Archive for the ‘Industries’ Category
Toyota, Tylenol, and How One “Bachelor” Contestant Could Use Promotional Products in Her Everyday Life
On Monday night’s episode of “The Bachelor: The Women Tell All,”* Southern Belle and single mother Ella commented on the behavior of fellow bachelorette (and also the instigator of much of this season’s drama), Vienna, by saying:
“She would do and say things she would not think about before she did them. She may be sorry for them later, but then if you continue that after ‘I’m sorrys,’ it’s not going to fly.”
At the time, I paused and pondered Ella’s statement. Although perhaps not the most eloquently put version of a value that I have been taught from a young age, her honesty and simple interpretation of why Vienna lost her credibility were refreshing. “I’m sorry” can be a powerful phrase, but overusing it may cause the listener to become skeptical of the apologetic individual or party’s sincerity.
A recent BrandWeek article about Millward Brown’s list of “most trusted and recommended brands” brought to light a shining example of the impact of apologies in the corporate world. The list is based on the survey responses of over 20,000 U.S. consumers at the end of 2009. Tylenol, ranked 6th on the list, happens to have had numerous recalls over the years, including one in 2009, the year in which the data for this study was collected. Eileen Campbell, global CEO of Millward Brown, explained the company’s high ranking by saying, “Doing well in a crisis actually builds trust.”
Toyota, number 7 on the list, only began facing scrutiny in early 2010 regarding the safety of their vehicles, so I am curious to see how the established car manufacturer’s trust rating will fare among consumers in the future. Personally, I think Toyota’s crisis recovery efforts have been outstanding, and by admitting their lapses in quality assurance and promising to improve, they have already begun to regain the respect of many consumers. Think about how you react after you make a mistake: I know that I am overly cautious because of fear of repeating the same error. I guess only time will tell if Toyota will exhibit the same staying power as Tylenol.
As for Vienna, I think her actions have alienated the vast majority of Bachelor viewers, but hey, she still has a chance to get the guy! Maybe he will be more receptive to her apologies than Ella and the rest of her former housemates; if all else fails, she could try imprinting the words “I’m sorry” on promotional products as tokens of her on-going remorse instead of just saying them time and again. :)
* As many of my coworkers know, I tune into a variety of reality shows, from “Say Yes to the Dress,” to “The Real Housewives of ____” (you could fill in practically any city name/season and chances are I have seen the majority of the episodes), to, I’m almost ashamed to admit, “The Bachelor.” Although not the most mentally stimulating, hopefully this blog has proven reality tv’s capacity to teach valuable life lessons to unassuming viewers like myself.
Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
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Chance Encounters Due to Fate? Or to Promotional Business Card Magnets?
During a trip to New York City this weekend, I learned that Jaime could not be more right about the value of the traditional promotional business card magnet. I was in the Big Apple visiting my college roommate, Amanda, and on my first night in town we ran into a group of girls that we were friends with in school but with whom we had since lost touch completely. Now, Manhattan holds the title of the largest city in the United States (based on population) and if I had to guess, I’d say the city is home to the most bars and restaurants too. With such an assortment of options, what are the odds of randomly encountering old friends at a restaurant? The chances are a lot smaller than one would think, when taking the company’s effective use of promotional products into account.
Consider this scenario: Amanda was excited for my visit and, since our love of food has always been something over which we bond, she was looking for a fun, new restaurant to try. She narrowed down the various locales (she picked the slightly edgy Meatpacking District), but still seemed overwhelmed by the number of choices. After reading restaurant reviews online and coming up empty-handed, she needed a break and walked into the kitchen for a refreshing glass of water. And it was there, on the freezer, that she discovered the answer. Amanda’s roommate had enjoyed the fine fare of a French restaurant in Meatpacking District the previous month and had subsequently brought home the restaurant’s promotional business card magnet. As a personal recommendation from another foodie speaks highly about a restaurant, we decided to try to the French café.
The cuisine was delightful and so was the atmosphere, especially because we spotted our 
former friends as soon we walked into the quaint little restaurant. After the hugging and giggling subsided, I asked them how they picked the place. Their reply: “a business card magnet, of course!”
Sarah
Marketing Coordinator
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How to Increase Online Sales: Promotional Products for Web-Savvy Seniors
While jean leggings, Swedish nail beds, and other fads of 2009 have mostly come and gone with the passing year, some shopping trends are here to stay. In 2009 more seniors were shopping online than ever before, and experts predict this will be an ongoing trend. The new senior market offers many advertising opportunities, making it important to stay educated about how to effectively reach this group.
Seniors- defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as those aged 65 or older- are the fastest growing segment in the United States and moreover the group with the largest disposable income and ability to make purchase decisions (unlike teens who also have large disposable incomes but often have their spending controlled or limited by parents). In fact, seniors spend over $7 billion online according to research by SeniorMag.
So, how do companies target the influential senior demographic? One important detail to recognize when marketing to seniors is that older men and women often have more time to research products and are less likely to buy on impulse. That being said, seniors are increasingly turning to the Internet in order to compare items and they often make their purchases online too.
In order to appeal to this developing demographic, companies that focus heavily on 
e-commerce need to ensure that their sites are user-friendly. Marketers can do this by posting pictures of seniors using their products and writing promotional material that contains relevant and interesting information, as seniors are often skeptical of ads that sound too “sale-sy.” Since seniors are more likely to trust companies that they view as honest and practical, distributing promotional products is another effective way to garner attention and loyalty from the senior audience because it allows them to sample functional products while reinforcing a brand name.
Although seniors are often savvier shoppers than teens and baby boomers who shop online, they are typically interested in the same types of products as younger audiences. Top purchases made by seniors include travel tickets and hotel arrangements, MP3 players and other electronics, and apparel. And, Americans over the age of 65 are some of the most loyal you can find, evidenced by an AARP survey showing that more than 80% of seniors who shopped online were satisfied with their purchases. Just don’t try to sell them the latest heavy metal CD!
Sarah
Marketing Coordinator
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A Promotional Products Bill of Rights
As a United States citizen and more specifically, an avid blog writer, the right to freedom of speech is very important to me. That’s why I wanted to take the time to honor the fact that today is Bill of Right’s Day. The United States Bill of Rights, otherwise known as the first ten Constitutional amendments made to protect citizens’ privileges and interests, first came into effect 218 years ago on December 15, 1791. Since then, other laws have been created to protect citizens and various customer behaviors, including the Consumer Bill of Rights that was created by President John F. Kennedy, Jr. in 1962.
After much frustration over faulty products and little manufacturer liability, President Kennedy decided that consumers had the prerogative to protect themselves from defective products, false or exaggerated advertising and generally unethical corporate practices and procedures. This sentiment has evolved over the years and, with the ability to shop online and compare prices, is more important than ever these days.
As a consumer in the promotional products industry, you have right to be safe, the right to choose your products and distributors freely, the right to have your product requests be heard and the right to be educated about new items on the market. You also have the right to be informed about production schedules and all costs, rules and regulations that may apply to your purchases. One common regulation was discussed in Jaime Weinstein’s blog about Prop 65. Although it only relates to products distributed in California, Prop 65, along with an entire Consumer Product Safety Commission, was created as part of many consumer rights’ acts.
Your right to staying well informed is one part of the broader guarantee to high-quality service from professional account teams. So the next time you shop for promotional products, make sure you use your rights wisely by choosing a company that fits all of these needs and guarantees your consumer rights!
Sarah
Creative Writing Intern
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Quill photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalparadox/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Shopping Online for Promotional Products? Try PPAI Award Nominated Pinnacle Promotions.
Pinnacle Promotions has been selected as a nominee for not one, but TWO 2010 PPAI Web Awards. These prestigious awards are given to distributor and supplier members of the promotional products industry based on demonstrated excellence in five distinctive categories. We have been nominated for the categories of “Functionality/Usability” and “Visual Design/Creativity.”
To me, both of these nominations speak to Pinnacle’s role as an innovator. A recent blog post by Rosabeth Moss Kanter discusses why “steady progress – step by single step – can win internal support and the external race for share of market or share of mind.” She discusses several characteristics of innovations most likely to effectively garner support, and the attribute that struck me as most closely aligned with Pinnacle’s accomplishments is tangibility. In her explanation of what “tangible” innovations entail, she states that:
“It offers concrete results that can be seen to make a difference in something that users need and value.”
What do our users need? What do they value? We think that an intuitive website and enjoyable shopping experience are ultimately two of the most sought-after ideals of buyers when choosing a promotional products distributor. So what broad areas constitute these two components? Why, “Functionality/Usability” and “Visual Design/Creativity,” of course. From the addition of Quick Links and Themes on our homepage to provide ideas for customers who are “just browsing,” to the recent reorganization of the navigation bar at the top of our site to make it easier to peruse our most popular categories, every change we make happens for a reason: our customers. In every facet of our website, we strive to create personal connections with our visitors. Even now, I can tell you that our team is hard at work improving our website and thinking of new ways to enhance the overall experience delivered by a visit to our site. After fourteen years of “step by single step” innovation, it seems fitting that Pinnacle Promotions has been nominated for recognition within our industry. We are humbled by this great honor and whether we win or lose in January, we look forward to retaining our status as an innovator for many years to come!
Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
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Pink Gloves Dance: Can You Spot the Promotional Products?
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon sure knows how to get down and dance! They are the makers of this very popular YouTube video – Pink Gloves Dance.
It all started with a glove manufacturer, Medline Industries, which decided to make pink hospital gloves instead of green. For each case sold in the month of October, Medline donated $1 to breast cancer research.
St. Vincent decided that the more health care workers wear pink gloves, the more people would talk about breast cancer. More than 200 hospital staff volunteered to wear the pink gloves in a video. There are lab technicians, janitorial staff, kitchen staff, nurses and doctors all showing their moves dancing in the hospital.
There are lots of different promotional products available to help support various causes, and a few ideas are featured on the Pinnacle Promotions Promotional Marketing Calendar.
We even have a specific page dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month which provides several product ideas and marketing recommendations.
Can you spot the following promotional products in the video?
1) Flag
2) Scrubs
3) Lanyard
4) Doctor Jacket
5) Hawaiian Lei
6) Pink Umbrella
One of my favorite and most effective promotional products is the pink umbrella. While it’s raining as you walk through the town, your awareness message can be seen from so many people. I encouraged the use of a fold up umbrella to one of my non-profits last year for their campaign. They received such positive feedback that they decided to use umbrellas again this year!!
Eliza
Account Manager
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Promotional Products to help your Marketing Campaign Win Big
While many people swear that bingo is a game of luck, I have my doubts. In the 20 years that I have been playing bingo with my family, my older sister has consistently been the winner. In fact, she’s stockpiled so many M & M’s (we don’t play for money) that she could open her own candy store. Despite the fact that I very rarely win, I love bingo. There’s something about choosing a card and covering the free spot that brings me back to my childhood in a way that I just don’t find with more competitive games. And, the best part is that people of all ages and cultures can share a game of bingo.
In fact, the game of bingo originated with an Italian lottery game called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia” in the 16th century. Over the years, the game evolved and its popularity increased. Germans often used the game in schools as a way to teach spelling and math, a tradition that has since been brought to America. While bingo has been around for many centuries, only recently have businesses begun to realize the game’s marketing potential. And, since December is Bingo Month, I thought now would be a great time to share my love for the game, as well as a valuable lesson about promotions.
In addition to being a great way to bring family and friends together for a little healthy competition, bingo and other 
interactive games are great ways to advertise a brand. Like bingo cards, customized scratch off cards engage and excite consumers by offering them a chance to win a grand prize at essentially no expense. Scratch-off cards, which feature pre-selected numbers that are hidden behind a removable film, are cost-efficient promo items that are especially great giveaways at tradeshows.
You can customize the cards with your company’s name and logo and have each card contain a small prize, such as merchandise or service discount. Hand out the cards at the tradeshow entrance and increase your traffic by telling winners to claim their prize at your booth. Or for improved Internet sales, allow winners to redeem their prize only by visiting your Web site. Any way you choose to utilize scratch off cards, you will surely hit the jackpot for your marketing campaign.
Sarah
Creative Writing Intern
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Bingo photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/keees/ / CC BY 2.0
Take A Tip From the Automobile Industry and Logo Your Promo
Consider the logo pictured above. What thoughts immediately came rushing to your mind upon seeing that particular image? Speed? Class? Luxury Vehicles? Even Germany, perhaps?
This simple circle surrounding a 3-sided star has the ability to evoke so many different associations in ones mind from the products the company produces to the place of its origin. While this logo has been around since 1926, having had decades to establish such recognition for the entire Mercedes-Benz automobile company from its simple design, it is purely an example to demonstrate the power that symbols have in our world today.
Promotional products can be successful means of aiding in establishing logo identities as logos are like links to memories in consumers’ minds, and material items can help to reinforce those memories. After all, even with well-known car companies it’s not only their own automobiles that don their symbols. They produce apparel, key chains, and more, that are all customized with their logos, providing exposure for their brands in more arenas than just on the road.
Automobile companies have some of the most recognized logos throughout the world – see if you recognize a few, or all, of these:
Jaime
Team Lead – Multimedia
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Elect to Use Promotional Products on Election Day
Today is Election Day. And if you’re sitting there reading and thinking, “Oh no, I hope she doesn’t go into a rant about the responsibility of voting,” you don’t have to worry. This isn’t a blog to lecture about the importance of exercising your right, but rather to look back on famous political campaigns and the use of promotional products.
It’s impossible to talk about Election Day without discussing how just a year ago, Barack Obama made history as the world watched with captive eyes. And let’s not forget the “hanging chad” incident of 2000, were many Floridian’s votes were not counted because the hole did not detach completely from the ballot. While these stories recount historic Election Day media frenzy, they do not take into account the months of campaigning and the strategy behind it.
The first documented political campaign in the United States occurred in 1789, when George Washington ran for reelection. Washington used commemorative buttons to gain momentum for his campaign, effectively creating the first promotional products. And, from lapel pins to bumper stickers, promotional products have been an important part of politics ever since. In fact, bumper stickers are some of the most effective marketing tools because they travel everywhere a recipient goes, and they last long after the election is over.
You don’t have to be running for office to effectively utilize lapel pins and bumper stickers as part of your marketing campaign. These cost-effective items are ideal as mass giveaways, and can be easily customized with a company name and logo to provide increased brand exposure.
In addition to being fun and functional, the staying power of promotional products provides an advantage over traditional advertising and mass media. No one can deny that mass media has played a determining role in elections ever since the first televised debates between Robert Nixon and John F. Kennedy Jr. and that the use of social media has become widespread on the campaign trail in recent elections. But while social media is a great way for politicians and businesses to generate buzz, ultimately it is the promotional products that become integrated into everyday life and last long after the TV is turned off and the computer shut down.
Social media that generated buzz last year:
Sarah
Creative Writing Intern
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Information Overload: Why Buyers of Promotional Products Should Care
As a newbie in the world of marketing, it is hard for me to imagine how the industry functioned before the introductions of the Internet, TV, and cell phones. It must have been much simpler for marketers to communicate their messages to their target audiences, but they also lacked the extent of efficiency and information available to marketers in today’s society. But has some of the value of that information diminished in importance because of what author Guy Kawasaki refers to as, “information obesity?” When I came across an online article written by Kem Meyer and edited by Kawasaki the other day, I knew I had to dedicate a blog post to Meyer’s topic of discussion.
The premise of the article is that NONE of us are immune to the presence of information overload. Alvin Toffler coined the phrase, “information overload” to explain the phenomenon which occurs when individuals are presented with an excess amount of information and lose sight of the task(s) that they were originally trying to complete.
People are exposed to hundreds of thousands of marketing messages daily, so as a marketer, it has become increasingly tougher to break through the clutter and get your voice heard. There is a fine line between “over-selling”, which runs the risk of potentially offending end users and invading their personal space, and not being aggressive enough, which may cause a campaign to be ineffective and quickly forgotten.
Meyer provides valuable information about how marketers can maintain a happy medium, and I have taken the liberty of adapting a few of her recommendations to apply to the more specific marketing subset of promotional products.
1. Stick to the facts. Provide the necessary information to enable consumers to make a decision. In the promotional products industry, this can be applied by limiting the amount of text imprinted on a given item. For example, customizing a promotional pen with the name of your organization, phone number, and website address may be sufficient to drive sales.
2. Stick to the point. In my experience, this step cannot be emphasized enough. Meyer states, “Start with the end in mind before you take action.” As marketers, it is our job to inspire people to think and act in accordance with our desired objectives. If you are unsure of what you hope to achieve by executing a promotional products campaign, how can you expect your audience to follow through on your call to action?
3. Deflate your self-importance. There is a time and place for a sales pitch, and generally, promotional products are not appropriate vehicles on which to deliver lengthy monologues stuffed with industry-specific terminology. As Meyer eloquently explains, “Work hard to think like your audience to find ways to connect.” In the Healthcare industry, maybe this means tailoring a promotional campaign to the needs of nurses, whose job descriptions and equipment often differ greatly from those of physicians or other medical providers. Take on a tone that demonstrates a clear understanding of these professionals and they are likely to appreciate the individual attention paid to them by your brand.
To avoid adding to the noise which constitutes information overload, I’m going to cut this post off here, but you can learn more about this subject by reading the full article “How to Fight Information Obesity” at http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/the-world/article/how-to-fight-information-obesity-guy-kawasaki.
Dana
Team Lead – Social Media
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