When it comes to prospecting, you’ll want to spend your time on businesses and organizations where you’ll get the most bang for your buck. That’s why you should devote time and energy to the financial market. In addition to needing promotional products, many of these businesses want to impress customers with high-quality items and gifts. Let’s take a deeper dive into this market so you know who to target and what products to pitch.

Customers in the Financial Sector

The financial market has a lot of different branches, and every single one of them can use promotional products. There are also very big banks and investment firms. If you can get your foot in the door with one of them, you may be able to access their entire network which means lots of ongoing orders.

Here are some end-buyers you can target:

• Local and national banks
• Credit unions
• Credit card companies
• Mortgage lenders
• Accounting firms
• Private accountants
• Investment firms
• Financial advisors
• Shareholder services agents

Keep in mind that these businesses often have multiple types of customers. For example, a bank has personal bankers, but also corporate accounts, and each uses different banking services and therefore has different needs. A shareholder services agent works with a publicly traded company, but also services stockholders. You’ll want to research before you call on any business in the financial market to make sure you present different promotional ideas for all the consumers and other businesses they work with. This is so you don’t leave potential orders on the table.

Product Ideas for the Financial Market

The sky is the limit when it comes to promotional products for the finance industry. You can sell a spectrum from low-cost pens (the staple of every bank branch) to luxury gift items. These are a few product suggestions to get you started.

Promotional Printing, Signage & Balloons

The financial market is full of intricate services, so your customers will need printing services and items like flyers, brochures, pamphlets, and definitely business cards and calendars. Make sure to ask if they need branded folders and branded checkbook covers as well. Additionally, many financial businesses rely on customer communication to drive transactions, so make sure you ask about any direct mail and postcard opportunities.

From advertising tax time to promoting checking accounts, these institutions all need signs to communicate with potential customers driving or walking by.

Last, but not least, suggest logoed balloons to draw attention for special events or for banks that share real estate with another business like a grocery store. This will improve awareness and draw attention.

Basics

As we mentioned, logoed pens are an absolute must, especially since most customers will need to at least sign important documents. You can also suggest bundling pens with journals or notebooks as welcome gifts for new customers. Coffee mugs or reusable bottles make excellent giveaways too. In addition to passing these out to customers, they can be distributed at other events like job fairs. Customized backpacks, tote bags and keychains can be useful items as well.

Employee Items

Encourage businesses to offer branded apparel to employees, and make sure you pitch branded nametags for brick-and-mortar locations that deal with customers face to face. You can even pitch an apparel program for employee anniversaries, giving each employee a new piece of swag when they reach a milestone. Financial customers are fantastic clients for company stores too. Most companies will also want to reward employees for hard work and sales numbers, so be sure to mention awards and other recognition items in your presentations.

Corporate Gifting Programs

Pitch a tiered program to firms as a way of thanking clients around the holidays. Explain that you can design a program with different priced gifts based on the amount the client invests. Simple T-shirts can be a low-tier item while crystal desk accessories or even jewelry like watches can be in a top tier.

When to Reach Out

There is always something happening in the financial world, but there are some events you can plan for.

Tax season will be very popular with all financial businesses, and the first day of tax season is near the end of January each year. Start reaching out to prospects three months beforehand to start discussions.

The summertime is typically a busy time in the real estate market, which makes it an important time for lenders. You can plan to reach out early in the calendar year to make sure lenders have all the promo they need.

Just like most businesses, financial companies have important year-end goals to hit. Target clients midsummer to start prepping for Q4.

Overall, keep an eye on this sector through news outlets. There are a lot of mergers and acquisitions which means new branded items are needed and needed quickly.

 

What is your favorite promo item for financial services clients? Tell us on our FB page!