Creative Ways To Distribute Promotional Imprinted Products

How many times have you seen a clever marketing idea & said to yourself: I wish I had thought of that? Well, here are five concepts that my customers & I collaborated on. 

Be careful, coming up with an idea is buying the cart before the horse. Before you even think of one, the first step is to know your target audience......who they are, where they are & what their needs are.

Promotional custom products are a must for any growing or established business, but sometimes the way they are handed out will give it the extra impact you are looking for. It may be that one creative step that will make someone really notice you & call them to action. It will make you stand out among your competition, that's for sure.

• I mentioned in a previous article (Customized Promotional Items That Are Walking Billboards,dated 10/18/2010) how one of my customers goes to local soccer practices & matches & high school football games when it rains. He hands out plastic ponchos with his company name on them. Next to the players, he's the most popular person there. He's sought after--people stand in line to get one. The best thing is, these ponchos fold up into feather weight, compact bundles & can easily be toted to the next rainy outdoor event. And his name will again be seen.  

• Another customer, an auto dealership, bought plastic piggy banks with their logo & name on them to distribute among people who walked onto the lot. They put a coupon in each bank & ten displayed them throughout the dealership. Some coupons were for maintenance of the car & other were for discounts in the parts department. You couldn't tell ahead of time what the coupon was for until you randomly picked your bank. A couple of the banks contained coupons for a free Bluetooth system.

• A chain of gyms bought beach balls with their logo vividly displayed & on hot summer days when the beaches were crowded, they had employees go to various ones in Los Angeles county. The employees stood either on a rise above the beach or on the pier & threw the balls out at the crowd. People clamored to get them & for the rest of that day & for weeks after, the gym's logo bounced along the Pacific coastline in LA.

•  A health insurance company had 8" X 11" plastic envelopes imprinted with their company name & all their contact information. Also, imprinted on the flap: "With Our Compliments--Keep For All Your Medical Records & Receipts". When prospective clients came into their office or when an agent went to call on someone at their home, they gave them one of the envelopes filled with their brochure & pamphlets. This is such smart marketing......everyone can use this & it's a convenient way to keep all medical records in one place. Every time someone uses the envelope, the insurance company's name is right there before them.

• This winter, a seminar was held for high school juniors about finding the right college for them, how to maneuver websites for financial aid & advise on how to prepare for the college experience. Since there was a lot of information being thrown at them, they were told not to take notes. They could miss something important as they were writing or typing or worse, later misinterpet what was actually said. At the end of the lecture, flash drives with uploaded information from the seminar & links to all the necessary websites were passed out to all who attended. Of course the flash drives had the sponsoring company's name on them.

Don't have the time or the budget to get creative with your campaign? That's alright too. The bottom line is that you have promotional imprinted products at your disposal to distribute among your targeted audience at all times. You've heard the saying......"out of sight, out of mind......don't let that be you.

Invest in customized promotional items that represent your company while being useful to your client or prospect. And once you have them, use them! So many customers keep them in a store room waiting for that special occasion or customer to give them to.  That defeats the purpose--no one will know about you unless you invite the public to rummage through your storage closet.

The whole idea is to get your company name out there & to be recognized. Pens travel from hand-to-hand like a dollar bill does, t-shirts are walking billboards & will go wherever your customer goes, shopping bags are seen by 100's of people monthly as they are used in grocery stores. Letter openers, note pads & stress relievers are only a few of the items that are used regularly by people & every time they're used--your name & logo is in front of them.

Be creative & have fun with your promotions. Good luck next time you hand them out.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Cost Of Advertising With Promotional Wholesale Products vs Traditional Forms Of Advertisements

Business travelers were randomly surveyed at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for a study on the impact, exposure & influence of promotional imprinted products.

• 71% of those surveyed reported they had received promotional items in the last 12 months.
• 33/7% of this group had the item with them.
• 76% of the participants could recall the name of the advertiser on the promotional products they had received in the last year.
• 53.5% of the travelers could recall the name of an advertiser they had seen in a magazine or newspaper the previous week.
• 73% of those who used the promotional product that they received stated that they used it at least once a week.
• 45.2% used it at least once a day

Compare these numbers--76% knew the name of the advertiser on the marketing item they received during the past 12 months, yet only 53.5% could remember an advertisement they had just seen last week. That's a huge difference & considering how expensive printed advertising is, this makes the impact of custom promotional products even bigger.


Think about this for a minute......your company is in Los Angeles & you just bought 500 pens for .40 each. That's a total of $200 plus shipping & in some cases a one-time set-up fee might be added for around $40. Remember that business traveler at the airport in Dallas? So for under $300 your logo can travel the country or world. 

Keep in mind that pen is being seen by more people than just the recipient. And what's more important, that pen may not stay in the recipient's hand but end up in someone else's pocket or purse. Multiply that one exposure by 500, the number of pens purchased. Now how much do you think a full-color ad that's 1/4 or 1/8 of a page in a magazine costs?


What happens to the magazine when you're done reading it? Most likely it will get thrown out. You write with a pen once, are you going to throw it out?  Noooo, you'll probably be writing with it for at least 4 - 7 months.


How many of you sit & watch the advertisements on TV that interrupt the program you were watching? Isn't that the time to switch to another station, surf the channels or get up & leave the room to do a quick task that can be done during those 3 to 5 minutes? And now with Tebo & the ability to record programs to view later, you can skip all the advertisements.


The price comparison reveals that customized promotional items are more cost efficient than the other traditional forms of advertising. There is a significant saving on the repeat impression of the advertisement on the promotional product against a printed, radio or TV advertisement.


There is a promotional item that will fit your budget & get you noticed.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Non-Woven Bags As Promotional Wholesale Products

In my article, CUSTOMIZED PROMOTIONAL ITEMS GET YOU NOTICED, dated 6/21/2010, I cited the following paragraph:

The Advertising Specialty Institute conducted a survey & reported that people who received promotional items kept them for an average of 7 - 9 months. This provides repeated & consistent exposure to your company.
Have you given a bag to your customer lately? Chances are he'll use it more then ten times a month & it will be seen monthly by 1038 people. That's just one bag......now multiply that by the number of bags you ordered & then gave out in that one month.

I feel these facts about marketing products are so very important & therefore, bear repeating.  Every business owner should be aware of them so they can understand just how effective promotional imprinted products are.

So let's talk about bags. They are one of the largest, most purchased items in the ad specialties industry. In recent years, with consumers focusing on being more environmentally-friendly, their usage has skyrocketed. The non-woven, polypropylene totes are everywhere, used over & over again. It's the one product you can never have enough of. They're recyclable, reusable, eco-friendly, water resistant & can be washed.

All positive, right? Here's the biggest plus for you......these non-woven bags have a huge imprint area. You can blowup your logo so it really pops & can be recognized from a distance or you can add all the information you want about your business. These should be given out to everyone you come into contact with because wherever they go shopping, they're taking your company right along with them!

The newest non-woven bags are now laminated, displaying a multi-color pattern or design covering the entire bag. These really stand out & will highlight your business when your logo & company name is imprinted on them.

I realize many businesses have stayed away from purchasing bags as promotional custom products because they think the cost is high. It doesn't have to be--like with anything else, there's always good deals to be found & these totes are no exception.


Here are three tips to find bargain-priced bags & promote your company for less:


1. Last year's style may be this year's hot deal. Just as in retail, styles & trends in bags are changing. Suppliers often put a certain style or color on special to make room for a slightly modified look. Since bags really never go out of style or change drastically, you are not sacrificing anything by putting your logo on the hot tote from last year. But these specials are good only as long as there is stock, so if you want to go this route, contact  your advertising specialty vendor as soon as possible.


2. Find a trusted vendor who deals with customized promotional items & build a relationship with him. Ask him to notify you when the non-woven bags go on sale--whether it's a close-out or a monthly special. Vendors, like myself, get emails, ads & fliers from the companies they deal with of upcoming promotions. As soon as you call them, they will most likely be able to find you a special price on a variety of bags.


3. If you have a deadline, allow for enough time to receive the totes. Rush charges as well as 2 & 3 day shipping can add hefty fees to the price of the totes. Overnight shipping could double the cost.


Santa Monica, CA just passed a law that will ban the use of plastic bags & there will be a .10 charge for every paper bag used. More & more cities, across the nation, will be adopting this policy. Be one of the first to jump on the band wagon & start handing out the logical solution to plastic & paper bags. Buying these non-woven, polypropylene totes & effectively displaying your company name on them is a promotional strategy that is priceless.


Have fun with your name. Make it stand out, be creative.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Identical Promotional Questions From Different Professional Fields

When a client or prospective customer contacts me regarding their marketing campaign & they want to buy promotional imprinted products, most of them have a similar question......what can they hand out that will differentiate them from their competition & at the same time, will make an impact on the consumer.

Here are two actual requests I received. Both clients are in different fields, yet they have a common concern: what can they do to be different? What promotional items will make them stand out & be remembered? A promotional wholesale product can't be randomly chosen because you think it's a cool item to distribute. It needs to represent your business & still be useful to the recipient.

A director of an assisted living facility where residents are active & participate in planned activities, asked me: "When they move in we give them welcome gift baskets. I'd like to include something with our logo on it that isn't too commercial looking & is not the usual pill box or other health aid."

There are many products that would make good customized promotional gifts for residents in assisted living or retirement communities. The first thing that comes to mind are decks of cards with your logo on the back of each card. Another thought that could be a life-saver if they should fall or have a crisis when alone in the dark is a night light or tap light that has your emergency phone number.  How about a small photo album so pictures of their family are organized & close by? Hard or chocolate candy with your logo imprinted on the wrapper or a box of cookies with your name on the package are also welcoming gifts. Instead of using a basket, an imprinted candy or cookie jar could be the container & a useful gift all in one. This definitely would be a comforting touch of home.

Realtors are known for giving out notepads with their pictures on them, magnets or wind shield scrapers, but one of my customers didn't want to do this. He wanted to step out of the box & give something less ordinary. "What can I give out that is different, but still in that price range? Ideally it should be something that can be left on the front porch or door step."

The first thing that I can think of are biodegradable plastic shopping bags that are reusable. They have a large area for your advertising message plus it shows you care about the environment. And you can hang them on the door handle.  Since you want to leave these at the front door of a residence, how about something useful in the kitchen with your logo prominently displayed that they will see everyday? Some ideas are jar openers in the shape of a house, chip bag clips, measuring cups, pizza cutters, cake servers or an ice cream scoop. Hot pad holders are used in every household. An imprinted packet of seeds--flowers for the yard, herbs or an indoor plant. Here is another idea......if you have the budget, flash drives showing homes that you've sold in the area--even in this economy. This shouldn't be left on the doorstep but is good to give when you meet with a prospective client. Whatever you choose, make sure it's bright & cheerful......color will make you stand out.

The director of the assisted living facility & the realtor had different goals in giving out their promotional custom products. One was using it as a gift & one was using it as a sales tool; yet, they both helped me come up with suggestions by telling me how they were going to use the promotions. And most important, they targeted their audience. Those are two key points you need to address before buying any marketing item.


I hope this helps you decide on a promotional item that will keep your name in front of your client.  Good luck!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Summertime Promotional Wholesale Products

Hello spring! This week is the first week of spring & for most of us it's a welcome sign. Warmer weather & summer are just around the corner. Somehow everything looks more positive this time of year. And why not, it's the season of rebirth. Sunshine & optimism are all around us.

Bring this promising aura into your business. Now is an excellent time of year to boost your sales, create revenue & increase traffic. Look around you......what can you do to refresh your company's image? This is the perfect time to start up your summertime promotions & advertising campaigns. Sometimes a new look is needed to grab the public's attention.

Has your logo been on the same pen or the same notepad month after month? Here are a few summertime promotional imprinted products to make your brand shine:

1. Beach Balls: This is my all time favorite......it's fun, it's used over & over & it has a large advertising space for your name to be seen at a distance. Your logo will bounce along the coast or in a backyard around the pool. Take it on family vacations, camping trips or a day at the beach. They take up little space before they're blown up so it's a perfect customized promotional item to give out a trade show.

2. Sport Bottles: These are great because wherever they go, so does your company name & they are taken everywhere. They're available in a wide array of sizes, shapes & colors--bright colors that will make your business stand out. They also come in a variety of options, including nalgene bottles, aluminum & stainless steel water bottles, BPA free bottles & ones that are made from recycled products.

3. Koozies: These are fun promotional custom products that will keep beverages insulated & your logo in the hands of your target audience. They are perfect for the beach, a sunday outside get-together, sporting events, convention give-aways & fund raisers. They come in many sizes that will fit cans, bottles & even wine. There's also a large assortment of colors.

4. Seed Packets: Promote effectively by giving a gift that blooms. Customized seed packs are hot, new marketing tools that provide an interactive experience & a lasting impression. They are available in a variety of types: organic vegetables, fruits, wildflowers, garden flowers & more. You can even get a money tree......how's that for an idea to promote your business! They can come with imprinted planters that sit on a desk or window sill.


5. Flying Discs: Frisbees have become a popular sport & can be seen in parks, at beaches--almost anywhere people gather during the summer months. Let your logo fly through the air & be noticed on these bright colored discs.


6. Golf Items: Whether at a private club or a public course, your company name can be seen. Your options are endless......tees, balls, markers, towels, gloves & yes, go for it--put your logo on an umbrella. Show that you care about what is going on in your community & give them out at a golf fund-raiser. Your clients & prospective customers who are golfers will appreciate anything you give them that has to do with the sport. Your company name will be seen rolling around a golf course & you will be remembered.


7. T-Shirts: The weather is warmer & people are wearing lighter weight clothing & short sleeves. T-shirts are walking billboards & they are taking your company name to places where you haven't been. Just look around you & notice all the t-shirts......most of them are imprinted & many of them advertising a business. They boldly show off a logo & what the company is all about is prominently displayed. They are worn, they are read & they are noticed.


8. Baseball caps: Wherever you go, men & young boys are wearing these caps (unless you're at the theater or a black tie affair).  And rarely will you see one that doesn't have an advertising message or logo on it. Like the t-shirts, they will also go where you won't & will vividly display your company name everywhere.


Offering promotional imprinted products during the summer months is effective because the days are longer, people are active & they are spending more time outdoors. No matter how big or small your business is or what industry you may be in, summertime promotions are a fun & wise way to boost your brand. Just make sure you hand out quality items that people will use repeatedly.


You may take a vacation this summer, but your company name won't as long as it's on products that will be seen & used by the public.


I hope this will help give your business a sizzling boost. Good luck!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

New Trends In Promotional Imprinted Products

Using advertising specialties to promote your business is a proven method to generate company identity. However, the promotional world is shifting. Gone are the days where putting a logo on a standard stick or click pen will suffice. Companies are looking to differentiate themselves & their brand with customized promotional items. Showcasing your logo on a product that reflects your brand & is relevant to the recipient has become even more important.

Following some key consumer & marketing trends when choosing promotional imprinted products can increase the success of your advertising campaign.

THE TECHNOLOGY TREND: The increase in technology, social media & mobile accessibility is affecting all industries. Everyone wants to have the newest gadget or the hottest product on the market. Align your company with this craze & look for items that demonstrate you are in tune with the times. iPod accessories, travel speakers, digital frames & flash drives are at the top of the promotional product trend list this year. Believe it or not, this catagory has items that fit most budgets.

TROUBLE-FREE TRAVEL: Traveling should be a stress-free experience, but with the change in regulations & the long lines, many people need a yoga class to destress after a day of trekking through the airport. Security friendly computer bags are a great item because there is no need to remove your computer......simply unzip the bag & lay it flat on the belt & send it through the x-ray machine. Another good item are the plastic bags TSA requires for all liquids. There's plenty of room for your logo & company contact info & if your client requires your assistance while enroute, your information is within reach. How many people are afraid of not locating their luggage? Luggage tags that light up while going down the carousel identifies their baggage & illuminates your logo.

NEW WAYS TO STAY GREEN: Ever since the eco trend started, the polypropylene non-woven bags have been an instant hit but now laminated totes are the new craze. Many are preprinted in fun,colorful designs that will make your logo stand out. Pens, an assortment of plastic items, note pads & notebooks or apparel are all made from recycled materials. Now it's easy to find a promotional wholesale product that is also eco-friendly.

HEALTH & FITNESS CRAZE: Everything centers around your health & keeping fit today. It's simple to put your company name or logo on a marketing item that follows this trend. Pedometers, travel size bottles of hand sanitizers, canisters of antiseptic wipes, tubes of sunscreen are just a few suggestions of what's out there to show your company is concerned about health issues.

A NEW TWIST TO OLD FAITHFUL: Sometimes a traditional product is what you need for your promotion. Since a pen can go from hand-to-hand like a dollar bill does, it's a very effective way to circulate  your company name. But even a pen has changed it's image to keep up with the times......there's some that have a flash drive in the barrel, gel pens, combination highlighter/pen & ballpoints made from recycled materials. Many have a distinctive design in the grip or your logo can float in the barrel. Cut-out shapes that reflect your business have replaced the square or rectangle sticky notes. They're also available with beveled edges to give your advertising message more pizzazz.


Stay in touch with current trends & choose to put your logo on something a bit non-traditional this year. It will increase the chances of your promotional custom product being used again & again & this will add to the exposure of your company.


And that's what promotional items are all about! Good luck!

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

 

Imprinting Methods On Customized Promotional Items

After months of indecision about what promotional custom product you should hand out, you finally decide on a pen because you know it will be used & your company name will be seen.  Now the big decision & what you hope will be your final decision.......what pen will fit your budget & show off your logo best. You finally opt for bright colored plastic ones when your distributor gives you choices for imprinting.......direct, multi-color or doming.

This is not unusual & depending on the promotional gift you're interested in, you might find a range of choices available for how you would like your logo to be applied.  The decision can be made easily if you understand the different methods.  Here's a run-down of the techniques used in imprinting along with some of the items they are applied on.

As you will see, many products have options of more than one imprinting procedure. It's not as overwhelming as it looks--the manufacturers or vendors of promotional imprinted products will limit the selection for you by advising what will work the best. Many times the technique is dependent on the item chosen & the material it is made from. If you have a reliable advertising specialty company you use; they, too, will  help you decide how your company name will look it's best on the marketing item you chose.

Direct Printing:  traditional screen process printing or, where applicable, pad printing.  
    (plastic pens, letter openers, mouse pads, clipboards, tote & shopping bags)

Transfer Printing:  for fine resolution, precise registration & full wrap printing.
    (ceramic mugs & translucent plastic sport bottles, athletic & tote bags)

Full Color Printing:  for effective & stunning multi-color print; branding without compromising on design & color.
    (almost anything that can have direct or transfer imprint; paper products) 

Engraving:  for presenting our brand in a smart & exquisite manner; permanent branding which can't be removed.
    (metal pens, wooden & acrylic desk accessories, jewelry)

Foil Blocking:  high quality chrome colored finish to your logo or business name--usually in gold or silver. not all manufacturers offer this.
    (almost anything that can have direct or transfer imprint)


Doming: an epoxy dome, great for multi-colored logos & designs.
    (mostly seen on clips of pens, letter openers, bag clips)

Debossing:  indentationn of  your logo, brand or text--subtle & classy.
    (leather & leatherette products like portfolios, computer cases, passport folders)


Embroidery:  for a great one color or multi-color woven look for your logo or company name.
    (fleece apparel, polo shirts, baseball caps, blankets, sport bags, cloth portfolios) 


I hope this helps you decide how your logo will stand out & make the sharpest impact.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Effective Customized Promotional Items Versus Useless Give-Aways

The idea that simply giving stuff away with your logo on it will promote your business is a huge myth.  If you want your logo on a promotional imprinted product to bring company recognition, you must first steer yourself away from thinking of them as "give-aways". It's vital that you understand the difference between a give-away & a customized promotional item.

A give-away is a one way street because you are basically spending your money to fill up someone's junk drawer. A business giving away some cheap "doodad" & thinking it will create goodwill & identity for them while effectively promoting their company is making one of the biggest marketing errors possible.  It's a big mistake to give out any kind of advertising specialty with your name on it that is irrelevant to your business or the needs & desires of the recipient. That person will take it home & give to the kids or keep it at the office tucked away in a drawer. Worse yet, they could throw it out & the only person who will see  your message is whomever empties the trash.

With a give-away you gain practically nothing. And as far as building up your business or pleasing a loyal customer, no one will say, "Wow! Thanks for give me a cheap piece of junk with your name on it. I can't wait to do business with you."


A promotional item is a two-way street because your advertising message will impact the recipient's life in a meaningful & relevant way. You have to first decide who you want to target--a special group or the public in general. Are you going after your customers, prospects or both? Where will your promotional item be distributed--among the general public, a special event, fund-raiser or trade show? And last......how does the promotional product depict your business? Should it represent the function where you're handing them out instead?


Using a financial planner as an example, here's how various promotional wholesale products can work for you after taking all the above points into consideration.

1. Placing your promotional item in a strategic area for the public to see & help themselves. The financial planner in a bank might do very well leaving engraved pens on a table for the bank's customers to take as they enter the building.  It would also be beneficial to have a booklet titled, "Managing Your Finances", along side the pens. The booklet should have the bank's name & all the contact information imprinted on the cover.  These items serve as a welcome mat for the bank & leaves the door open for future transactions.

2.  Handing out your imprinted promotion during a personal meeting with an individual. Our financial planner will need an imprinted folder to hand out when someone asks for information at his desk or he has an appointment in their home. This folder should have all the brochures & information for the prospective client's needs along with an imprinted pen & extras like a notepad or letter opener. If this individual has children, the financial advisor will rack up extra points if he includes a coloring/activity book about saving money--also showing the bank's logo. Should their budget allow, a brightly colored piggy bank displaying the bank's name would be a sure hit. The planner needs to do his homework & find out as much as possible about the person he is meeting with so his promotional items will be appreciated & used.

3. Handing out imprinted promotional items at seminars & meetings. If our financial planner is hosting or speaking at a seminar, a debossed leatherette portfolio with a legal pad & a pen/highlighter combination would be ideal.  Also bottled water with a custom imprinted label or a roll of Lifesavers with an imprinted wrapper would be appreciated & help win over customers. The audience should leave with a lasting impression of the seminar......both from the agenda & from what they are taking with them.

4. Handing out an advertising specialty at a trade show or special event. In this case, the financial advisor needs to not only think of the recipients, but also try to figure out what his competition might be handing out & try to outdo him by making a bigger impact.  It's a sure bet that someone will be handing out pens, but the list is endless when it come to promotional items that will attract attention. One idea would be a stress reliever in the shape of a dollar sign with the financial institution's name & a tagline reading: "take the stress out of your finances." A paper cube with advisor's name & logo printed on each sheet & a different tip on investing printed on each side of the cube would be valuable to the prospective client.  This is the time to put your imagination to work so you can stand out from the others--show that you're different from your competition.


Whatever you choose, your promotional imprinted product should be relevant to your audience's needs while representing your company.  In order to do this, think of your promotion as an investment, not as a cheap give-away you have to give out because your competitor is.


I hope this helps you the next time you need a promotional product.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY.......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman

Promotional Wholesale Products Study Shows Advertising Specialties Still To Be A #1 Marketing Tool

In the last quarter of 2010, The Advertising Specialty Institute released the results of a study that showed customized promotional items are still the most cost-effective way of marketing your business.

The study was conducted through in-person interviews with individuals in eight different cities in the United States, Canada, England & Australia. Detailed questions were asked regarding various promotional products that they received recently.


Here is a summary of the conclusions:

1. Cost Per Impression: The cost per impression for promotional items remained unchanged--or showed very little change--in 2010, compared to 2008 & when compared to other forms of media, promotional imprinted products were more affordable & more effective. This just goes to show you that marketing your business with promotional products is much less expensive & more effective than using print or television ads. I am in no way recommending to use only promotional items to market your company......integrated marketing using advertising specialties along with other media is extremely important.

2. Product Usage: Bags were revealed as the highest number of impressions per month, making it one of the most effective marketing products available. Although their prices may be higher than other customized promotional items, they are much more effective in marketing your business. They have a high perceived value which means they tend to stick around more & be used more often. Another study by the Advertising Specialties Institute shows ONE bag will be used approximately 10 times a month & be seen by 1,038 people. That's pretty impressive--now multiply that by all the bags ordered & given out that month.

3. Gender Usage: Males were more likely to keep shirts & caps while females were more likely to keep bags, pens, notepads, and health, beauty & safety items. By knowing this information, you can make smarter decisions when buying promotional products. When distributing your marketing items, it is extremely important to know who your target audience is to get the desired results & full benefits from your advertising campaign.

4. Ability To Identify The Advertiser: 84% indicated they could identify the business on a promotional product they owned. More than 75% of the recipients have had their promotional imprinted products for an average of 7 months. This is, of course, the reason you do marketing......for company identity. That recipient may not be ready to make a purchase that day, but if you give out a useful item then your business name will stay in view. In the future when they need  your product or services they will call you over a competitor. Company recognition is a definite necessity for business growth & success.

5. Ability To Influence User Opinions: 42% of the respondents indicated their opinion of the advertiser was more favorable after receiving the promotional custom product. 62% of the respondents said they have done business with the advertiser after receiving their promotional products. Business today is tough. We all have multiple competitors so we have to stay one step ahead of the competition. Everyone loves getting something for free (as long as it is useful), so giving out promotional items will keep your company favorable among your targeted audience.

These were only some of the results. This landmark study from the Advertising Specialty Institute proves ad specialties were far more effective than prime-time TV, radio & print advertising. The full results for the Promotional Product Study is available online.

Promotional items are the most cost-effective advertising medium available. They provide measurable results for a minimum investment. They provide real impact in a creative way.

I hope this year proves to be a profitable & successful one for you.

IT'S YOUR BUSINESS......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman 

Why Use A Distributor For Promotional Imprinted Products?

You can Google a product you're interested in on the web, yourself, & find the manufacturer. Doing this you'll feel you made great strides in your marketing plan & that you saved money. But are you sure you saved money? I believe you'll lose money & time, not to mention your marketing campaign may not go the way you thought it would.

I've heard so many sob stories from people, mainly new customers, who bought directly & were sorry later. They were stuck because the company they bought from had no interest in them or their problems once they had their money.

Here are a few of the actual complaints that were told to me.  Pens......they quit writing within a short time of receipt; they had a very limited choice of fonts or the client didn't like how the type looked on his pen--too small or hard to read; the grips left their fingers feeling sticky. Want to hear more......the sharp blades fell out of the letter openers (ouch!); tops didn't fit on the water bottles or the copy rubbed off as they were using them; bags tore after only being used once. My favorite: copy on the sticky notes wasn't centered & the customer didn't know to ask for a proof.

When you buy a pen or any other customized promotional product, you're not just buying the item--you're buying advertising that is telling the public what your business is & what it stands for. Would you tell a consumer that you have nothing more than the next guy to offer or to buy from you because you're cheap & nothing else matters? No, you definitely would not, so don't say it on what you hand out. Your competition doesn't.


Contrary to belief, dealing with a distributor when buying your promotional imprinted products won't cost you any more. Their prices are the same, if not less, than what you found on the web. But they know the quality of the vendors in the field & they know how to find specials that will really save  you money. With this in mind, here are more reasons to go through a distributor:


1. Good distributors go beyond selling promotional items.  Successful promotional campaigns don't just happen by chance. To achieve your goals, buying promotional wholesale products take alot of consideration: your targeted audience, the best product for your budget & the ultimate result to be gained. A distributor is aware of this & will work with you to get the result you want.

2. Professional distributors have access to vast product resources, including an extensive data base which contains more than 500,000 items. Yes, you can find a mug online; but a distributor can find hundreds of mugs in a multitude of colors, sizes, shapes, materials & those that are on sale. What if you ordered what you thought was a maroon mug but when it came it was actually more purple than dark red? Is it worth the savings if you get the mugs & they are so breakable due to inferior materials that they are virtually unusable? 


3. Distributors know their products including items that work & ones that don't. They can add creativity & imagination to make your promotional product have that extra impact. Many online services show you the products they want to sell while a qualified distributor will listen to what you want & help you find the right product for your needs--& at the best price.


4. Personalized service is the role of a good distributor. When going online your selection is what the internet company determines to make available. When you work with a distributor, your selection is determined by your needs & goals. That's enhanced by the experience, creativity & recommendations of the distributor who has your best interests at heart. Online, you're a faceless, nameless buyer. With a distributor you're a client & should have a working relationship with this dealer that will be vital to your marketing campaigns. He should act as your own personal shopper, giving you service along with ideas & the best prices. 


5. Industry distributors can offer experienced advise on & IF to imprint items. You may have found the flashlight you want, but will your logo stand out on it? Will it be recognizable? Some things just won't work or there might be something else that will work better. Once you find the item you want, a trained specialist can work with you to accurately transfer your artwork, including fonts, sizes, spacing & many other important factors. Besides working with you, they deal with the vendor to make sure your copy is clean & your layout fits properly in the space provided.


6. Trained distributors can save you money in the long run. I mentioned earlier thow they can find special discounts on may items. It's not just the cost of the product, it goes further because there's additional costs you have to take into consideration when deciding on a budget. In a generic catalog or or the internet, many times the price you see does not cover the "hidden" costs involved--set-up fees, copy changes, charges for exact color matches, shipping, etc. A good distributor can help you avoid unexpected & unbudgeted costs by quoting the total price up-front. 


Next time you want to purchase a marketing item with  your name & logo on it, avoid finding something "cheap" & "fast" on the internet. Call a reputable distributor. They  know what you buy & hand out represents your company & will help you put your best foot forward with the promotional custom products you choose.


I hope this helps & good luck with your next promotional campaign.

IT'S YOUR COMPANY......SHOW IT OFF!!!

Ronni Sherman