The Unique Side of Promotional Products

They are articles of merchandise that are branded with the logo, message or an image, and are used in marketing and communication programs for businesses, teams or events. 

How are they used? Promotional items are given away at trade shows, events, conferences, sales promotions and other situations. They are generally a low cost advertising technique, where promotional gifts enhance the way the end-user feels about the advertiser. 

Also called promotional items, promotional merchandise, promotional gifts, advertising specialties, advertising gifts and of course, swag. 

Promotional products can be used in a wide variety of scenarios. Many business owners, executives and decision makers often overlook branded items. This is due to the fact that they do not know exactly how to pair up branded promotional items with the actual service or product they are promoting. Below, I will list some different catagories of promotionals gifts, along with examples for each.  

Top Left - Custom puzzles make for a great promotional item. Perhaps the business professional won't neccessarily use it for themselves, however they might think it could be a nice gift to take home to their children to play with. This is perfect, as it provides a way into your audiences' residence.

Top Right - Inflatable footballs can be a great summer giveaway. Promoting a big screen TV sale? Throw in a football to make watching the game that much sweeter. A good item that will get good exposure.

Bottom Left - Who doesn't love a beach ball? You probably didn't know you could have your own custom beach balls for that next event. Unique is better.

Bottom Right - Hit home with slinky's. This awesome branded product is sure to bring back some memories and will certainly put your organization at the forefront of their minds. 

Top Left - Want to be different yet useful to your audience? How about tapping into your customer's hobbies? Bicycle repair kits are a great way to connect with the end-user. Different, unique and handy.

Top Right - Yoga mats. I bet you didn't know your office could have their own yoga mats. Surperb way of connecting to new clients.

Bottom Left - Are the people who buy from you handy? Are you a real estate agent? Give your client one of these and you won't be forgotten. Measuring tape with a notepad attachment. Smart, isn't it?

Bottom Right - Definitley unique and not for everyone, but this incense gift pack would make an ideal gift for the right audience. 

Top Left - Want to leave a lasting impression? Well, these bluetooth speakers sure will. Show you're up-to-date on the latest trends with these wireless speakers. 

Top Right - Solar power. Solar power. Solar power. These solar power chargers come with a variety of attachments for your mobile device so you will never go without power again. Give your trade show go'ers something they will actually use. 

Bottom Left - Five-in-one charger. How techy is that? Plugs into a computer to charge mobile phones and of course, iPods. 

Bottom Right - The staple. The must-have. The grandfather of all tech items. USB drives aren't going anywhere, so pick them up for your marketing campaigns. 

If you took anything away from the blog post, it's about trying new things and also trying new ways to connect with your audience.

Be unique. Be remembered.

Jamie 

(506) 470-7924

www.swagshop.ca 

Earth Day Marketing Campaign

Earth Day is April 22, which begs the question: 

Do you have what’s needed to field an eco-friendly marketing effort? 

Here are eight ideas to help you develop your company’s environmental awareness into an effective Earth Day marketing campaign.

1. Plant a Message – Say "Come Grow With Us" to customers by labeling seeded promotional products to get your Earth Day message across. Choose from a wide variety of plantable products that can be mailed or hand-delivered, including seeded postcards that customers tear off and plant to grow colorful wildflowers. Calendars printed on seeded paper can be planted at the end of each month. A business card can be produced on full color seeded paper. All of these items have the capacity to display your message in vibrant hues, and once they’re planted, the colorful results linger on.

2. Tee Off for Earth Day – At your next golf tournament, hand out biodegradable golf tees packaged with a customized wraparound imprint that can be illustrated to "tee-off" current sales campaigns or to introduce new products. The promotional tees are made from corn which biodegrades three times faster than wooden tees, and when the tees get left behind, they won't splinter and cause blade damage when chopped up by golf-course mowers.  If you’re playing around water, add another eco-dimension by offering biodegradable golf balls that can be left in place if they land in water hazards.

3. Bag New Customers – Experts estimate that if used once a week, four or five reusable grocery bags can replace 520 plastic bags a year. Many reusable bags are biodegradable, including ones made from woven hemp which is also resistant to mold. Add your logo and a "Shop With Us" message before handing out these reusable promotional greenies at your trade show booth.

4. Write-Up Sales – Biodegradable pens with vividly colored barrels and striking trim will add Earth Day excitement to sales calls.  Eco-conscious customers will be anxious to accept these promotional pens from your sales team when they find out they can toss them in the trash can with impunity once they’ve outlived their usefulness. They’ll biodegrade anywhere, and their carbon imprint is 22% lower than conventional pens.

5. Keep It Healthy – Offer health-conscious customers a recycled mouse pad with an antimicrobial surface with a sublimated "Let’s Build A Healthy Relationship" Earth Day message.  This mouse pad will attract interest by using its antimicrobial properties to keep computer areas germ-free. Health organizations, medical facilities and doctors’ offices are just a few of the health-related customers who will appreciate your campaign efforts when accompanied by this promotional gift.  

6. Dress-Up Retention – Develop an Earth Day customer retention program by awarding recycled promotional clothing to repeat customers. Add a "We Appreciate What You Do For Us" message that lets repeat customers know you’re rewarding them with eco-friendly clothing that’s produced with less fossil fuels, creating less waste and fewer carcinogens.

7. Grow A Customer – Try something different with a beautiful desktop terrarium that’s guaranteed to garner prime space on your client’s desk. The terrarium provides a perfect home for plants that thrive in indirect light and grow with little effort. 

8. Light The Way – Let your sales team impress potential clients with a "We’ll Light The Way For You" Earth Day message by handing out eco-friendly light-crank LED flashlights that will keep your customers safe during power outages. For extra impact, choose promotional brands that include AM/FM radios, headphone outlets, emergency sirens and cellphone chargers.  

Happy selling!

J 

Holiday Events

Planning a year end event?

Here are some ideas for company branded gifts, prizes and awards that can be used for employees, customers and other forms of users.

Christmas. New Years. Quite a few events approaching that require (in my opinion) GIFTS!

In honor of the holiday season, here are some cost effective, fun and great giveaway prizes that you can tailor to your organization, event or any type of social gathering. Here is your starting point.

Items around $2.00 each - Perfect for giveaways

Candy Coated Notebook 

Bartender Bottle Opener

Stain Spotstick

Golf Tee Pack

Personalize Popcorn 

Items around $5.00 each - Great ideas for contests

Urban Lunchbag

Earbud Headphones

Coffee Mug

Wooden Ice Scraper

Wine Glass

Items between $20.00 & $40.00 each - Excellent way to show appreciation

Steak Knives - Cutlery Set

Travel Mug Set

Cooler Bag

iPod Docking Station Speaker

Folding Umbrella

---

Throughout the week, I will be blogging the best branded gadgets, tote bags, desk accessories & more to give you added options for giveaways, gifts & incentives this holiday season.

Please note that the prices from www.swagshop.ca do not include shipping or imprint fees.

Here's how we can connect:

Social Media	Contact Me
Facebook	(506) 470-SWAG
Twitter	sales@maydayfineprint.com
Google+	385 Wilsey Road
Website	Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5N6

Regards,

J

Helpful brand tips

Three ways to use promotional products

You want to be remembered. 

Promotional products can enhance a product or service in many ways. Handing out pens are not always your best bet. Want to know how to truly be remembered? DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Put yourself in a position where YOU CAN'T BE IGNORED. Instead of handing out stuff that usually gets placed in a drawer and never seen again, why not give out a specialty prize? Maybe an embroidered duffle bag? Golf kits? Wine kits? Do something different.

Here's how:

1. Leave Something Behind - Are you in sales? Are you having a tough time being remembered after you make your pitch? Clearly, leaving a simple pen is always a smart move, however, try leaving something with a little more meaning. Wouldn't it be nice to know the product you left with YOUR logo/message on it, was being used everyday by your future client?

So, what should you leave behind after your meeting? Try these:

• Clocks
• Pen holders
• Calculators

Reason? Longevity. Long after you have left their office, they will constantly be reminded of you and what you had to offer.

2. Hold A Contest - Who doesn't love the competition factor of a contest? Hold a contest that serves a meaning. What possibly could a contest do?

• Boost sales
• Increase brand awareness
• Increase overall traffic

How? For example:

• Ask participants to go around the city with your new product, and come up with new ways to use it.
•  This creates content for your social media accounts, and shows future users what your new product can do.
• How to reward the winner for being most creative? SWAG them out with company T-shirts, hats, sweaters, etc, to promote them to "Brand Ambassadors".

Think they did an AMAZING job? How about giving them a branded trophy?

3. STAY RELEVANT - Match promotional items with the items you sell to your customers.

Selling shoes? Give away laces.

Selling computers? Give away flash drives.

Selling landscape services? Give away seeds or plants.

Selling maid services? Give away micro fiber clothes. 

Selling pet supplies? Give away pet leashes.

Just some branded examples. And when we're talking give aways, they can be something you add as an incentive to someone making a purchase.

Thanks for reading,

J

Why consumers keep your promotional products

Promotional products and why people keep them.

Happy friday,

J

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

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