My Favorite Promo

Practical promotional products are one of the best investments you can make for your business. They’re marketing tools that do the work for you, keeping your name in front of your customer on a regular basis. I can’t reiterate this point enough. If your customer uses a promotional item weekly, daily or several times a day, then your name and logo are constantly displayed and reinforced. Not only are they reminded of you when they use it, but the people who see them using that promotional item with your logo on it see that as an endorsement of you. Think about it. Someone who sees a calendar on your office wall with Jennifer A. Realtors’ name on it is going to think that you would recommend her. Why would you hang it up if you think she does shoddy work? All you have to do is get the right product in your customers’ hands and they can become walking billboards for your business.

I mentioned calendars as a practical promotional product that often gets forgotten in our search for new, innovative items. Well, I’d like to dedicate this particular post to my favorite of all practical promos: the ink pen.

I am a pen guy. I cannot run my business successfully if I do not have a pen or two on hand at all times. Honestly, from writing down my newest ideas to signing checks to filling out orders, I need a pen. Jotting down a phone number so I don’t have to deal with my complicated smart phone—hand me a pen please! Writing down an appointment? Gotta have a pen! I have at least 10 littering the top of my desk so they are always at hand and I always carry extras with me when I go to meetings. Someone always seems to need one and I really like being ‘a hero’.

Pens are an extremely customizable item as well. With some manufacturers, you can specify the refill color (you can even get three ink colors in one pen-WITH a highlighter), medium or fine point, barrel color, trim color – all this customization in addition to your imprint.

There are click-style pens (2800 on our web site). There are stick pens with caps (1500 on our site). Twist-style pens as well (3900 listed).

Pens that are small, pens that are huge, thick pens, thin pens , twisted , or heat-sensing mood pens .

Earth-friendly pens made from renewable resources or recycled materials. There are even pens that write in zero gravity - below zero degrees - upside-down!

Take a moment to flip through our online catalog to get an idea of your choices. Think about what you like in a pen and what your prospects would like. When in doubt, you can always contact us if you need any help choosing your next promotional pen.

Finally, check out our facebook fan page where our friends get an additional 5% off every order of pens.

Steve

Year Long Advertisements

As I think more and more about practical promotions and gifts for customers, employees, and others, one particular product seems easily forgotten. I attribute this primarily to the sheer amount of use this item gets, as well as the number of styles this product comes in. Sitting at my desk, I have 4 of them in sight. There are 3 in my kitchen as well. If you want your promotional message appreciated, kept and looked at multiple times every day, then there is no better medium than the calendar.

Calendars are, plain and simply, useful. Think about it. The true measure of the practicality of an advertising specialty is whether your customer will spend their own money to buy one if you don't give it to them. I know that I would buy calendars. As a matter of fact, I give a wall calendar every year to my daughters as a Christmas present. Though they are twenty-somethings, my girls still look forward to their yearly calendar.

As I said, calendars come in many shapes, sizes, and styles to fit your needs. The most common is the 12 or 13 month wall calendar. Other popular standards are the the desk calendar, the desk pad calendar (you know the kind, the one that gets buried by paper and your keyboard) and the pocket planner. But that doesn't even scratch the surface. Calendars can fit on computer keyboards, mouse pads, wallet cards, pencil holders and even on ink pens. We have the vinyl self-stick calendars for the car or workshop, and magnetic calendars for your prospect's refrigerator that will stay on their refrigerator all year, and maybe longer. Why longer? Because magnets on the refrigerator are useful beyond the date. I still have a 2008 calendar magnet on my refrigerator from a local real estate agent that is holding up my favorite recipe for chocolate truffle tart.

Calendars are a gift that is greatly appreciated by customers because they are USED. But don't just send them to customers or prospects. Think about the types of businesses that can send you referrals. Mortgage companies get most of their referrals from real estate agents, for instance. An auto body shop might get referrals from repair shops that don't do body work; cleaning services from plumbers or HVAC contractors who see a lot of water damaged homes, etc. Get your calendar on their wall as well. Imagine someone fresh from a fender-bender sitting in the repair shop waiting for the car to get fixed and wondering how much the body work will cost. There is your calendar on the wall behind the counter...who will they call?

Just a little side note. Most of our wall calendar vendors offer special pricing for ordering your calendars early in the year. The savings are substantial. If you are certain that your logo, address and contact information are not going to change, then take advantage of the specials and order early. Once the order is placed, we will print them, send you the bill, store them for free and ship the calendars to you in the fall when you need them. Once it is printed, though, we cannot change the imprint. Here is the sale information from just one of our vendors.

Steve
www.raggo.com

Keeping It Practical

As I mentioned previously, practical, every day items imprinted with your advertising message will make great additions to your next business promotion. The more often a customer uses a product with your business name and logo, they more they are reminded of you and the less likely they are to forget about your great product or service. Practicality is what makes promotional products a superior advertising medium...they have perceived value. I don't believe a customer has ever thanked me for running a radio, newspaper or television ad. But while I am handing someone an item that they want or need, an item that they likely would or have already spent their own money to purchase, I often hear a sincere thank you. Though not (usually) an everyday item, an umbrella is a great promotional product because of its practicality and high perceived value.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been caught in the rain without an umbrella. We’ve all had those days, perfectly sunny in the morning when we leave for work and then an afternoon downpour hits. Racing from the office to the car with my portfolio over my head...getting drenched and wondering why I can never remember to pick up an extra umbrella for the office and maybe one for the car as well. Your prospective or current customers have likely had the same experience, so they know the value of that umbrella and will appreciate your thoughtfulness in picking one up for them.

Umbrellas come in all sizes. Large golf umbrellas are great when you’re sponsoring a tournament. Their size also makes them perfect home or office use. Larger umbrellas are able to handle really heavy downpours because of their larger canopy. They also offer a bigger imprint area, so keep that in mind. Because of their size, storage and shipping can be a bit of a hassle, but large umbrellas make up for it in their durability and their, simply put, ability to keep you dry!

A word about venting. Vented umbrellas like the one shown above, allow strong wind gusts to pass through the canopy and help prevent the umbrella from inverting or breaking apart in big storms. Both golf umbrellas and folding umbrellas can be vented. The venting costs more, but your customer knows it has a higher value.

My daughter hates getting caught in the rain, and so she has invested in several telescopic umbrellas. She likes these for their portability. Folded up, they fit in her purse, glove compartment, and anywhere else she hides them. (I think she has two in a junk drawer.) One of her favorites is the 37-inch umbrella with a traveling case from Hit Promotional. Zipped up, it takes up all of six or seven inches worth of space, unfolds to a full size, and the bright lime green is a little pick me up on those dreary days. Other colors are available.

Want to be a hero...put an extra one of these in your briefcase or car and be sure to carry it into a rainy day networking event. When it is your time to introduce yourself to the group, mention that you have an extra and ask if anyone needs an umbrella. I am certain that you will see a number of hands in the air and a relieved smile on the face of the prospect you hand it to. They won't forget you quickly.

Steve
www.raggo.com

Another New Start

I want to apologize for the length between blogs; things have been busy in the Raggo business and household as I am sure that they have been in yours. I did a better job of keeping in touch in 2010, though and will continue to improve in the years ahead. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! I know I did and let me be one of the first to wish you a Merry Christmas 2011!

Now, it’s a brand new year. Happy 2011! While working out resolutions in our personal lives, we sometimes forget it’s a good time to reevaluate our business goals and take steps to improve our sales, service, and (of course) profits. The beginning of a new year is a great chance to think about where you want to go and how to get there. We have great sale pricing on many of the items you need and pledge to keep the sales current throughout this year.

In the past few years, we have been tried with difficult economic times. We have had to make sacrifices and turn our attention to filling our basic needs, ignoring frivolity and fun. There have been trends in the consumer market reflecting this return to basics. Think... packing lunches, walking or riding bikes instead of driving, and other more thrifty practices. I will be writing a few upcoming blogs on some of these practical products to help you keep your business on your customers’ minds.

Right now though, I’d like to mention a gift for your customers that is just plain fun. While the dreary days of winter are wrapping up, you can give a gift to your customers to help brighten their home or garden. Seed packets and seed papers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and at very economical prices as well. Bright daisies, forget-me-nots, and all types of herbs are available in a number of unique packaging choices. They make great Earth Day promotions (April 22, 2011), too.

Indoor plant kits are also available, for those with less of a green thumb. I’m a fan of the Sunflower kit. This four-inch pot is small enough for a window sill and the pop of yellow from the sunflower will brighten anyone’s day.

As the doldrums of winter drag on, a gift of seeds or a growing kit are a great way to remind customers that spring is indeed on the way.

Happy New Years everyone!

Steve
www.raggo.com

The Tasteful Thank You

While helping you brainstorm ways to thank your customers for their patronage this year, we left a few people out. These are people that you may see everyday, but often forget to thank for their hard work and dedication to your business' success. They may be the ones that get the most face time with your customers or the ones who fill out the paperwork and make the phone calls so you don’t have to. I’m talking, of course, about the members of your team, your back office, your staff.

It’s important to not only give thanks to your customers for their loyalty, but also the members of your team. If you’ve got a workforce as small as one or as big as one thousand, their hard work helped your business to survive or maybe even thrive in these tough times.

It is often tough to give gifts to both employees and customers without stepping out of bounds. Many businesses impose rules on their officers and their purchasing department concerning the gifts that they receive. Want a way to thank your whole accounting department, or the entire purchasing department of your best customers, without breaking the bank, and without singling out one individual? Give a gift to the whole department - one that can be shared. That way you let everyone know that you recognize their effort.

We sell those classic popcorn tins everyone knows and loves. You know the kind, the giant circular tin, seemingly never ending. This gift is a classic for a reason. Flavored popcorn is one thing that never goes out of style. These tins come in all shapes and sizes and can be given as a gift to the whole department, or on an individual basis. This gift is good if you’re leery of any food allergies you’re not sure of. I don’t think Stan in processing would appreciate a gift of cashews that will just make him break out in hives.

I love giving sweet gifts as thank you gifts: chocolates, cookies, candies. I love anything that gives a sweet reminder to my wonderful team. What better way to celebrate making a sales goal than with cookies iced with positive reinforcement? Anything from “Way to Go Team!” to “Congratulations!” can be printed on these delicious treats. Other foods, like lollipops, chocolate bars, bags of nuts, and even those popcorn tins can be a great way to express your appreciation. (I keep a stock of cookies on hand to thank those who send referrals my way.)

These are great things to do in the office, but are you looking for something people can take home with them? My daughter’s terrible caffeine habit is well known to her boss (as is the caffeine intake of her coworkers.) For a special thank you to her and her coworkers, their boss gave them a small bag of delicious, gourmet coffee. This is something she savors, reserving a scoop or two for weekends and holidays (or vacation time.) A variety pack was created for each employee, containing some coffee, some cappuccino, and hot chocolate packets (which were the first to go… let’s just say the sweet tooth runs in the family.)

Let’s get creative this year for our gifts for our employees! These food items can go a long way as gifts and can be imprinted in sweet icing, on a bag, or on a tin. Please browse the links and email or call us with any questions on products. Let your team know that they can have their cake (or cookie) and eat it too!
Mmmmmmmm.

Steve
www.raggo.com

Customer Appreciation Gifts

Since I’ve gotten you thinking about parties, let’s take a look at another great end-of-year event. This year, if you don’t feel a holiday party for your office is right, why not throw an end of year “Customer Appreciation” bash, gala, open house, social or good old-fashioned party?

This is a great way to get all of your most loved customers in one room and thank them for their time and their business this year, or in years past. It’s a great way to start off the new year, letting your favorite customers (or all of your customers) know how much you appreciate them while you take the opportunity to share your plans, your outlook or your goals for the coming year. It is also a way to give your most valuable clients a "warm fuzzy" feeling about you and your business that will last through the competitive times ahead. There are situations when that little bit of edge is necessary to ward off your competitors.

Check out our previous blog for decorating help (we’ve got the napkins, plates, cups, tablecloths and everything else you need to decorate)

I have a great gift idea for you. Do you want to give them something with sticking power, something your clients will look at not just daily, but multiple times every single day? Something that will make that "warm, fuzzy" last over many years and will make it available and visible in your customers' offices whenever your competitor shows up? If we measured “favorite” by the number of times we look at something, then one of my favorite things is the clock on my desk.I’m always checking the time (not so much for when I can leave work, but how long I have until I need to leave for that meeting, appointment, or to make that phone call to California or Brazil). If you think about it, nothing other than the monitor you are looking at right now rivals the advertising ‘hits’ you get with a clock or a watch.

Clocks, like all products, come in many shapes and sizes, so think about the message you want to send.

Is your business all about innovation and creativity? Desk clocks come in many shapes, and this one is quite a unique design. Give a gift that will help your clients 'soar' in the New Year. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) There are other shapes offered from simple geometric shapes, to golf bags, pianos, guitars, and classic cars-even pens with clocks built in. Check out some of our other designs. If you don't see a shape you want, contact us. I am sure we can find it.

Are you interested in a more classic look and feel? Check out this beautiful masterpiece. Its got a great look with roman numerals and a lovely mahogany finish. We have many similar timepieces, perfect for your favorite clients' desks.

Why not both new AND traditional? This time piece has a streamline look with a analog clock face. Put this on any desk and your sure to dress it up without being too busy.

Clocks are a great way to keep you on your customer's mind..every time they check the time. Best of all, they’ll thank you for the help.

Steve
www.raggo.com

Moving Ever On

Summer is ending, Autumn is here, and before you know it, you’ll be wrapping Christmas gifts for friends, family and co-workers. Now is the best time to get your promotional products ready for this Holiday season. And perhaps that includes a holiday open house, family gathering, or small work party.

We’ve got everything you need to make planning even easier for you!

Some questions to consider when planning: Is this for a specific holiday, like Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa? Or is this a general holiday party? What colors will I use as a scheme? (Traditional green and red? Silver and blue? Gold? Any other combinations?) How many people will I invite? Is this formal or informal?

Once considering these questions and writing out a guest list, you’re probably getting together with the caterer and planning a menu, looking for a venue, and drawing up some decoration ideas. I bet you’re also planning to hit the store for the same old cocktail napkins, boring plastic cups, and the usual paper plates. Grabbing a few blasé gift bags and impersonal items to fill it.

Why though? This is your year to shine as host or hostess, so why not make the most(est). I’m sorry, I could not resist with that one.

If you’re throwing a party for business associates and employees or potential clients, take a look at our cocktail napkins. Imprinted with your logo and a special message, these are great items to include with your delicious buffet or delightful finger foods. Your party colors or business colors can be imprinted on white or colored napkins, adding a personal touch to even the smallest detail.

Will you be serving punch or cocktails? Plastic cups, in clear, frosted or various colors, can also be imprinted to match or compliment your napkins. Perfect for your family recipe of egg nog or that special party punch.

Even the plates can be personalized to meet your party needs.

After guests have mingled and enjoyed each others (and your own) company, how do you thank them for their time? A great gift for the holidays, especially if your guests have a Christmas tree, is a Christmas ornament. There are many to choose from, flat shapes to ordinate glass balls. My favorite lies right in the middle. Consider a traditional Christmas ball emblazoned with a “Happy Holidays!”, “Merry Christmas!”, “ ‘Tis the Season”, or whatever strikes your fancy. Include your business name and the year. Consider keeping to your party theme colors or your own business logo—your guests can enjoy these gifts every holiday season.

And yes, we do have gift bags. You can personalize the gift bags to include your business name along with “A special gift for you” or any other holiday message. Putting the chorus of your favorite Christmas carol or another meaningful holiday song to you is another way to personalize the bag itself and make this particular holiday gift special.

These are just a few ideas of some great holiday gifts and party items to consider. Please check out the website for any other holiday needs.