Promotional Products You Can Offer At A Luncheon

!: Promotional Products You Can Offer At A Luncheon

If you regularly meet with clients over lunch, carrying a few promotional products with you is a great idea. However, walking into a restaurant with oversized gifts may not exactly make the statement you want to make. If you'll be meeting with clients often, the best thing you can do is to plan your promotional products according to situation. There are a number of aspects to consider, but the most important are size, function, and cost.

First and foremost, size is extremely important. When on a business meeting, your sales pitch should be most important, not the "prizes" the client will get for working with you. After all, you don't want to have to bribe others to work with your company! Instead of bulky items that have to be carried into the restaurant, like umbrellas, try to find items that fit into your briefcase. You can also consider making up a gift bag. Fill a tote bag with promotional products and offer it to the client at the end of the business meeting. Note that this is only a good idea if things go well. If the client chooses not to use your services or purchase your products, it may be awkward giving him or her the gifts at the end of the meeting. If you carry items that fit nicely into your brief case, you won't have to worry about this problem.

Function is also important when choosing promotional products to give away after meeting with someone for lunch. It is important to realize that anyone willing to meet with you is already thinking about using your services or purchasing your products, so items like logo bugs, pens, and magnets may not be the best choice. These small and inexpensive items are things you would give out at a conference in order to draw interest, but clients with whom you have lunch are already interested. Look for functional items instead, like office supplies or even clothing. You may also want to stay away from child-like promotional products, such as Frisbees or yo-yos. While adults often love these items to take home to their children, they are simply not appropriate at a luncheon.

Lastly, consider cost. If you're meeting with a client who will be opening a large account, offering some paper coasters and a plastic mug may be a bit of an insult. If there are the only promotional products you have, it may be better to simply not give anything at all! Instead, products that cost more, such as ceramic mugs or conference bags, may be more appropriate. At the same time, stick to your budget. No one expects a 0 prize pack for giving you some business.

The key is to be comfortable with whatever promotional products you give at a luncheon. Make sure that you consider size of the items, the function of the items, and cost of the items. Your primary goal with any business luncheon is to make business contacts, and if promotional products can help with this, you should make sure to carry them to any business meeting.