Motivation speakers and media moguls, Rachel and Dave Hollis of The Hollis Company, recently led the Rise Business Conference in Charleston, S.C., where more than 6,000 small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs gathered for three days of learning.
The conference’s VIP experience included a wealth of exclusive opportunities like a VIP lounge, professional headshots and preferred seating. VIP attendees were also welcomed with swag bags that included personalized Apple AirPods, customized by FUSION OF IDEAS.
You don’t have to be a “techie” or even a gadget lover to appreciate a new tech device. From Bluetooth speakers to wireless chargers, mobile technology is all around us.
With the rising trend of companies giving corporate gifts, technology has become a popular gift category for businesses. Giving a tech gift can also show that your company is modern and forward-thinking.
We rounded our favorite tech gift ideas this holiday season:
Wireless Earbuds – Ultracompact and lightweight, wireless earbuds offer features such as noise-cancellation and a customizable fit. Wireless earbuds options are abundant, including Apple AirPods and the new AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds, Powerbeats Pro by Beats by Dre and the new Amazon Echo Buds.
Wireless earbuds topped the list for the most popular business gift in 2018. Seen here is a pair of customized Powerbeats Pro by Beats by Dre.
Smart Speakers – A starting device or a complement to a complete smart home system, smart speakers or smart assistants like Amazon Echo or Google Home help you around the house, offers entertainment and more, all through voice commands.
A smart speaker like Google Home Mini is an ideal gift for customers, employees as well as shareholders.
Portable and Wireless Chargers – A practical gift option, mobile chargers are versatile for all types of technology. Popular wireless charger options include Belkin and Samsung and there are portable charger options from Mophie and Nimble.
Wireless and portable chargers are practical and versatile. Add your company logo for a lasting impression year-round.
Complete the brand experience with personalization. Adding the recipient’s name or using customized packaging with your company logo can make a lasting impression. For more corporate gifting ideas, visit www.fusionofideas.com/gifting.
More than 80 aspiring young scholars, scientists, entrepreneurs and public servants recently gathered in New York City to meet with some of the world’s most outstanding leaders in the arts, sciences, business and public service.
Guests at the 53rd International Achievement Summit. Photo source: American Academy of Achievement
The highlight of the programwas the Banquet of the Golden Plate where 34 guests of honor were inducted into the Academy and presented with the Golden Plate Award.
Some of this year’s guests of honor included: Two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Leymah Gbowee and Nadia Murad; American blues guitarist and singer, Buddy Guy; Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Brett M. Kavanaugh; The Who’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey; musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber; and designer Thomas Heatherwick.
Attendees at the event used iPads that contained preloaded content, including an app that directs the guest to the event’s agenda, as well as iBooks and podcastscreated by the Academy. Each tablet was protected by a smart cover printed with a custom design artwork for the event. All of these services, including the kitting of the iPad packages, were serviced by FUSION OF IDEAS.
“We plan all year for our International Achievement Summit and it’s important that we create the best experience for our guests,” said Ethel Terrado-Lowe, Academy of Achievement Director of New Media and Design. “The FUSION OF IDEAS team understood our mission and were not just order takers, they were partners with us in creating a complete brand experience for our program guests. The team was timely, responsive and knowledgeable, which made working with them a seamless experience.”
The American Academy of Achievement is a nonprofit organization that brings together the most accomplished people from diverse fields around the world to encourage and inspire the next generation. The organization was founded by Brian Blaine Reynolds, a photographer known for his contributions to Life magazine and Sports Illustrated, in order to bring aspiring young people together with preeminent achievers, who excel in their chosen professions.
Attendees used iPads with a custom-printed smart cover. Inside the iPad, there was a preloaded app directed the guest to the event’s agenda.Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, addresses Academy delegates and members at the Summit. Photo credit: American Academy of Achievement.Some of the guests of honor at the Summit included: Anthony M. Kennedy, retired Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Steven Tyler, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer and songwriter. Photo credit: American Academy of Achievement
A well-considered corporate gifting program can help celebrate employees for a job well done, establish and enhance your customer and vendor relationships, and promote activities that benefit the overall business.
When choosing the perfect gift for your corporate gifting program this year, we put together our top three things to start thinking about before the flurry of activities hits the holiday season:
High-End or Budget?
Even if you are the most generous person in the world, you are still operating a business within a budget. Whether you go luxury, conventional or somewhere in-between, don’t think you have to choose a high-end gift just because it costs more. Do it because you think that’s the gift the other person will appreciate. If luxury is the route you choose and budget is a concern, narrow your recipient list.
There is an array of gifting options that fit budgets of all sizes. The hard part is finding one that speaks to your recipient.
Company Logo and Customization.
To logo or not to logo, that is the question. For many businesses, customized gifts keep the company name in the minds of recipients. When the item is practical and likely to be used every day – such as a calendar, pen, coffee mug, or tote bag – this amounts to free daily advertising. But there’s a tackiness quotient to consider.
That being said, keep in mind that you can minimize the size of your logo and still have your brand printed but in a more subtle way. Second, customization does not have to come in the form of a logo. For example, you can personalize the gift by adding the recipient’s name.
Adding your recipient’s initials on their gift is a subtle and unique way to personalize the gift.
Packaging.
We call this the unboxing experience. The unboxing experience triggers emotions and senses when the recipient opens the gift. The packaging, the gift wrap, the ribbon all matter. When done right, it can improve the way the recipient feels about the actual product because first impressions matter.
First impressions matter. A memorable unboxing experience can turn your gift from good to remarkable.
True wireless earphones are dominating the audio market. They are compact, convenient and most offer excellent sound quality. Apple AirPods, as the first true wireless earphones on the market, have been the ones to beat. Since its initial launch in 2016, AirPods has been our most popular device for customization, particularly for corporate gifting.
We’re thrilled about the latest release in this product category – Powerbeats Pro. Aimed at the sporty crowd, these wireless earphones have been rated highly for its design, sound and battery life.
As with any new product offering, we are excited to showcase the impactful brand experience through our customization services. Watch this video to see the power behind creating a memorable unboxing experience.
