Useful Giveaway items - input desired :)

[Sam_2.0]

It's time again for our annual company customer service week (well, in Oct along with everyone else). I got put on the party planning committee - yippie skippy. One of the tasks I've been charged with is finding a giveaway item in the $8ish range for 300 people. I personally couldn't care less about these types of things but hoped maybe some of you have received an item recently that you actually found enjoyable or useful? We've done fleece blankets and mugs recently.

[zibazinski]

I always give those magic 8 ball things. They seem to be a huge hit.

[bookkeeper]

USB power port for a 12 volt cigarette lighter receptacle. I really like having one in each car.

Dairy Queen gift cards cuz I like ice cream.

Luggage tags, first aid kits, zipper portfolios with a legal pad, these are premiums I have received in that price range and I actually use them.

[Deleted]

A fancy $8 espresso and a free kitten? That's what I would like someone to give to me. Not from Starbucks though. Ick.

[swamp]

My husband's employer gave out mini LED lights in the shape of a lantern emblazoned with the company logo. We use them in power outages, or when you need more light in a corner/closet. Those things rock!!!

[quince]

USB drives are awesome.

I also like totes(grocery bag sized)

[bean29]

When I worked at MGIC, we regularly got duffle bags/totes like you would take to the gym or on vacation. T-shirts with the company name.  Hats, Shirts etc. that are in keeping with the theme of the party/picnic.  I remember a Hawaiian luau where everyone got a Hawaiian shirt and a ho-down where we got straw hats and went on a hayride etc.  I have also received various Flashlights. I like the USB charger and USB drive ideas. 

Often they would include goodies like stuff the marketing department is currently giving away as sales promo items...so we got things like a company cookbook and we got annual pewter Christmas ornaments. it is kind of dumb b/c they are very heavy...but I kept all the ones they gave me, I just don't bother to put them on the tree. 

The current company gives out hats and Golf shirts and has given out T-shirts with the company logo on it.  I never wear that type of shirt to work, but the guys do.  The hats and shirts are just given away whenever they have a whim to have them printed - our Christmas party give away is a $50 gift card to a local store or restaurant - your payment for attending - If you don't attend to get nada. 

[MJ2.0]

Little wind up flashlights?

[Deleted]

My favorite is an umbrella. It has the school's name on it so it was probably more than $8. Another was a flash drive. I saw those really cheap today at Office Depot . . . probably because people are using the cloud more and more.   We've gotten mugs, insulated mugs, plastic cups, and who can remember what else. 

The worst is something called "The Essential Piece."  It is a puzzle piece designed to stand up.  There is another one on a stand.  These are valued only as proof of how long you've been with the district.  In the olden days, they had $$$ to burn.  We'd have professional development at fancy hotels, etc.  Some were even stay-overs (two to a room, though).  We had some great meals.

Now it's "lunch on your own."  One lunch that was provided didn't have enough burritos so we were asked to turn to our neighbor and share.  Lol.

[Anne_in_VA]

I love the Charging Kit with several different thingys on the end so that you can charge more than one item.  The one I have has a charger end I can use with my IPad and IPhone, one I use for my Samsung phone and another one I don't use.  Most of the ones I've seen come in a little pouch and some also have the wall plug or car plug so you can charge multiple items at once.  Some come with earbuds too and they run under $8 each.  You can also add a logo.

Another item I like are the mini led lights.  I have both the kind you plug into an outlet and the kind that are like a mini flashlight.

Most promotional products companies offer these.

[chen35]

Dh got a portable USB charger that he used for a few years before it died. It was pretty cool.

[Works4me]

IIRC, you work for a utility company so I would recommend a cute flashlight that plugs into an outlet. I love doing promo products - we were watching baseball this weekend and I was reading about all the different give Aways for different game nights - CF looked at me like I was crazy when I said that it would be such a fun job to do those.

[Sam_2.0]

Aug 1, 2016 16:39:10 GMT -5 swamp said:

My husband's employer gave out mini LED lights in the shape of a lantern emblazoned with the company logo. We use them in power outages, or when you need more light in a corner/closet. Those things rock!!!

Considering we are the electric company and most employees live within our service territory, this would be kind of funny

[swamp]

Aug 2, 2016 14:18:25 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Aug 1, 2016 16:39:10 GMT -5 swamp said:

My husband's employer gave out mini LED lights in the shape of a lantern emblazoned with the company logo. We use them in power outages, or when you need more light in a corner/closet. Those things rock!!!

Considering we are the electric company and most employees live within our service territory, this would be kind of funny

call them camping lights.

We've just found they are handy in outages.

[Sam_2.0]

Thanks, everyone! I have made a list and found a vendor for most of these products, so we have some good options to choose from.

Personally, I am leaning towards umbrella and long-handled snow brushes. We all have to park outside here, and snow can start as early as Oct (usually waits until later though). Both useful things we've not done recently.

[toomuchreality]

Aug 2, 2016 14:21:07 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Thanks, everyone! I have made a list and found a vendor for most of these products, so we have some good options to choose from.

Personally, I am leaning towards umbrella and long-handled snow brushes. We all have to park outside here, and snow can start as early as Oct (usually waits until later though). Both useful things we've not done recently.

Can we say I work there too?   -Just checkin'!


Considering the time of year, I think these are a good choice.