10 Most Memorable Promotional Gifts

As a change from Top 10 Tips this month we thought we’d list the 10 most memorable promotional gifts (seasonal or otherwise). So, we asked around the great and good in the industry and came up with the following:

Edwin Mutton, Director-General of the Institute of Sales Promotion claims, ‘The best has to be a Christmas hamper. Forget Fortnum and Mason or Harrods as they contain so many things – Pickled Crabs in Aspic Jelly or Pomegranate Seeds in Pigs Head Sauce – which no sane person ever eats. The best I ever received was from Jenners of Edinburgh – absolutely full of the top brands of traditional Christmas goodies.

Contrasting with that is Edwin’s list of worst gifts, noted as being ‘the 25th pocket diary, the 125th calendar or the 200th pen!’

The first prize for the gift remembered for being in the worst taste goes to Melanie Osborne, Sales Director of Special EFX, who recalls, ‘Toilet handle shaped keyrings on a toilet chain fitting, engraved with ‘Flushed with success!’

The second prize for bad taste goes to a pair of boxer shorts with Christmas trees on paired with a red fury thong. The sender of this memory withheld their name …. perhaps because she sent it onto someone else for Christmas.

Back with the hamper theme, Gail Holm, Event Director, Promotional Marketing Exhibition says her most memorable promotional gift was a hamper full of Heinz Baked Beans products – tins, apron, mug, magnet, etc. She doesn’t say whether it was her best or her worst memory, but judging by her next comment, I think we can all guess!

Gail’s best corporate Christmas card came from Russ Berrie and depicted all the staff as Christmas baubles with Christmas hats on!

Here at Tarsus, Paul Sung remembers a client who sent 2006 diaries … at the end of December 2006.

His team mate (excuse the pun) Ash Ali remembers Celtic mugs being sent to Rangers Supporters club – ouch!

Ian Allchild, Chairman of Volume Exhibitions Limited cites a company that sent a hamper full of meat and hams to one of their biggest customers, but they were orthodox Jews, so not impressed. He advises, ‘Check your gifts and your recipients’ tastes as that’s not quite the Kosher thing to do.’

For my part, one of the most useful promotional gifts I’ve received is staring me in the face, it’s a magnetic pen, from Magna Pen, that sits on my computer. I always know where it is.

And, I’m just going to reach for it to sign all my Christmas cards. As there are so many of you who contribute to and read promotional-merchandise.org.uk I can’t send you all an individual card, but I would like to wish you a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Carole Bull
Editor

Share this page