Archive for January, 2011

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Promotional Alarm Clocks Can Promote Your Business for Years

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Promotional Alarm clocks

Promotional alarm clocks come in many shapes and sizes

Promotional alarm clocks are practical and useful gifts that your customers will appreciate and use. Most promotional clocks these days have some sort of built in alarm so there are literally hundreds of different designs to choose from. If you want to promote your corporate colours you can do so with one of the many colourful plastic clocks available. If, on the other hand, you want to go for a more traditional look, check out the range of metal clocks that look fantastic on the desktop.

Time is important to almost everyone while and work or even on holiday. I personally have an alarm clock on my desk that was given to me by a supplier over fifteen years ago. It is a permanent fixture on my desk at work making it easy for me to find the supplier’s details whenever required. His logo and contact details are engraved right across the front.

Alarm clocks are not always used for their alarms. It is, however, nice to have the option should you have the need.

Did you know that in the first two days of 2011 legions of iphone uses rolled into work late because of a problem with Apple’s alarm clock application? I only know this because I was one of those people. It does demonstrate that even if our high tech world, it is nice to have a backup.

I love gifts that my customers will value. These are the types of gifts that get used and promote the best. If you choose your clocks carefully, you could find that they promote your brand for years.

Let’s look at it in terms of cost per impression. If you were to purchase a quantity of mid-range clocks at £3.50 each you might find the initial spend quite high. But when you consider the fact that good quality clocks printed or engraved with your logo could be seen and used by your customers for years, the cost is lower than most other types of advertising.

Over time you will be paying less than a penny per impression. And you will be making an impression not only on your customer but all of their work colleagues and friends who see the clock too.

It is therefore important to look for good quality promotional alarm clocks that will last a long time and promote your brand just as long.

Most promotional clocks are now manufactured in China. Quality can vary greatly even between two clocks that look identical in catalogues. Therefore I always recommend asking for samples to ensure you are happy with the look, feel and quality of your preferred promotional clock before placing an order.

By Dan Toombs

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Promotional Gifts – How To Get The Best Results From Your Next Trade Show

Sunday, January 30th, 2011

Trade shows are a proven method of generating brand awareness, building industry connections and developing business leads. Promotional gifts have long played a part in trade show exhibiting as a way to advertise a brand and generate customer goodwill.

Businesses have relied on them for so long that trade show visitors expect to haul away overstuffed goodie bags in exchange for spending their day in the exhibition hall.

Despite the sometimes awe-inspiring quantities of free stuff that some visitors take away, exhibitors don’t always see great results from the trade show experience. So how can you use promotional gifts to get better results?

One way is to use promotional items before the show. Letting customers and prospects know that you will be exhibiting is a great way to reach out and to generate traffic to your booth. Enclosing a small item in the invitation can help to re-establish interest in your products. Customers who plan on attending the show will be more likely to seek out your exhibit, and can also introduce you to new prospects.

Providing the right promotional gifts during the show is always an effective way to gain exposure for your company and to develop relationships with prospects. Items that are useful and relevant to the industry are the biggest draws. If you have things that people are likely to keep using for years, these items will continue to promote your brand. This makes your trade show experience more productive because the products continue to advertise for you.

Remember that placing too many items on the table at once can make it look like you have a surplus. From a customer’s viewpoint, a surplus indicates that each item has a lower value. Be sure not to overload your display area. At the same time, keep enough of a supply so that people don’t feel uncomfortable about taking one. The items won’t have any benefit if they stay on your table.

Also be sure to use promotional gifts to generate leads. Offer a higher-value item in exchange for filling out a customer survey or signing up for your mailing list. Without a system to collect leads, there is no way to measure trade show success accurately.

Above all, make sure that your imprinted logo and contact information is legible. No promotional item can be effective when it makes it difficult for customers to contact you. Poorly made products also give the impression that quality is not a priority for you. This is not the first impression you want customer to have as they file past your booth. Always use quality goods. Trade show gifts that are well made will be used and appreciated and will always provide the best results.

By Dan Toombs

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Promotional Gifts are a Small but Important Part of Your Marketing

Friday, January 28th, 2011

I just returned yesterday evening from the Trade Only exhibition – a promotional merchandise exhibition held annually where exhibitors can show all of us distributors their latest ‘must see’ products. In my opinion, however, the social media, computer tech and search engine optimisation seminars that were also on offer were much more interesting than anything on the exhibition floor.

I have been in the promotional gifts industry for over 20 years and it is rare that any one product jumps out at me as the product of the year – the product everyone simply must see.

The fact is, useful gifts like promotional pens, mugs and mouse mats all work wonders in promoting your businesses because we all need and use these products daily. Those of us who also want to promote our businesses in every way possible are also taking advantage of new real-time marketing techniques.

Promotional gifts used with social networks, blogging and other forms of social media will help build your brand in a way that was never before possible.

None of the thousands of promotional products displayed and sold at the show will have maximum impact if they are not used together with new real-time marketing. They are but a small part of the bigger picture that we all need to be taking part in if we want our businesses to succeed.

I was amazed at the low attendance of the social networking seminar that had been very highly promoted in trade magazines and online. There were about fifteen people in the audience which left over one hundred seats empty. I have used social networking and social marketing in my own business promotion for a few years now but I always like to learn something new. I was not going to miss it!

When asked by the speaker, Dale Denham – CEO of Maryland Pennysaver – who had flown into the UK from the US for the event – who in the room was on Twitter, only three raised their hands!

This says something. There are those who sell promotional gifts because they have a few good sources and a nice catalogue. Then, there are those who sell marketing solutions of which promotional gifts are just a slice in a very big pie.

Don’t be like those people in the room who thought Twitter to be a waste of time or worse those who could not be bothered to attend. Use these free forms of marketing to promote your business. Get to know Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and when you do, promote your online presence through the use of good quality and useful promotional merchandise.

Let your customers know where you are both by address and online and they will never need go searching for your details when they next require your products and/or services.

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Trade Show Facts * Giving Useful Promotional Gifts Will Promote Your Business For Longer

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Business owners are always looking for better ways to promote their companies. Trade shows are the perfect venue. After all, there is a captive audience looking to make industry connections and spend money on products and services. Of course, exhibitors have to compete for the audience’s attention.

Some exhibitors advocate giving away lighthearted and “gimmicky” items. Their rationale is that everyone else is giving away the same old pens, boring office supplies and unimaginative mouse pads. They feel that wilder is better when it comes to getting customer’s attention at trade shows.

Off-the-wall promotional items will certainly catch a customer’s eye. They may even be popular with customers who want to take the items home simply for the novelty factor. But after the show, how much interest is there in a product that really serves no purpose?

The fact is, when promotional products solve a problem or serve a function, people keep them. These items are taken to work, placed on desktops or placed carefully within reach in a top desk drawer. These are the things that don’t get thrown away or forgotten.

One of the things you will notice at any trade show is the number of visitors carrying logo-imprinted bags. This is because people get tired of walking around with their arms full. Observant exhibitors know this and provide promotional bags to solve this problem for them.

How likely is it that the customer will keep these bags around? They will if they are useful or unique in some way. Oversized bags and comfortable handles are practical and useful. People tote these bags everywhere from school to shopping, displaying a logo for years. Bags might not be trendsetting or humorous, but they certainly are effective.

Throughout the workday we all have to do mundane tasks like opening mail, drawing straight lines, taking measurements and sharpening pencils. We reach for letter openers and rulers several times per day to do these jobs for us. No one wants to throw away a handy gadget or tool from a trade show, especially one that works well.

Providing practical items that solve problems is a sound strategy. Recipients keep these things on their desks for years.

There is a reason why pens, coffee mugs and mouse pads are among the most popular promotional gifts: People love useful items. Pens, mugs and mouse pads are probably the most-used desktop items in any office. It makes sense to put your name on items like these. These high-demand promotional gifts are the least likely to be discarded or forgotten about. Popular styles and colors may change, but useful gifts will always provide lasting value. An item with a short shelf life doesn’t provide much value at all.

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Promotional Gifts * 10 Steps To Successful Exhibiting

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

Exhibiting at a trade show can be a stressful experience, but it can also result in thousands of new leads and generate new business for you. One thing is for sure: people expect to pick up promotional items at trade shows. However, it takes more than just setting out a few dozen pens to capture new business. Here are some steps to take to make your next trade show exhibit a success.

1. Determine your audience. If you are trying to develop business in a new field, become familiar with the industry and think about which promotional gifts will be especially appreciated and used.

2. Order literature and promotional merchandise well in advance. Not only does it take time for items to be customized and printed, you’ll need to make sure that you can get sufficient quantities by your deadline. You’ll also need to allow enough time to resolve any problems with your order such as misprints or backorders.

3. Set up your display creatively. Attractive displays show that you respect people’s time and attention. Banners, backdrops, literature racks and advertising items should be displayed in eye-catching and innovative ways to draw prospects to you.

4. Use promotional products to break the ice. Offer a prospect a pen or pencil to start a conversation. Once you discover his or her needs, you can discuss how your business can meet them.

5. Use unique promotional items. Promotional stress balls are available in almost any conceivable size, shape and subject matter. They are a great conversation starter that will keep your logo in front of people for years. The more original your products are, the more they will stand out in people’s minds.

6. Establish a method of capturing leads. Have people sign up for your mailing list, or set out a basket to collect business cards. Always provide a pen with your logo on it when you ask them to sign up for your mailing list.

7. Offer premium promotional gifts for people who complete a questionnaire or make a purchase. Customers and highly qualified prospects should receive more incentive to do business with you than those who are simply scouting for the best pens and keychains.

8. Make sure you have plenty of promotional literature about your business as well as a good supply of business cards. Be sure to provide folders with your logo on them to hold papers and pamphlets. This makes it much easier for prospects to find and review your literature after the show.

9. Stay engaged. Promotional gifts are an effective method of drawing people to your display, but they can’t do your job for you. Nothing takes the place of listening to a prospect and providing solutions. Always thank people for visiting, even if you don’t think they are well-qualified prospects. You never know who they know. People do talk after the show, and they will remember exhibitors who were rude or disinterested.

10. Be sure to follow up with leads from trade shows. Personal emails are always appreciated. Don’t ignore people on your mailing list either. Even if they are not ready to buy, they may be planning a future purchase. If you send printed matter, include a promotional gift as a reminder and a token of thanks. Flat items like mouse pads and refrigerator magnets go a long way to establish goodwill, and will continue to advertise for you long after the trade show.

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Why are Some Promotional Gift Suppliers So Much More Expensive Than Others?

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

The promotional gift industry is just like so many others. Order from the larger suppliers and chances are you will pay too much!

I can remember when I first started supplying promotional merchandise. There were the small companies who had to fight for every order and the larger suppliers who simply blanket mailed hundreds of thousands of brochures to businesses everywhere.

Back in those days, the larger businesses had it easy because they had the means to promote to the masses. Now, however, their numbers are dwindling because we are all able to promote our products to the masses.

Some of the larger suppliers are finding it hard to compete because of the way their businesses are structured. They were taken off guard by the new and free internet based marketing methods – choosing instead to carry on as before with out of date show rooms and expensive printed catalogues.

What does this mean to you as a purchaser of promotional merchandise?

I do not wish to speak badly about any competitor but if their promotional methods are out of date and you use them – you will most likely end up paying too much.

Think of it this way. Senator Pens is one of the most popular promotional pen manufacturers world wide. Senator only sell their pens through distributors – promotional gifts suppliers. They are also quite fair with their pricing extending the same trade prices to their distributors regardless of their size. This is standard practice.

If company A is switched on and able to promote these pens inexpensively or even free of charge through quality websites, social media and social networks, they will not need to mark them up very much to make a nice profit.

If company B, on the other hand, uses more traditional methods such as expensive printed catalogues, sales reps and costly flash offices, they will no doubt need to mark the pens up more.

How your supplier chooses to promote themselves is not your problem. What could be your problem, however, is if you end up paying way over the odds for the same pens just because your supplier hasn’t progressed with the times.

It is therefore very important to look around and compare prices before proceeding with a large order.

I have seen prices for the same exact promotional products vary up to 50%! We aren’t just talking about small savings here. The difference in price can be substantial.

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Do You Make These Five Mistakes At Trade Shows?

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Trade shows are a way to get your brand in front of people. Some may never have heard of you before, and some may already be familiar with your brand. Either way, you will have the opportunity to market your company and make thousands of contacts. To get the most out of your trade show experience, make sure you avoid these five mistakes.

1. Poor Display Planning

Booths need to be customer-friendly and highly visible in order to be effective. Poorly designed displays make it difficult for customers to maneuver and create traffic jams, decreasing your exposure. The more crowded a trade show gets, the more likely people are to start skipping booths.

Plan for volume and keep enough promotional items on hand to restock frequently. No one wants to take the last pen from the bucket.

2. Insufficient Staffing

Not enough representatives and you miss out on opportunities to promote your business. However, too many workers socializing and customers feel like they are interrupting a company break. Customers don’t want to feel that you are too busy for them.

Make sure your booth is appropriately staffed, and that they all understand the proper ways to present company literature and promotional products.

3. Failure To Listen

Not listening to prospects can make them hurry away from your stand. Hitting them with a hard sell right away is not always effective. Neither is tuning out and waiting for the customer to ask questions.

If you have chosen appropriate promotional items that capture customers’ attention, don’t lose that attention by dismissing everything they say. Being an active listener and anticipating questions can make customers want to find out more about your company.

4. Lack of Enthusiasm

Grumpiness and apathy are sales killers. You and your staff should be enthusiastic about both your company and about being at the show.

Cheerfully offering a stress ball or notepad shows you care about being there and that you want to develop relationships. Failing to connect with prospects because you are bored or disinterested means potential customers are getting away.

5. Poor Quality Promotional Items

Unless you are in the promotional products industry, the trade show is supposed to be about marketing your business and not the giveaway items. However, poor quality products say a lot about the way you do business. If you have to apologize for the cheapness or illegible print, you give the impression that your company either likes to cut corners or uses bad judgment. Think twice before you order bargain basement items.

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Promotional Gifts * Be The Buzz At Your Next Trade Show

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Promotional gifts have long been used at trade shows as a way to entice people to visit displays, and also to enhance advertising efforts. But using the right promotional gifts can do more than just thank customers for visiting – they can get people talking about your display and your business.

If you have been getting lukewarm results from trade shows or promotional products, maybe it’s time to change your tactics. Promotional items can be much more effective when you use them strategically. Here are some ideas to get people talking about your booth.

Offer Promotional Gifts That Are Unique

Promotional stress balls come is every imaginable shape. There is no reason to offer the same ones that everyone else does. If people know that your stand has the largest variety of stress balls or shapes that no one has seen before, your stand can be a hit. People do talk about the promotional items they receive and they do tell others where they picked them up.

People Love The Fun Stuff

Along with functional items, try something fun like hand-held fans, humorous stress balls or even yo-yos. It’s a guarantee that people will use them as they walk around the trade show. People also keep them on their desks for workday diversions. If someone at your booth can show off with a few yo-yo tricks, you will have a crowd before you know it.

Clothing And Textile Items Are In High Demand

Did you know that white printed t-shirts are the most common, but that black is the most-requested and desirable colour? Offering black logo-printed t-shirts can make you one of the hottest stands at the show. Make your logo easy to read and people will quickly seek out your stand.

Tote bags are also popular, and the bigger the better. After a few hours at a trade show, people need a big bag to carry around all the promotional material they accumulate. Offer a large enough bag, and customers will stuff all their other bags inside it. Yours will be the logo people see, and they will head over to get a huge bag of their own.

Don’t Forget The Kids

Child-oriented items are hard to find at many trade shows. People love taking things home for their kids. If it’s not practical to give child-sized shirts or hats, try an item kids will find appealing like a backpack-style bag. Not only do kids love and use them, but the bags continue to advertise for you everywhere they go.

By Dan Toombs

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Do You Make These Promotional Merchandise Mistakes At Trade Shows?

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011

Promotional merchandise is an integral part of trade shows. It can be used as an icebreaker to introduce prospects to your products and services, and also promotes your brand when people use the products later. But are you sure you are getting the most out of the items you use? Be sure you are not making these common promotional merchandise mistakes.

1. Displaying Promotional Items Unattractively

Are you displaying promotional gifts to your best advantage, or just throwing them on the table? People “scan” the stands as they walk through, and will stop at a display that is engaging, and creative. Grouping things like pens and stress balls by colour, or arranging them in interesting containers makes your stand look more professional, and draws traffic to you.

2. Not Customizing Your Promotional Items To The Clientele

To get the most out of promotional gifts, you’ll need to provide quality products that people will use daily. It’s true that everyone uses pens and notepads. But people also love to take away more specialized, functional items.

If your business caters to professionals, provide products that they will keep on their desks like calculators, rulers and sticky notes. If you are targeting tradesmen, technicians or outdoor workers, offer gifts that will be used in a shop or workroom like tape measures, box cutters, insulated mugs and hats.

Remember that your name is on the product. Items that are used and looked at daily will give you the best return on your investment.

3. Not Using Items That Promote Your Stand

Are you using products that can promote traffic? Pens and small items can’t be seen on the trade show floor. Bags, hats and promotional t-shirts will expose your logo to a room full of people as people carry and wear them. If you don’t offer these products, you are letting an opportunity get away.

4. Not Using The Items Yourself

Wearing your on promotional clothing says you believe in your brand. Unless you are required to wear professional or specialized attire, wear a logo-printed polo shirt or hat. Your logo should also be on your lanyard or messenger bag. Why use generic items when you have the opportunity to promote your brand?

5. Not Testing Your Promotional Items

Before setting the items on the table for prospects to pick up, be sure to give them a trial run. You don’t want to give pens that don’t write or items that break easily. Don’t wait until the products are in front of prospects to find out they don’t work.

By Dan Toombs

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See How Easily You Can Gather An Audience At A Trade Show With Promotional T-Shirts

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Promotional t-shirts are one of the most effective means of advertising your business. In addition to promoting your brand, they are one of the top ways to generate traffic to your trade show display. With a little strategy and creativity, it’s easy to use them to gather an audience around your booth.

Wear Them Yourself

When your representatives are all wearing matching clothing printed with your business logo, it creates a strong visual impression. Well-designed, attractive and recognizable logos are an instant draw. When customers see that many printed t-shirts at once, they will probably wonder if they can get one of their own and walk over to ask.

One way to draw instant attention is to wear black or a variety of colours. Black shirts look sharp and are highly sought after. A wide variety of colours also captures people’s interest, and can help you stand out in a sea of white shirts.

Use Them As Part Of Your Display

Hanging logo printed t-shirts creatively is a great way to entice customers to your booth. Hang them high enough so that people can see them from a distance. Tightly folded shirts at the back of your display will only be seen by “drive by” traffic and won’t do much to attract a crowd. When visitors see them as soon as they enter the building, they will make it a point to stop by your display.

Give Them Away

From a customer standpoint, promotional shirts are some of the most desirable items to come away with from a trade show. They are useful, practical, and if your shirts are good quality, they are guaranteed to be worn. When visitors see others with your t-shirts draped over their arms they are more likely to walk over to your display. Some may even approach people to ask where your display is located.

Place promotional clothing prominently and within reach. When passers-by see the activity at your booth, you will soon have an audience several people deep looking for the right colour and size. Offer children’s sizes and the crowd around your display will grow quickly.

People tend to wear logo printed clothing right away. They may wear your company’s t-shirt in their hotel or around town, and may even wear it if they return to the show. Clear logos and attractive designs will make visitors check their exhibitor lists to find your booth for a shirt of their own.

Want to get your logo out and about promoting your brand? Promotional t-shirts will do just that.

By Dan Toombs

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