Winter is going to be cold?

Whatever your view on global warming and carbon trading, I think everyone will agree with me that the last week or so we have been getting a real taste of Winter 2011. I live in the hills on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria and I can tell you, it's cold!  My predictions, for what it's worth is that we will see records of all sorts, and a bumper ski season. If we are to follow the Northern Hemisphere I will be proved right.  Here is a link explaining just what has been happening to our northern neighbours.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/winters_are_sure_colder_than_they_predicted/

This really has nothing to do with promotional products, except that you might like to think about some merchandise to help your staff or clients through the Winter - Umbrellas, travel mugs, beanies or even a warm jacket.

What do people want, What do people like, What do people remember?

This week I stumbled across  logo blog, a site offering an article with useful predictions in design trends for 2011.  While it is largely looking at the American market I think it is universal in what it is suggesting.  Have a look at some of the logos, they are spot on.  Think about some of the logos you see locally and I am pretty sure they will fit one of the categories in this article.

http://www.logoblog.org/logo-design-trends-2011/

It's not easy being green...or is it?

It's not that easy being green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that
It's not easy being green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean, or important
Like a mountain, or tall like a tree
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be

He is so spot on by the end of the song...it is important to be green, and it can be friendly and beautiful too.  When thinking about your next promotion consider some of our environmentally aware products.

So why do people still buy promotional pens?

Promotional Products have been in Australia now for about 30 years, but interestingly it has only been in the last few that people in business are starting to give them the credit they deserve. No longer are they cheap throw away items but now with such diverse ranges of items to choose from they have become not only useful for the receiver but a fantastic marketing tool for the giver! 

Let’s ponder some stats…

• 71% of business travelers surveyed at international airports had received a promotional product in the last year
• 33% had the product on them
• 55% had kept the item for more than one year
• 75% had kept the product because it was useful
• 76% could recall the advertiser’s name on the product they had received in the last 12 months

Perhaps it's time to give real thought to this area of advertising. Radio, TV and the Print Media have their place, but have a think about how else you can reach you potential clients and keep the clients you have. 

What does this survey tell you about promotional products? They are no longer throw-away items. Promotional Merchandise Products are a valuable marketing tool that advertise your business.

In the same survey of international travelers only 53.5% of them could recall the name of a single advertiser in a magazine or newspaper they had read in the last week!!!

Of course there is a place for magazine, newspaper and radio advertising but more than ever I think companies big and small are thinking about sharing the budget to include Promotional Merchandise Products.

Marketing is the package of how companies promote themselves.  Within that banner fall the many tools.  Advertising is one of them.  Don’t be afraid to advertise, it is how you get the word out about your business and attract the customers you want.  Promotional Products can be very specific in targeting an audience and they only go to whom you choose.