Small Business Promotional Products

A majority of businesses are small-based ones with a maximum of 20 employees. These companies have limited financial resources to invest in production, which means marketing takes a big hit. The biggest challenge here is to reach out to target audiences with as little investment as possible. This can be achieved only with promotional products.

In this article, we explain why giveaways are the best way for your business to get ahead

1. Low Investment: Let’s suppose you want to give away pens imprinted with your logo and message. For this, you will need to lay your hands on at least 200-300 pens. But here is a fact – getting these pens customized will not burn a hole in your pocket! In fact, you can buy 500 quality pens less than a thousand dollars. What other marketing channel provides you with this kind of financial flexibility? Definitely not TV or print ads.

2. Instant Impression: Giveaways make an impact immediately. They are items that can seen and felt for a long time. You also know immediately how well customers react to your giveaways.

3. Long-lasting Visibility: For a small business, it is crucial to have a marketing campaign that lasts years. This is achievable with giveaways. A bag or t-shirt is capable of winning the approval of your recipients, allowing them to flaunt your logo whenever they use them.

4. Customer Retention: It is often difficult to retain customers. With giveaways, however, you can show that you value your association with them. There is nothing better than a customer who feels appreciated.


5. Instant Employee Recognition: Is your business the new kid in town? Worry not! Get classy uniforms for all your employees. As they travel to work, your business gets valuable promotional exposure around town. Like the reasons listed in this article? How about investing in some quality giveaways for your next marketing campaign?

Does Swag REALLY Work????

Does Swag REALLY Work????

Don't lie to my face. 



Don't tell me you've never wondered (even out-loud) whether you get a decent R.O.I. on your investment in Promotional Products that carry your brand. 

Obviously we believe in them. We've been in the business since 1979. It's been a good industry for us because the promotional products we come to market with carry the message on behalf of our client base from the small independent business to some multi-nationals.... and it works for them. The bottom line is still the same as it always was.... to bring positive attention from the end-user to the advertiser.

Still wondering? We hope so. Otherwise you aren't careful with your marketing dollars. Swag sells... but why?

Here is a fair report on the effects of promotional products from the editors of Fast Company.
Click here and enjoy, Does Swag Work?

Many brands belong in the heart of the home

Think about where you spend the most time in your home—the kitchen, right? When you have guests over, chances are that everyone congregates around the cheese-and-cracker tray at the kitchen island even though there are perfectly good couches and snacks over in the family room. With the open concept design trend toward big kitchen islands, and Food Network-inspired home chefs cooking meals with ultra-fresh ingredients that need chopping and sautéing, the kitchen is where the action is.

 According to Statistics 2015 in a Time Use Survey, 43 percent of men (up from 35 percent in 2003) and 70 percent of women engage in food preparation and clean up. Consumers report that the main reason for keeping a promotional product is usefulness, they are already primed to be interested in tools that help them with food preparation and clean up. Kitchen products are a great opportunity for brands to engage with end users. PPAI research shows that 91 percent of consumers have at least one promotional product in their kitchen.

Ron Williams, director of marketing for Fey Promotional Products, says Fey’s Mi Line of products is all about putting a brand’s message in every home. “Given that 52 percent of adults spend three hours in and around their kitchen daily, and 80 percent of households cook with fresh ingredients that need to be prepped, it’s important to provide practical products that deliver premium exposure.”

See what kind of Promotional Kitchen Tools are available - Click here.

Straight Talk: What Ad Agencies And Advertisers Really Think Of Our Medium

In March, PPAI embarked on a first-of-its-kind benchmark study—PPAI Buyer Insights: Ad Agencies and Advertisers—to determine buying habits and preferences for promotional products among advertising agencies and corporate advertisers. Of the 400 who responded, 178 were advertising agency decision makers and influencers in the purchase of promotional products, and 222 were corporate advertisers with annual revenues of $10 million or more.

The study results yielded a satisfying mix of methods to better understand the needs of this demanding segment of buyers along with several unexpected and enticing sales opportunities for promotional consultants.

Paul Bellantone, CAE, president and CEO of PPAI, sees the data as further confirmation that promotional products are effective, deliver a high level of brand recall and generate sales. “According to the study, 74 percent of buyers at advertising agencies and large corporations consider promotional products effective or highly effective,” he says. “This clearly gives the promotional products advertising medium a prominent place in the marketing mix. Advertising performance goals put a great deal of pressure on agencies and advertisers to deliver results, and study data show promotional products can help drive a high rate of return on the dollar as a part of the core advertising planning and buying strategy.”

Key Takeaways

• When asked about the buying process, about eight in 10 advertisers and advertising agencies say they purchase promotional products from promotional consultants—a significantly higher percentage over any other purchasing method including online, retail/catalog and/or third party.
• Just over half of the project budgets/campaigns put together by advertising agencies and advertisers surveyed include promotional products.
• Advertisers are significantly more likely to buy promotional products as needed—without having a specific budget. This gives promotional consultants additional opportunities to encourage seasonal or new product purchasing throughout the year.
• In the past 12 months almost all the advertising agencies and advertisers surveyed say they purchased promotional products (96 percent)—with 75 percent of those individuals purchasing three or more times during the period.
• Roughly 40 percent of those surveyed say their companies have spent $25,000 or more on promotional products during this timeframe. This suggests room for sales increases in average spend by becoming integrated into the buying process.
• Promotional products are seen as strong influencers of brands as they are used to promote brand recognition, brand/product awareness and corporate identity. As a result, the use of promotional products increased good will and increased brand recall.
• When asked about promotional product effectiveness, almost 75 percent of respondents say these products are either effective or extremely effective.
• The top three drivers of both groups are equal (77 percent) when deciding to include promotional products: price, design/function and they are a proven favorite of recipient.
• In the past 12 months advertising agencies and advertisers report that apparel was the category of promotional products most frequently purchased. Apparel was followed by writing instruments and sporting goods, leisure products and travel accessories.
• When advertising agency respondents were asked which promotional products were mosteffective, apparel was the overwhelming response followed by printed advertising materials (booklets, posters, flyers, signage, labels, inserts, print advertisements, bookmarks, discount coupons and laminated charts). Electronic devices and accessories and writing instruments tied for third place.
• While apparel was also the overwhelming top choice of advertiser respondents, their second and third choices varied from their agency counterparts. For these, writing instruments and desk/office/business accessories were seen as the second and third most effective promotional products used during the past 12 months.
• More than half of advertising agencies and advertisers use promotional products in creating brand recognition and awareness.

While there will always be areas of opportunity to increase market share, the majority of advertising agencies and corporate advertisers recommend using promotional products (88 percent) and almost three-quarters of respondents believe promotional products have contributed to campaigns’ successes.

PPAI is Promotional Products Association International