Are you familiar with the term “sensory memory”?  It's a type of short term memory that helps you associate one of the fives senses with memory. Promotional products can play a role in sensory memory and are among the only form of advertising that allows an audience to interact with a brand on a physical level. With promotional products, customers can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch what you're advertising.

Sight.
This is the sense we use most frequently and explains why traditional uses of sight in advertising don’t get much attention. Television, billboards, magazines, and internet advertisements are just another thing we see throughout the course of the day.  If you really want to make a lasting impression, give people something interesting or stimulating, like a branded fidget spinner.  Your target audience will still visually receive your message but will also be engaged in such a way that they'll actually remember your logo or advertising message.

Sound.
Most people either don’t pay attention or switch the station/channel when radio advertisements and TV commercials come on. You can have much more success with your advertising efforts by using promotional products, such as imprinted earbuds or  branded bluetooth speakers. These items engage the sense of sound, while simultaneously creating an enjoyable experience for the end user.  In addition, you get your message out to your target audience in a memorable way that gets repeated engagements at no additional cost.

Smell.
Of all the five senses, smell creates the most powerful and lasting impression in your brain. This fact continues to be proven in scientific studies showing that particular scents can trigger memories from decades ago. When looking for promotional products that can incorporate the sense of smell, look for things that may be associated with the scent. That way, when a prospective client enjoys the aroma of their fresh morning coffee (or tea) rising out of a mug with your logo on it, you can be certain that you're making a favorable impression.

Taste.
Most people don't think of advertising by using food, but it's actually a very effective method.  The best way to do this is by choosing an edible promotional product, such as a gourmet brownie with your logo on the wrapper. People love eating and tasting new things, so it’s a great way to reach potential customers. In fact, over 75% of Fortune 100 companies utilize edible promotional products because of their effectiveness in creating memorable experiences for the end-user.

Touch.
This may be a given, but promotional products are tangible. Practically anything you have for promotional products can be physically held in the customer’s hands and consequently, will inspire the touch sense by feeling and using them. For instance, when someone writes with a pen imprinted with your logo, they are able to perform a useful task.  This is yet another unique experience that can only be created by using promotional advertising.

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The holiday season only comes around once a year and is the perfect time for businesses to take part in gift giving. Other than being in the seasonal spirit, there are several reasons to give holiday gifts to each of your stakeholders.  
 
Customer Appreciation
​The holiday season is an excellent time to show your appreciation in a bigger way. Thus, remember to thank frequent or high-value customers for their loyalty with corporate gifts. This ends the year on a good note and starts the next year off on the right foot. Customers who feel appreciated and valued tend to stick around, increase their purchasing, and recommend your business to others.
 
Employee Appreciation
As with customers, a business would not exist without its staff members. More than 60% of businesses give gifts to employees during the holiday season to show their appreciation for hard work over the past year. This in turn, makes employees feel valued and improves their overall work satisfaction. This also fuels pride in the brand and even boosts productivity.
 
Keep Your Brand Front and Center
Even though your customers will likely receive other business-related gifts or greeting cards, you don’t want to stand out as the one who didn’t send anything. Giving holiday gifts keeps your brand top of mind with customers, prospects, and even lapsed customers. The more they see and hear about it, the greater the chance they will remember it when it’s time to make a purchase or respond to a call to action.
 
Things to consider
When choosing holiday gifts, be sensitive to others’ religious beliefs and cultures. Also, try avoiding gifts that end up in re- gifting collections by getting something practical for people to use. Lastly, avoid buying cheaply-made items that can break or malfunction easily. These will leave a bad brand impression on your recipients and likely end up in the trash.
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