Promotional Products Weblog

More and more businesses are started printed calendars and handing them out as promotional products.

From a marketing standpoint this idea will be quite beneficial in the long run, because calendars are used on a daily basis. Depending whether at work or school, calendars can be used to target any age or gender group. They are described as “in-your-face-exposure” that many companies strive for.

However, the reason they are so effective is because the typical “U.S. household has more than four calendars, and the typical office has more than that,” stated the VP of Marketing for Advertising company True Art.

Another reasons why calendars work as promotional products is due to the subtle advertising that they have. More than once a day, someone’s eyes will stray to the calendar and view your company’s logo. This is more effective than having someone stand on a street corner and push a flyer into someone’s face.

In an article appearing on imediaconnection.com, Nada Stirratt stated that consumers are thrilled to be able to receive a freebie such as a sample or coupon. Therefore, many businesses should consider using promotional marketing to increase their customer list.

For example, a 2005 JupiterResearch study showed that the top reasons for making a purchase after viewing or receiving a marketing ad or email were the mention of sale prices and free shipping.

Stirratt pointed out that the increase in customers and results in sales and loyalty to your business. She went on to discuss ways in which a business can use promotional marketing such as coupons for visiting a website or using instant win games. For a full text of the article, visit Imediaconnection.

According to Promotional Products Association corporations spend $17.5 billion a year on promotional products. As an avid conference goer I can appreciate an article that highlights how boring most promotional products are. Barak Kassar recently wrote Smart Schwag: Harnessing The Power Of Promotional Items, where he asks:

Why isn't there more smart schwag that induces a meaningful, lasting brand experience, that:

• is really useful,
• gives joy
• is surprising and unique
• fits into the day and life of the recipient,
• is affordable
• represents a brand's core?

He then points out some schwag which works wonders.

• The substantial bar of oatmeal soap the then-new Sundance Channel placed in hotel bathrooms at cable TV conferences about a decade ago.
• The single-channel Bloomberg-brand transistor radio tunable only to Bloomberg 1130 (WBBR-AM). Surprising. Original. Useful.
• The Crispin-Porter Flop-Flips ("'Why not make a sandal that goes flop-flip?' .... 'It can't be done,' they said. 'A sandal should go flip-flop not flop-flip.' ... After years of research and millions ... in development costs we've given the flip-flop a new sound. Introducing the Flop-Flip"). Useful (at least in Miami). Original. And highly representative of the brand.

What are the best promotional products you ever came across? I really have not come across too much that impressed me.