AIBU to be fed up of promotional items being shit?

[sunstrokecity]

We are looking to order some promotional items for our customers for Christmas gifts.
Looking online it's always the same tat. Pens, mugs etc.
AIBU to ask what your favourite promotional gift is you've received or heard of someone receiving.

We own our own company in the engineering industry and really want to give our customers something that's actually useful and not just going to be thrown away. We actually really like all of the people we do business with and would rather spend more money if it means they will receive something they enjoy. Preferably something we can put our logo on.

My faves have been posh notebooks (proper book style, not a pad), and aprons (DH works in kitchens so gets this type of stuff a lot).

USB sticks are not a good idea.
People don't trust them because they don't know what's on them before they stick them in a laptop. And honestly, they're a bit passe now too.

I am looking at things like aluminium water bottles, power banks, and (for my US team) straws - which are apparently a huge thing now they have banned them there. In the past I have also done edible stuff which also works.

Power bank, decent quality notebook, leather folder that holds a notebook and pen, good old fashioned mouse mat!

The promotional item I've got that I use the most is a Fosters fridge magnet that is also a bottle opener. It's 21 years old and still going strong.

I think it depends a little on what your clients actually do. Also if they are large corporates the individuals may be restricted in what they can accept.

What I’ve really liked and used

• power banks
• reusable coffee mugs
• insulated water bottles
• moleskin notebooks

All have to be good quality though and a reasonably discrete logo.

I have a large desktop calculator that I’ve used for at least the last decade. It’s great.

Really nice high quality notebooks I like. Logo needs to be very discreet.

Travel adaptors with built in USB are really good!

I was given a really good travel cup recently. It's glass, I think the brand is KeepCup or something along those lines, and the silicone band thing around it has the company's logo on it.

Mini spirit level
Candle
I like the nail file idea

Hamper? What about a hamper with some posh food and booze (as suggested above).

I'd love that.

USB sticks
Branded stress ball (my office fought over the left-over mini rugby ones!)
Sweets in branded wrapping (I’ve also seen M&Ms in company colours with company name on)

These are always popular

I see a lot of promo stuff, and the things that have stayed around are: good quality umbrella, power bank, USB stick, and pens which are either good quality or those which are multi colour (like the bic 4 colour ones). I'd like a multiway charging cable thing, and nice bags get used a lot more than you might think.

Calendar
Coaster

Sits in front of client all day for a year - space to add your logo.

Reusable coffee mug
Cotton shopper
Both gone down really well and are used. Cotton shoppers are good value for money

I just thought, I still use a bookmark I was given at a conference in 2001. The company folded years ago, but I'm still promoting them

I recommend Awesome Merchandise, they have a large selection of goodies and great for ideas :) I find a lovely notebook goes down well, I get a designer to make nice, relevant covers and pop a little logo on the back.

Best one I've had is a mini Swiss Army knife.

Silver many years ago my boss opened an envelope from a household name insurance company and a similar product fell out. Apparently it was to celebrate their new family protection policy

Depressing you can still buy that as a promotional item.

We get a hamper from a company every year. The first year it had a beautiful candle in it. When I’d used it I went to buy another one and found out the candle alone was £40

I'm an engineering firm as well OP and we are also looking for something different.

Weve done pens, pencils, notebooks, diaries, scale rules, usbs so not much different

When I worked for an electricals shop we used to love it when Dyson came in because their pens were always The Best. If you weren't in on the day you'd have no chance of getting one.

Pop sockets. I got one of these- actually really useful!

My driving instructor gives out really good quality clicky pens. I love mine I use it all the time.

Water bottle 😊