Incentive - July 2009 - (Page 56)

AWARDS Writing Instruments: The Write Award By Leo Jakobson Fine writing instruments are widely desirable and available at almost any price point I The Meisterstück Le Grand from Montblanc comes in several versions, like this piston fountain pen, in addition to rollerball, ballpoint, mechanical pencil, and marker models f the old saying about the pen being mightier than the sword is true, then writing instruments make mighty good incentive awards. A fine writing instrument is more than just a pen. It is something people carry every day, and something they use whenever they have to sign an important document. And the available choices are nearly infinite. On the high end of the market, there are instantly recognizable models—like the black resin and platinum-plated Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand ($505) or the slender, equally iconic Classic Century in solid 18-karat gold ($1,350) from A. T. Cross—which define luxury. But there is a fine writing instrument at any price point, from entry level, to mid-market, to one-of-a-kind collector-quality that will run as high as your budget allows. Cross offers a wide selection of customizable models, like the C-Series ($90-$160) and the Townsend ($85-$425), while its Classic Century models begin at $30. Meanwhile, Montblanc’s limited-edition models start in the thousands of dollars. At Victorinox Swiss Army, a customizable pen ($49) is available on its own, paired with a classic Swiss Army Knife ($72), or with other products like the Swiss Army Watch (price depends on model). Buyers today “are looking for strong brands at the entry level,” says Jeff Thompson, vice president of corporate market sales for Victorinox. “Our pen remains very popular.” He adds that almost all of Victorinox’s pens are customized, either on the pen itself, on a presentation tin common with item sets, or on the packaging. Montblanc Corporate Gift www.montblanccorporategift.com A. T. Cross Corporate Gifts www.mycrossbiz.com Victorinox Swiss Army Corporate Gift Collection www.swissarmypromoproducts.com Send comments to feedback@incentivemag.com 56 | Incentive | July 2009 | incentivemag.com Photo: A. T. Cross http://www.montblanccorporategift.com http://www.mycrossbiz.com http://www.swissarmypromoproducts.com http://www.incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - July 2009

Incentive - July 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note: Motivation 2.0
Headlines
Cover Story: Four Industry Veterans Put the State of Motivation into Perspective
The True Face of Incentives
Orlando Summit: Road Warriors
Strategies: Survive and Thrive
Primer: Online Systems
Travel News: Where To Go
Reno/Tahoe Rebirth; Atlantic City Aces
Scotland’s Other City
Hong Kong Calling
Potentials: Here and Now
Watches & Clocks: Old Is New Again
Writing Instruments: The Write Award
Golf Meetings
Planning a Golf Meeting, 101
Formats, Games, Prizes, and the Awards Ceremony
The How, What, Why, and Win of Hole-in-one Insurance
How the PGA Professional Can Help Your Meeting Plans
A Woman's View of Golf
Opinion: The (New) Perception of Golf Resorts
In Closing: Boondoggle is Not Part of the Golf Vocabulary

Incentive - July 2009