21 Piping-hot, Fresh-from-the-oven Sales Tips for Edible Promotions

13. Sending treats directly to a recipient's home is always a pleasant and welcome surprise. If the shipping duties seem complicated or are something you just don't have time for, ask your supplier if they offer drop-shipping. They may be able to handle the logistics for you.

14. Can the package fit in a suitcase? If your client plants to give out some goodies at a trade show or conference, make sure it does (double bonus: make it carryon size for the travel pros!)

15. Consider a theme for your promotion that matches the venue. Schectman once worked with a distributor to gift cocoa and marshmallows for a ski event. She also mentioned creating hospitality packages with the types of snacks an end-user could find in their minibar (and thus, removing the need to dish out $10 for minibar almonds). It was an unexpected and popular surprise for end-users.

16. Try blind debossing as a more subtle way of including a brand in gift packaging. "Quieter" decorations like this often increased perceived value, especially on large edible gifts bundles often given as thank-yous or holiday presents.

17. Bolster sales by suggesting repeat gift programs. Tubbs mentioned a client who would send a package a month to each of its 350 retail locations to help spread awareness of an ongoing summer promotion. Each month they'd send a different flavor cookie with a targeted message, she explained. It's a great tactic for birthdays or anniversaries as well.

18. Know your audience. Some markets are more likely to keep branded items in their offices or homes compared to others. (Think young college students hungry for any material possessions versus Fortune 500 CEOs who may own more personally than the total value of your entire company.) For those markets less into logos, consider non-branded keepsake packaging.