What are the Trends in Year End Gifts?

As the year is coming to a close, I like to review what our clients are spending on. It gives us a good feel of what trends are emerging and helps other clients to make decisions. Leather We have seen a strong move towards timeless classics such as leather gifts for year end gifts. Leather gifts have a timeless elegance. We have had a big boost in leather wallets, both personal wallets, ladies leather purses and leather travel wallets. In fact in none of the preceding years have we ever sold as many small leather items. When I say small, I mean in comparisons to leather bags, which are larger in size. After coming through some troubling global economic times, people are looking for security ad hope. Timeless classics like leather have distinguished and established look, which adds longevity and trust to relationships. In the past people have had the misconception that leather is expensive, however the smaller leather items, such as leather wallets and purses are not as expensive as one might imagine. These days decisions are about value and not just cost. Our clients want to know that the gifts that they give are actually going to be used and not just put into the bottom drawer. Another leather gift that has had a boost is the leather notebook covers. These are more visible than a wallet or purse as they are used in meetings, making your brand more visible. We have also had an increase in personalisation, where a person’s individual name is debossed onto the item. Diaries Diaries remain a firm favourite, with sadly many clients still waiting to order until the last minute. The challenge with diaries is that because of the dates on them, diaries that are not sold are counted as a loss. This means that printers would rather under print than over print. It makes logical sense, to minimise potential losses. However this means that at the end of each year, some people will be disappointed if they have not planned ahead. It is understandable that some corporates may wait until they feel more certain with budget. If this is a challenge, then we would recommend organisers instead of diaries. There are great leather organisers as well as PU organisers. The inserts are generic can be changes every year. Travel Gifts We have had a strong growth in the travel market and travel related gifts. Custom made passport covers, leather luggage tags and leather travel wallets has been very popular items. We have noticed a lot of activity in the travel/tourism industry and also with the amount of tour t-shirts that have been ordered. Outdoor Gifts As the holidays approach, clients are looking at giving gifts that can be used in a family outdoor setting. Our clients have shown a lot of interest in braai sets, cooler boxes and cooler bags. Picnic baskets and picnic bags remain a firm favourite. As a family we have a number of them. Some are for two, when you have a special couple date and some are for four, when you are having a family picnic. Alongside that, picnic blankets work well, with many families using two to three picnic blankets at a time. One picnic blanket to place the food on and the other two to sit or lie on. While there are thousands of year end gifts to choose from, these categories have emerged as popular year end gifts for this year. For more gifting ideas contact us on info@belleregalo.co.za or visit our website www.belleregalo.co.za or call us on 0829487461.

How to Choose a Year End Gift

I am wondering when I will be able to buy sleep in a bottle as a corporate gift or year end gift. I think it would be best marketed as a year end gift, because year end is the time when people seem to be utterly exhausted. Most people are just trying to out together energy to get through another day and then are hit with year end parties, what to choose for year and gifts and how to plan for their own Christmas gifts and own Christmas parties. In this time so many people leave their decisions for year end gifts until the last minute. They know that year end gifts and corporate gifts are great relationship building tools. They know that they make great apology ideas and they know that they help to keep your company top of mind in difficult economic time. But they just lack the energy of thinking about what to give as a year end gift. So for now grab yourself a cup of coffee, preferably in a branded coffee mug are go through this checklist. We have gone through categories of gifts and given you a list of applications or these gifts to make it easier to choose a year end gift. Bags Sports Bags / Tog Bags: Men’s gifts, Women’s gifts, sporty people, good general year end gift, team building gift, 94.7 cycle

challenge gift Drawstring backpacks: Low Cost Gifts, Student gifts, men’s gifts, women’s gift, great promotional give away, World Aids Day Gift, cheap corporate gifts Shoulder Bags: Student gifts, back to school gift, sporting event gift, promotional give away gift Shopping Bags: give away gift, promotional gift, campaign gift, cheap corporate gifts Backpacks: sporting event gift, team building gift, back to school gift, conference gift Document Bags: Back to school gift, conference gift, product launch gift, low cost gift Conference Bags: Conference gift, back to school gift. Low cost gifts, high end gift Laptop Bags: Conference gift, men’s gift, woman's gift, year-end gift Laptop Sleeves: conference gift, men’s gift, woman’s gift Trolley Bags / Trolley Backpacks: Year end gifts, conference gift, men’s gift, woman’s gift Luggage Sets: Travel gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gift, year end gifts, general corporate gift Toiletry Bags: Travel gifts, year end gift, incentive travel gifts Corporate Clothing Caps: Back to school gifts, World Aids Day Gifts, Sporting gifts, team building gifts, Breast cancer awareness gifts, promotional gifts, giveaway gifts, low cost gifts, cheap corporate gifts Bucket Hats: Promotional give away gifts, back to school gifts, World Aids Day Gifts, low cost gift Bandanas: Promotional gift, cheap gift, low cost gift T-shirts: Back to school gifts, World Aids Day Gifts, Sporting gifts, team building gifts, Breast cancer awareness gifts, promotional gifts, giveaway gifts, low cost gifts, cheap corporate gifts Lounge Shirts: men’s gift, promotional clothing, corporate clothing, uniforms, men’s gift, and woman’s gifts Golf Shirts: Golf day gifts, promotional gifts, team building gifts Tracksuits: team building gift, sporting gifts Jackets: Year end gift, men’s gifts, woman’s gifts Drink Ware Gifts Water bottles: Give away gifts, World Aids Day Gifts, Team building gifts, cheap gifts, giveaway gifts, student’s gifts, 94.7 cycle challenge gifts Thermal Mugs: Give away gifts, World Aids Day Gifts, Team building gifts, cheap gifts, giveaway gifts, student’s gifts, Travel Gifts Thermal Flasks: Give away gifts, World Aids Day Gifts, Team building gifts, cheap gifts, giveaway gifts, student’s gifts, Travel Gifts Coffee Mugs: Desk based gifts, giveaway gifts, promotional gifts, woman’s gifts, men’s gifts. Folders A4 Folders: Conference gifts A4 Zip Around Folders: Conference gifts A5 Folders: Conference gifts A5 Zip around Folders: Conference Gifts Leather folders: Men’s gifts, Woman’s gifts, executive gift Homeware Gifts Salad dishes & Salad Servers: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts Cheese Boards & Cheese Sets: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts Carving Sets: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts Salt & Pepper: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts Ice Buckets: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts or low cost gifts and give away gifts Bar Accessories: low cost gifts and give away gifts Coffee Sets: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts Tea Sets: Year end gifts, woman’s gift, men’s gifts, executive gifts Key Holders Plastic Key rings: Cheap give way gifts, promotional gifts, motor show give away

Metal Key rings: give away gifts, motoring gifts, means gifts, ladies gifts Novelties and Giveaway Gifts Pen Holders: Desk Based gifts, give away gifts or executive gifts Paper Clip Holders: Desk based gifts Puzzles: Give away gifts, promotional gifts, back to school gifts, travel gifts Clocks: Year end gifts, desk based gifts. Promotional give away Calculators: Back to school gifts, Stress Balls: promotional give away, year end gifts, cheap gifts, low cost gifts, conference gifts, trade show gifts Lanyards: Conference gifts, trade show gifts, give away gifts, low cost gifts Sweet Jars: Desk based gifts, Valentine’s Day gifts, year end gifts, promotional gifts, desk based gifts. Photo Frames: Desk based gifts, secretary’s day gifts, woman’s gifts Notepads: Back to school gifts, executive gifts: Conference gifts, Outdoor Gifts Cooler Bags: Year End Gifts, Outdoor gifts, Promotional gifts, give away gifts, back to school gifts, World Aids Day gifts Picnic Backpacks: year end gifts, outdoor gifts, men’s gifts, woman’s gifts, holiday gifts, student’s gifts, competition gifts Braai / BBQ Sets: men’s gifts, year end gifts, year end gifts, outdoor gifts, men’s gifts, woman’s gifts, holiday gifts, student’s gifts, competition gifts Wine Sets: year end gifts, outdoor gifts, men’s gifts, woman’s gifts, holiday gifts, and executive gifts Mini Fridges: year end gifts, outdoor gifts, men’s gifts, woman’s gifts, holiday gifts, student’s gifts, competition gifts, executive gift Golf Gifts for Golf Days: Men’s gifts, golf day gifts, year end gifts Personal Care Gifts Lip Ice / Lip Balm: Give way gifts, secretary’s day gifts, woman’s gift, back to school gift, student gift, travel gift, 94.7 cycle challenge gift, cheap gift, promotional gift Sun Block: Give way gifts, secretary’s day gifts, woman’s gift, back to school gift, student gift, travel gift, 94.7 cycle challenge gift, cheap gift, promotional gift Hand Sanitizers: Give way gifts, secretary’s day gifts, woman’s gift, back to school gift, student gift, travel gift, 94.7 cycle challenge gift, cheap gift, promotional gift Promotional Wet Wipes: Give way gifts, secretary’s day gifts, and woman’s gift, back to school gift, student gift, travel gift, 94.7 cycle challenge gift, cheap gift, and promotional gift Manicure Sets: Woman’s gift, give away gift, year end gift First Aid Kits: Promotional give away gift Pamper Gifts: Woman’s Gifts, Year end gifts, executive gifts Technology Gifts Memory Sticks: Conference gifts, corporate gift, promotional gifts, and give way gift Laser Pointer Pens: Conference gift, corporate gifts Optical Mouse: Conference gift, corporate gifts, desk based gift, executive gift Web Cams: Executive gift, year end gift, woman’s gift, men’s gift, team build gift, and speaker’s gifts Digital Photo Frames: Executive gift, year end gift, woman’s gift, men’s gift, team build gift, and speaker’s gifts Hubs: Conference gift, corporate gifts, desk based gift, executive gift Torches and Tools Pen Knives & Multi-tools: Men’s gifts, year end gifts, promotional gifts, executive gifts and low cost gifts Torches: Men’s gifts, year end gifts, promotional gifts, executive gifts and low cost gifts Adventure Sets: Men’s gifts, year end gifts, promotional gifts, executive gifts and low cost gifts Tool Kits: Men’s gifts, year end gifts, promotional gifts, executive gifts and low cost gifts Writing Instruments Metal Pens: Year end gifts, upmarket gifts, men’s gifts, woman’s gifts, conference gifts Plastic Pens: back to school gifts, World Aids Day gifts, desk based gifts, cheap gifts, promotional gifts, and give way gifts Pen & Pencil Sets: Year end gifts, general corporate gifts, conference gifts Stationery: Back to school gifts, desk based gifts, promotional gifts, and give away gifts. For help with choosing your corporate gifts or year end gifts, contact Belle Regalo on info@belleregalo.co.za or visit www.belleregalo.co.za

Creating the Perfect Picnic

I love picnics. I love the feeling of getting close to nature, of being out in the fresh air, surrounded by greenery. Picnics can be a wonderfully intimate time for a couple if you choose to make it a special date or a fun time with friends or a quality time outing with family. The perfect picnic contains a number of integral elements to create a good atmosphere. Good company, beautiful locations, good weather, tantalising food, and good equipment. You will be the judge of who to invite for your picnic. But here are some tips for the location and equipment. For a good atmosphere the combinations of the elements are important, as a family we have a few favourite locations. Many cities will have some sort of bird sanctuary, many of these are free parks maintained by the municipality and are a welcome sanctuary for city weary folks, due to the silence expected when at a sanctuary they make perfect locations for couple picnics; however our children also enjoy them. At the entrance to our neighbourhood bird sanctuary there is an overhanging mulberry tree and we pick a few on our way in as part of our culinary treat for the day. We usually take two or three picnic blankets with us. We use one to spread the food out on and use one for my husband and I to lie on and one for the children to sit on. This is why picnic blankets make an excellent year end corporate gift. There are a number of different styles. For comfort choose a fleece blankets, but make sure that it is a proper picnic blanket with a waterproof lining. If you choose a plain fleece blanket, then the grass tends to stick on it, making it impossible to shake off and you have to pick bits of dry grass off. However we do sell a zip up fleece pillow/blanket which is a great pillow for your picnic if you feel like napping under a shade tree. It is also a great general blanket to put into your car, in case of emergencies. You may ask what sort of emergencies you can get that you need a blanket for. Well, if you are with children and your picnic carries on until close to sun down and the weather changes, you can cover them in the car on the way home with the blanket. This make the zip up blanket a very practical corporate gift. If you are with elderly family, you may want to take outdoor chairs with you on your picnic and get a table and gazebo for shade. Frail people have trouble bending down and getting up, so a chair is a far easier option for them. We regularly go to the botanical gardens, especially during their concerts and many families set up their tables and outdoors chairs on the fringes of the park where they can still hear the concert, but not obstruct the view of the other guests. A botanical garden is a great place to go for a short day hike. Choosing the perfect picnic item depends on where you are going. If you are planning to lounge around for the afternoon and ease away the tensions of the week, then a luxurious traditional wicker picnic basket creates a wonderful nostalgic atmosphere. As many of these baskets have a carry handle and if you lucky a strap, the person carrying all the gear may start to take strain if you have to walk a lot. So I would not recommend these for hiking days or if you are walking a lot, like at the zoo. Or a zoo picnic or a hiking day, opt for a picnic backpack. This leaves your arms available for climbing or carrying children or as a couple, simply to hold hands. If you are hiking, then a picnic backpack with a cooler bag component is wonderful as your hydrating drinks will still be cool when you really need refreshment. Picnic backpacks are a strong seller for year end corporate gifts. As a family that likes variety we have a few of them. That allows us the create theme outing, plus we are also prepared for larger groups. Speaking of drinks, a great nifty cooler bag that is now in our range has cup holders in it. After countless picnic on uneven grassy planes, we have lost our fair share of beverages, so whoever though of this great design of cooler bag, was a genius. It has space for two cups, so of you have a large group, get two of them. They are a very practical corporate gift for people who love the outdoors. A picnic is a way to revitilise the soul, get away from the television and enjoy a special environment. It is usually a very low cost outing, so if you are choosing corporate gifts this year, giving a picnic item is a wonderful gift for any family as it can help them to create special memories and boost relationships. For more ideas on corporate gifts contact us on info@belleregalo.co.za or visit us on www.belleregalo.co.za