The first ever in-depth independent national survey into the power of promotional merchandise in the UK questioned businessmen and women about their behavioural trends and preferences for different promotional gifts.

The online survey was carried out in Summer 2011 by ActionPoint Marketing Solutions Ltd.

TheUKwide study was conducted of a randomly selected set of 14,728 adults, who were screened on receiving promotional items at either work or home. Students and people under 21 were excluded.

Of the 517 responses received there were 254 female respondents and 263 male respondents from across a range of sectors including manufacturing, retail, IT/ Communications, media, finance and education.  Job titles included Chairman/MD, manager, director, executive, pa, administrator.

Key findings:

• Promotional merchandise can deliver a higher or equal ROI than TV, radio, outdoor and print advertising
• 66% of respondents said they could remember the brand on the promotional product they received during the last year
• 79% said they were likely to do business with the company in the future
• 8 out of 10 (84 per cent) respondents said that a branded promotional gift increases brand awareness
• Over three quarters (87 per cent) of recipients said they kept a promotional gift for longer than 12 months
• Over half (56 per cent) of respondents said their opinion of the brand/company was more favourable after receiving the promotional product