Storytelling is probably the oldest type of entertainment human beings have. We all adore a great story-which is why we have a lot of conversations, why we delight in telling each other what happened to us last week, and why we like to listen to such stories. We like history, too, which is why costume dramas are so popular on TV. Business histories combine these elements to produce something that is truly of interest.
Numerous large businesses publish their corporate histories on their websites. H. J. Heinz, for instance, has a detailed history of the business on its website, going back towards the days when a young Henry Heinz grew horseradish to sell to local grocery stores. The history emphasizes Henry's private values of thrift, honesty, and fair dealing.
The Heinz history is illustrated, is interactive, and is comprehensive. Not all businesses would have the resources to create such a web page, but even the smallest business can make a human-interest story from their history: Lucie's Farm, a supplier of Highland beef, tell the story that their founders (Craig and Marjorie Walsh) first became interested in rearing Highland cattle after seeing the film Rob Roy.
They are now the leading breeders of these cattle outside Scotland: the farm even has its own crest. This kind of story is really a fantastic deal more interesting than functions about the quality of the beef, or the issues of rearing hairy cattle in a warmer climate than they have been used to.
Corporate gift-giving is a well-established PR activity. Thanking your most loyal clients by giving them something nice, rewarding staff with freebies, or handing out business calendars to your most efficient suppliers is common practice in numerous firms.
However, as we all know, having 15 business calendars and six from the local takeaway, plus eight diaries and 23 desk sets does little for your well-being: probably most corporate gifts of this type end up in the bin. This does nothing for your reputation, and nonetheless much less does it do anything for the recipients of the gifts.
Choose either a gift that is unique or one that will nonetheless be appreciated even if it's duplicated. For instance, the Home of Commons has Scotch whisky bottled and labeled for MPs and others to buy as gifts for colleagues, constituents, staff, and so forth. Even if someone were to receive several bottles, this would not be a issue, and having a bottle of whisky using the House of Commons crest on it is a great conversation-starter at parties or at Christmas.
Hiring a cartoonist to draw a caricature of the recipient could be a lot much less expensive than you might think. One corporate party organizer arranged for a cartoonist to mingle using the guests, drawing each one: the cartoonist charged £300 for the evening, and drew more than 50 cartoons. Paying £6 a time for an original caricature is extremely reasonable, and it makes a memorable gift for anyone.
Promotional clothing could be great in the right circumstances: if you are in a business exactly where special clothing is needed you may want to consider having coveralls printed with your logo. Discreet is better than obvious, of course.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Serena Greane at 01242011
1. PR tactics and exercises for defining companies to the public
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