According to the Globoforce Mood Tracker Fall 2012, 42 percent of staffers plan on looking for new opportunities due to a lack of recognition from their current employers. The news source also found that companies that have rewards programs are more successful than less-prepared enterprises. 

Celebrating National Employee Appreciation Day should be a priority for every small business owner. Employee turnover can be a huge problem, but small actions like holding a party and giving away gifts help companies retain their top contributors. 

Consider these tips when planning your holiday events for March 1. 

The right presents
No corporate party is complete without the right presents for employees. Workers expect to receive small tokens of appreciation during corporate events, especially on National Employee Appreciation Day. Entrepreneurs must find presents that their staff members would appreciate, but that are still appropriate for a professional setting. 

The best gifts are ones that employees can use every day around the office. Custom pens are excellent rewards because they are functional and show that managers aren't distributing generic items. Additionally, personalized calendars would be appreciated by the entire team because everyone needs help staying organized. 

Small business owners who want to go the extra mile for their workers should consider distributing personalized coffee mugs. Almost every employee starts their day off with a hot cup of joe and would love to have a customized mug in the office. The gifts would also help staff members save money. According to MSN, the average person spends $20 per week on java from local cafes. With custom mugs, associates can brew their own coffee instead paying for the warm beverage. 

Alternatively, entrepreneurs can give away customized cases for smartphones, laptops and tablets. Most workers use their personal devices for work, so owners should ensure that the electronics are safe from the elements. Durable sleeves and pouches help employees keep their gadgets working like new. The gifts can help managers endear themselves to their teams to foster loyalty and prevent anyone from jumping ship. 

Planning a celebration
To workers, National Employee Appreciation Day is one of the best holidays of the year. While businesses don't give out vacation days on March 1, they usually celebrate by holding special events. A small party or corporate outing is a regular fixture of the holiday, and entrepreneurs should make the gatherings an annual tradition. 

Small business owners shouldn't decide how their establishments will celebrate – the entire staff should be included in the conversation. The day is dedicated to employees, so it would be a nice gesture if managers allowed their contributors to decide where the party will be held. The NY Report writes that workers should be allowed to pick a restaurant for lunch. The tactic can be adapted to on-site celebrations by letting staffers choose between different caterers. 

The parties should be held during relatively quiet periods so that everyone can participate. The entire establishment should cease operations for at least an hour and every employee should be allowed to socialize with their associates. Businesses should send notices to their clients to alert them of the occasion, to avoid missing any calls. 

Another option is a small dinner party so productivity doesn't come to a halt during and after the celebrations. National Employee Appreciation Day falls on a Friday this year and workers would love to start their weekends with a fun event. 

In 2013, entrepreneurs have to enact new plans to successfully advertise their establishments. New trends can help independent companies increase their marketing presence and reach large groups of consumers. Additionally, owners can combine new tactics with traditional strategies like holding promotional giveaways.

Showing gratitude
Customer retention is an important aspect of success in an uncertain economic climate. Consumers have grown increasingly frugal while they worry about their short- and long-term finances in the wake of the recession. As a result, Business 2 Community writes that gratitude is an emerging marketing trend for 2013.

Enterprises should reinforce their relationships with regular customers to hold on to steady business throughout the year. A rewards program is a great way to foster loyalty among consumers. Heather Evans, the former head of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s client analytics for the global markets division, believes that understanding spending habits is the key to developing an effective rewards initiative.

“To design a program that works, you have to understand why your customers use your service or buy your products, and what would get them to use or buy more,” Evans told MSN.

Promotional discounts are popular rewards for budget-conscious customers. Consumers who are tracking their expenses appreciate when businesses distribute special offers on goods and services. Regular coupons and sales can help attract regular clients who adhere to strict budgets.

Alternatively, personalized business gifts could be the perfect rewards for loyal customers. Recipients always enjoy small presents, but personal identifiers are more effective than generic content.

“People like seeing their own name above all else,” Mike Linderman, former chairman of the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), told The New York Times.

Small business owners can emblazon their customers’ names on promotional mugs, calendars and other functional gifts as rewards. Other items like custom pens and umbrellas can also make excellent presents for regular clients.

Digitizing analog tools
The proliferation of mobile technology has added greater importance to digital marketing ventures. Consumers are actively engaging with small businesses through email, social media and mobile advertisements that are optimized for tablets and smartphones. Mary Ann Parshall, CEO of Premier Data Direct, says that it’s important use traditional tools to reinforce​ digital advertisements.

“While marketing techniques have evolved with technological advances, digital media isn’t the only effective way to reach new customers,” Parshall said in a statement.

The source recommends using Quick Response (QR) codes and social media imagery to combine analog and digital campaigns. QR codes can be very effective when it comes to directing consumers to web content and building a marketing presence on the internet. For instance, entrepreneurs can print the digital watermarks in their promotional calendars or direct mail advertisements to direct recipients to various landing pages and online stores. Additionally, logos can be embedded in the center of QR codes to increase brand recognition.

Other online strategies include printing hashtags and symbols on promotional marketing products to draw consumers to business profiles on social networks. Entrepreneurs can encourage customers to use slogans and catch-phrases to access online-exclusive promotions on their favorite merchandise. The strategy helps businesses find more online followers and create a large consumer base for its social advertisements.

Entrepreneurs should create their own hashtags to avoid being lost in the online shuffle. Mashable notes that a unique slogan can generate buzz around a business as more consumers share the saying with their friends. Additionally, the news source writes that entrepreneurs can use hashtags to advertise events like promotional giveaways to attract the optimal number of participants.

Fun promotions can make January a massive success and ensure that retailers are starting 2013 off on the right foot. Traditional marketing strategies like promotional products can boost sales. Additionally, owners can capitalize on popular trends to attract business and generate revenue.

Turn returns into a promotional giveaway
While the holiday spending-spree ends at Christmas, customers flock to stores in January to return and exchange gifts. In fact, the weeks following the holidays can be even more hectic than December. Stan Gammons, a store manager at Lowe’s, told ABC’s affiliate in South Carolina that he scheduled additional staff to handle the influx of returns.

“We’d already planned ahead just in case there were any mad rushes, we had extra folks staffed so we could get the customers in and out quickly if they did bring in their returns and making purchases also,” Gammons said.

A special event can help store owners turn returns into sales. Promotional giveaways can motivate consumers to visit establishments and shop rather than leaving after exchanging their holiday presents. Small items like pens and magnets are always appreciated by recipients. Alternatively, businesses could help customers combat the cold winter weather with branded coffee cups.

A giveaway can improve the customer experience while returning gifts. Time Magazine recently reported that a negative interaction with a customer service representative during a return or an exchange causes irrevocable damage to a store’s image. Functional rewards can ensure that shoppers are satisfied and smiling.

Sales and incentives
Discounts are a popular tool to attract budget-conscious consumers. Shoppers are focused on replenishing their personal accounts, so they hunt for the best deals on their favorite goods. The news source writes that discounts are often irresistible to customers because they don’t want to miss out on special prices and assume that they’re receiving a great value for their purchases.

Post-holiday sales are a great opportunity for stores to move seasonal merchandise and clear space for spring stock. By cutting prices, store owners can avoid losses on goods that didn’t sell particularly well during the holidays.

Stores can offer unique promotional products as part of their sales to create interest in the events. A special gift can serve as an incentive for shoppers to make purchases and adds value to the discounts.

Maintaining brand awareness
The Houston Chronicle points out that sales can substantially increase brand awareness. The source reports that these promotional events can motivate shoppers and help stores attract new business. Discounts should be marketed heavily to find the maximum number of customers.

Stores can ensure that heightened levels of brand awareness are maintained after the sales end by distributing promotional marketing products. Customers usually keep promotional gifts or extended periods of time. Owners should choose items that have the longest shelf lives to optimize their brand exposure.

For instance, mugs and travel thermoses are some of the best gifts for consumers. The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) recently reported that recipients keep promotional mugs for 7.1 months. Wall calendars are kept for almost as long at 7 months.

No other forms of advertisements offer comparable longevity, and store owners can benefit in the long run. If customers hold onto the gifts for more than half of the year, they’ll be motivated to shop at the stores that distributed the functional items well into 2013.

Doctors and small business owners can participate by motivating consumers to make donations in January. Promotional giveaways can target would-be benefactors who need extra incentives and raise awareness for blood drives during the rest of the year.

Blood donations have been down throughout 2012, so National Blood Donor Month is needed to replenish supplies in 2013. ABC News reported that in June 2012, 50,000 fewer contributions were made than had been previously estimated. Additionally, Hurricane Sandy cancelled blood drives all along the East Coast.

Raising awareness for drives
Doctors who are holding blood drives in January should start advertising soon. Patients can't make donations if they aren't aware of local events. Medical professionals can distribute unique promotional products to patients who want to contribute.

Consider giving branded pens to your clients after their appointments. You can have the date of your blood drive emblazoned on the sides so the information is consistently seen by recipients. The American Marketing Association's (AMA) Baltimore branch writes that small giveaways are frequently shared, so advertising on pens can help you market your event to large groups of potential donors.

You can also mail reminders to your patients. Recipients may ignore flyers, so implement strategies to make your advertisements difficult to ignore. For instance, including small giveaways can increase the likelihood that your letters are read. Branded gifts like magnets are small enough that they won't increase your shipping costs.

Doctors can also work with local businesses to raise awareness for blood drives. Stores and restaurants can sponsor the event and advertise it to their customers. Involving the community instead of small groups of patients can lead to more donations.

Giving gifts to donors
Donors usually don't expect gifts for their charitable givings, but little presents are always appreciated. Doctors can give each benefactor unique tokens to say thanks for a contribution.

As Livestrong points out, it's important for blood donors to stay hydrated after their procedures, so consider distributing promotional mugs and water bottles. You can fill each giveaway with water or orange juice and tell benefactors to keep their containers. Consumers will hold onto your mugs and bottles and may be reminded to donate next year as a result.

If you plan on holding drives throughout the year, consider giving away branded calendars with dates marked for the events. People are always looking for calendars to start the new year, and you can capitalize on this search by advertising your drives with promotional items. For regular donors who give every year, consider distributing personalized calendars to thank them.

Finding new donors
Drives that distribute giveaways can gain reputations for reciprocating their donors' kindness. Some consumers may be motivated to contribute their own blood if they know they'll be given something as well.

Advertise your gifts so that potential benefactors are more likely to come to your event. Small presents can make the difference between a successful blood drive and one that didn't reach its full potential. Emblazon your giveaways with your event dates as well. Your donors can act as advertisements each time they use your promotional items and raise your blood drive's visibility.

National Blood Donor Month is meant to increase donations throughout the year. Using giveaways can help you get off to a great start in January.

Hotels compete for seasonal customers every year, but these businesses can find an inside track by distributing promotional giveaways to their guests. Travelers always want souvenirs from their trips, but around the holidays those items may be too expensive after buying gifts for everyone. Hotels can use their branded products as small presents so their clients may be happy and come back the next year.

Helping through the weather
Some holiday vacationers plan for everything aside from their destinations' weather. Even those who do check the forecasts may not be prepared for everything, as snow, rain and a wide temperature range are possible.

Hotels can prepare their guests for varying weather patterns with unique promotional products. Aside from the usual necessities, travelers also have to pack all of their gifts during their holiday trips, so it may be easy to forget items like umbrellas. Businesses can give away functional gifts so their clients can still enjoy their vacations even though the weather outside is frightful.

If it's not cold enough for a snowy holiday, rain could put a damper on seasonal celebrations. You can give away branded umbrellas so your guests can stay dry and cheerful. Alternatively, sometimes the weather is too cold to be enjoyed and you can distribute travel mugs so your clients can bring their hot cocoa as they see local landmarks and visit family.

Marketing through the year
Travelers aren't shy about taking certain items from their hotel rooms, like promotional pens and notepads. Establishments should keep these products stocked because they're valuable marketing tools that can help turn seasonal guests into regular customers. As the American Marketing Association's (AMA) Baltimore branch writes, functional giveaways last so consumers are exposing themselves to advertising messages for long periods of time.

When travelers use your pens and pads at home, they're seeing your hotel's logos and developing brand awareness. The giveaways advertise your services to increase the likelihood that your clients will book with you next year, so you don't have to develop advertising campaigns to find new guests.

If you want to advertise your business and stand apart from your competitors, distributing promotional marketing products on lesser known holidays may be an effective strategy. There's a greater chance that you can generate consumer interest and increase awareness by avoiding heavy competition on popular holidays. Here are three of December's celebratory days that aren't as heralded as their famous counterparts.

National Cocoa Day
While the first official day of winter isn't until December 21, cold weather doesn't adhere to a schedule. When the temperature drops people turn to warm beverages to avoid the chills that become so commonplace during winter months. In that spirit, December 12 is National Cocoa Day. Traditionally, hot chocolate is one of the more popular drinks during a cold season, especially around the holidays.

Distributing promotional mugs before the 12th can increase your company's advertising presence as well as help customers stay warm. When the gift recipients fill up their cups on National Cocoa Day they'll see your logo and be reminded of your business. Keep in mind that people don't drink hot beverages solely on the holiday – cocoa, coffee and tea are popular year round. As long as consumers have your mug, they'll have advertisements right in their hands.

Winter solstice
While not an official holiday, the winter solstice is celebrated around the world. It's the first official day of winter and has the fewest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere. The solstice can be a fun day depending on how businesses choose to celebrate the seasonal change.

There is one holiday celebrated on the solstice – National Flashlight Day. Giving away promotional flashlights acknowledges the spirit of the day. Because the first day of winter has the shortest amount of daytime, distributing small lights can be a fun way to advertise while recognizing the solstice.

Owners don't have to limit themselves to one giveaway, however, and can develop their own promotional strategies for the winter solstice. Some restaurants hold special events to attract large crowds who want to celebrate winter's arrival. Doing something unique on a day that not every business acknowledges may be smart if companies want to increase traffic in their establishments and draw increased amounts of consumers.

National Chocolate Day
Only a week after the winter solstice is National Chocolate Day. December 28 is a day to celebrate one of the most popular treats available. There's no denying how well-loved chocolate is. Celebrating a day dedicated to the confectionery delights can help small business owners advertise while giving consumers some of their favorite snacks.

You can't give everyone a full-sized candy bar without breaking your marketing budget, but small tins of sweets are budget-friendly alternatives. Even though the sweets won't last long once customers start eating them, they'll likely hold onto the durable boxes. They can repurpose the promotional items to hold small household items, so your logos will constantly be displayed in patrons' homes.

You may want to consider having some non-chocolate candies on hand, as well. Some consumers have severe allergies and must avoid certain foods, but they should still be able to participate in the giveaway.

Celebrating one of these days can help a small business stand apart during a busy season. When many companies are only focusing their advertisements on major holidays, doing something different can attract more consumers.

Giving gifts that are a little more significant than the standard promotional item could show that a company cares and is doing much more than the bare-minimum to feign appreciation for its clients. Promotional giveaways could prevent regular customers from ever considering a different business’ services.

A promotional mug is not something that is usually given out when trying to attract new clients, but a consistent client would enjoy it as a gift. Consumers may love receiving a functional gift to use around the office or home. By placing a logo in a customer’s hand every morning, brand awareness can be increased exponentially.

As a business gift, a coffee cup is great because it is not strictly for work and can be regularly used by anybody. Giving out rewards for loyalty can show that a real relationship has been built with the client. 

Promotional mugs that have your company logo make great gifts. After your client brews a pot of their favorite coffee, they will use it to sip and enjoy their favorite beverage as they go about their morning routine, or ease into the day by reading the newspaper. Because this is a daily occurence, your brand name will constantly be seen by your customers, and it will be associated with something pleasant and essential.

Sometimes your customer is in a rush and they need to take the coffee on the road. A Bio-D Tumbler or a 16 oz. Acrylic Tumbler are ideal corporate gifts, because they still let your client enjoy home-brewed coffee, but they are not inhibitive to the customer who is on the go from the first alarm clock ring.

However, consistent marketing plans can lead to long-term success. Focus on the things you can give your customers that your competition can't deliver, such as expertise, a customized experience or local flavor, and you’ll find that you’re better able to distinguish your organization from large chains.

Customize your customer service
Customer service, for example, is often quite high on the list of what makes a buyer choose one place over another, perhaps second only to price. As a small business, it is much easier for you to focus on the needs of your consumers and tailor your services accordingly.

If you're the owner, consider making regular visits to the storefront and "working the trenches" with your employees. Customers will appreciate the demonstrated investment in your business' services, and they may be more likely to trust your hands-on expertise.

Creating atmosphere: Cater to your audience
Tailoring your storefront to meet customer approval can be useful as well. Atmosphere can be a powerful thing. Large chains aim to appeal to a wide range of customers and as such they tend to have watered down approaches to customer interaction and need fulfillment.

As a small business, you have the flexibility of catering specifically toward your intended (and comparatively narrower) customer base. Focus on your target audience and create an atmosphere that suits them best – whether it's casual and friendly or professional and highly efficient.

Know your niche
In a similar vein, understanding the nuances of your businesses' niche is an essential component to branding your organization. For example, if you run an action sports shop that deals with snowboarding and skateboarding, a significant portion of your customer base is likely to be the parents of active children and teenagers – therefore, it would be imperative that your transactional processes are geared toward adults while your products should be positioned to appeal to a younger demographic.

Play up your local appeal
You can use your location to your advantage as well. Small businesses are often local businesses, and that hometown feel can be a tipping point in your favor for consumers in your community. Make sure that your "impulse buys" have a local flavor – apparel that celebrates the local sports team or books written specifically about your area. Take it a step further and offer promotional mugs or promotional magnets emblazoned with your town's name or motto, and your small business will soon become synonymous with town pride for your customer base.

Additionally, while your small business might not be able to offer the rock-bottom prices of large chains, you can aim to compensate for slightly higher prices by using your knowledge of your community to create more competitive offerings. Support other local vendors by promoting any products or services that are compatible with your own to create a professional network of local supplies and support for your patrons.

By understanding your community's needs, and highlighting the high levels of customer service and community engagement that your small business is able to provide, you can set your enterprise apart from large chain stores without resorting to slashing your margins.

Whether treating fellow coworkers to a lavish Holiday soiree or organizing a less formal summer barbecue for employees and their family members, it's unwise to dismiss the effect that a few branded beach balls or stress buttons could have on the people who already count as a company's biggest fan base. People tend to hold on to free gifts, especially when they come in the very useful and practical form of logo tote bags and personalized pens. Add the memory of unfettered fun into the mix, and this results in the perfect storm for boosting employee morale and enhancing the longevity of a small business brand.

Here are a few types of giveaways that lend themselves to a company's inner circle:

Custom coffee mugs
No one knows the importance of a morning cup of joe like the people who show up faithfully at your office every morning. Mugs often become a permanent fixture on desks and in cubicles, reminding fellow workers of the artsy person who owns that ceramic handcrafted piece or the proud sports fan with the athletic mug. There's no affiliation that workers share in common more than their place of employment, however, and it's essential for everyone to own at least one mug that proudly totes this fact.

Personalized notepads
Most workers are familiar with the cardinal rule of "thou shalt never attend a meeting without a notepad in thy hand." Even if it's a meeting that isn't likely to warrant any note-taking, it's considered proper business etiquette to show up looking prepared. With such a never-ending source of demand for these products, companies would be wise to step up and provide the supply. Take it one step further by personalizing a notepad with an employee's name and a company logo. Workers will be glad to have a handy tool that speaks directly to them, and it wouldn't hurt for their friends and family to use this branded item when making their next grocery list.

Branded tote and duffel bags
Few things are ever as universally appreciated as handy tote and duffel bags. Whether used at the beach or to pack for a ski trip, these items make their usefulness known at any given point throughout the year. What's more, many workers often need these bags to transport their gym clothes with them for a quick jog either before or after work. Besides, it's a sure bet that lots of people will be doing overtime at the gym around this time of year to balance out their holiday excesses.

Promotional wine and beer gifts
Lest a party atmosphere be riddled with free handouts that only serve to remind one of Monday morning, stay in line with the spirit of the event and give fellow coworkers gifts that they're likely to use right there on the spot. Promotional bottle openers are a much-needed commodity both at a function and throughout day-to-day life, and most people never cease to appreciate the source of these important tools when they come in handy. A two-bottle jute wine tote is perfect for carrying home any extra bottles of pinot noir leftover from the company bash, and, when branded with a company logo, will continue to serve as a reminder to everyone around that the small business can well be associated with a good time.