Promotional Product Advice
Q: We want to start using promotional products in our company. What area do you suggest we try?
A: According to a study by the Promotional Product Association, the top program category is business gifts, followed by tradeshows, and brand awareness programs. The other top areas are: employee and public relations; dealer-distributor programs; and new customer acquisition. Whatever you decide, it’s best to involve a professional.
Q: What should I consider when selecting a promotional item?
A: There are several factors. Does the product itself relate to your business? For example, a car dealer should give out key chains, travel mugs, and sunglasses. An Internet firm could use mouse pads, screen cleaners, or desk caddys. Another important factor is the imprint – what should you include (logo, tag line, address, phone, fax, web, etc)?
Q: Our mortgage company is looking for promotional products to welcome new customers to our business – and their new homes. Any ideas?
A: Show customers you care with a gift they can use around their new home, like a logo’d cordless power screwdriver or hammer. Home décor products such as photo frames are another great idea. Items to help be prepared for an emergency, like a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, or emergency lantern, would also be appreciated.
Q: Our pet store needs some inexpensive promotional items to attract new customers. Can you help?
A: Of course! How about giving customers a pet food container or bowl when they purchase food? It will help remind them of your store when it’s time to buy more. You can also keep your customers and their pets happy with giveaways like logo’d collars, leashes, toys, and even bone-shaped key tags!
Q: I’m looking for really “cool” gifts to thank our employees for their dedication and hard work over the past year. What do you suggest?
A: Check out the digital photo key chain that holds up to 26 photographs, or even one of the new MP4 players.
Q: Our insurance agents need something that is useful or handy to give to new clients. What do you think?
A: Here’s an idea: an Auto Emergency Kit complete with flashlight, distress flag, road atlas, tire gauge, antiseptic towelettes, and adhesive bandages.
Q: We’re trying to position our company as environmentally friendly. What kind of promotional products should we be looking at?
A: First of all, good move! Even large outfits like Wal-Mart are adopting eco-sensitive moves for concerned shoppers. Today’s promo-market bursts with options: piggy banks, rulers, cups and combs from recycled plastic; pens made from discarded tires, denim, dollars and newspapers. Your marketing material should let everyone know you’ve gone “green”!
Q: I think it’s classier for our specialty pens and highlighters to be imprinted only with the foundation name on it. My boss says we should include our name and address. Who is right?
A: Your boss is more right, but you’re both missing the point. Use the pen’s real estate to expound on your foundation’s campaign message. Imprint it with an inspiring message that inspires donors and underscores your goals. The same goes for businesses – remind people of your slogan, not just your name. Don’t forget to include your website!
Q: What’s an easy way to get kids more interested in our school reading program?
A: Give each child a colorful pin when they select a book to read. Choose a variety of fun shapes to spark their interest in collecting and competition. Many organizations find pins are a great way to encourage learning achievement in all kinds of areas - including sports, religion, history and music.
Q: I do a lot of income tax work. Last year, I presented customers with a coffee mug when they picked up their returns, but the promotion lacked punch. And I’ve still got boxes of mugs left. Any ideas?
A: Stuff the cups with custom chocolate bars and imprinted pens. You can actually order chocolates shaped like 1040 forms that are labeled Bite Back at the IRS. Encourage your clients to use their write off pens when making out your check! They’ll be back next year.
Q: My framing business recently moved to a new location. Our new space is great but our customers are having trouble finding us. What can we do to generate traffic?
A: Send clients a glove compartment road atlas along with a map and directions to your store. You could also give away refrigerator magnets with your new address and phone number. Inexpensive and effective, magnets are available in custom shapes and can even be used as a picture frame!
Q: I’m a small distributor of electronic components and we recently introduced an online catalog to increase sales - but no one’s using it! What can we do to increase online usage?
A: That’s a “no-brainer” – use computer related products such as mousepads, CD cases and modem cable catchers imprinted with your website. These products are very effective because they’re like mini-billboards sitting on your prospects desk.
Q: How can we reach local businesses and encourage them to store their records and goods with our self-storage facility?
A: Encourage your manager to set aside one day a week to personally visit prospects in the market area. Arm them with refrigerator magnets, novelty pens, or candy-filled jars printed with the facility phone number and logo to give away as a free gift. These items have an amazingly long life in an office setting. When storage is needed, they’ll remember your commitment to providing service and have the contact information handy.
Q: I’m concerned about missed calls to my apartment-rental office. Frequently, staff members are out showing property and we have limited office hours. How can we convince more prospects to leave call-back information?
A: You’re right. Statistics show only 30% of callers will leave a message on an answering machine. This means 70% will call your competitors until they get a person on the phone. Your outgoing message needs to be friendly, compelling, and motivational. Throw in an incentive to tip the scales as they’re deciding whether to just hang up: For touring our property, you’ll receive a free travel mug or thermos to make your search a little easier.
