A Leeds-based manufacturer and retailer of personalised gifts has pivoted, to beat the economic crisis, by focusing on the corporate branded merchandise market. Perfect Branded Gifts has successfully changed its focus to the corporate market to counter a slowdown in demand from personal customers.
Yorkshire business owner Kathryn Wright says that their switch in marketing makes sense, in the current economy. “We’re specialists in creating bespoke gift items, which we design and manufacture at our extensive workshops in Leeds. We have traded successfully on sales channels such as Not on the High Street, Etsy and Amazon Handmade. However, gifts like ours are regarded as ‘non-essentials’ by many personal customers, who are faced with a cost of living crisis. It’s a very competitive price market, and the commissions charged by some channels can be as high as 35 per cent.
“So, in response to market conditions, we’ve extended the reach of our business and now offer personalised, branded merchandise for the corporate market.
“We have a wealth of experience and have invested heavily in a range of specialist printing and bespoke engraving technology. We can engrave glass, acrylic, wood and slate, and create customised items from engraved wine and beer glasses to chopping boards and awards. We also print onto almost anything, including mugs, glass, acrylic, wood, hoodies, umbrellas and coasters.
New corporate clients for Perfect Branded Gifts include car retailer JCT600, Bradford Bulls rugby and Leeds homelessness charity Simon on the Streets.
“We’re thrilled to support Simon on the Streets” says Kathryn. “We’ve provided bespoke items for their recent fundraiser ‘Simon’s Big Sleep Out’, including a branded Gift Bag for all people taking part, containing a branded lip balm, branded toothbrush and branded sleep mask.”
Perfect Branded Gifts’ strong results in the corporate market have been bolstered by the launch of a new e-commerce website, developed and built by award winning Leeds digital agency Ascensor.
Broad product range has been key to success.
Following their experience in the personal market, the team at Perfect Branded Gifts have set out to offer a distinctive range of products to corporate clients.
Kathryn explains: “If an item can be printed on, we can brand and personalise it. As well as promotional merchandise such as umbrellas, tote bags and pens, we’ve provided more unusual bespoke items including branded vegan travel sweets, personalised cheeseboards and branded cycling gifts.
“Our corporate clients are now contacting us for their branded and personalised Christmas presents for their customers and staff and we’re expecting busy seasonal trading.”
Overcoming the minimum order size issue.
Kathryn says: “The corporate market is a real opportunity for us. We are an experienced player in the personalised gift market and we recognise that businesses of all sizes are keen to produce branded, personalised gifts and merchandise for their clients and staff. However, the minimum order quantities required by many merchandise competitors can be prohibitive. For example, a firm may want just 25 branded items but will often face a minimum order of more than 100 pieces. Our proposition is to work with an order quantity as small as one, which appeals to businesses of all sizes.”
“We fully control the design and personalised production process, so we can offer businesses, small or large, a range of competitively priced branded merchandise and personalised gifts.”
Not all corporate orders are for firms’ clients. Companies are increasingly ordering personalised items for their employees. These might be awards to celebrate a business achievement, a new product launch or a milestone for the company.
There’s also a fun side to the diverse product range at Perfect Branded Gifts. Kathryn explains: “We offer items that are not generally available. For example, for a recent client we created a set of mugs with the company brand on one side and the name of the team member on the other, as well as details of their favourite ‘brew’. These items are distinctive and a real talking point for our clients. So, no missing cups and no excuse for leaving your dirty mug in the sink at work!”