Londoners faced the biggest hike in unpaid overtime, with an extra 79,000 workers going beyond the call of duty in 2008. The number of people working unpaid overtime fell by 26,000 elsewhere in the south east of England, and by 11,000 in Scotland.
A TUC general secretary said that the numbers doing unpaid overtime has increased for the second year in a row. While some of this is due to the long-hours culture that still dogs too many British workplaces, the recession will now be making many people scared of losing their job in the year ahead and joining the ever-growing dole-queue.
Inevitably people will be putting in extra hours if they think it can help protect against redundancy or keep their employer in business.
He also acknowledged that some people are happy to volunteer extra time, but should not be abused. We don’t’ want to turn into a nation of clock watchers – most people enjoy their jobs and don’t mind putting in extra effort when there is a rush or an emergency – but that easily turns into the long hours culture of extra hours every week. In smart workplaces, people work fewer hours.

So give a corporate gift is a great idea to express recognition and gratitude towards your employees and colleagues.

The Corporate Gifts Company has a huge range of promotional gifts ideal to help you:

• Madrid Aluminium Business Card Case

• Pewter Circle Award

• Black Leather Desk Pad

• Sterling Silver Gifts Keyring

• Pop-Up Mini Pen

• Plaques

Call our efficient sales team today on: 0845 430 2902.

Moreover, this website is very easy to use and practical thanks to these categories such as; “For Her”, “For Him”, “Wedding”, “For Kids” … you can be sure to find the gift you need very quickly for all the occasions you’ll ever need!

And thanks to the organization of this website, you can easily find information about wholesale, delivery, the terms & conditions for sale… ideal to do business in complete safety.

Here are some great examples of engraved gifts:

• Engraved Puzzle Perpetual Calendar and Photoframe

• Engraved Silver Plated 3 in 1 Bar Tool

• Engraved Silver Plated Heart Keyring

• Engraved Silver Plated Yoyo

• Engraved Silver Plated Three City Clock

You can contact The Engraved Gift Ideas by phone on: 01789 262 900 or by e-mail by completing the request from.

Your strengths could be:
• Excellent customer service
• Specialist knowledge

Your weaknesses could be:
• Limited finances
• Inefficient administration

Opportunities could include:
• Increased demand from a new sector
• Use of the Internet to reach more markets

Threats could include:
• A new competitor
• Cheaper versions of you product

1. Work out your marketing message
Once you have identified your market niche and worked out your SWOT analysis you can begin to work out your marketing message which will play to your strengths and minimise your weaknesses.
Your message should show exactly what your product offers and persuade people to become your customers.

You should include:

• An explanation of your target customer’s problem
• Proof that this problem needs solving for your customer to be successful
• An explanation of how you are the ONLY business that can solve it
• Evidence of the benefits of using your solution
• Examples of people who have used your solution successfully
• An explanation of prices

2. Communicate the benefits of your products and services
Once you have identified customers, worked out a marketing message and a plan, you need to decide which types of marketing activity best fulfils your objectives.

You could consider:

• Advertising (in print and online)
• Exhibitions and trade shows
• Seminars and talks
• Public Relations
• Flyers and brochures
• Incentives
• Email campaigns and websites
• Letters or mail shots
• Networking

Of course there are many ways to communicate with people but you want to choose the most effective and efficient method of reaching the people you have targeted. Try to make sure your campaigns fit in with your strategy.

3. Set objectives
It’s worth setting objectives for your campaigns so you know whether or not you are achieving your aims.

You can follow the SMART route:

Specific – you will find 10 new customers
Measurable – check how many leads were identified and how many became customers
Achievable – can your sales people realistically meet your targets?
Realistic – you want to stretch people not de-motivate them
Timely – if your deadline was six months, try and stick to it.

One of the most important marketing tools you can use is examples of how you have successfully met another customer’s need. Showing a potential customer that others have used your services and benefited from them in a real-world scenario gives your business credibility. They will start to believe that you can achieve the same success for them.

4. Keep customers happy in the long-term
Looking after your customers is one of your most valuable marketing tools.
Up-selling, or selling more or different products to existing customers, is generally more cost-effective than finding new clients. So it’s more than worthwhile to be continually searching for ways to improve the relationship with existing customers rather than just concentrating on attracting new ones.
Customer care is a major part of this. You can do that by ensuring that your customer-facing workers adhere to strict guidelines in the way they handle customers. However, it can also help to ensure that every part of your business is geared towards making clients happy – and make sure that is understood by every member of staff.
Of course, nothing will build loyalty like delivering a product or service that matches your customer need, offers value for money and is delivered professionally in a timely manner.

5. Indicators (KPIs)
Identify KPIs which reflect how well you are responding to your customers’ expectations.

For example you could track:

• The amount of sales renewals
• The number of complaints
• The amount of goods returned
• Your average order-fulfilment times

Using that information, you can see whether you customer service levels are at a high enough standard.

6. Encourage customers to stay with you
There are plenty of ways that you can encourage customers to keep bringing their business back to you. Loyalty schemes or cards at supermarkets, shops or even petrol stations are now commonplace. Can you offer a similar incentive?

Some ideas include:

• Discounts for regular customers or big orders
• Extra goods if people order more products
• Prizes

These can be offered on the basis of repeat custom, high spending, large orders, prompt payment or length of time as a customer. However, take care that a discount is still profitable – do not just slash your prices to win the business if it is not in your best interests.
Above all, make sure all customers understand that they are highly valued.

The Corporate Gifts Company is an expert in building good relationship with customers by proposing a great range of business gifts.

Here are some great ideas from The Corporate Gifts Co:

• Engraved Twister USB Flash Drive

• Sterling Silver Keyring

• Pocket Notebook & Pen

• Silver Plated Toothpick Holder

• Barcelona Black Cardcase

• Black Single Frame – (4 inch x 6 inch)

You can incorporate your promotional message or logo with an elegant engraving.
Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see The Corporate Gifts Co’s great range of corporate gifts.

However, those who do not take marketing seriously may find themselves at a disadvantage in the long-term. A good marketing strategy can help you decide which customers to target, how to reach them and what to do to keep them happy once they are hooked.

As well as telling you what you need to do, your strategy can also help ensure that you are not wasting your time and resources trying to appeal to the wrong people or even to too many potential clients – and consequently winning none of their business.

Here are some great tips that can help you to market your business:

1. Create a marketing strategy
The most efficient way to attract customers and keep them happy is through an effective marketing strategy. So what exactly does this strategy involve?

• Identify your potential customers – Essentially, your basic requirement is to identify groups of customers and find out what they need.

• Identify how you fulfil their need – Then, you need to work out how you can fulfil their need more effectively than your competitors. You therefore need to give serious thought to your unique selling point (USP). If you can’t identify a reason why someone should use your services above all others, what is to stop them going to another supplier?

• Communicate the benefits of your products and services – A large part of your marketing strategy will be based on how you can tell or show people why your products and services are the best for them to use. You will need to decide on which types of marketing activities you undertake – and, of course, you should make that decision based on how to get the best from your marketing budget.

• Keep customers happy in the long term – Your strategy may need to be flexible as your business matures and changes or your customers’ needs change. You should monitor your strategy to decide whether or not it is working. Start by asking each new customer where they heard about your business and why they chose you.

2. Write a marketing plan
A written marketing plan can act as a reference document you use to execute your marketing strategy. You can work out what your marketing plan is by using the four headings above. Your plan should be a written explanation of how you intend to build long-term, profitable relationships with customers from your chosen market.

3. Identify your potential customers
Among the most important starting point for your marketing strategy are questions such as “who are my potential customers?” Clearly, you are looking for groups of people and businesses (or perhaps existing customers) to whom you are most likely to be able to sell the greatest amount of your product or service. You need to attract the customers who are the most valuable to you – make sure you can keep them – and then find others with similar profiles.

You might want to ask yourself:

• Which types of company would want my products?
• Why do they need them?
• Which existing customers currently spend the most with me – or with my competitors?
• Why do they do that?

You could also carry out market research to find out what people want and identify a market niche. It may be worth looking at people of a certain age, gender, occupation or a group with a particular interest or hobby. It may also help to profile your target customers. If you understand what they need, you can concentrate on providing it in the most cost-effective way.

4. Profile your customers
Make a list of your target market or best customers.

• Work out what they do and any special interests
• Understand their size and location
• Find out the name of the main buyer
• Start to think about the best sales channels to them

Customers are such a valuable commodity it can be useful to collect data about them. You can then use that information to identify other opportunities for your business. However, if you intend to store data it may be necessary to check you are complying with the data protection act.

5. Research your competitors
As well as understanding who your customers are, it’s worth knowing more about your competitors. A detailed knowledge of their products and services can help you differentiate your own and gain more share of the overall market.

Ask yourself:

• How are their products or services different to yours?
• How do their prices compare to yours?
• What is the quality of their goods like?
• Who are their customers?
• How do they promote their products?

The Corporate Gifts Co has a great range of promotional gifts perfect to express your recognition towards your customers.
Here are some great cost-effective items which can help you to maintain good relationship with your clients.

• Concetta Business Card Case

• Sterling Silver Letter Opener

• Silver Plated New Yorker Business Card Holder

• Silver Plated Cushion Keyring

• Aluminium Oval Compact Mirror

• Chrome Rocket Rollerball

Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see The Corporate Gifts Co’s great range of business gifts.

1. Increase productivity. Your cost per unit and your profitability are driven by the amount of time you and your employees invest in producing a product.

2. Increase your Marketing efforts. It is tempting to reduce companies advertising and marketing spend when the economy slows. Smart companies understand this is a time to gain clients and market share not take a holiday from marketing because business is slow.

3. Maintain your equipment. Another tendency is for managers to push equipment a harder and a longer without maintenance in order to “save” money. Be careful this is not a false economy.

4. Manage your finances. There are a number of ways that a business can get into financial trouble during economic downturns. It is important that business managers control their spending to insure profitability and cash flow.

5. Invest in yourself and your employees. The greatest resources in your business are its human resources. Given the right tools, knowledge and motivation there is nothing you and your group cannot achieve. Fully communicate with all employees and make sure that everyone understands the goals and objectives of the company. You can use rewarding gifts – perfect to express recognition to your staff.

The Corporate Gifts Co has almost 20 years of experience of helping organisations and companies choose the right corporate gift to reward and express recognition.

Here are some great ideas from The Corporate Gifts Co such as;

• Pocket Notebook & Pen

• Star Slate Award

• Cube Puzzle Paperweight Award

• Star Desk Award Paperweight

• Silver Plated Weather Station

• Decision Maker Pen Stand

Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see how The Corporate Gifts Co can help you with premium incentives and rewarding gifts.

Happy customers will return to place repeat business. So, the key to business success is increasing customer loyalty and trust without increasing costs.
You could consider sending a handwritten thank-you note or magazine article about your customer’s sector which you might find interesting?
Demonstrating to your customers that you still care about them even after you’ve already got their money, will set you apart from your competitors and create loyalty.
It should be second nature to make sure that your customers are completely happy with your products and service on an ongoing basis.

The Corporate Gifts Co has almost 20 years of experience of helping organisations and companies choose the right corporate gift.
Here are some great ideas from The Corporate Gifts Co – perfect to be sure that customers will feel valued and motivated to do more business with you:

• Alulyte Postcard

• Promotional Memo Pad

• Aluminium Rectangular Compact Mirror

• Star Trophy Award

• Leather Geneva Business Card Holder

• Spinning Clock & Thermometer

• Puzzle Keyring

• Black Leather Wrapped Promotional Pen

• Tower Pen Pot

• Sterling Silver Photoframe

• Sterling Silver Paperweight

Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see how The Corporate Gifts Co can add value to your corporate recognition towards customers.

A recent survey shows that while many Investors in People organisations were committed to developing talent they were concerned about resources required or unsure about where to begin. Here are five great pieces of advice about talent management from Investors in People that we have found useful:

1. Developing talent doesn’t mean that you need to have a formal structured plan.
Encourage people to see possibilities and give them the confidence to try new things and ideas in a safe environment. It should fall naturally and neatly into your organisation’s way of developing your people

2. Managers have a key role to play in encouraging people to develop.
Encourage people to be inquisitive and contribute new ideas at team meetings or ensure that everyone has a personal development plan which is followed through.

3. People can develop their talents in many ways
Learning from and with others should be a big part of developing talent in your organisation.

4. The role of coaching and mentoring can be invaluable.
Those with experience who can offer guidance, feedback and encouragement to a less experienced employee are a really valuable resource.

5. Developing talent is not just for senior people.
Everyone in your company should be encouraged to develop their own talent and ideas. Everyone should aspire to being a role model to those less experienced. Last but not least, ensure that people at every level are motivated and engaged with the organisation and its goals.

The Corporate Gifts Company has been Investors in People accredited since 2005 and has a great range of corporate gifts – perfect to motivate and to express recognition to your staff and employees.
Here are some great ideas from The Corporate Gifts Company:

• Executive 4GB Silver Plated USB Flash Drive
• Sterling Silver Photoframe
• Brescia Laptop Bag
• Decision Maker Corporate Pen Stand
• Black Leather Desk Pad
• Torch Keyring
• Silver Plated Weather Station
• Silver Plated Star Desk Award Paperweight

Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902.

Employees are the lifeblood of any organisation and looking after them and rewarding them is therefore crucial to enable any company or organisation to thrive. This is especially important during times of uncertainty and change, and employee benefits are one tangible way employers can show they care.
A good employer should want to look after their staff and reward them. As a result employees feel valued by the investment made in them and are more motivated to give their best. The health and future success of all organisations depends on its employees – so looking after them should be a top priority.

Using corporate gifts to reward and motivate staff is a tried and tested promotional tool; encouraging motivation and building loyalty. Of course, in times like these it’s hard to resist the temptation to cut back on business incentives, but corporate gifts can provide returns for in excess of their relatively low cost; a budget of £5, £10 or £20 spent on each member of staff will create much more then £20’s worth of increased productivity, increased morale and increased loyalty.

The Corporate Gifts Company has over 500 desirable and high perceived value premium incentives. Here is a selection of our best selling items:

1. Pocket Notebook & Pen

2. Promotional Memo Pad

3. Chrome Puzzle Globe

4. Star Desk Award Paperweight

5. Silver Plated Classic City Business Card Holder

6. Georgian Travel Alarm Clock

7. Spinning Keyring

8. Sterling Silver Photoframe

9. Executive 4GB Silver Plated USB Flash Drive

10. Floating Desk Pen

Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 to see how The Corporate Gifts Co can add value to your premium incentives and staff motivation.

In addition to the impressive array of venues, the UK has a number of other strengths in terms of its conference facilities and services. For example, the creativity and professionalism event management agencies and event production companies in the UK, probably the best in the world, its wonderful heritage and culture, the beauty and variety of its natural environment – all within a small geographical area, the English language – now the accepted world business language for many conferences worldwide, and the rapidly growing output of graduates in conference and event management and business tourism from over 50 UK universities.
Corporate gifts and premium incentives are an essential part of the marketing mix when organising a successful conference. The Corporate Gifts Company specialise in premium incentives for the conference market; from desk items, pens and business cards holders, to premium leather, keyrings and sterling silver corporate gifts.

Call our sales team today on: 0845 430 2902

Before embarking on a marketing project, it should be part of a wider, long-term strategy to be properly effective. It’s essential to have a strategy that co-ordinates activity, continuously identifies customer need and sets in place measurable outcomes.
It is understood to costs five times more to win a customer than it does to keep an existing one so, looking after your client base is essential.
The key to good marketing in a recession is to measure constantly. Companies should be developing targeted messages and offers for sections of their customer base that they know from experience will respond well.

Targeted corporate gifts have been shown to be extremely cost effective. The Corporate Gifts Company has almost 20 years of experience in providing business gifts and promotional items that, when used effectively, are highly targeted and measurable. Our state of the art computer diamond engraving can add value to your corporate gift with an engraved logo, promotional message or even individual names or initials can be added at very little extra cost. We can also print and emboss leather – our new range of premium leather can be engraved, printed or embossed.
So the message is; don’t’ forget to market your company (it can be a false economy) and look for cost effective ways to promote your organisation.
Ask our expert sales team today on: 0845 430 2902 how to make corporate gifts and promotional items work for your company.