Author Archives for newfound identity

The Game Of Phones

A staggering 28 percent of all car accidents in the US are caused by drivers using cell phones.  But the reality is, in this world of immediate response and faster communication, driving while talking on the phone has become a necessary part of managing our time.  One way for corporations to promote safer driving habits, while respecting the undeniable need to stay in touch, is to provide branded wireless bluetooth car speakers for an employee safety program that encourages safety outside the work space, or for client gifts that say “we care”.

Besides the obvious advantage of avoiding accidents due to cell phone distractions, there are other benefits of a bluetooth wireless speaker:

  • Portability: small and lightweight
  • Efficiency:  work seamlessly with cell phones
  • Ease of Installation: plugs into car power socket without wires or drivers

Companies with a strong focus on safety and wellness don’t always consider gift options that aren’t associated with eating and exercise habits.  But what better way to encourage smarter life choices than to encourage your employees and customers to stop playing the game of phones and get both hands back on the wheel?!

(Image via Hirsch Gift)

Paper or Plastic?

The Worldwatch Institute claims Americans as a whole toss 100 billion plastic bags per year – less than 1 percent of which are recycled.  And considering the effect all those bags have on marine life, landfills and the environment, concern for the future of our planet is causing people to take a second look at alternatives to the plastic bag.  (Read more about this on Livestrong.com)

One of those alternatives is the age-old brown kraft bag.  Except in today’s eco-conscious world, more and more of those trusty carriers of our school lunch and weekly groceries are made from 100% recycled paper.  They are reusable, recyclable and biodegradable, and available in all shapes and sizes.  Of particular interest for the corporate buyer, the imprint area is large enough to carry a full color logo plus a tag line or corporate marketing message.

Consider the number of bags distributed at industry trade shows and community outreach programs.  Then consider the message you send to the recipient when you hand out your literature or product give-aways in a creatively designed paper shopper.  Regardless of the industry, more consumers are paying attention to the providers who ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to business practices around sustainability.  In 2009, 47 percent of consumers said they bought products from a socially or environmentally responsible company. Going into 2010, 76 percent of all consumers said they expected to purchase more from environmentally responsible companies  (Tiller, 2009).

In light of all the benefits of using paper bags, the choice of paper or plastic becomes an easy one!  Try it at your next corporate event!

(Image via Bag Makers)

An Ounce of Performance Is Worth Pounds Of Promises

Mae West was not referring to performance wear apparel when she made this statement, but her sentiment makes sense for branded clothing purchases nonetheless.  Clothing manufacturers use the word performance when describing fabrics that are resistant to stains, wrinkles, wind, rain and the ever-challenging body moisture.  In today’s world of active lifestyles, putting a corporate logo on an apparel piece that fits into the daily routine of the recipient will demonstrate your company’s awareness and appreciation of life outside the office.

When working with clients to come up with ideas for corporate give-aways, I always tell them that the money is wasted if it’s spent on an item that serves no purpose for the recipient.  And it’s not about the cost – a refrigerator magnet with the local team’s game schedule will remain in the house at least as long as the season.  But a lead crystal letter opener will likely end up in the bottom desk drawer.  Likewise, a lightweight jacket made from performance fabric will make it to the gym, yoga studio or children’s sports activities much faster than an unlined nylon jacket that is uncomfortable and makes that annoying swishing noise with every movement.

For easy reference on your next apparel purchase, I have provided an abridged summary of the most common fabrics and their characteristics, as offered on the Fabrics Manufacturers web site.

  • Cotton:        high water retention; long drying time; high shrinkage; medium durability
  • Wool:          high water retention; long drying time; high shrinkage; medium druability
  • Nylon:         medium water retention; short drying time; low shrinkage; high durability
  • Polyester:   lowest water retention; shortest drying time; low shrinkage; high durability

When considering clothing for a logo store, uniform program or client gift, ask your promotional merchandise partner to discuss the performance fabric options.  There’s no down side to associating your brand with high performance!

(Image via Ash City)

For Motivating Employees, Cash Is Not King

There has been a decades-old discussion in the motivation industry around the value of cash vs non-cash rewards.  And in the current economic environment of wage freezes and layoffs, the idea of additional cash for gas and groceries is certainly appealing.  However, when it comes to rewarding employees and driving behavior, cash is not king.

A 2010 study that was featured in an article written by Paul Hebert of I2I, a South Carolina consultant in the incentive industry, offered strong data from a controlled field experiment  which measured the extent to which monetary and non-monetary gifts affect workers’ performance.  This study concluded that even though workers often elect a cash gift when given the choice, non-cash gifts are more effective.  According to the research, ” … a gift in-kind of equivalent monetary value has an economically and statistically significant effect on productivity. Workers provide 30 percent more output on average.”

This information is a strong testament to the fact that just creating an incentive program to recognize and reward employees is not always enough to reach the intended goals.  It’s important to understand the best type of recognition vehicle for your associates, and the most effective method of presenting the award.  Cash gifts are easy – they require minimal effort from management and can be given quickly for the occasional on-the-spot recognition.  However, the cash is spent and forgotten quickly, while the gift will remain a constant reminder of the employer’s appreciation, thus driving the desired behavior.

Motivating employees requires creative thinking, and there should be more than one tool in the employer’s incentive program box.  The next time the HR team gets together for a discussion on improving morale and increasing productivity, invite your incentive partner and ask for ideas on how to integrate effective premium products into a well-rounded program.  Your employees will thank you!

Let The Red (Or Blue) Tape Roll

Regardless of whether your brand is mature or newly created, the path to branding success is disciplined consistency and repetition.  Those corporations that store and ship logo product through a 3rd party fulfillment program can build on that consistency with custom branded shipping tape as part of the standard packaging requirements.

For a small investment of approximately $9.00 to $11.00 per roll (110 yards per roll), your logo tape can be used to seal every package and be the first impression for each recipient.  If you consider that each 110 yard roll can seal up to 85 average size boxes, the add-on cost for each package would be approximately $0.11 – $0.13.  While that is an expense that must be considered when negotiating the final shipped product cost with the supplier, there are few things that offer the same positive first impression for this level of investment.

Custom tape colors are available, as are custom print colors, eco friendly green tape options and, for less money, standard message tapes that can express a generic message such asThank You or Seasons Greetings.  Cartons can be customized also, but the cost is higher, and the ROI wouldn’t vary much from the humble sealing tape.

Effective reinforcement of your brand can be as easy as adding colorful, creative packaging tape to your product orders.  If you haven’t discussed this idea with your program manager yet, call her or him before the busy holiday season, and get the tape rolling!

(image via ULINE)

The Need For Speed

I need it yesterday!  Good intentions aside, every corporate buyer has probably said these words to their promotional merchandise provider on more than one occasion.  Whether the urgency is due to last-minute project approvals, or budget restrictions, or a simple lack of planning, the rush order is part of our everyday reality.  Turnaround time is measured in hours, rather than days.  The only question is:  Can your provider deal with it?

The solution for a hard goods order is generally easier than a wearables order.  In today’s fast-moving, ever-changing business environment many hard goods suppliers have invested in better equipment, improved software systems and more knowledgeable support staff to allow for 24 hour turnaround.  Thousands of products are available for this type of rush service, and many of the suppliers offer it at no extra charge.

Apparel orders normally take longer by nature.  Sizes, fit and the type and complexity of the decoration method must be considered.  And in many cases, the wearable is purchased at one supplier, shipped to the decorator, and then finally delivered to the customer.  But even with all those factors, speedy delivery can be achieved.  Apparel choices should be limited to those suppliers that offer in-house decoration to avoid double shipping; art files should be provided in correct format; and the customer art approvals must be made immediately upon receipt.

However, regardless of the urgency, if it’s delivered on time, but it’s wrong, nobody is happy – and everybody loses.  Signed customer art approvals should be non-negotiable, and expedited freight charges should be quoted and approved before the project begins.

The business climate has changed.  “Business as usual” includes tight budgets, rush orders and overnight deliveries.  The corporate buyer and his or her brand management partner must work together to make quick decisions with clear attention to detail.  The product suppliers have stepped up their game to allow flexibility and fast turnaround time – the only thing between the customer’s need for speed and the finished product is a savvy promotional product specialist.  Don’t settle for less!

Journals and Jotters and Planners … Oh My!

Even with the ever growing affection we all have for our electronic devices as the business tool of choice, there is much to be said for the value of the written word to record our meeting notes, business expenses and last-minute thoughts.  For many people, it’s faster, easier and more convenient to pull out a right-sized journal than to launch a computer device that may, or may not, be able to find a wireless network connection.  And, of course, the opportunity it offers for creative branding and custom filler pages makes it the perfect promotional item for nearly every corporate audience.

As we approach fall, it’s not too early to consider the value of a calendar that outlines upcoming events for 2013.  This type of information can be printed and inserted into a journal for valued customers.  For the next trade show, a small jotter with custom pages inserted to advertise the new product line or web site features would be a handy pocket or purse device for every recipient.  Or, consider a motivational tool for the sales team that offers a notebook to name, organize and track individual goals.

There are several style options and endless choices for creative customization.  Some to consider:

  • recycled front and back covers for the eco-conscious
  • book-bound leather with elastic privacy closure
  • full color cover with spiral bound lined paper that features a motivational message on every page
  • aluminum or paperboard front with flexible binding that offers ability to refill or reorganize notes
  • tri fold with a business card pocket, ribbon marker and elastic pen loop

There are journals and planners that appeal to gardeners, sports teams, energy consumers, wine enthusiasts and any budget-tracking individual in the home or office.  They come in many sizes, shapes and colors – and they all give the corporate procurement team a creative vehicle to support the brand.  Take the time to consider your message, and give a journal that delivers it to the messenger!

(Image via Journal Books)

When You Need To Be Sure

Lead paint?  Choking hazard?  Flammable materials?  Custom made promotional merchandise is one of the best tools for setting your brand apart from the crowd, but when you need to know that the item will be produced to the specifications of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and be safe for the end user, what questions should you be asking?

First, when contemplating the option of producing custom goods, only those distributors with strong overseas factory relationships and at least five years import experience should be considered for this type of project.  There are many ways to make costly mistakes in overseas production, and without the benefit of an established overseas network, the risk of problems occurring increases dramatically.

Once you and your team of experts have decided on the basics of quantity, budget, timing and design, there should be a unanimous understanding on how to confirm the quality of the product.  A few basic points to consider when having that discusssion:

  • 3rd Party Quality Check (QC):  For a relatively small amount of money (approximately $350), a 3rd party independent QC company can offer services such as product inspection, factory auditing and lab testing. This should be considered a non-negotiable part of the project cost.
  • Verify Raw Materials:  It’s absolutely imperative that you know exactly what materials are being used in your product.  For items that come in contact with food, is it food grade?  Is the tote bag material flame resistant?  Request written documentation from the supplier that the materials are safe.
  • Request Pre-Production Samples:  Photos are not sufficient!  Quality and design issues can only be caught with an actual sample.  If the first sample is not acceptable, request and wait for another sample – and don’t sign off on production until the final sample meets all specifications.
  • Create QC Checklist:  Don’t assume everyone has the same quality concerns.  Create a simple and effective list of the most important aspects of the item you’re producing. Then be sure everyone on the team has a copy and all key points have been addressed. Some of the most basic considerations should be contents and packaging; item details such as color and shape; appearance and function; special requirements; and photos.

A well-designed custom promotional product can make a bold marketing statement and increase your brand visibility.  But when you need to be sure that the product quality reflects the high standards of your company, be certain to insist on a well-defined quality control plan from your supplier.

Take The ‘Made In America’ Challenge

In January, 2011, ABC News and Diane Sawyer kicked off the Made in America Challenge.    It was a series dedicated to exploring the positive economic effects of buying USA-made merchandise and challenging all Americans to open their minds to the opportunites we have to make a difference in our own homes.  It’s this type of call to arms that has helped to create a real emotional connection to products that are made in America. Due to that connnection, many consumers will recognize, and reward, those corporate citizens that demonstrate an awareness of this growing movement, and incorporate American-made products into their marketing campaigns.

Admittedly, it is often difficult to find cost effective domestic merchandise in certain product categories (just try to find a compelling selection of USA-made clothing styles for your next uniform program!).  However, like the growth in ladies clothing styles and eco-friendly products over the last ten years, the availability of American-made products in the promotional products industry continues to grow in response to the customer demand.  Common items like pens, cups, caps, coolers, and writing journals can all be sourced from domestic suppliers.  The quality is often superior and the pricing is surprisingly competitive for many of these items.  Although domestic manufacturers are still dealing with the reality of higher labor costs, when the freight costs, duties, and timing for production and delivery are factored in with the rising labor costs in China, the price difference shrinks, or disappears.

It’s true that the breadth of USA-made promotional merchandise still pales in comparison to items made overseas, but the companies that turn the “challenge” into an opportunity, will be rewarded with a more loyal customer base that will view your company as an empathetic ally, rather than just another provider.  Reach out to your preferred brand identity partner, and take a fresh look at the expanded selection of products that are ‘Made in America’!

You Can Lead A Horse To Water …

Corporations spend a lot of time, money and effort to build brand awareness through social media channels.  And oftentimes if the research points to a high number of hits and clicks and pageviews, the marketing team celebrates and waits for the sales to come through.

But if the initial visit to Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn didn’t drive the visitor to take the next step to learn more about your product and your company, then the exercise has failed.  In a post by Pamela Vaughan on HubSpot.com, she suggests that there are 8 foolproof ways to increase your social media reach.  In addition to basic tips like interacting with followers, sharing useful, valuable content and adding social sharing buttons to all your content, she also includes offering incentives for fans and followers.  In other words, give them a reason to buy.

Gift with purchase, customer loyalty programs and limited-time product specials are a few of the tactics that build brand awareness by motivating customers to purchase your product.  Consider a spot gift-with-purchase program with a limited budget that only allows for an inexpensive item like an umbrella or tote bag.  But rather than making a quick decision to go with the off-the-shelf umbrella idea, you offer a custom-designed eco-friendly insulated grocery tote embellished with your logo and marketing tag line in a subtle and distinct way. The cost would be about the same, but the customer reaction may be quite different.  Or, design a simple loyalty program that distributes points for sales, referrals, surveys, etc, and give the customer the opportunity to spend those points on your company products, or other lifestyle items that are branded with your logo.  In any case, the idea is to turn a visit to your Facebook page into a loyal customer.

Nearly everyone would agree that marketing through social media can be effective, but only if it is combined with well-designed supporting programs aimed at driving the followers to “drink the water”!  Schedule a meeting with your marketing team, advertising/social media specialists and preferred branded merchandise professional, and design a multi-faceted social media strategy that will ignite the interest of even the most passive on-line visitor.