Creating Office and Desktop Promotions

a desktop USB paper shredder, a USB mug warmer or a desktop aquarium fully loaded with a plastic fish. That’s sure to take your mind off the stress of a looming deadline!

As office-dwellers become increasingly busy balancing the rigors of their careers with the demands of personal and family life, a little organization goes a long way, too. Desk accessories that assist this goal remain popular and have kept their newness over time, Hoylman reports. Desk organizers come in all shapes and sizes. And included in this category are items that organize a growing number of personal electronics. "As new electronics are developed and introduced in retail, desk accessories must be compatible," she says. "2008 brings the expansion of charging stations to hold electronics in an organized way on an individual’s desk as the gadgets are being charged."

To clear the clutter, multi-function items also come in handy. "Any product that serves two or more duties using an innovative, clever and economic design is sure to catch the eye and enchant the mind," Rothacker says. Brian Padian, vice president of inside sales at Tustin, Calif-based Logomark Inc., has another tip in this arena. "Choose items that are traditionally more plain, and add color for excitement," he says. "Items with additional functionality and multi-purpose tools always get attention."

Consider maximizing your sales here by encouraging your client to create a tiered promotion or begin an annual gift. Then, a desktop collection with matching accessories assures future orders. And don’t forget to remind clients of the permanence of their logo in a desk item, Padian advises. "A high-quality desk set sits in a fixed position where recipients can see it eight hours a day, making it a constant reminder of who presented it to them."