All things promotional marketing including industry news, trends, product features and more.
Fishing Industry Promos
Oct 19th
If life were like a familiar sketch on a beloved children’s television show, we would get our fish dinners by sitting in a boat, calling out to the fish and sitting back while the accommodating creatures jump into our laps. Instead, fish feasts do not grace our tables until after a trip to the market. The catching, cleaning, processing and distributing accomplishments belong to a large industry rather than obliging fish.
Some small family businesses do sell their catch directly to consumers, but most inland and saltwater fishing businesses rely on processors, distributors and exporters to deliver their products to the public. Much courting goes on between each of these facets of fishing.
Nova Scotia’s Goldwater Seafoods and Manitoba’s Freshwater Fish perform much of this courting. They must convince the fishers that they are the best choice to distribute the catch and convince purchasers that the fish they sell is the best.
Quality does sell itself, but these corporations must first sell their brand name. Promotional items by rushIMPRINT help in this. These businesses leave behind fishing industry promos when they exit sales calls. Nothing exemplifies the fishing industry more than rain ponchos to protect, lanterns to guide and travel mugs to warm.
They could even take the fun route and hand out complimentary beach balls.
Television tells us that fish jump into boats on demand. Intermediaries know that fish do not land on our plates without proven quality. Show your company’s dedication to quality with the tasteful swag of rushIMPRINT.
How Small Businesses Can Use Promotional Marketing and Promotions Effectively
Oct 13th
By Karen Fischer, Principal, RK Fischer & Associates
What is promotional marketing? Most would agree that promotional marketing is strategy that companies utilize to stimulate customers to make a buying decision. This can be in the form of prizes/giveaways, contests, calls to action, coupons or many more activities. At the end of the day not only should the companies be trying to stimulate a buying decision, but should also be looking to have their company and brand recognized more than their competition. Also included in promotional marketing are the actual promotional items that can be utilized in the promotional activities which give way to company branding.
It is as important for small businesses to utilize promotional marketing as much or more than the large corporation because in most cases we already know their company and their branding. It is understood that the small business cannot afford the same level of promotional marketing due to budgetary constraints, but there are definitely ways to make sure your company name and your brand are recognized to meet not only your budget, but to get the return, recognition, and prospects you want.
Direct Marketing is a very effective way to utilize promotional marketing to get your brand recognized externally and generate leads. The next time you run that contest online or use print advertising and give away a high end gift to attract leads, look at the option to brand it with your logo. The winner cares about the gift for their participation; they do not care if it is branded with your company logo. Every time the person uses the promotional item, it will be seen and recognized not only by themselves but by others that might see it and ask about the company. The same is true about the use of promotional item as a call to action for a direct mail campaign or as a giveaway at an event such as a trade show or conference.
For a small business, your employees can be your greatest ambassadors, especially those that travel or visit customers on a regular basis such as sales and service personnel. Promotional items can be utilized by employees to promote the company by wearing and using items that are branded with the company logo and taglines such as shirts, jackets, briefcases, or portfolios. Whether we admit it or not, we do tend to notice and it sticks in our minds when we see a company logo over and over. I am very aware and remember the people who attend my networking groups that wear their company shirts. Think of this as basic advertising for your business. Employees should also wear branded items at events to show their company pride and brand. The days are gone of suits and ties standing in a trade show booth. It is less intimidating to talk to the guy in the khakis and golf shirt with a company logo than the suit, even though it is apparent they are both trying to sell you something.
One use of promotional items that is underutilized is that of employee recognition. Think about when you reward an employee through winning a contest or for special performance next time to think about providing something that you have engraved with your company logo. This can also be done for employee gifts for holidays as well.
If you happen to belong to the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade or any other Non-Profit Association, at one time or another you will be asked to sponsor or provide giveaways for an event such as a golf tournament. You get to decide what gifts to choose so why not provide something that has your brand on it for them to remember. Instead of just a golf bag or club, why not have your logo engraved on it.
The key to using promotional items anywhere is choosing the appropriate gift or giveaway. Too many times companies buy really cheap giveaways that end up in a drawer. Instead of giving something to everyone that no one will remember or use – choose the prospects or customers to receive a gift. Better yet, choose the occasion of why they are receiving the gift, whether it is when they sign a contract, are just a valued customer to remember at the holidays, provided you with a case study/press release, or just happen to be the right targeted prospect that walked in your booth. You want the receiver to remember your company and your brand, versus handing one out to everyone. The more unique and appropriate the gift or giveaway, the more memorable it will be. A couple of the best gifts I have received from vendors and use the most is a 256 Gigabyte portable backup drive and a USB hub that has 4 additional ports. I carry these with me everywhere and use them every day in my office. I have been asked several times where I got them and told them about the companies that provided the gift. One conversation ended up in providing the company a referral.
The use of promotional marketing and promotional items should be part of your marketing plan and budget just like any other marketing activity. Just don’t forget the next time you are developing your marketing plan to try utilizing promotional marketing and promotional items, as brand and company recognition are even more important to small businesses in gaining traction and new prospects.
RK Fischer & Associates is a small business consulting and advisory firm which serves Canadian small businesses and is located in the Toronto GTA. Visit us at www.asmallbusinessconsultant.ca, to see how we can help you with your small business requirements.
Agriculture Industry Promos
Oct 13th
Agriculture industry promos work for more businesses than just the farmers who raise produce and cattle. This sector encompasses the processors, shippers, wholesalers and retailers in addition to the producers. Each company involved in agriculture uses promotional products to keep its name remembered and increase business.
Red Isle Produce Co. Ltd. performs an essential service by distributing and shipping potatoes grown on Prince Edward Island. The soil on this small island accounts for one-third of Canada’s total potato crops. Red Isle Produce Co. Ltd also works with the farmers to ensure healthy crops by providing crop protectants.
In order to increase business, Red Isle Produce Co. Ltd must court both producers and buyers of potatoes. The owners can leave a reminder of their service to potential buyers by giving them a calendar highlighting the peak potato season.
During peak times, most farmers eat lunch in the field. This is true regardless of crop. A thoughtful gift to leave behind is a cooler chair that helps make lunch breaks comfortable. A mini-fan also brings comfort to a hard day tending crops.
Alberta’s Valta Bison Farms rests on the producer end of the spectrum. As more people turn to bison as a beef alternative, Valta Bison Farms must remind customers that their meat is a cut above the rest. Their free-range bison do not receive growth hormones or other unnatural products. A wellness kit gift reinforces Valta’s commitment to the health of their customers.
It takes more than agriculture industry promos to obtain a new client; however, these items do generate appreciation and remembrance. The two feelings may very well sway the potential client in your favour and result in a long-term business relationship.
Healthcare Industry Promos
Oct 12th
I hate to admit it: I have taken our healthcare system for granted. Do you know the adage about not missing something until it is gone? The adage is true. We are so lucky to access doctors and medical care any time the need arises. To us, healthcare is a right rather than a privilege.
This did not dawn on me until I moved to the United States. Being five months pregnant at the time of the move, it was a shock when not many months later the bills started rolling in. I was lucky enough to have insurance from the start. If I had not been lucky, the $15 thousand for checkups, hospital stay, doctor services and foam cups for juice would have scared me back to Canada.
This is one reason I now fully appreciate all that the Canadian healthcare industry promos mean.
The next time your doctor hands you a calendar for appointment reminders, regardless if for prenatal or prostate exams, remember that the meaning behind the gift is your well-being.
Also, remember that some of the reminders come from the “support staff” of Canada’s healthcare industry. If you receive a magnifying glass from your doctor, it is because an optometrist is looking to correct your vision problems.
If your company is involved in the support of Canada’s healthcare industry, consider using rushIMPRINT to create your healthcare industry promo items. This company underlines the quality we need to associate with our healthcare.
Custom Hats & Toques Canada
Oct 3rd
Celebrity fashion trends have transformed hats and toques into everyday accessories. People sport promotional toques in all seasons and venues, and baseball caps are no longer exclusive to outdoor summer sports. These types of headwear are visible everywhere we look, which increases the visibility of your brand.
Not long ago, caps and hats were worn for their main purpose and no other. The only other hats seen were the fantastic creations worn by the Queen, which seemed made for the fun factor alone. The Queen’s hats are highly unsuitable for corporate branding, but the current trend makes toques the ideal backdrop for custom imprinting.
We can now proudly attire our heads with an item particular to Canadian identity – the toque – all year. If actors and singers can wear these, so can we. Choosing to place your logo on promotional toques from rushIMPRINT now provides all-season exposure to your brand. There are heavy knit toques that serve the main purpose of warming heads, but you can also choose to promote your business with a lighter weight beanie better suited to spring, summer and fall temperatures.
I do believe this trend vastly increases brand exposure. Let’s admit it: In the winter we are usually to heavily bundled up in scarves and squinting our eyes against the elements to really pay attention to what other people are wearing. At least during the rest of the year, other people are able to pay attention to what our custom hats are saying!
Nonprofit Promos
Sep 29th
The old adage about making money by using money is still valid. It holds especially true for Canada’s nonprofit sector. Organizations holding nonprofit promos often rely on giveaways and swag to generate interest or participation. Lacking sponsorship, an organization may need to use its own funds to purchase promotional items with the hope of stimulating the generosity of Canadians.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation has dedicated over five decades toward research and education in heart disease. Outside of annual events, which include Jump Rope for Heart, they exist on individual and corporate donations made throughout the year. The foundation could give out pedometers to stress the importance of exercising each day and solicit support in the form of donations for research.
Canadians in their 30s and older grew up to the familiar voice of Dr. Lotta Hitschmanova during the nonprofit promos of USC Canada. Though Dr. Lotta’s voice is no longer with us, USC Canada remains a beacon of hope for many in the global south. The committee could hand out flashlights to shed light on their Seeds of Survival (SoS) concept of teaching small farm communities how to grow and prosper. The SoS program is an exemplary example of helping others to help themselves.
If you are an agency or organization that needs to use funds for nonprofit promos, incentives to inspire donations need not consume a large amount of capital. RushIMPRINT has a large line of inexpensive, quality items eminently suitable for soliciting donations or raising awareness for a particular fundraising effort or event.
Made In Canada
Sep 27th
It is a matter of national pride to search out and purchase products made in Canada. Whether the products are gifts, clothing or everyday household products, we relentlessly search for goods that proclaim our country as the originating point. This dedication is just as true of Canadian businesses and the promotional products they choose.
Our business owners understand that a slow economy means less people able to afford the products or services they sell. One way to keep the Canadian economy strong is to keep our citizens employed; after all, employed people have better purchasing power than unemployed people do.
RushIMPRINT Canada puts this concept into practice. They do not bring products here from out of the country. The items sold are shipped to you from within Canada. Canadian employees take part in each stage of the process: ordering, design, manufacturing and shipping.
These employees might not utilize your business directly, but their purchases from your customer base increase the business your clients can do with you. It is a common-sense economic principle: The more Canadian people that are employed, the healthier Canadian businesses become.
Pride in products from Canada does not diminish. During the few years I lived in the United States, the thrill of finding items made in Canada never staled; in fact, it directed me toward the brands that I would consistently look for when household items needed replenishing. This applies to my fellow Canadians and a large number of businesses looking to strengthen Canada’s economy.
Promotional Products Nova Scotia
Sep 14th
The perceptive business owner understands the value of satisfied employees. For this reason, many of the promotional items Nova Scotia companies order reward workplace performance. Valued employees who receive recognition for their contributions show increased productivity and longevity with the company.
Nova Scotia is valued as a precious gem of Canada. The province is picturesque and speckled with a number of quaint little towns; additionally, the coastline surrounding Nova Scotia makes the licence plate tag proclaiming it Canada’s Ocean Playland quite apt. It logically follows that many incentive prizes and recognition awards for valued employees relate to outdoor activity, such as picnics and water fun.
A natural prize for an employee that exceeds a set goal, whether completing a major project in advance of a deadline or exceeding a hoped for amount in sales, is a day on a boat. In addition to a day on the water, how fun to provide them with a compass and a boat tote imprinted with your logo by rushIMPRINT. There would need to be explicit instructions directing the employee to use the compass to navigate away from Sable Island: Valued employees are not allowed to become shipwrecked.
Nova Scotia performs as a perfect backdrop for romantic picnics. An outstanding employee will happily enjoy the day when their efforts receive acknowledgement with picnic accessories. Set them up with a picnic blanket, a picnic basket (http://www.rushimprint.ca/picnic-basket-cooler.html), chocolate truffles (http://www.rushimprint.ca/signature-truffle-241-pp-strf.html) and a bottle of wine. After sharing an enjoyable day on the company tab, it is doubtful that a significant other will complain about overtime later on.
These are only a small sample of the promotional products Nova Scotia businesses could use as incentives. There are many other items for lifestyle and outdoor activities that rushIMPRINT can supply to employers in Nova Scotia and all other provinces in Canada.
Promotional Products Windsor
Sep 13th
Promotional products Windsor businesses order work at generating repeat business from American customers. In addition to regular tourism, there is a lot of cross-border traffic from Detroit to Windsor by people looking to purchase items unavailable in the United States or enter establishments with a younger age requirement than Michigan has. Small imprinted tokens of appreciation cement a business in the minds of first-time customers and shortly turn them into loyal patrons.
Americans visiting Canada frequently ask where they can find a cigar shop that sells good Cuban cigars. A store such as C.K. Havana Shop might build a loyal fan base outside of Windsor when they give a simple item to foreign purchasers. A basic calendar, imprinted with their information by rushIMPRINT, lends a constant reminder of where an aficionado found a sublime cigar. It also does not hurt as a reminder of time elapsed since their last purchase.
Casinos, lounges and bars are businesses that often see an influx of students from Detroit. The legal age to gamble and drink in Ontario is 19, two years younger than the legal age of 21 in Michigan. An everyday useful keychain or monthly planner would be displayed as badges of honour after returning home if they were imprinted with the logo from Caesar’s Windsor Casino and Hotel.
It almost seems ridiculously easy: the promotional items Windsor businesses opt for having an influence on future business. Do not underestimate the impact of a small swag item though. When I travel through Canada I always lodge at the same hotel chain for one simple reason – an ornament they gave me during a Christmas visit. Each time I gaze at that ornament I mentally revisit a wonderful week at the hotel and want to return. Sometimes the small things mean the most.
Promotional Products Mississauga
Sep 12th
Due to the high level of corporate and financial business conducted in the city, the promotional items Mississauga business owners choose reflect serious commerce. The swag Mississauga needs goes beyond basic pens and toques. The basics are always welcome, but there are times when promotional products must suit deals and transactions performed in the upper echelon of business.
Home to the headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies, Mississauga sees many business meetings, conferences and presentations. Attendees walking into these events, whether executives or prospective clients of the host company, usually see the meeting table laid out with complementary leather padfolios, classic pens and necessary-for-business coffee mugs.
Every item at these meetings and conferences displays the imprint of the host company’s name and logo. Those in attendance at the assembly walk out carrying the image of the host in their hands as well as their minds. That image and name are passed on when the executives return and provide a synopsis to their colleagues or superiors. RushIMPRINT creates these promotional items so company names and standards stay fresh in the mind.
The majority of businesses in Canada do not host meetings as often as they send delegates to meetings. When these advocates enter a presentation situation, they carry presentation portfolios that allow them to carry every item needed to promote their business. The promotion begins when the delegate walks into the room carrying the company image and continues long after when the future clients take gratuitous swag back to their own offices.
High-level business swag needs a high level of quality. For this reason, rushIMPRINT does exceptional imprinting on the exceptional promotional products Mississauga business demands.