Under Wraps

It may only be September, but like falling leaves and pumpkin-flavored everythings, the fourth quarter gift season is a fast-approaching inevitability. Before you know it, the client barrage of "I need electronics! I need fancy snacks! I need cards!" will begin, and then it'll be time to bear down, dig deep and sell your clients on gift and incentive programs like this year's end is going to be the last one we're all going to have.

But are you ready though? Ready to dole out the newest, hottest products? Ready to make old holiday standards seem new through brilliant creative planning? Ready to answer 9,000 questions about gift wrapping?

We know you are. (You are a Promo Marketing reader after all, so by default you are a promotional marketing genius.) But, given the general madness of the holidays, it never hurts to be a little extra prepared. With that in mind, below are a handful of tips and tricks for some of the most popular gift categories of the fourth quarter.

GREETING CARDS

A staple of gift-giving, greeting cards are a sure bet with most gift promotions. When pitching or selecting cards for clients, remember to consider ecological paper and ink options (always a nice touch in a season where end-users might be sensitive about pollution or waste). Further, suppliers that offer variable printing are a must when you're looking to personalize a large number of cards.

A HELPFUL TIP: Stand out with different holidays

Sending cards for Christmas or New Year's is a no-brainer, but your clients stand to gain a lot of attention by focusing on other holidays as well. "There are a large [group of] greeting card customers out there that focus on Hanukkah and Thanksgiving Day cards instead of Christmas cards," Bill Mahre, president of ADG Promotional Products, Hugo, Minn., said. "Christmas cards are extremely common to send and receive, however, you can be the first to make it on your customers wall by sending greeting cards during these lesser used greeting card opportunities."