Admin

Dec

2009

How the promotional products industry can avoid bad press in social media

I’d like to continue the discussion that my coworker Sarah Fell began , about the role that social media can play in delivering bad press.

Sarah mentioned two PR disasters that occurred because of negative reviews on social media sites. In one, a manager at Honda failed to disclose his position when positively reviewing a Honda product and was called out by users. In the other, a YouTube video showed rats scampering around a New York Taco Bell.

Sarah is right in her conclusion that social media can be “a potentially risky and destructive tool.” But only if you have something to be afraid of.

In both of the disasters mentioned above, social media only exposed existing problems in the companies; it didn’t create them.

If the Honda manager had been transparent in his use of social media — making it clear that he was an employee of Honda, as bloggers are now required to do by the FTC — the social media community would not have responded in outrage when they discovered his true identity. In this case, the manager tried to manipulate a tool that he didn’t understand.

If Taco Bell had been more diligent in its efforts to keep franchises clean, they wouldn’t have had rats running around their stores in the first place. The person who posted the YouTube video didn’t libel the chain; he or she only spread the truth about it.

Any medium that can provide better and more accurate information about a company to consumers is a good thing. And it’s not just consumers who can benefit from it; companies can as well. Take, for example, Coca-Cola, who embraced its user-created Facebook page. Rather than shut down the page for copyright infringement, Coca-Cola purchased it, and left its creators in charge. What better way to make a statement that you are confident in your fan base?

At Pinnacle, we WANT people to post reviews on our Facebook page because we are confident about the quality of our service to promotional products buyers. If we were afraid of what our customers would say about us, wouldn’t that fear speak to deeper issues at our company? We would need to consider reorganizing and improving our customer service instead of trying to suppress the free flow of information about it.

Social media will always belong to your customers. Facebook has already taken steps to ensure that the site remains in the hands of people, not businesses. That means you are a guest on social media sites. So loosen the reins, because you don’t have control of them anyway. You need to be asking not how you can keep customers from controlling your online identity, but how you can make sure what they say about you is good.

Dec

2009

Pink Gloves Dance: Can You Spot the Promotional Products?

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon sure knows how to get down and dance! They are the makers of this very popular YouTube video – Pink Gloves Dance.

It all started with a glove manufacturer, Medline Industries, which decided to make pink hospital gloves instead of green. For each case sold in the month of October, Medline donated $1 to breast cancer research.

St. Vincent decided that the more health care workers wear pink gloves, the more people would talk about breast cancer. More than 200 hospital staff volunteered to wear the pink gloves in a video. There are lab technicians, janitorial staff, kitchen staff, nurses and doctors all showing their moves dancing in the hospital.

There are lots of different promotional products available to help support various causes, and a few ideas are featured on the Pinnacle Promotions Promotional Marketing Calendar.

We even have a specific page dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month which provides several product ideas and marketing recommendations.

Can you spot the following promotional products in the video?

1) Flag
2) Scrubs
3) Lanyard
4) Doctor Jacket
5) Hawaiian Lei
6) Pink Umbrella

One of my favorite and most effective promotional products is the pink umbrella. While it’s raining as you walk through the town, your awareness message can be seen from so many people. I encouraged the use of a fold up umbrella to one of my non-profits last year for their campaign. They received such positive feedback that they decided to use umbrellas again this year!!

Dec

2009

Football, Promotional Products, and the Stories They Tell

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Florida Gators in the SEC title game this past weekend earning them the title of No. 1 team in the nation and a spot in the national championship game Jan. 7 in Pasadena. But unless you were not one of the 70,000 plus fans in the Georgia Dome Saturday night, nor one of the 30 million CBS viewers, you already knew that. Despite growing up within the borders of the Southeastern Conference, and with a father and older brother who both spend the majority of the fall in front of a television screen watching college football, I have never been a huge fan of the sport, or any sport for that matter. My indifference toward the game was probably further established due to the fact that I went to Emory University – a college that has never had a football team yet proudly boasts, under the symbol of a football on school apparel, “Undefeated Since 1836.”

Thus I was recently drawn to an article I happened to see in the December issue of Allure Magazine, entitled “How to Enjoy Football.” The article, based on an interview with Andrea Kremer, a reporter for NBC Sunday Night Football and a correspondent for HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, explores several ideas for how one can get more “into the game.” One of which me struck me more than the others:“Study up on the story lines. Knowing the main dramas of the season helps you see games as a series of interrelated events, not one-offs, and a lot of these stories come down to the quarterback. How is Tom Brady doing after his injury, and will his Patriots make the playoffs after falling short last year? How will Brett Favre perform when his new team, the Vikings, plays his old team, the Packers? And there’s big drama in Dallas with Tony Romo. You may know him as the guy who dumped Jessica Simpson, but the Cowboys also dumped his star wide receiver, Terrell Owens. The team has a new billion-dollar stadium and a head coach who’s in the hot seat—can they thrive under all that pressure?”

This tactic of following the story behind the game holds true in the marketing arena as well, which Acree very clearly outlined in her blog posting from last week, “Tell your brand’s story with promotional products.” in which she described the power of promotional products in reference to their ability to communicate a company’s story to their consumers.

Dec

2009

Keeping Warm at the Office: Custom Snuggles Anyone?

What do you do when it’s cold at home?

I throw on my toasty sweats, grab a cozy blanket and curl up in my favorite overstuffed chair. The snuggly warmth and cozy feel of wrapping up in my cold-weather favorites is one of my greatest pleasures.

So what if you could bring this feeling of warmth and happiness with you in your daily life?

Being that I am almost always cold, I like to keep a blanket and an extra sweater around at all times. I would probably even have a small space heater running through the cold winter months, but those are typically frowned upon in corporate environments.

The only problem with using a blanket to stay warm at the office is that you can really only use it to cover your legs, as covering your arms will impede on your work. Without the use of your arms how can you type, answer phones or complete any other task that, well, uses your hands?

While there is only so much you can truly do to make you cubicle or office feel more like home, with the release of the custom Snuggle blanket for businesses, you can get that cozy warm feeling without sacrificing any work performance or productivity.

This is a great opportunity for businesses to increase their internal branding efforts. Give your employees a custom Snuggle blanket for the holidays. You’ll keep them comfy and content at the office during the day, while bringing in a little of the casual comforts of home.

And do I even have to mention the fun you can have with your team all wrapped up in your corporation’s custom Snuggles!

Kim
Marketing Coordinator

Dec

2009

MMM… Chocolate Promotional Items!

Over the Thanksgiving break, not only was my belly full of turkey, but I also decided to dive into something slightly sweeter. Chocolate. I cannot tell you how much I love the stuff. White, Dark, Milk, Milk with Peanut Butter… you name it and I’ll steal it from you! Over the past year I’ve spent working at Pinnacle, I have seen my coworkers’ eyes light up numerous times at the sight of free chocolate. One office favorite in particular is the chocolate covered cookie, which combines a piece of decadent chocolate with the satisfying crunch of a cookie. This rich snack is perfect for making your clients happy, not to mention its prominent advertisement of your logo. I can assure you that any box presented to our office containing these delicious treats is empty by lunchtime.

I tell my customers constantly to buy something that you know clients or employees will use frequently. Whether that purchase is comprised of clocks, stress balls or promotional pens, if end users can find lots of practical applications for the product, they will remember your company. However, sometimes a single application is able to effectively fulfill your marketing objectives- I don’t have to tell you my personal favorite gift option is anything edible. Devouring the item provides immediate satisfaction that leaves a lasting impression by appealing to my taste buds. For target audiences with sweet teeth, such as myself, chocolate goodies that disappear in a few bites may be more memorable than something I would otherwise use everyday. It’s chocolate that sometimes gives me the sugary boost to stay motivated during a long day at work and I keep stock in case it’s been an unusually stressful day. Make your customers’ bellies happy and your business may benefit as a result.

Courtney
Account Manager

Dec

2009

Tell your brand’s story with promotional products

Recently I visited my friend Brian, who was looking for bikes on Craigslist. Now, Brian already has two bikes — a fixed gear and a tandem — but he wants more. Brian’s not the kind of guy to be satisfied with a practical fulfillment of his needs; he obsesses over things. When he adopted a cat a few years ago he wasn’t satisfied with that, either. He let the cat have four kittens in his house, then he adopted a ferret and brought his childhood pet snake from his parents’ house. The animals all live in harmony with his roommate’s hedgehog. Brian is neither greedy nor rich. He doesn’t have a television set and you’d be hard pressed to find a suitable water glass in the house, but he proudly owns a 100-piece collection of vintage mushroom pottery.

Brian’s actually not that different from most people. We like to think that we buy based on price comparisons and consumer reports, but most of the time we act on gut feelings. I may be looking for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment with a balcony, but if I fall in love with the quirky floor-planned 1 bedroom with poor insulation, I’ll start talking myself into the buy. “That screened-in porch could totally work as a second bedroom… and the real estate agent said it used to belong to an heiress in the 1920s!”

We often choose story over sense. In a globalized market there are too many choices, and we’ll pick the one that stands out. That’s why it’s important to think of your brand not as a transaction maker, but as a storyteller. Coca Cola designates its entire museum to telling the story of its product, and their ads too. This commercial turns a simple transaction — buying a coke from a vending machine — into a complex narrative. Notice the ending:

Back to my friend Brian. During our conversation he remarked that he likes the Craigslist bikes with a story behind them. “I want to know why they’re selling them,” he said. “Maybe it’s the guy’s daughter’s bike, and she’s going away to college, and she’s not going to use it anymore. Maybe they’re moving out of the country. Whatever it is, I want to know.”

I found similar responses when I was selling my couch on Craiglist earlier this year. “Why are you selling the couch?” people would ask, even before they started haggling the price. Putting a story behind your brand lends it authenticity. And the power of promotional products is that they communicate that story to your customers.

So what is your brand’s story? And how will you use promotional products to tell it?

Dec

2009

Promotional Products to help your Marketing Campaign Win Big

While many people swear that bingo is a game of luck, I have my doubts. In the 20 years that I have been playing bingo with my family, my older sister has consistently been the winner. In fact, she’s stockpiled so many M & M’s (we don’t play for money) that she could open her own candy store. Despite the fact that I very rarely win, I love bingo. There’s something about choosing a card and covering the free spot that brings me back to my childhood in a way that I just don’t find with more competitive games. And, the best part is that people of all ages and cultures can share a game of bingo.

In fact, the game of bingo originated with an Italian lottery game called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia” in the 16th century. Over the years, the game evolved and its popularity increased. Germans often used the game in schools as a way to teach spelling and math, a tradition that has since been brought to America. While bingo has been around for many centuries, only recently have businesses begun to realize the game’s marketing potential. And, since December is Bingo Month, I thought now would be a great time to share my love for the game, as well as a valuable lesson about promotions.

In addition to being a great way to bring family and friends together for a little healthy competition, bingo and other interactive games are great ways to advertise a brand. Like bingo cards, customized scratch off cards engage and excite consumers by offering them a chance to win a grand prize at essentially no expense. Scratch-off cards, which feature pre-selected numbers that are hidden behind a removable film, are cost-efficient promo products that are especially great giveaways at tradeshows.

You can customize the cards with your company’s name and logo and have each card contain a small prize, such as merchandise or service discount. Hand out the cards at the tradeshow entrance and increase your traffic by telling winners to claim their prize at your booth. Or for improved Internet sales, allow winners to redeem their prize only by visiting your Web site. Any way you choose to utilize scratch off cards, you will surely hit the jackpot for your marketing campaign.

Nov

2009

Promotional Turkeys or Promotional Fitness Accessories – a Thanksgiving Corporate Gift Toss Up

There is a reason why Thanksgiving Day has been deemed “Turkey Day” throughout the country. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, approximately 250 million turkeys were raised in the U.S. in 2009 for slaughter, of which about 46 million ended up on U.S. dinner tables this past Thursday. But we all know that turkey is not all that is consumed. According to WebMD, a typical Thanksgiving meal can add up to 3,000 calories or more – with a single slice of pecan pie with whipped cream ranking in at about 800 calories alone!

Here’s an average breakdown of the rest of the meal:
* Roasted dark and white meat turkey with skin — 450 calories
* Homemade stuffing with gravy — 600 calories
* Cranberry relish — 200 calories
* Candied sweet potatoes — 400 calories
* Green bean casserole — 190 calories
* Pumpkin pie with whipped cream — 400 calories
* Cup of eggnog — 400 calories

You could always contribute to this Thanksgiving feast by sending out promotional Applewood Smoked Turkeys complete with cutting boards imprinted with your company’s name and logo. But maybe this year companies should think about giving away some promotional fitness accessories for post-Thanksgiving corporate holiday gifts…

Nov

2009

The Perfect Brew: Colorful Promotional Drinkware for Tea Lovers!

Recently on the blog, Kim discussed how much she loves the Terra Porcelain Cup and it reminded me of one of my favorite promotional items. While I occasionally drink coffee, tea is really my thing. I love all kinds of tea, English breakfast, chai spice, oolong, and my personal favorite: Double Bergamot Earl Grey. Of course, you can always brew your tea and put it in a regular mug, but I find that using a tea infuser makes for a better cup of tea.

The infuser is acrylic and has a double wall construction that keeps the tea hot but your hands stay cool. You can use it for loose-leaf tea and regular tea bags and it works well for both. This unique promotional drinkware item is definitely not as popular as a standard ceramic coffee mug but I think that is what makes it great. You can still use it for other hot drinks, such as coffee, but you can also use it for iced tea in the summer, sodas, or even just regular ol’ water. Anyone can use tea infusers, but tea lovers like myself will really appreciate others making the effort to give them something a little bit different and tailored to their preferences instead of coffee drinkers for once!

Shelley
Account Manager

Nov

2009

Promotional Products on the Road (Trip) to Success

As a kid growing up with divorced parents, my holiday season was much like the lives of Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn in last year’s blockbuster “Four Christmases.” Witherspoon and Vaughn play an engaged couple that both have divorced parents and- due to some unfortunate weather- are forced to visit all four adults on Christmas. While this might be an extreme situation for the sake of comedy, spending copious amounts of time in the car during the holidays is no joke.

In fact, 91% of Americans will drive to their Thanksgiving destinations, according to studies by the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) of the Department of Transportation. Whether they are planning a visit to all four parents or traveling across the country to visit friends, the average person drives 214 miles over Thanksgiving weekend. As a result, I’ve come up with a few ways to pass time in the car, as well as some great promotional products to take along for the ride.

To start with, consider listening to a podcast or a book on tape. This is a great way to stay alert during long drives (especially if you aren’t fortunate enough to have the companionship of Witherspoon or Vaughn). If you do have a friend or family member along for the ride, play geography word games or share your favorite holiday-themed memories to pass the time.

And, don’t forget to pack well because nothing spoils a good road trip quite like a cramped car. Consider filling sports bottles and coolers with food and drinks to eliminate the need for multiple snack stops and bring a promotional CD case to keep your music within easy reach. If you and your employees are like most Americans and planning to travel via car this holiday season, customizing and distributing these promotional products will put your brand on the road to success!

Be sure to check out the whole film to see Reese clutching her travel mug at many stops along the trip.

Admin

How the promotional products industry can avoid bad press in social media

Pink Gloves Dance: Can You Spot the Promotional Products?

Football, Promotional Products, and the Stories They Tell

Keeping Warm at the Office: Custom Snuggles Anyone?

MMM… Chocolate Promotional Items!

Tell your brand’s story with promotional products

Promotional Products to help your Marketing Campaign Win Big

Promotional Turkeys or Promotional Fitness Accessories – a Thanksgiving Corporate Gift Toss Up

The Perfect Brew: Colorful Promotional Drinkware for Tea Lovers!

Promotional Products on the Road (Trip) to Success

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