Getting The Personal Edge
 
With the inundation of products and services currently diluting the market, business owners and service providers are seeking innovative and exciting ways to separate themselves from their competitors.  Market and product differentiation has become a major challenge for businesses of all sizes.  Through the use of personalized gifts and mementos, many of these businesses have discovered a new way to build up product branding and company recognition.  Noelle Schiffer, a home-based business owner, has described the product personalization business as “a way to leave a lasting impression with clients as well as a way to go beyond the critical first impression and build relationships through product identification”.  Ms. Schiffer explains that the current market has led to a generic way of doing business, “Most of my clients are looking to stand out and show their customers that they are willing to go the extra mile and provide the special touches that consumers are thirsting for”.
 
Personalized gifts and products are becoming more and more common amongst realtors, banks, insurance companies, and other service industry companies.  Items such as magnets, mints, candy bars, etc.., are quickly becoming industry standards for showing client appreciation and as trade show giveaways.  The key to successful marketing has always been the ability to offer clients a little something extra.  Personalized gifts do exactly that.