Gadgets & flash drives

A branded item only works if someone wants to use it. The rest ends up in a drawer. The articles here keep returning to one question: will this actually be useful to anyone. We look at what stays with a recipient longest, how to match a gift to age and interests, and when a small quantity makes more sense than a large one.

Choosing the item

Most of the section compares specific products and their variants. A metal or plastic pen. A keyring that suits the trade. A lighter for promoting a venue or an event. A printed coaster that doubles as decor. There is also the wider question of whether a gadget should look like advertising at all. Items that simply look good on a desk often work better.

Flash drives and what goes on them

Flash drives get their own large group of articles, because there are more decisions to make than with an ordinary gift:

• Casing material - wood, metal or plastic, depending on the character of the brand.
• Packaging - box, case or card, including versions made as a family keepsake.
• Contents - portfolio, catalogue, investor presentation, photographs and film from a celebration.
• The logo - how to place it on the casing and keep it in step with your other materials.

When and to whom

The final thread covers occasions. Trade fairs and conferences, a welcome pack for a new member of staff or a client, a seasonal gift for a business partner, a small collector series. We also cover how gifts for customers, staff and partners should differ, and how to tell whether a giveaway achieved anything. For a starting point, read the pieces on matching a gadget to its recipient - most other decisions follow from that.