All Things Promotional Marketing
Posts tagged promotional products
Swag Done Right
Jul 29th
Corporate Swag refers to the trade show giveaways a person receives for walking aisle after aisle in a conference center looking at the wares and services of the vendors. What makes for good Corporate Swag? Does item functionality reign supreme, or can a creative, unique design transform an otherwise regular item into marketing gold? Personally, I think that both functionality and design can make Promotional Products that will be spared the trash bin.
Foldout USB Flash Drive 1GB
Let’s look at what functional means when it comes to Promotional Stuff. Functional is something I can incorporate into my day regardless of the logo or corporate saying. However, if the trade show giveaways are an article of clothing, the artwork really needs to grab my attention, or be odd or quirky. A double meaning for a saying is fun on a promotional company t-shirt. Uninspired artwork is not.
When a company takes the time and effort to design artwork that represents the industry and the featured event well, I could argue that whatever the Promotional Stuff is, the company will be positively remembered. Even inconsequential artwork can have a big advertising impact.
Promotional company backpacks and custom duffel bags often are Custom Promotional Items given away at a trade show. I really like to receive these types of Promotional Stuff, especially when it is well made. One of the worst mistakes a company can make is to hand out badly made items. I would equate the cheapness of the product with bad quality control of the company whose name is on the gift.
Another bane of Corporate Swag is handing out old technology. If the Promotional Products that are given out are company logo USB and promotional thumb drives, make sure they are made with the latest technology. If I put the drive into my USB and it can’t be read, or there is little storage capacity, I again will look with question on the company whose logo is stamped on the casing.
Other Custom Promotional Items that are common novelty items are blinking noise making balls or yo-yos. While neither of these items are very useful, they are fun. My dog loves the balls; my cats hate them. A custom yo-yo is fun if you know how to run one. My dogs love them if they are thrown, and my cats love the string.
Bottom-line, quality swag is made up of two parts; useful, quality products and creative design. It’s important to always order from a quality manufacturer. Remember that your promotional swag is a reflection on your company, and in the mind of the consumer, a poorly made item is usually associated with poor business. But just as important is the use of quality artwork. A promotional backpack with a poor design can be outdone by something as simple as a company shirt with a unique, creative look. So, always try to achieve a balance of the two.
QR Codes as a Marketing Tool
Jul 27th
Quick response codes (QR) are flat little squares of black and white dots that are cropping up across the mobile marketing field. Smartphone users simply snap a photo of these dots and a QR code reader app connects to an Internet landing page, revealing a world of useful information. For those who market with promotional products, QR codes could be the most prescient, agile and robust way to appeal to the burgeoning mobile market.
Try it, it works!
The growing trend toward QR codes for marketing is already well established in Japan, where 25% of shopping takes place on mobile devices. The US market has been slower to catch on to the QR trend, but forward-thinking marketers are beginning to sit up and take notice. Promotional products are the perfect platform for quick response technology. A QR code reader app can make a product perform all sorts of Internet tricks that can keep consumers entertained and engaged for years to come.
The ways advertisers are able to use QR codes for marketing is limited only by imagination. These little black and white dynamos are more than just two-dimensional barcodes, they can really pack a marketing wallop. They can be stamped on almost any flat surface or digital location, and linked to all sorts of Internet destinations, from functional to frivolous. Landing pages can include product information, reviews, discount coupons, online shopping pages, social media platforms, music, videos, games, surveys, polls, and much more.
One really innovative way to use QR on promotional products is to embellish the code itself with a graphic or message. The codes are made up of black and white patterns that can only be read by a QR code reader app, but unused areas in the code’s design may be crafted into a simple picture or words. This is even more reason to put QR codes on promotional products.
Clearly the trend toward consumer use of QR technology is growing quickly and the mobile movement shows no sign of slowing anytime soon. Using QR codes to market promotional products is simply a smart business move. Advertisers can start by learning more ways for marketers to use QR codes creatively.
Hit a Hole-In-One with Promotional Golf Products!
Jul 25th
For several decades, business professionals spanning a wide range of industries have chosen the links over the conference room. Golf courses afford a place where professionals can build the trust and understanding it takes to forge some of the most important business deals of their careers. There is a real art to doing business on the golf course and the use of promotional golf products brings your business to where business is done.
Titleist Pro V1
All golfers need a bag for carrying their clubs and other essentials, so why not consider promotional golf bags to provide for this need while also promoting your business? rushIMPRINT offers promotional golf bags by Slazenger featuring multiple pockets and dual straps for comfort. Each bag is imprinted with your company logo and/or additional text.
As golf balls are either in hand or in front of the club during every round of golf, why not also use custom logo golf balls to promote your business? rushIMPRINT offers Titleist NXT Tour custom logo golf balls customized with a one or two-color logo and additional imprint text. As your customers are going to need to clean either a club or a ball at some point, why not provide them with custom golf towels to promote your business? rushIMPRINT offers custom golf towels in several colors with a one-color imprint of your company’s logo. Ensure they also stay dry with a custom two-tone golf umbrella from rushIMPRINT, customized with a one color imprint of your company logo and optional text.
Golf accessories see a lot of use out on the golf course – why not provide your customers with custom golf ball markers as well? rushIMPRINT offers a diverse selection of custom golf ball markers and tools. Hat clips with magnetic ball markers are available in gold or silver and engraved with your company logo. rushIMPRINT also offers golf stress balls imprinted with your company logo and optional text. They fit easily into a customer’s golf bag and are great for relieving stress while also improving concentration.
When you consider all of the areas of the game where you can make a substantial impact promoting your business, your choice to use promotional golf products makes sense. Customers’ golf bags, towels, ball markers, stress relievers and the balls themselves aren’t just necessary to playing the game; These are items that provide you with great opportunities to promote your business.
Get Cooking With Our Top Four Grilling Gifts
Jul 22nd
A truly great promotional item is one that works well and will be used often, building goodwill with every use. With summer grilling season in full swing, now is the perfect time to distribute promotional grilling items imprinted with your company’s logo. Customers will be excited to receive high-quality custom grilling kits or custom spatulas for free, far more so than if they received a pen or a magnet. The positive associations with your company will then be reinforced every time they fire up the grill for summer fun.
Great Grilling Options!
The best promotional grilling items are ones that are going to be used frequently and kept close to hand at the grill. Items like digital grilling forks and lighted bamboo spatulas are perfect multipurpose grilling tools that can easily find a place in any home grill master’s toolbox. Custom spatulas with logos are unusual and distinctive, so you don’t need to worry about your promotion blending into the crowd. The lighted bamboo spatula is an especially clever promotional item because it is a conversation piece in itself. Many cooks won’t have seen a spatula that lights up for evening grilling before, making your item even more noticeable and unique. Digital grilling forks allow for quick temperature checks throughout the grilling process, and will keep your company’s logo right next to the grill on the handsome carrying case.
For a truly memorable promotional gift, custom grilling kits are unbeatable. With all the most essential grilling tools in a single sturdy case, this is an item that will not only be used at home, but for camping, tailgating, or any grilling opportunity. Your 8″x3″ logo on the case will be clearly visible to everyone who assists in the grilling process, and the rugged, professional grade kit is sure to stand up to season after season of use. No matter what items you choose, though, you can’t go wrong with promotional grilling gifts this summer.
Convenience or Headache? The Quest for the Perfect Gadget
Oct 7th
In your opinion of today’s technology, what is the best invention that has made an improvement for yourself or the world? Is their anything in the future that you would like to see created?
During high school I took a program at Forbes Road CTC for computer networking and engineering (CNET). This program went from changing your screen saver to wiring.
Brandi- working at Forbes Road CTC
While attending Forbes, we had a project which required us to take a trip to Seagate Research Center in the Strip District and present a PowerPoint. We were proposing new applications for wireless and network attached hard drives in everyday life. While we worked on these projects for a month or so you could see how much more people understood the new application.
External Hard Drive by Seagate
Who doesn’t like Chocolate? If you don’t, check this out first!
Oct 6th
Betsy Ann, Sarris, and Hershey are some of my favorite brands of chocolate. It gives me that mid-afternoon boost of energy, improves my mood, and not to mention tastes delicious. If consumed in moderation some kinds of chocolate can actually be good for you.
In the CNN article (linked below) I read, they performed research at Tufts University. Jeffrey Blumberg, director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory found hypertensive people who ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day for two weeks saw their blood pressure drop significantly. Also, chocolate milk may help you recover after a tough workout.
Of course with all the calories chocolate has, it should not be a substitute for fruits and vegetables, you need the vitamins, and potassium that they provide your body.
Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
What is Chocolate good for?
Heart- Yes! It helps reduce blood pressure levels. Also it can decrease the risks of cardiovascular disease for people with hypertension. Cocoa Increases supply of blood to the brain, but dark chocolate reduces oxidative stress and contains high levels of antioxidants.
Preventing Cancer- Yes! Dark Chocolate, which contains 13,120 ORACs (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Units), can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and cholesterol problems.
Mood Elevation- Yes! Serotonin and Dopamine are the two chemicals governing moods in the body. Cocoa contains monoamine oxidize inhibitors which flow freely in the bloodstream for longer periods of time which keeps the mood elevated.
Brain- Yes! Chocolate may boost one’s concentration and attention span, enhances memory, also problem solving skills as it increases blood flow to the brain.
Skin- Yes! Researchers believe that the flavonoids (flavonoids- Vitamin P and Citrin – plant nutrients which are non-toxic and beneficial to the human body) in cocoa absorb UV light, thereby protecting the skin and improving its appearance. These flavonoids also help in fighting wrinkles and also help slow down the aging process.
Teeth- Somewhat! Besides chocolate conducing to teeth decay scientists have said that chocolate has the ability to offset the acid producing potential of the sugar it contains. The tannins (a vegetable, defensive compounds that counteracts bacteria and fungi) in cocoa interfere with the action of bacteria on the teeth, which reduces cavity formation. The cocoa content in chocolate is good for teeth; however, it’s the sugar that causes the trouble.
You can find all of this information at:
I added chocolate to my diet during my marathon training. Chocolate milk was a great drink for recovering after my long runs, It gave me the protein and vitamin D that I needed.
Promotional Products – Beyond The Customers
Sep 29th
Just the other day, I had a unique experience to sit in on a professional sports team staff meeting. The staff was clearly excited and buzzing in preparation for the upcoming season and everyone had their lists of responsibilities from season ticket organizing to corporate golf tournament management, but one thing caught my ear in particular.
The head coach surely had is pressing issues that needed addressing, but he spent most of his time discussing something the rest had seemed to almost forget about, the in-game camera operators for the jumbo-tron. On top of everything else going on in the office the coach was concerned about the commonly ignored $8.00 camera operators, and more importantly how the organization could keep camera operators longer than just one season. The initial response was to simply pay them more, but due to restrictions with the facility and their employment this was not negotiable. The coach then asked the group: What can we make special for them that adds value and builds their loyalty to us – the brainstorming began that very moment. I was simply fascinated at how all of these other important issues froze for that moment to figure out what the organization could give to camera operators to impress upon them how valued they were.
I won’t give away the final decision, but it’s looking good for the men behind the lenses. I took this as a lesson for the future though: Cool stuff with your brand on it should transcend simply finding new customers. Business owners and managers have responsibility to their teams and their staffs to develop not only loyalty but personal investment. Sure, these camera guys won’t stick around because they got some cool team-branded swag, but providing the experience and connecting with them with legitimate gratitude makes ALL of the difference in the world.
rushIMPRINT has so many options for you to consider recognizing your teams today. Check us out and make the difference for your most valuable resources, people!
3 Things You Should Be Doing To Celebrate Your Customers
Sep 14th
A friend of mine works for a professional hockey team in their sales department. We were discussing customer relationships and the difference between types of customers. He was talking about how season ticket holders have an emotional commitment to the team, while group customers require a unique one-time experience to effectively lock them in as long-term repeat customers. His philosophy is true in all forms of sales; there will always (hopefully) be YOUR customers that do business with you because of an emotional investment in your company and your products, while some other great customers might turn to you in search of something different than the alternative. Here are threeways that you can create a unique experience and develop long-term customer relationships.
Give Back
If you don’t have some kind of rewards program already in place, then you NEED to start one now. Don’t just cut a deal like “buy $100 and get $5 off…” this is overused and tired. Perhaps placing your brand on some unique, useful, and valuable things is a better route; the more the customer buys the more rewards they get on top of their order. Build your brand around giving – people will notice.
Invite Them In
New Belgium is the 3rd largest microbrewery in the United States. They offer FREE tours of their brewery with samples of their beer five days per week; these tours are full 3 weeks in advance. They invite about 150 people into their building most days to touch, feel, smell, learn, and enjoy how their product is made. Inviting people behind the curtain provides them with an experience; providing them with great content about your product and company history provides them with the opportunity to share that with others.
Be Grateful
It seems like common sense to “be grateful,” but you could probably think of a time when places of business just didn’t care. I cheated on my diet the other day and got Taco Bell (don’t judge…); in my attempts to not totally kill my efforts I kept it under $4, and the attendants seemed like my tiny order was legitimately a burden. Imagine if you could receive sincere gratitude from the people that you give money to in exchange for products and services. Let’s face it, we ALL have competition in our markets, so outdo everyone else with genuine respect and gratitude for every person that comes through your door.
Take your business to a new level! Start giving back, inviting your customers behind the veil, and being more grateful and your business will do better – it’s that easy.
No Time to Exercise? Stay Active with these Tips
Sep 3rd
“Without regular physical activity, the body slowly loses its strength and ability to function well” The American Heart Association. The most important thing to remember is never overdo it, keep a steady pace and listen to music to relax yourself.
Staying fit is important to me. I make working out part of my daily routine. Whether it’s early in the morning, lunch, or after work in the evening; I always try to get at least 30 minutes or more of exercise. Working out is convenient for me; I have a membership to my local gym. Also here at Rushimprint we are fortunate that we have a gym right here in our office.
Keeping it Fun 
It’s easy to lose motivation over time, so in order to keep yourself from becoming bored and to keep your muscles guessing, try performing a variety of exercises.
Here are some of the things I enjoy: running, spin, weight training and belly dancing. This week I plan on taking a jazzercise class with a friend, sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
Getting Started
At most of our jobs we are sitting behind a desk for several hours a day. Make becoming active one of your priorities. We all have busy lives so a great way to start is to just devote 20 to 30 minutes to yourself.
You can break it up into 2 fifteen minute workouts. Set small goals for yourself and when you reach them, reward yourself. Research shows that exercise helps improve your mood and productivity. You will also look and feel great. Try different things and see what works best for you.
Here are a few fun products that you can use right at home:
- Track your steps with the Slazenger Step Pedometer
- For Fitness on the Go Try the Travel Fitness Kit
- Stay Fit Digital Jump Rope
- This is an article from The American Heart Association
Employees who are healthy are more productive because they are absent less often and are able to focus and perform better at work. That’s why the American Heart Association created the national initiative called Start!. Start! calls on all Americans to create a culture of physical activity and live healthier lives by walking.
Did you know that by adding one hour of regular, vigorous physical activity, adults may gain up to two hours of life expectancy? There are more than 140 million Americans over age 20 who are overweight and obese — a serious risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Also, only 30.9 percent of U.S. adults age 18 or older engage in regular leisure-time physical activity.
Start by including more physical activity into your daily routine. Take a walk, ride a bike or take the stairs. To help you reach and maintain a healthy body weight, the American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week.
Promote good health in the workplace. Your employees will reap the benefits with lower out-of-pocket medical costs, a reduced risk of developing a chronic health condition and increased satisfaction with their jobs and lives. Medical, workers’ compensation and disability costs will be lower, too.
Also check out another great article with helpful tips:
Tips for Exercise Success by The American Heart Association.
Presenting … rushVIDS: Umbrella Product Test
Sep 2nd
We are excited to announce our new video series – rushVIDS! We are going to present an exciting array of videos that both entertain and educate. Watch our rushCREW put products to the test, explain the latest and greatest happenings on rushIMPRINT, discuss promotional ideas and tips for your business, and answer customer questions or comments! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn of the newest videos first!
Enjoy our inaugural video and let us know what you think!