Solo Trading Ltd - Printwear & Promotion – garment decoration and promotional clothing/merchandise news & information

Solo Trading Ltd

A classier way to say thank you

Published: 03 November, 2009

When you choose a silver plated item such as a clock or desk accessory you are looking for something that will communicate how much you value your customer or member of staff; a desirable gift with high perceived value that will have an immediate impact but also something that the customer will want to keep.

Kevin Ross, Managing Director of Solo says: "It's important to deliver a real wow factor when the gift box is opened. Engraving will enhance and magnify the perceived value of the gift. Stick a three colour logo in blue, red and yellow on the product, however, and you have made a £25 gift look like a £5 giveaway."

There are two main types of engraving typically used for promotional items; diamond drag engraving and laser engraving. Both look great but have very different effects.

Diamond engraving looks expensive and has a reflective sparkle that no other marking method can match; the diamond point literally draws on the surface of the metal and the result is a multi faceted reflection.

However, this is also its weakness as fine detail (especially small text) can be difficult to make out. You are also restricted by the width of the diamond point so very intricate work sometimes needs to be simplified. By contrast, laser engraving is superb for fine detail. Its colour (normally grey) and finer resolution mean that text and complicated logos are very sharp. On the downside, in comparison with diamond engraving it can look flat and boring, almost cheapening the overall feel of the product.

Solo Trading Ltd recommends diamond engraving. Kevin Ross explains why. "On balance, we feel it's more important to preserve the impact and desirability of the product rather than slavishly following corporate logo guidelines - most of our customers certainly agree. Our in-house engraving staff are experts at translating logos suitable for diamond engraving, although we do offer laser engraving when we feel it is more appropriate."

In the run up to Christmas the traditional feel of diamond engraving strikes the right chord when presenting festive corporate gifts as recognition and thank yous to customers and staff. A corporate gift is just like any personal gift, therefore it's' important that it conveys that you value the recipient.

In the present economic climate, companies are obviously aiming to get the most from their marketing spend, so personalised promotional gifts are currently extremely popular and provide that extra individual touch important for any Christmas gift. After all, it is the perfect time to remind customers that they are valued and appreciated.

A well thought out gift engraved with an individual name or message gives the impression that someone has really thought about and cares for the recipient. Kevin Ross adds: "Individual engraving is easy to arrange and relatively inexpensive, but it adds that 'sense of the special' that many everyday promotional items lack. Our customers tell us that the personalised engraved name is the single thing that their customers or staff most value."

Our top tips for promotional premium gifts this Christmas are: