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.

I have a Halifax mini toolkit from 2012 that's still in weekly use.

Otherwise I agree with PP:
Thermal KeepCup
Powerbank
Umbrella
Good food

Google gave out little lip balm sticks once, they were brilliant.

M&Ms with the company logo

www.mymms.co.uk/

A swisscard...little credit card sized multitool thingy...I've has mine years and they're ace. I'm pretty sure you can buy them to get branded logo on too.

I love little Swiss tool things

Or this www.champagneandgifts.co.uk/3-x-corporate-branded-champagne-bottles.html

I get pens for my business from national pen. They keep sending freebies, so far I’ve had

Mini torch
Manicure set,
Mini screwdriver set, shaped like a pen, very handy!
Mini sticky notes set,
Pocket knife

All really useful items.

For many years, until we lost the suppliers, we used to send customers MiniMaglite torches or art calendars. Everyone used them and we engraved /printed co logo on them. Then we gave people re-usable coffee cups and posh biscuits, and now we are not permitted to give gifts at all.

Based on things received in this house and still used top would be screwpull corkscrew, then multi region plug/adapter, power banks and insulated metal water bottles.

I would like a reusable coffee cup

Our most popular promotional items were lip salves and earphones.

Logo'd pen drives, mini powerful torch

Honestly drives me mad. I have to think of the 'pull' to stands at work and it's the same shit. Unless you have alcohol or food it all goes in the bin or didn't get taken. It's all had it's day.

Power banks - definite yes. Particularly the ones with the newer android connection (USB C?)

Reusable coffee cups - the best one I've been given was a collapsible one. So it folds into a sort of disc about 2cm thick when not in use. Lives in my handbag.

Also got a good reusable bag once - it's the shape of a normal plastic bag, made out of recycled plastic and it folds up into a corner with a drawstring, much handier than the usual canvas bags and again it lives in my handbag.

Definitely not USB sticks, pens or post-its. They just gather dust

Powerbanks are useful. I would stay away from anything super cheap like coasters, pens etc.

Reusable water bottles are good if they are good quality (not dodgy cheap stinky plastic!) - could you get any that have those fruit infuser holders for something a bit different?

What's your budget? Could you get something a bit more engineering themed - e.g. one of those carabiner multi-tool things or (a bit pricier) maybe something like a branded Leatherman Squirt?

Corporate logo’d chocolate.

DH got a screwdriver once with different heads on it. That was good and we still have it.

Keep cup
USB pen (I loveeeee mine)
Charger bank
Nice fold up Tote bag
Umbrella (big proper one)

Water bottles and reuseable cups are the most popular for us.

My favourite and most used promo freebie is a mini multi USB phone charger. It is so handy and you can charge most phones with in.

DH had a small steel ruler in a leather case. I have no idea where he thinks it is... I tutor at home and the children love it! Not sure why but the younger one especially finds a reason for using it most weeks. I like the folding shopping bags with discreet logos. I've never had the sort of job that gives corporate gifts myself so I rely on DH for the excitement.

After 3 years of trawling the uni’s careers fairs as a student just for the freebies, the things I’ve found most useful were:

Brolly
Nice notebook and pen set
Water bottles
Star shaped highlighter with different colours in the points.
Reusable bags
Key ring with bottle opener

Definitely don’t do stress balls or frisbees.

What about a personalized “Thank You from the people at XXXXXXXX” gift card to the value of whatever you would spend on promotional materials? Less personal, but more empowering. You’d have to make it a major retailer and explain your reasoning to your clients.... I’m fairly sure they’d be thrilled.

I won one of those foam puzzle cubes recently, loved it. Here is a link to the type of thing it is www.mynextpromo.ca/15quot-Foam-Puzzle-Cube/MC7905/#.W8FC_WhKjIU

As you are an engineering firm it could be relevant (problem solving).

Haven’t rtft but the ones I use most are

Power bank
Pen that doubles as a touchscreen stylus
Hand warmers (you know the reusable ones with the clicky disc thing in)
Stick on ring thing that you put on your phone to make it easier to hold
A few years ago Abokado gave away this little reusable screen cleaning sticker thing that you stick back onto a little card when you use it. Mine’s been in my phone case for a few years now!

I got an usb adapter from Microsoft recently that's been useful. It has the two apple connectors, micro USB and USB-C - that's been quite useful.
Another one that we've kept was a fleece blanket (company logo on it) - great for the kids for winter.
Things that the kids can have are always appreciated - sweets, frisbees, yoyos and so on.