Promotional Products | MagiCubes 3D Media

24 11, 2009

Buying Promotional Products: Developing a Strategy and Managing Follow-Through

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-24T14:35:13-08:00 November 24th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Buying Promotional Products: Developing a Strategy and Managing Follow-Through

The decision to utilize promotional products as part of your corporate marketing and branding efforts should not be taken lightly. The incorporation of branded products into your traditional marketing mix is often regarded as more of a commitment based relationship rather than a one time distribution. In order to maximize the results of your promotional marketing, it is important to develop a strategic marketing plan outlining your planned events, marketing campaigns and the role in which you intend to integrate the usage and distribution of custom branded promotional products. The key to developing an effective marketing plan, and therefore successfully executing your plan incorporating promotional products, is to evaluate, prepare and analyze all aspects of your promotional marketing efforts. Traditionally this is done as the end of the year winds down in preparation for the start of the New Year. While you can prepare for the annual events that you traditionally participate in year after year, you should always allow a little wiggle room for events and opportunities that may unexpectedly present themselves. While the idea of creating a useful and organized marketing strategy can be overwhelming, by following a few simple steps you can develop an effective plan encompassing your distribution of promotional products and overall promotional marketing for the upcoming year.Step 1: Establish your corporate goalsThis step is incredibly important for determining your plan of action over the course of the year. You need to evaluate what the overall goal is for each occurrence of the distribution of promotional products. Are you attempting to build brand loyalty? Drive immediate sales? Or simply thank your clients and employees for their support? When you evaluate the purpose of distributing promotional products, you can directly target your audience with the appropriate gifts and events. Determining what outcome you would like to see at year’s end can help you strategically prepare and plan your marketing incorporating the usage of promotional products for the year. Step 2: Find and ask for help when you need it Asking for help can be challenging for many business professionals. But it is imperative that you seek out the appropriate sources when you run into a challenge. Successfully incorporating promotional products into your branding efforts can be a challenging process for those new to this form of marketing. Seek out information-rich sources of information and industry experts to help you develop your plan. Finding a reliable promotional products distributor can be helpful in this circumstance. They can help you realistically set a budget for purchasing customized promotional products and can help you determine what products will work best for your upcoming events. Step 3: Develop a strategic plan of attack After setting your company’s goals and educating yourself on the process of buying and distributing promotional products, it is time to create your promotional marketing strategy for the year. This is a time consuming and information-heavy process. Not only will you need to evaluate your goals, but you will also need to take into account your budgetary restrictions, your staff and your corporate branding guidelines. Enlist the help of your marketing department, your executive team and representatives from all departments. This will help you see the viewpoints of other members of your organization. By working closely with the others in your company, you can realistically plan for the purchasing of promotional products for the events and holidays of the upcoming year. Step 4: Follow through on your commitments One of the most important things to remember when you decide to use promotional products to brand your business is that you are developing relationships with your client base and employees. To reach your overall goal at the end of the year, try to stick to the plan you set in motion. The end goal relies heavily on all the benchmark results you achieve throughout the course of the year. By adhering to your marketing strategy, you can better manage and maintain you budget and evaluate what tactics work best for your company. Keep your goals in site and your target audience at the forefront of your mind. With calculated planning, careful evaluation and the dedication to follow through with your carefully developed strategy, you can effectively incorporate promotional products into your marketing efforts.

24 11, 2009

How To Effectively Use Promotional Products

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-24T08:41:49-08:00 November 24th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on How To Effectively Use Promotional Products

One of the most tried and true tools of marketing and advertising is the use of promotional products. From inexpensive pens to t-shirts, promotional products are a great way to get your name into the hands of potential customers. When planning your approach to promotional marketing, it is important to develop a marketing strategy to correctly utilize promotional products and maximize results. Choosing a Promotional Products DistributorBefore choosing a promotional product, first you need to choose a distributor. With hundreds of distributors to choose from, it’s important to identify the right fit for your needs. One of the most important things to remember is to avoid companies that just want to push you a promotional product. Commissioned sales representatives are often simply out to make a sale – your purchase equals their paycheck! When you purchase promotional products from a promotional company that uses a team approach, you’ll find they are more interested in helping you find the promotional product that truly fits your needs, not just the promotional product that will give them higher commission checks.After choosing your distributor, make sure that they understand your brand and needs. Don’t be afraid to tell them exactly what you’re looking for or to ask for help. A good promotional product specialist is never afraid to research promotional products and ideas to find the right fit for your needs. From brainstorming to price negotiations, a dedicated account management team is your best source for finding unique promotional products at the best price.Developing a Long-Term Strategy for Use of Promotional ProductsYou should always keep in mind that the use of promotional products is most beneficial when paired with a long-term promotional marketing strategy. Although you may only use a promotional product once, when that product is paired with subsequent marketing efforts and future promotions, you leave a longer-lasting impression on your clients. When designing your promotional marketing strategy, first look at your brand and corporate image. Which promotional products are most appropriate to convey your identity? Is there a certain image or feel you want to present to the recipients of your promotional product? This is a great time to address your specific needs and plans with your account team. With access to a nearly unlimited number of promotional products, they can help you choose the perfect promotional product for your needs. Identifying Your Target DemographicNext you will need to identify your target audience and demographics. It’s important to evaluate who the recipients of your promotional product will be. For example, at a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Georgia State University needed to develop a full marketing strategy for the week-long festivities. They needed banners, print collateral and promotional products to distribute to students. To fit their target demographic, their marketing campaign included imprinted GumPaks™, molded chocolates and print collateral to distribute around campus. Georgia State’s end decision to choose candy for their promotional products was perfect for their target demographic of students. By analyzing your end recipients and finding a promotional product that will be useful to them, you maximize exposure of your brand and corporate initiatives.Usage of Your Promotional ProductLastly, what do you plan to use your promotional products for? The individual promotional product you choose should be based on the several factors already discussed along with the type of event or promotion. The event will almost always determine your budget and type of promotional product. A promotional product for a tradeshow is usually something that draws attention to your booth, thereby drawing attention to your name and services. Using a fun, eye-catching promotional product such as a light-up yo-yo will be entertaining for recipients, and the promotional product will likely stay in their possession for months to come. While a yo-yo might work great for a tradeshow, a more upscale promotional product would be better for a potential million-dollar client. A leather brief bag, digital photo frame or large holiday gift basket would be a more appropriate promotional product for a client at that level. Your choice of promotional product will vary greatly depending on the situation and your target audience.Developing a strategy to effectively utilize your promotional products is the best way to maximize your return. Promotional products are a budget friendly way to get thousands of advertising exposures. By following these tips when developing your strategy, you will effectively use your promotional products to grow your brand.

24 11, 2009

Unlimited Promotional Product Ideas With Die Casting

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-24T02:56:38-08:00 November 24th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Unlimited Promotional Product Ideas With Die Casting

Die Casting for Promotional Products

Die Casting is a process where a mold is cut with the shape of the product you wish to produce. The mold consists of 2 halves. The one half forms the outside of the part, which you normally see, the show surface. This is called the cavity. The second half forms the inside of the part, the backside of the part. This is called the core. There is a gap between the cavity and the core that creates the part.

The mold can be produced in two different ways.

The first method is that a replicated model of the shape you want to mold is created. This shape is the same form as your finished product. This form is then used as a duplicator to cut metal away from a solid block to create each half of the mold. A separate model must be made for each half. The mold is then created in reverse to the part that is being produced.

The second method is that the mold halves are CNC cut using a CAD model. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control and is used on automated machines to follow a pre-defined path to cut a shape. The CAD model can be produced in a few ways. CAD stands for Computer Aided Design.

One way to produce a CAD model is using 3D (3 dimensional) CAD software. A CAD Designer would design a virtual model of your part on the computer.

Another way would be to produce a part in CAD by using an actual sample of an existing part measured using a CMM and importing the data. CMM stands for coordinate measuring machine. These types of machines measure objects in 3D. The information that they generate can then be used in a CAD software program to construct a part.

3D Scanning can also be used for a process called Reverse Engineering. These scanners work with optics or lasers. They scan an actual part and produce an exact virtual replica within computer software. This CAD model can then be used to produce a mold.

Once the part is produced it can be painted, decals applied and assembled with other parts. Die cast parts are very durable. The are generally produced in aluminum or zinc. A big advantage of this method is that if you can think of a shape, you can make it.

23 11, 2009

Going Green the Imprinted Promotional Products Way

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-23T15:03:38-08:00 November 23rd, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Going Green the Imprinted Promotional Products Way

Using eco-friendly green promotional products and renewable energy sources reduces greenhouse emissions that have a negative impact on our planet.

Using solar; water and shake powered products such as Solar Flashlights helps keep batteries out of our landfills. Annually, nearly 3 Billion batteries are used and then thrown away by American households. Using biodegradable products reduces landfill build up.

GREEN FACTS:

According to the Container Recycling Institute, Americans used 4 billion pounds of plastic in the form of bottles in 2002. The main culprit is “use once & toss” water and beverage bottles. It takes a plastic water bottle 700 years before it starts to decompose. Why not “Go Green”…use a reusable Polycarbonate Sport Bottle.

The average American family of four tosses out approx. 1,500 plastic bags a year. Each one can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Most of these bags are not biodegrading; the plastic slowly breaks down into smaller components until it leaches into the soil or water. Paper bags are biodegradable but the energy, chemicals, trees and water consumed to recycle them is a drain on the environment. Why not “Go Green”…use reusable non-woven bags, organic cotton bags, and natural jute bags for everyday use as you grocery shop or go to a business tradeshow.

Since there are lots of ways to be Eco-Responsible and use “Green Products” and it is not always clear what makes one approach better than the next, listed below are qualities and questions to help inform you on what makes a product eco-friendly.

Recycled – materials destined for disposal are reclaimed and converted into new products such as Polycarbonate Water Bottles, Non-Woven Bags and Reusable Grocery Bags.

Bioplastic – what percent of a product is made from a renewable resource so you won’t be mislead.

Organic – what percentage is organic so you will not have to guess

Natural – knowing when a product is made from materials and exactly what the ingredients are.

Reusable – what products were created with intent to be used in place of a disposable item.

Creating innovative “Green Products” for the future will be important by finding new ways of utilizing recycled materials that can corporately impact your business as well. Many corporations are taking up the call of being responsible by requesting eco-friendly products and giving them away as marketing tools to let you know they are being responsible when it comes to promoting there company and taking-up the call of making sound environmental choices.

If we combine all of our individual and corporate efforts, together we can make a difference to our World today and more importantly we can make a difference to our future!

22 11, 2009

Your Promotional Products Distribution Options

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-22T20:46:21-08:00 November 22nd, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Your Promotional Products Distribution Options

Now that you’ve chosen your products, ordered it and received it promptly, what’s the next step? The proper distribution of your products spells the success or the utter failure of your promotional products marketing plan. When developing the strategy for the distribution, you should take into consideration its costs over the cost of your promotional product. Even if it does come in a bit higher, try to limit it to an amount that would still ensure you get a considerable ROI.

Here are some ways to send out your message:

1. Make it a mailer – The easiest method of distribution is to send your promotional product via snail mail. You must exercise caution when choosing this distribution option. Make sure you calculate all the risks. Especially during the holidays, take into consideration the delays that may occur as a result of increased mail traffic. Give yourself ample time to prepare, order and send out the promotional item. One very important factor to consider when sending items via mail: you must know the exact and current address of your clients. This method of distribution is ideal for customers with whom you’ve already established business relationships. Smaller items like pens, pocket calculators or custom notepads can easily be distributed by mail at minimal cost.

2. An exciting event yields exceptional results. Make a blast out of your promotional giveaway day, set up a luau or be in costume. Whatever your gimmick, an event organized specifically for the distribution makes the promotional product even more memorable.

3. Trade shows, conventions and seminars. The classic distribution venue, these events always draw out the greed for something free. Participants will have no qualms about taking your giveaway from you, so this is the perfect opportunity to give out something unique. When choosing your promotional item, try to envision what other exhibitors are going to be giving away and think of something that will stand out from the rest.

4. An inviting offer. Here’s a creative idea to get them to come to you: send out an announcement that you’re giving away a special gift to the first few customers. Even without letting them know what that gift is, you’ll soon see people lining up for your freebie.

5. Employee appreciation days. Set aside a day to show your employees just how much you really care. Using promotional products to boost employee morale results in company loyalty and a possibility of making promoters out of your own employees.

21 11, 2009

Market your brand with the best promotional product

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-21T21:04:12-08:00 November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Market your brand with the best promotional product

In today’s competitive market it’s become very difficult to make our brand visible and the best way to do so is by the use of promotional products. We can create a good business rapport with our clientele too by distributing promotional products. The main idea behind this is the fact that if our company’s logo is visible it will stay as a constant reminder to all our clients and associates. Most organizations use it as a brand building methodology too. These promotional products are used as business gifts and are given free to their business associates or their target customers. These business gifts stay in sight of the customers and play are constant reminders to them about the company. Moreover, everyone loves freebies and hence these products create a good impression of the company or brand concerned.To take these business gifts a step further, companies get their brand name imprinted on these gifts. Some of the most common imprinted promotional gifts are pens, mugs, bags, laptop bags, key rings, coasters, t-shirts, calendars etc. Imprinting pens or key rings are a very cost effective and excellent way of building brand awareness. A few thousand pens that are imprinted will not cost you much but will give your brand a wide reach and coverage. Similarly, fancy bags or key rings that are imprinted will surely be used by your receiver and is the cheapest way to promote our business. These imprinted promotional gifts not only help in reminding our clients of our company but also work towards creating a positive brand image which in turn helps us to develop our business. It’s extremely important that the business gifts used by us be of good quality as these play brand ambassadors to us. Some businesses use promotional products to give away to their employees too as a way of showing them their appreciation and gratitude. These are sometimes given away to specific employees for some work well done or to all employees on some seasonal occasion.Personalized promotional products and imprinted promotional gifts are these days all available in a reasonable price over the internet these days. There are a whole lot of sites who cater to you cheap but good quality gifts to save your time of having to search them. These sites let you have a look at the product before you buy them. You can further personalize these products by adding your companies’ logo, address or anything that you’d want to.

21 11, 2009

Sourcing your Promotional Products Using Promotional Products

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-21T14:42:38-08:00 November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Sourcing your Promotional Products Using Promotional Products

Not many companies interested in sourcing promotional products have their own in-house team of buyers with the time or experience to travel the world to find the most unusual and cost-effective products.

According to research*, exhibitions, trade magazines and the internet rank highly for finding new and innovative products. However, the main routes are going direct to the manufacturer or through a sales promotion agency.

The research team concluded that buyers would increasingly prefer sourcing promotional products through agencies, especially those which also offered design and added value consultancy services.

When sourcing promotional products it is important to remember that a quality brand demands quality merchandise as anything less will risk devaluing the brand. Yet it is equally important to note that the quality of service can make or break a campaign – there is little point in sourcing the most amazing items if they arrive a day too late, or are the wrong colour!

If placing a large order or a particularly complicated one it is essential to select a supplier who has the relevant experience and expertise. It is also advisable to request actual production samples for approval rather than relying on mock-ups, and therefore extra time should be factored into the total schedule to allow for this.

21 11, 2009

Some Earth-friendly Promotional Product Ideas

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-21T09:01:03-08:00 November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Some Earth-friendly Promotional Product Ideas

Most businesses use promotional products to advertise their businesses, especially at conventions and trade shows. However, it is important for many people to be environmentally friendly. While many promotional products are not, there are choices that you can pick in order to promote your business while still keeping nature in mind. Using environmentally friendly promotional products will help you and your business do your part to save the world.

First, consider the product from which the promotional products are made. Plastics are common, although products can also be made out of paper, wood, ceramic, and a variety of other materials. Before ordering, call the company to find out their policy about using these products. Where the plastics recycled? Can be they recycled easily? Keep in mind that recycling plastics can usually be done, but some communities limit the categories of plastics that can be recycled. 1-5 are usually your best bets. In any case, paper products can also be recycled.

Learn about how the products will be shipped to you as well. Larger products will undoubtedly take more space, and therefore require larger shipping boxes and more packaging material. Of course, you can work with your promotional products company to discuss shipping options in order to cut costs and be more environmentally friendly. Sometimes, smaller boxes are possible. If the order is shipped together, you may also be able to cut back on packaging. You can even discuss the use of recycled newspaper or other environmentally friendly packing options with your promotional products company. It never hurts to ask, right?

Remember, if the product is useful, it is better for the environment. Why? Well, if a product is useful, there is less of a chance that people will throw it away. Unfortunately, many people do not recycle, meaning that your promotional products have a good chance of ending up in a landfill. Instead, useful products will be continually used in the home. Mugs, cups, umbrellas, pens, letter openers, and Frisbees are all good examples of promotional items that are less likely to find their way to the trashcan.

You can also provide promotional that promote not only your business, but also saving the environment. A great example of such a product is the tote bag. Tote bags can be used in place of paper or plastic bags at the grocery store in order to cut down on their consumption. However, you can also attractively print your name or logo on the side of a tote bag in order to advertise your business. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

21 11, 2009

Evaluating Your Promotional Products Supplier

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-21T03:14:58-08:00 November 21st, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Evaluating Your Promotional Products Supplier

You’ve probably been around the block a couple of times and have tried several of them. Some are good. Some are bad. So, how do you really tell which one is right for you? Here’s a checklist of what you should be looking for in a promotional products supplier to ensure you get the service you deserve:

Large selection – Don’t limit yourself to a couple of pens and some mugs. The world is promotional products is vast and unpredictable – you can have something as fancy as glassware or as simple as flipflops. When picking a vendor, make sure it’s one that can offer you the widest range of products available. Find out if they have reliable suppliers and brand name products that let you take advantage of the power of co-branding. With the extensive selection should come a comprehensive search engine, a navigable website or at the very least a knowledgeable salesperson that could make the proper recommendations.

Quality products – Work with a promotional products supplier that offers only premium merchandise. The quality of your giveaway says much about your company. As such, working with a company that gives you the best value for your money should be a big concern.

Lowest cost – A big company you could trust should be able to use its buying power to your advantage. Basically, a company that truly looks out for your needs will be able to offer you the promotional products at the lowest cost. It’s also worth checking out if the supplier has a lowest price guarantee.

Quality imprinting -There are a number of imprinting methods out there, but certain items require particular methods of imprinting. For instance, glass would go well with etching or laser engraving while cloth can be embroidered or screen printed. The sales staff should be able to tell you which imprinting method goes best with your item. More importantly, they should be able to connect you with a service provider that can apply that imprinting method to your chosen item. Apart from the fulfillment issue, a good promo products company would have an art department or a system that would ensure your logo is rendered in the best possible manner.

On-time delivery of goods – Normally, the company should be able to quote you a practical shipping date. This is a combination of your item’s production time plus the time it takes the product to get to you via a carrier. While the shipping time is highly depended on the carrier, your promo products company should at least be able to manage your expectations by giving you a pretty accurate range. If unforeseen circumstance cause delay to your shipment, a reliable company will notify you in the soonest possible time and clue you in on the reason behind the inconvenience. Honest and timely correspondence is just as important as the accuracy of shipping date quotes.

Personalized service – A promo products supplier is basically a company that offers personalized items. As such they should remain true to their roots and offer you personalized service as well. Work with someone who takes the time to get to know your industry, your goals and your budget.

20 11, 2009

Promotional Products- an Effective Way of Marketing

By Porter Lee| 2009-11-20T20:37:26-08:00 November 20th, 2009|Promotional Products|Comments Off on Promotional Products- an Effective Way of Marketing

Promotional products have an important task to perform in any company’s striking success. They are responsible for bringing significant results on the whole business as they shoot up the profits of a business. They also help in the amplification of the brand a company endorses.

Been usually offered to the employees, consumers or tourists; promotional products act as potent tools to market the company’s product as they come to be known to a larger number of consumers.These products prove much advantageous for the success of a company. Apart from augmenting the company’s goodwill, these products also play the roles of vehicles of advertisement. When these promotional products are given to the consumers, these products create an awareness regarding the item and establish its proud existence thereby increasing the levels of the product’s sale or the services that the company offers.Usually these products comprise of incentives, prizes, awards, gifts or premiums. The item that is serving as the promotional product comes free of cost with the main product and usually matches with the function of the main product. For instance, if the main product is a shampoo then the promotional product coming along could be a sachet of hair conditioner. Likewise, if a packet of cornflakes serves the main product, another food item of the same company could be the promotional product. This way the product that needs to be introduced to the public is done in a subtle yet profiting way. Companies also utilize some popular events to their advantage. Using the events like the product launch, conferences, seminars and celebrations, they distribute various other items of general use to the public. These items can be anything from coffee mugs, pens, t-shirts, key rings and calendars to tote bags, folders and alarm clocks. Not only are these promotional products attractive but useful too. Bearing the name, corporate message, slogan and logo of the company, these items promote the name and goodwill of the company.Moreover, when these free products are offered to the customers or the employees, appreciation is earned by the company concerned. When the consumers go to buy an item in the market next time, they always prefer the one they are familiar with and have used earlier. In short, promotional products always have a positive impact on the consumers and the business both. Information regarding the products used for promotion can also be availed online.

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next

Search

Recent Posts

Categories