Does anyone still send out tchotchkes as marketing promotions?

Tchotchkes and useless are the keys to this question. Promotional marketing can be a very effective marketing effort when used properly. Practical items that will get seen over and over imprinted with a call to action message will provide a better ROI for your marketing dollars. Research has shown that a targeted direct mail piece that includes a promotional product will get the sender better results.

Dan's right. Useless items, poorly targeted items, items of poor quality, etc., are deservedly future garbage. However, a well targeted item, something useful, and of good quality, can serve as a great way to keep your name and contact info handy when it's time for that prospect to decide whom they are going to call on to fill their needs.

For example, if a client were exhibiting at a trade show where the audience, the attendees, were engineers, I wouldn't recommend they give away the little wind-up teeth on a pair of feet. I'd probably go with an anodized aluminum ruler/scale. Or, since they work at their desk, maybe a quality coaster of some sort, maybe something that attaches to their monitor for holding notes or photos (largely dependent upon budget). The thought being that they spend much of their working time at the desk, and that that's where they might be when they decide where they'll look to satisfy their need.

Of course, it can be expanded upon to use promo items as a way to get them to the trade show, and even something that will cause them to be open to an appointment after the show (you'll bring something to them).

Long story short, a promo item that is well thought out, well targeted, and of good quality (something they'll want to keep), can be a very effective adjunct to your other marketing activities.

I'd like to say that the days of giving away useless junk are long gone, but apparently not. We've tried for many years to increase the professionalism within the industry, but there are always newbies, and old timers too, that just don't get it.

As a marketing provider, we help our customers with Advertising Specialty items. They are like any other type of marketing, the more specific to the interest of your target, and the more useful, the better they work! We have doctor's offices that give away pill holders to their surgery patients after surgery to help them remember to take their medications. Many like to give away pens (and a pen or letter opener inside and envelope you send begs to be let out and make sure your content is at least looked at). Many of our clients like to give premium gifts to top prospects or customers, we've done leather padfolios and personalized pen sets. Some even order items as gifts to their staff as a thank you or to remind them of a company goal or value.

One of the keys is to be sure that you are happy with what you are getting. When we find something that a customer likes, we make sure to get a sample from the manufacturer BEFORE the order is placed. That way there are not surprises as to the size or quality.

As a graphic designer and social media instructor, I have also worked in the promotional merchandise industry for the past 5 years.

Two of the distributors I have worked for have very different approaches to the business. One is fairly creative, always looking for something new and different to the market, the other is fairly mainstream (pens, pads, lanyards...). Personally, I like to know that the branded item has value to the recipient and that it will hang around and not get tossed.

Clients, in all cases, are extremely price conscious. The name of the game is producing on time and within budget. Merchandise runs the gamut from a “Hyundai” to a “BMW” (and better, too). My experience comes from working with large well-know branded organizations as well as small local businesses.

Regardless, promotional merchandise is big business. Visit any ASI, SAGE, or PPAI show where manufacturers highlight new product. Merchandise which is unusual, utilitarian, has collectible value, or seen as value-added are more readily accepted. I believe that these types of items have greater retention, are free advertising in alternative venues, and result in additional business. Including a "tzchotchka" with an order can also go along way as a thank you.

I definitely think it depends on the tchotchkes in question. The best one I've ever gotten from a networking event was a small LED flashlight that you could put on your keychain. It also only takes a single battery to power. I use it all the time.

Other good tchotchke idea would be a stone coaster, that has a company's logo woven into it. That keeps your company top-of-mind every time that person picks up and puts down their coffee mug or glass of ice water.

How about the rest of you? Do you use any branded tchotchkes on a daily basis (pens don't count!)?