Product of the month

OCTOBER 2013

This month's featured product is:

ECO FRIENDLY

HALLOWEEN INSPIRED TOTE BAGS

These bags are the PERFECT gift to give your customers this October.
Why? I'll break it down for you.

• Exposure
• These decorated bags will be seen by countless individuals. Children can use the tote bags to collect their treats on Halloween night, exposing your name and logo to the public as a walking advertisement. Who else will see the bags? Their parents, which is ideal because they are the ones with the buying power.

• Community support
• By handing out these bags, you are encouraging the public to participate in this exciting and friendly event. Adding a message such as, "HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN" will display your social responsibility. 

• Longevity
• If you think this product will be used once and throw away, think again. For one, Halloween is a yearly event and will continue to be a yearly event. And two, these bags are versatile. They can be used to carry groceries, and other goods from point A to point B.

Cost Effective Advertising

Effective marketing strategy.

This infographic displays how promotional products are highly cost effective in comparison to other forms of advertising.

#ThatsSwag,

J

Make the first step

Decisions, decisions. 

We've all been there. Finding it rather difficult to make a decision, we often fall victim to the easy way out -- no. When it comes to creating brand awareness and an overall brand image, business owners must be willing to adapt to change. When change does arrive, make the necessary adjustments to establish your vision into the minds of your current and future customer. 

One way to solidify that...

Promotional products. But as mentioned in the past, they only work if used appropriately. That means having a goal, and striving to meet that goal. Make it measurable, so it can easily be defined. 

What about a budget?

It all depends on the direction you wish to go. Do you need a $10,000 advertising budget? No. Do you need an advertising budget over $200? Most likely if you want a quality product that will have YOUR logo on it. In my opinion, a budget between $200-$500 is an ideal place to start. 

What should I use?

If you're a car dealership, maybe try key tags, first aid kits & travel mugs to fit your target market. What if you're in a completely different business? It's all about finding the right fit for you, and determining how it will interact with your targeted audience. If you're a dental office, try business cards with floss in them, tooth shaped stress relievers & a travel toothbrush kit. These are just a few examples. A blog post about the different categories of promotional products will be posted soon.

Where should I start?

Start out small by testing some promotional products that you think will deliver the best results. Create a strategy that will leave the best message in the mind's of your customer. Plan, plan, plan. Develop a goal and strive towards meeting it. Whether you need the products now or in six months, you need to have measurable goals. Or, if you don't have the time to think of an idea or a concept, but you want to place your logo on something - I can help with that. 

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln

Cheers,

J

Product Highlight Vol. 3: Notebook

Recycled Paper Notebook

In a recent study performed by the Advertising Speciality Institute, 16% of recipients indicated that they had received an office accessory in 2013 as a gift. All day long, advertisers are getting hits on their company name and message. The fact that this week's product highlight is an eco-friendly item, is one you should definitely consider.

Allowing your current and potential customers to see your company being environmentally friendly, is in fact, a big deal. In the past few years, the social awareness aspect of recycling and one's desire to help our planet remain clean has gone way up, therefore it is crucial to make an effort on your part.

Product Highlight Vol. 2: Tote Bag

Environmentally Friendly Tote Bags

Tote bags are the #1 item when it comes to company/brand recognition. People carry these bags everywhere, and it's no surprise that in a recent study, 98% of participants chose tote bags as the easiest item to identify the advertiser.

Product Highlight Vol. 1: Tumbler

Featured Product

A segment of this blog will consist of featured products. I will go into detail about the product, the advantages to you and your business, and how a business can benefit by using this product.

The Acrylic Tumbler

Today's featured product is the Acrylic Tumbler, one of the most popular items you'll see in the streets today. The tumbler is a necessity in the consumers eyes as they carry them around to all types of functions - gyms, parties, work, etc. This product has the ability to hold your message and be visible at all times.

Choose promotional products

Promotional Products 

As a business, it is essential to connect with the customer. Whether it's through one-on-one interaction or through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, it is a critical aspect of your business model.

But isn't there a better way to connect with consumers? One which benefits both parties, and creates a mutual understanding or feeling? Well, there is.

Promotional products are the icing on the cake for customers, but only when they're used in the right way. Cost effective products with your logo and slogan deliver incredible results in the long haul, and studies have been done to prove that.

How are businesses using promotional products?

• T-shirts
• Drinkware
• Writing Instruments

....Customers love it!

There are literally thousands of items to place your logo and slogan on. 

Enjoy this infographic! 

Cheers,

J

Welcome to the blog

Good afternoon,

Hello everyone and welcome to Your Swag Blog - everything you need to know about marketing your business through promotional items!

My name is Jamie Rickard and I currently work for Mayday Fine Print Inc. / Swagshop.ca as a Marketing, Sales & Brand Representative. I live in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.


For education, I graduated from Leo Hayes High School in 2011 and graduated from NBCC Business Administration Marketing Program in June 2013. 

I spend my spare time snowboarding in the winter, and on a boat in the summer. Also a huge lover of all types of music, sports and creative art. Avid supporter of local start-ups and entrepreneurs in the Atlantic area.


Enough about me for now, but you will learn quickly that I like to speak about my experiences.


Here, you will find information relating to promotional products, current events in the business world, ideas on how to market your business & more. 

Cheers,

J