. Many companies cough up their money on corporate giveaways not only as an avenue for building up the image of their brand but also for grabbing the interest of new customers. These products have also been exhausted as an incentive for performing staff or as a token of gratitude for loyal customers. Over the years, however, the usefulness of personalized items in the business sector has seen a considerable change.

During the inauguration of George Washington in 1789, promotional items, or specialty and novelty goods back then, were exhausted for the same purpose as contemporary giveaways are being used now which is to increase awareness of an idea, individual, or groups of people. In the early part of the 1800s, advertising calendars and rulers came into the picture but it was not until the latter part of the century did businesses saw the favors of putting to use promotional shot glasses in advancing their products and services resulting to the large scale development of the industry.

The promotional products employed during that time included products that were functional to the user such as fans, bags, and calendars. Since then, the use of these merchandise by companies became preferred and involved placing the name of the company side by side with the product logo. As time went by, businesses began to fix their sights on distinct and interesting merchandise.

Eventually, the competition became tough so it was ivital for companies to enhance their brand in order to create an impression. In order to keep in step with their competitors, businesses designed new promotional tools. With the arrival of promotional thermos as a marketing means, the price of older products went up and became collector's items.

Since then, corporate giveaways became not only a tool for pull new customers but also for boosting brand recall. A 2004 study spearheaded by the L.J. Market research revealed that 76.1 percent of the respondents could memorize the name of the company from whom they got personalized promotional pens in the last year as compared to 53.5 percent recall for those who plugged in magazines or newspapers. A similar study which included a random survey of business travelers at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport reflected that 71 percent of the participants were presented a corporate gift with 33.7 percent or over a third manipulating the item.

Nowadays, it would be normal for companies to dispense on promotional sports giveaways, beach balls, travel pillows and other stuff as a way of advancing their business. But before the use of promotional branded stress balls came to being, you would either be getting a commemorative pin or horse blanket from companies striving to jump up brand awareness.

By: Beth Loggins

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Beth Loggins is a freelance writer for customized promotional products and logo items merchandise. Read more articles by Beth Loggins here.