"St. Patrick's Day offers entrepreneurs a creative reason to reach out and communicate with your customers," Charles Gaudet, a marketing strategist, told The Globe and Mail. 

March 17 is rapidly approaching, so small businesses owners must start preparing for the holiday sooner rather than later. Procrastination can negate the luck of the Irish and leave entrepreneurs wishing they had been ready to capitalize on St. Patrick's Day. 

Don't rely on luck when it comes to promotional giveaways – follow these tips when planning an event on St. Patrick's Day. 

Holiday decorations and themes
As with all major holidays, St. Patrick's Day features a plethora of iconic imagery. Shamrocks, four-leaf clovers, leprechauns and pots of gold are all staples of March 17. Because most of these symbols are in the public domain, small business owners can include them in decorations, promotional marketing products and advertisements. 

For celebrations in an establishment, an owner should use as much green as possible. The color signifies that the business is celebrating the joyous occasion and will help attract like-minded consumers. Green balloons and signs should be hung on the exterior so passersby know that the company is holding a special event. Additionally, green streamers, banners and balloons can be used to decorate the interior to complete the holiday atmosphere. 

The imagery should also be used on all advertising for the special giveaways. Timely marketing messages are much more effective than their broad counterparts. Marketing Zone recently highlighted an email that didn't include any holiday themes and barely made any mention of St. Patrick's Day. Small business owners want their advertisements to have lasting appeal, but for a giveaway on St. Patrick's Day it is imperative to include at least one icon in every marketing message. 

The perfect presents
When consumers attend a giveaway, they expect to receive a few gifts. On March 17, local entrepreneurs can give all of their regular branded items an Irish spin to create truly unique promotional products that customers will love. 

Holiday imagery can be emblazoned on every trinket to create an association between a small business and St. Patrick's Day. For instance, leprechauns can be embossed on promotional magnets instead of the standard logos and decorations. As with the decorations, all branded gifts should be green to help customers celebrate. 

Additionally, there are some creative ideas that small business owners could try. The pot of gold is a common holiday motif that lends itself well to a giveaway. Owners can distribute chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil so patrons feel like they've found a leprechaun's treasure at the end of the rainbow. 

Let employees celebrate
St. Patrick's Day is supposed to be a joyous occasion for everyone, including employees. The Houston Chronicle writes that small business owners should let their dedicated contributors enjoy the festivities on March 17 to increase workplace satisfaction. 

The news source writes that the best way to allow employees to celebrate is provide entertainment for them. Short scenes of old Irish folktales while musicians play traditional songs are perfect for a March 17 celebration. The small performances are fun activities that make St. Patrick's Day fun even while staff members are working. 

Additionally, small business owners should distribute personalized business gifts to their most dedicated staffers. Functional presents like coffee mugs, custom pens, and USB drives show staff that their supervisors recognize a strong work ethic. All of the rewards should include a four-leaf to wish workers good luck on their next major projects. 

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Promotional marketing products are a staple of most trade shows. Small gifts remind consumers about businesses that had a strong presence at the event. Additionally, branded items help small business owners open lines of communication with passersby who are visiting dozens of booths. 

Not all promotional items are created equal. Some tokens are best suited for attracting attention during the event, while others leave a lasting impression that help entrepreneurs capitalize on their trade show successes. Small business owners must evaluate their needs when choosing their promotional products.

Consider the following factors when deciding what branded items would work best for your company at a trade show. 

Fun or functional?
There are two primary types of promotional items – functional products and fun gifts. In most settings, the former is more effective for marketing than the latter. Consumers enjoy giveaways that fulfill a basic need. To capitalize on the popularity of functionality, small business owners can distribute unique promotional products that are useful during the trade shows or an everyday setting. 

For the events, branded water bottles and candy tins are some of the best possible gifts. Inc. Magazine notes that trade shows are usually hectic and that most attendees are thirsty and hungry. Businesses that hand out water bottles and small snacks will endear themselves to consumers who need nourishment. 

Other functional items can be geared more toward everyday life. For instance, promotional flash drives are great to have at work, so recipients would gladly hold on to the devices after an event. A small business owner can use items like pens, calendars and key chains to ensure that every attendee has a physical reminder of the establishment. 

Fun products help enterprises stand out from the competition. The gifts break up the sometimes monotonous nature of trade shows – consumers can grow weary after hearing dozens of sales pitches from representatives. 

Give away relevant items
Every trade show has a unifying message, and small business owners should tie their marketing strategies to these themes. Advertisements that are thematically relevant will be better received than their irrelevant counterparts. 

Promotional items can be used to help connect a company to a show's overall theme. For instance, reusable tote bags can be distributed at eco-friendly events. To develop a relevant marketing strategy, owners should research what other businesses have done in the past. Other entrepreneurs are valuable resources when it comes to learning how to succeed at a specific trade show. 

Alternatively, companies can distribute items that are relevant to their industries or services. The gifts act as small previews that help consumers understand what function an enterprise fulfills and why its products would be valuable assets. Employees can use the small presents to open their sales pitches, so attendees are willing to listen to the entire message. 

Include contact information
Consumers come from far and wide to attend trade shows, so businesses must emblazon their contact information on branded products. URLs for social networks, email addresses for employees and phone numbers should be printed on every promotional item. 

Contact information can also be used to generate interest during a trade show. Hashtags can be used to encourage attendees to tweet about a company. As more consumers notice the messages, they will be motivated to visit the business' booth to see what all the hype is about. 

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Fun is an important part of success. Business Insider writes that employees who have fun at work are more productive and creative than their co-workers. Managers can ensure that their staffers are in high spirits by holding contests and offering personalized business gifts as rewards. 

Gamification makes work fun
Many businesses are turning their everyday practices into games to make work enjoyable. Companies create points systems for basic responsibilities and allow associates to compete for the top spot in the rankings. Brian Burke, the vice president of research at Gartner, believes that every business owner should know how to turn their establishments into games. 

“Understanding how to apply game mechanics to motivate positive behavioral change is critical to success,” Burke said in a statement. 

Entrepreneurs can create unique games to promote various objectives and increase productivity. For instance, sales personnel can be awarded points for lead generation and customer retention. The representative who has the most points at the end of the quarter wins a special prize. 

Employees know they have to complete their work, but small rewards provide increased motivation. Additionally, competitions can foster friendly and professional rivalries that can lead to higher levels of productivity. 

What are the best prizes?
Globoforce, an employee recognition firm, recently found that digital messages aren’t as satisfying as tangible gifts. According to the source, 21 percent of workers said that electronic thank-you cards aren’t fulfilling without physical gifts, and another 51 percent said that emails are disappointing rewards. 

Custom presents are the best rewards that entrepreneurs can distribute to their staffers. Personal identifiers show employees that their superiors recognize consistently excellent work. The unique presents also demonstrate that businesses pay attention to individual achievement. 

Owners should only distribute work-related prizes for their games. Professional rewards remind employees that they should continue their hard work to earn additional recognition down the road. Custom pens and USB drives can be used around the office to increase productivity. Additionally, personalized calendars can keep workers focused on their responsibilities. 

Fun at Work Day can be the beginning of a long-term program that increases workplace satisfaction. Professional games can make less work stressful and more enjoyable than ever before. 

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Companies can help employees who work from various location by giving them USB flash drives. With these small storage units, anyone can backup their projects so they can continue work on a different computer. This is a convenient alternative to carrying laptops during lengthy commutes every day.

Managers can purchase custom flash drives so that every employee has their own device. This personal touch shows workers that their bosses are paying attention to their work habits and want to help them achieve maximum efficiency. This can improve job satisfaction rates by strengthening the relationships between associates and managers.

Helping dedicated staff members perform their tasks, even when they are at home, can help a business achieve high levels of success. Small flash drives make it easy to work from any location. 

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An article in Forbes highlighted the increasing trend toward online sales that brick-and-mortar stores are trying to combat. Some of these entities are establishing Internet storefronts to keep up with trends, while others encourage email deals and other incentives to encourage consumers to come back to the business in the flesh.

One strategy both kinds of companies are using is promotional products. These create a sense of loyalty to the business that can't be shaken by changing formats, so a person who carries around a USB keychain or a promotional bag with a corporate logo, regardless of whether it's a physical or online vendor, will likely persist in frequenting that establishment.

Increasing visibility

Moving to the Internet and progressing to mobile has been an increasingly popular trend for businesses of all sizes for some time now. What's more, there are signs that consumers are more willing to spend money online. The National Retail Federation reported on Mashable that people spend about one-fourth more while using online retailers as opposed to an actual shopping trip. Consumers have also started using the internet for shopping in a much bigger way – as of 2003, only around 10 percent of retail sales took place on the web, whereas this year it's more than one-third.

This use of mobile devices to connect with consumers anytime and anywhere means it's more likely that a customer will have heightened brand awareness. They can review deals, check out promotional products and share deals via social media outlets. As companies are able to give consumers more information on sales and giveaways, this will also encourage more purchases, both in-store and on the go.

Web and future designs

Building for web and mobile is also easier than ever, according to the Sacramento Bee, making it an affordable advertising medium for even small businesses. This will help organizations of all sizes increase the reach and influence of promotional giveaways when they happen, increasing the overall value of promo investments.

Back-to-school shoppers are mindful of all these deals and promotions, especially when trying to get the best deal on big purchases. Computers and other technologies are increasingly making their way onto student must-have lists, but as The Consumerist pointed out, online stores could be detrimental to customer retention.

The source stated that a study by research firm STELLAService found the online shopping experience to be lacking in polish and customer service. This could result in more people get frustrated or making purchases elsewhere. Almost three-fourths of the time, the biggest complaint for buying on the web was the lack of human representation, leaving questions about products and services unanswered.

Companies need to enhance their outreach to consumers, and giving them a promotional item to smooth over previous problems or bridge the loyalty gap can really help an organization out. Creating open lines of communication both in-store and online will assist companies in enticing more shoppers to both commercial spheres, creating better visibility and product awareness through customer care incentives.

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Custom USB flash drives are a great way of helping companies keep information together, securely managing and transporting it with personal belongings. They're small and easy to carry, plus they can interface with any machine, be it a PC or a Mac, as long as it has USB functionality. What's more, these devices can be pre-loaded with corporate software in order to better promote the providing business.

Making a flashy impression

Custom USB drives and other small technological devices are sought by consumers. Usually these are an additional cost to clients, so handing them a free tool will likely ingratiate them to the business and create an immediate positive impression.

These tools are versatile, portable and user-friendly. They may be specially shaped to reflect the issue organization, or they could simply be printed with a logo and brand information. These tools come in a variety of shapes and colors and are cheap to obtain, though the return on investment will usually prove much greater.

The Huffington Post wrote that USB 2.0 drives are now becoming the norm.As online security threats mount, finding new ways to isolate data and encrypt it to prevent unwanted access are all great features available through portable external hardware.

More to do

Workers can accomplish more when they have the best tools to do their jobs. Many use online storage, but as these utilities become more questionable, more people are finding ways to implement external tools, making promotional USB drives a favorable investment for advertising purposes. What's more, these tools can do more than just store a few corporate files, users are finding.

Tech Republic wrote that more operating systems, both with Windows and Apple, are allowing password backups and wireless access with USB drive data. Just plug in the device and automatically create a write-protected portion of your hard drive, upload network information and keep track of higher levels of security on a personal computer.

Businesses can take advantage of these functions by making note of cool ways to implement custom flash drives so that recipients will be encouraged to use them more frequently. Greater usage and higher flexibility will increase visibility of the brand and present the issuer as an organization with greater tech savvy, an important element to possess in high-competition markets. These features show that a business truly understands the depth of technology around them and presents them as an innovator and leader.

One of the best parts about these promotional giveaways is that they really are ubiquitous in use. Regardless of what capacity a recipient wants to use them in, almost every device is compatible with USB technology, and even those without the function built in have adapters and other tools available for their integration, Core 77 pointed out. These devices carry all the hallmarks of top-performing promotional items and should be strongly considered as marketing tools for businesses in every industry.

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With the start date for college right around the corner, some families may also be doing dorm room shopping, meaning an entire suite of home goods may be on the list of things for the school list. Mini fridges, microwaves, bedding, lighting, shelving and anything else that a student might need to make a dorm feel more like home will need to be acquired, and companies giving away promotional products with regular purchases could see more turnover if they invest in this strategy.

Improving the experience

To cater to the influx of shoppers, some stores are investing more heavily in promotional items. These will bring in more foot traffic and encourage more spending at local businesses, as shoppers will be flocking to the stores soon enough.

A report from DealNews, a market specialist on promotional products, said that August tends to be one of the strongest months of the year for giveaways, as whole families are out in force for these trips compared to other times. Seattle Today also wrote that the National Retail Federation (NRF) expects each of these families to spend about $700 for their non-college students, and more than $900 on those heading off to university.

"You can go only for so long with a ripped backpack and the now out-of-date electronics you've got," said Matthew Shay of the NRF. "Expect this to be an enormously promotional season for back-to-school shopping."

Online sales could also see a boost this season, and there's no reason why retailers can't market to these shoppers. Providing a promotional incentive could bring in additional revenue just by displaying the information on the company's website with a link to its store or information on physical business locations.

A big expectation

The last few years have seen slow economic activity across most industries, with businesses struggling to stay active and consumers tightening their belts and saving wherever they can. However, recent trends show that consumer confidence is on the rise and spending is subsequently increasing. The July market forecast from Thomson Reuters found that shopping revenue had gone up three times its last estimated projection for the period, with teenagers fueling the push.

These are also the target demographic companies should rely on for dorm shopping and promotional item giveaways as the summer winds down. Handing out custom flash drives and promotional pens can get just as much practical use as anything else on their shopping lists, and these items will travel with them potentially around the world to whatever colleges they may attend.

Some businesses are offering two-for-one, dollar-off and other monetary incentives to pull in customers this August, but as a big opportunity for promotional products, companies may stand to benefit more from branded giveaways than just giving consumers a dollar or two back. These items send a message that travels with the recipient as long as they own the item, increasing visibility and establishing the company at least with the person who received the product.

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With that in mind, it is also important for small businesses to consider the time of year. School has recently begun anew, and college students are an excellent demographic to zero in on for a number of companies. Consider using the following items as branding tools this fall.

USB logo drives
Gone are the days of keeping physical notes and visiting libraries – today's students are much more likely to need to share software and files than they are to pass papers amongst themselves. A USB logo drive that is sponsored by a university or company will naturally be popular and useful on campus. Their low cost, in comparison with the high level of functionality they provide, should be enticement enough for any company to make an investment.

Personalized notebooks
Despite the prevalence of technology in modern educational methods, there will always be a use for at least some pen and paper products. However, because fewer pages are necessary, those notebooks and other clerical tools that college students use need to be even more specialized in order to appeal to them. That's why a personalized notebook (emblazoned with a school logo or company image, of course) is more valuable as a marketing tool than ever before.

Promotional duffel bags
Few groups are on the go as frequently as college students are, traveling from city to city and state to state to visit family and travel with friends. Their belongings need to come with them, so tools that help them to do so are invaluable. A promotional duffel bag is a cost-effective piece of luggage for cash-strapped kids who will be grateful for the useful tool and pleased to have one less hassle on the train or in the airport.

Highlighters
Though offices and their staff members may be runners up, the prize for champion highlighter users may have to go to students. Pupils have the most to gain by emphasizing certain passages or lines and are certain to be grateful for these tools. Promotional highlighters are, in addition to personalized pens, easily passed around and can be shared by many students who will see their messages and remember the organizations that branded them.  

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That's why so many organizations find themselves attempting to make the most of their branding efforts. If a business can focus its resources more efficiently, it can avoid the waste that comes from broadcasting a marketing message to too many people who will never become customers. Promotional products can help to do this, and one of the best places to deploy these products is in business-to-business interactions.

It may seem counterintuitive to give away promotional products to competitors, collaborators and clients rather than consumers. However, the benefits of promotional products extend beyond the people to whom they are directly given. Take, for example, promotional pens.

These items rarely stay with one person for long, especially at a large company. By giving a good-sized business a number of promotional pens, a small business marketer can rest assured that the promotional products will be circulated throughout an organization, and more than likely, to the friends and families of those workers as well as to additional organizations that do business there.

Promotional products that are distributed in a B2B setting also make efficient, targeted use of company resources. A traditional campaign of that sort might see pens, personalized mugs or logo USB drives donated at random to people who are already doing business with a company or who happen to come into contact with it.

Conversely, the organizations that a company is already doing business with are guaranteed to come into contact with similar groups in the future. A small business can't always guarantee how its promotional products will travel through a market or industry, but it can hope to release those products into an atmosphere that is more fertile or receptive to the idea of doing business with it.

A promotional product that's given to a business also helps to exploit one of the most important aspects of those tools – their usefulness. An office setting is one that constantly makes use of calendars, data storage devices, pens and pencils. Promotional products delivered to this sort of place are guaranteed to get some heavy use and will be gladly accepted by clients and collaborators, who will relish the office supply savings that the products net them.  

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