Just Showing the Earth Some Love!

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day 2011?  Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. While this first Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.   Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues. In 2009, the United Stations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.

Show your support for Mother Earth through earth friendly promotional products and spread the word through employees, clients and your community.

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A Little Luck of the Irish

It’s almost that time of year, time to sport some green.  Did you know that St. Patrick’s Day ranks third among holidays behind New Year’s Eve and Halloween, for celebrating with parties at restaurants and bars.  It’s a great time to let your customers know how ”lucky” you are to have them.  So whether you’re Irish or Irish at heart March 17th is the day the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with  parades, festivals, community events and of course plenty of Irish Pub fun.  The promotional items available to help you celebrate St. Patty’s Day are endless, take a look some of the fun “green” stuff you can give your clients and community.

Promotional Products – Coming to a Vending Machine Near You!

Have you passed a Vending Machine lately?  Did you notice anything different?  It just might be that instead of candy bars, chips and soda that you see the latest Promotional Products, Gadgets or other Branded Merchandise.  On my way back from San Diego at the LAX airport there were several Vending Machines that contained the latest gadgets, Best Buy had one full of MP3 Players, Headphones and Memory Cards.  I had been noticing them a lot more at the mall too, so I guess it was only a matter of time before logoed tee shirts and key chains would be found there.  Also note these machines are not called “Vending Machines” the new and improved name is “Automated Retail Machines.”  Just look at Redbox, the video line for Redbox is sometimes longer than the line in the grocery store.  You can’t go wrong with $1 video rentals!  Automated Retail Machines allow you to quickly place your brand anywhere and have an instant mini store front and it’s cheaper than any brick-and-mortar store front.  Think of brand, bands or anyone wanting to get the word out with little effort.  So don’t be surprised if your favorite brand, team or cause has a new “Automated Retail Machine” storefront.

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It’s All In The Details!

WOW it’s officially 2011 and my first blog post of the New Year.  I’m back from a wonderful vacation in San Diego but miserable as it’s snowing like the North Pole in Atlanta go figure.  On the other hand two of the biggest Promotional Products trade shows of the year are happening this month!  The PPAI Expo in Las Vegas and the ASI Show in Orlando will immerse showcasing the latest most awesome promotional products!  In the last few post I talked about trade show traffic and how to get attendees excited about visiting your booth.  Well of course no one does it better than the promotional products industry.  Over the past few weeks I have received numerous emails asking me to stop by supplier booths to see new and interesting products!  The emails are very enticing as they offer samples, free products, free shipping, the possibility of winning an iPad and more!!  This is why it’s so important to get an attendee list to do pre show marketing.  Take a look at some of the enticing offers I have received in my “inbox”. 

What types of freebies and incentives can you give away to entice attendees to show up in droves to your booth?  Make it interesting and something they truly want?  Contact me for more trade show ideas @ www.XposeYourBrand.com

Dressed to the Nines!

Okay so in our last post I talked about having a fun experience in your booth to draw crowds and excite attendees, todays post will be about the booth itself.  I have attended many trade shows, some good and some not so good, but what I always remember is how nice and inviting the book display is (engaging and knowledgeable staff are high on the list too).  I’m a very visual person, you have to be in this business and I’m drawn to a really good-looking booth, I love the ooh and awe of it all.  I always tell my clients to buy the best you can afford.  With so many booth options you don’t have to break the bank or spend thousands of dollars.  New booths allow you to use them for more than one application, such as retail or other types of events and many include all in one solutions.  Take a look at some of the new styles in trade show booths.  Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current configuration or looking to get your first booth, the options are AMAZING! Contact me today for all your trade show needs (www.XposeYourBrand.com).

De-Code Me

I’m amazed at how technolgy has us all so connected, it’s easier than ever to connect with anyone at anytime anywhere.  Technology has come such a long way and is getting better day by day.  The latest in the world of technology are QR codes (Quick Response).  QR codes are bar codes that can be created with pretty much any information you want (websites, business contact info, coupons, product info, videos, music, surveys and more, you scan your QR code with a smart phone and viola the scanner is taken to your info. Anyone can go online and create their own unique QR code, even cooler you can now get your QR codes printed on tee shirts.  Think events and contest, what a great tool for interacting with your market.  Want to get some tees printed with your custom QR code?  Contact me today.

Let’s Play Some Games

Can you believe 2011 is almost here?  Where in the heck did 2010 go?  Well, it may have been a tough year for many but the outlook ahead looks somewhat positive.  Although I’m an optimistic I say somewhat because there is still so much ahead of us in the new “Social” world in which we live.  I must admit I’m looking forward to 2011 because I see so many opportunities to help my clients grow their business as well as my own.  With that being said as the New Year approaches many companies will begin their trade show marketing, determining which shows garner the greatest client interactions and ROI.  I’m a big believer of Pre-show marketing.  Do your homework to make sure the best prospects will be stopping by your booth.  Gone are the days where random attendees just pass by your booth and grab all the freebies you have spread around without so much as a hello.  I can guarantee that trade show tactic won’t be worth it.  Now back to the pre-mailers, you want to get your audience excited about stopping by your booth and once you have them in there, let them play some games!  Send out pre-show mailers letting clients & prospects know they have an opportunity to play some games and win some prizes.  I have some cool new games that are a sure crowd pleaser.  Not only will you have your own booth traffic but you will steal others as well.  These new trade show games are sure to please.

Money Machine:  Put money-saving coupons in your machine.  People want to SAVE MONEY!   Other ideas “Free Consultation”, “Buy One Get One”, you get the idea.

Prize Wheels:  Allows you to give away promotional products to targeted prospects versus passerby’s.  Everyone loves to win something, especially branded with your logo.

Plinko Board:  Now come on who can resist a Plinko Board, it’s one of the best games on the Price Is Right.  Now you can have your very own branded Plinko Board.  Even better, it comes with your choice of a continuous video monitor.  Monitor can be programmed to show a promotional video when your prospect wins!  It also can be used to display a company branded video when no one is playing.

I hope I’ve given you some great ideas for the upcoming trade show season.  Please contact me today (www.XposeYourBrand.com) to “Play Some Games” in your trade show booth.

 

De-Code Me

I’m amazed at how technology has us all so connected, it’s easier than ever to connect with anyone at anytime and anywhere.   The latest in the world of technology are QR codes (Quick Response).  QR codes are bar codes that can be created with pretty much any information you want (websites, business contact info, coupons, product info, videos, music, surveys and more), you scan your QR code with a smart phone and viola the individual is taken to your info. Anyone can go online and create their own unique QR code, even cooler you can now get your QR codes printed on tee shirts.  Think events, contest and trade shows, a great pre-show mailer to get people to your booth scan to win a prize.  Simply a great tool for interacting with your market.  The possibilities are limitless!  If you want to incorporate QR codes into your marketing contact me today to take advantage of this awesome technology.

Saving Some Trees

A fun and cool way to save to some trees, the USB Widget.  Simply plug-in the USB connector, Push the button and your default web browser will open your websites URL. Seven individual internal LED lights rotate continuously when plugged in.  Less expensive than mailing a catalog and the perfect handout at trade shows. 

Is It That Time Already?

Well it’s almost here, and retail puts it right in your face.  The holidays that is, while you’re eating your Halloween candy little elf’s arrive at the stores and immediately begin putting Christmas decorations out, by the time you go to the store the next day it SCREAMS CHRISTMAS!  As if we needed the reminder, it’s inevitable the holidays are coming.  Despite the holiday madness it’s a time to thank all the clients and employees that helped make this a successful year for your business.  The economy is still a little bumpy and we should all thank our lucky stars to have clients that have helped support us another year.  There are several ways to thank your clients and employees, food gifts (my favorite) gift cards and personalized gifts.  Although personalized gifts are not the norm it’s something they will definitely remember.  Who can resist that comfy robe with your initials or monogram or that favorite cup with your name printed on it?  Take a look at some great gifts, that definitely SCREAM IT’S MINE!!!

We can put together some wonderfully custom gift programs for your clients, contact us today.