Astro Findings
Trade show time is near, and by now, preparations for your exhibit should be on track. These dedicated industry events provide your establishment much exposure and will aid you to make your network bigger. Especially if you are aiming to bring your brand outside the country, trade shows give you an opening to meet possible franchisees or distributors or other manufacturing hubs to help you to keep your operating costs down.
Joining in trade shows is a serious matter. You don’t only shell out money for the floor space, but you will also be shelling out money for marketing materials like trade show giveaways, brochures, and flyers. In addition, if the trade show is held out of the country or in a different state, you must set aside some dollars to pay for plane tickets, accommodations, food, and transportation.
The returns of your trade show participation depend on whether the show brings you good prospects, if it improves your know-how, and helps you look for less costly suppliers. Here are some ways to ensure that your next trade show will be rewarding:
* Inspect the competition. Take the chance to see what other suppliers and companies are doing and learn from them. What are they doing in terms of R&D? Are they becoming more creative with their design? Are they using earth-friendly materials?
* Find out innovations in the industry. Trade shows gather the movers and shakers in the industry. These include suppliers of materials, packaging, machines, and tools.
* Study new industry policies. Trade shows have forums and talks to let industry players know of new certification, quality assurance tests, export policies, and other relevant progress. Manning the booth may take up a lot of your time, but put in mind that trade shows are an opening for you to know firsthand of industry progress. If you want to stay ahead in the business, it helps to know many things.
* Send out samples via direct mail before the show. If you have clients near the area who might want to see you, why not send them some trade show giveaways with your booth number and the trade show details so they remember to look for you when they’re at the expo?
* Hand out samples or giveaways during the trade show. Be practical. You will not be able to show your items to every person who comes to the show. Buyers and guests simply do not have the time to see all the halls, but you can make sure they know about you by handing out samples and giveaways at the entrance or at the buyer lounges. Interested suppliers will know how to call you as long as they have something with your contact details on it.
Marcus Fherystin is a corporate gifts guru on promotional marketing giveaways & promotional items California. Read posts by Marcus Fherystin on how you can improve your marketing needs.
Tags: advertising, Branding, Business, corporate gifts, corporate giveaways, Marketing, promotional items, promotional products, tradeshow giveaways, tradeshows
Posted in Business · November 17th, 2009 · Comments (0)
Some things never fail to wake up the inner traveler in us-bottled white sand from a beach in Bali; a map, maybe; sunset photos from an island on the other side of the globe. Advertising specialties that tap the adventurer in us are received happily. They allow us the chance to imagine, to desire, to expect that one day soon we will be able to afford to pay for that trip or have the time to spare.
One particular Australian shirt brand has the tagline, “It’s summer somewhere,” which truly makes sense.
If you are the owner or supervisor of a travel agency, beach or surf shop, or a resort, who says you can not hand out corporate gifts such as sunblock, rubber slippers, or a beach towel to clients and partners in the dead of winter? Who says anyone had to sulk just because they happened to be in the wrong location? If anything, these vacation-themed promotional gifts should be taken as a representation of something to look forward to, literally like a ray of sunshine in dark skies.
The Good Life
Campaigns with summer or getaway themes are always in style because they encompass everything that is fun about life, says one advertising specialties manufacturer. They leave us with this warm, cheery feeling. It is an invite to celebrate life.
Popular resort-themed advertising specialties include tank tops, sunblock, flip-flops, and beach towels invoke this fun feeling of the sun, sand, and sea. These promotional products usually come in bright, flashy hues for that summer look, enticing and inviting your recipients to savor the summer.
Indeed, the campaign to bringing in sales does not end with promotional giveaways. Great service should always be on top of a resort or hotel’s list of priorities, and by that we mean they should not forget to supply accommodations with imprinted advertising items like mini lotion and oil bottles, ballpoint pens, sewing kits, notepads and soap.
Traveler inns, hotels, resorts and bed-and-breakfasts can also utilize business gifts as merchandise to earn a little profit on the side. Custom totes, key tags, beer and coffee mugs, charm bracelets, T-shirts, visors, fridge magnets, and sunglasses will always be profitable advertising specialties, especially for vacationers who want to bring home a tangible piece of the memorable vacation back to the cold with them.
Of course, do not discount the fact that those going will also be bringing youngsters with them. Stuff your gift shop with children’s T-shirts, coloring books, crayons, socks, slippers, hats and caps, dental travel sets, and other kiddie advertising specialties.
All-year-round travel essentials
On the other hand, says another business gifts supplier we spoke with, you do not have to bleed that summer theme dry.
Consider giving out all-season advertising specialties such as bag tags, foot spa essentials, travelers kits, totes, and passport holders once summer is over.
For campaigns targeting company executives who are constantly on the go, you might want to send out advertising specialties like road atlases and maps, alarm clocks, garment bags, pill cases, maps, mini shoe polishing kits, and garment bags. Despite the fact that most of their travel may not exactly be the kind of getaway they were envisioning, the thought of comfort on the road or on the plane will be much appreciated.
Vladimir Escueta is a promotional items consultant on Rush Promotional Bags & Promotional Bags with Logo. Read posts by Vladimir Escueta on how you can market your products.
Tags: advertising, Branding, Business, corporate gifts, corporate giveaways, Marketing, promotional items, promotional products, Sales, trade show, tradeshow giveaways
Posted in Business · November 15th, 2009 · Comments (0)