Welcome to the 6th Edition NewsAlert from Promotional Merchandise USA

Read on to keep your promotional finger on the pulse of our industry…

Let's Share Best Practices

A Trendy Marketing Strategy Worth Viewing

Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) CEO Tim Andrews, heard from ASI members that video is starting to transform how they’re selling advertising specialties and they’re thinking about using videos to increase sales faster. Some already use them extensively.

ASI has embraced using video and you can watch several on their site that provide personal introductions to the ASI staff and demonstrate business-building features of their products.

But, using video was unchartered territory for ASI and many other businesses not long ago and they’re constantly refining and trying compelling new ways to deliver video that keeps viewers engaged.

In a recent business radio program about using video, Tim shared some tips that they’ve learned at ASI that you can apply to your videos or ones you’d like to start making.

Tips for producing and using videos that sell:

• Keep it simple - show the most unique features of a product to keep viewers interested.
• Make videos brief - several short segments are easier to digest than one lengthy one.
• Repurpose - post a video on your Website, but also email it to prospects and run it in a loop on a screen in your trade show booth.

Click here to watch video of the radio program for more video tips from Tim, the hosts and another invited guest.

Real Life Success Stories

"My Most Creative Sale Ever"

Fancy Footwork

Production Artist Dave Anderson of Flex Systems U.S.A. Inc. (asi/54597) was able to save a sale from slipping away by putting together virtual samples for one of his colleagues. "Our sales had been low in the month of November last year, and our salesperson John Keating came to me asking for a 3-D virtual image for a product that his client was giving up on and about to shelve," Anderson says.

Using Illustrator and Photoshop programs, he created a four-color-process, dome-look version of the prospect’s logo and virtually placed it on several products selected for the project. "The virtuals are the best representation I can possibly show for our products," he says.

After sending out the virtual samples, Keating made one of the largest single sales he had ever made: more than 10,000 bags, each of which had six decorated products inside – plus fulfillment. "John still calls it ‘the magic virtual,’" Anderson says.

Nancy Clopper, VP of HGX Inc. (asi/224886), actually found a way to change a product to fit a client’s needs. She had worked with the company previously on a magnet order for a radio and TV promotion. But now, a new contact from the firm called, asking for magnets with a Braille imprint that could be read by the visually impaired.

"I could not find anyone in our industry who was producing this type of a product," Clopper says. Desperate to make a good impression on the new contact, she managed to find a company who could take another supplier’s magnets and emboss them with a message in Braille.

"I had to change the thickness of the magnet to properly allow for the embossing," she says. "And the three rounds of proofs to ensure we had it correct were quite a task. But in the end, I earned their loyalty and, most importantly, felt good about helping deliver a product to the vision impaired."

Quick Thinking

Adele Bloom, a part-time rep for Brown & Bigelow (asi/148500), found a way to expand the horizons of a client who normally buys only pens – but it took a lot of product research, and time was limited since it was a holiday gift.

"I knew that we needed unisex items for his various clients," she says. "I kept suggesting things like imprinted BBQ sets, chocolate-covered almonds in crystal, emergency kits for the car, picnic baskets and wine. He liked these but kept on stalling, and time was going fast."

Finally, she happened upon an ad for silver piggy banks from Redline (asi/81133). Her client was a financial advisor, and instinct told her he just might go for it. She got a sample and showed it to him. "He loved them and ordered a bunch," she says. "He also ordered some high-end pens as well, but it was the banks that did the trick."

Jonathan Silver, owner of Jonathan Silver LLC, also had to do some quick thinking when he landed an appointment with a big prospect and had little time to prepare. "My excitement over the pending appointment turned to anxiety, as I needed to come up with an idea for what I was going to sell them," Silver says. Luckily, inspiration struck. The company was a publisher of soft-cover guides, so he took a cover from one of the books and pasted it on the front of a Harry and David Cookie Book.

They loved it. "I remember being asked what the minimum order requirement was for a custom Cookie Book during the meeting, and I made it up, saying it was 2,000 units." He got the order, and it led to an annual repeat sale for years.

Article by Jennifer Zorger / Advantages Magazine / September 2008

"Wow, Talk About a Cool Promo Idea…."

Innovative Marketing Solutions

Content Partners Worldwide (CPW) owns and jointly markets some truly unique patented products that marry together their strengths in disc manufacturing and content licensing.

The POPIT Lid is a new product that can hold various types of media on both 8cm and 12 cm optical discs on a drinks lid. Protected by a global patent, the lid can carry CD’s, DVD’s, video games, computer programmes or any other form of digital information. Despite its size, the 8cm disc will play in any CD and DVD player or PC computer. The lid can be adapted to fit any FMCG product and is not confined to drinks alone.

CoasterROM is another new product that holds 8cm optical media. Similar to the Popit Lid it can be used in a range of creative ways to get your message out to customers in many different locations such as large venues, theatres, bars, clubs, pubs, hotels, sporting arenas and music venues to name a few. CoasterROM is a uniquely clever product. It takes a traditional every day item and turns it into a multi media experience disguised as a simple drinks coaster.

Contact Us

Featured Supplier

Sponsors