Welcome to our awesome blog post series for Hasseman Marketing called:
“Brand-ecdotes!”
Each week we will talk to a branding all star about what makes the Promotional Product advertising media so special!
This week we talk with Joe Durham. Joe is a rock star Account Executive for Halo. Joe is a father, husband, hustler, and pusher of positivity! Check out his take on the Promo world in this week’s Brand-ecdotes.
1. What is your all time favorite Promotional Product and why?
I would have to say that my favorite promotional product is the t-shirt because there’s so much variety. Not just in color or short or long sleeve, but in the feel and the touch now as well. And let’s be honest… we all know what the net cost is of a t-shirt but when you have either a great graphic or some kind of nostalgia printed on it, we’ll pay 10 times the cost just to have it. It kills me that I’ve done that but it’s a true story and it happens all the time!
2. Can you name a Promo Product that you have that STILL reminds you fondly of an event, person, organization? If so, can you tell us that story?
I have 2. The first is a whisky sampling set that I was gifted by Jason Lucash & Mike Szymczak a few years ago. I got it as a holiday gift and as a thank you for choosing them to partner with, but for me it was more of an affirmation or recognition of mutual respect in the industry. Mind you the whiskey is long gone. It never had a chance… but the impact of the promotional piece has lasted much longer.
The second is a Kanata blanket that was given to me just this year by one of my best friends Keith Lofton. He sent this and some other items to my mom when she went into hospice care. I get emotional just thinking about it now and along with his friendship and words of encouragement throughout the hardest time in my life I still get great feelings when either I or my kids snuggle up in that blanket. And I think that’s what we all want to achieve in this industry, right? We don’t want to peddle product… we want to provide an experience that’s tied to an emotion.
3. What is the current product you use all the time?
I would have to say a combination of power banks, charging cords & Bluetooth Speakers. We’re on our phones all the time for everything (I’m using my phone to reply to this email) so they have to stay charged and how dull would life be if you couldn’t play your favorite 90s R&B and old school hip-hop and rap music? ? mix in some classic rock and a few country favorites and i’d say you have a really great day!
4. What is an idea/product that you think organizations UNDER use?
I think it’s the T-shirt. I think that so many times companies want to just put their logo on a T-shirt whether it be for a volunteer event for a race or anything else and they don’t utilize the canvas that they have to work with. We have come such a long way in the way that we are able to decorate anymore and to not use the creative resources and the available imprint space is ridiculous in my opinion.
5. What do you think is the best thing about Promotional Products as an advertising media?
I think the promotional products as a whole have gotten a much better reputation in the last 10 years. Before that I think that everyone looked at a promotional product as cheap plastic crap or a tchotchke or a ceramic coffee mug for god sake! But I think that our industry has done a great job in educating people understand the effectiveness and the lasting impact that a promotional product can have when used thoughtful and creatively in a targeted marketing campaign. But if you’re just chucking mud up against the wall to see what sticks, then it doesn’t matter what product you use, it’s not going to be effective.
And…that’s another awesome edition of Brand-ecdotes! Thanks to Joe Durham for taking the time to jump in!
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