by Kirby Hasseman
Have you ever thought, “Let’s create an event that raises money for a good cause, creates and builds community, helps people get in shape, and can create a lasting impact on my organization?” Maybe not. It just sounds too good to be true. But that is exactly what happens when organizations create 5K’s, 10K’s, half-marathons, and marathons. These events are not just fundraisers (though they are that too), they have the ability to do much more.
The bad news is, there are a lot of races out there. If you want to have a real impact, you have to create ways for your event to stand out. And one simple way to do that is to create branded merchandise that people really want. So here is some great branded merch for your next race.
Not Just T-shirts
We love t-shirts. And when it comes to races, those are definitely the number 1 item people think about. But if you are planning to do a shirt, consider the audience. The consumer is getting pickier and pickier about the shirt they get. And if your audience is filled with people who do lots of races, they will be judging you based on your shirt selection. So if you are going to do a t-shirt, check out this article we wrote about what t-shirts cost.
Simple advice: If you are going to do a t-shirt, don’t go cheap. We have plenty of quality, cool t-shirts that won’t break the bank.
But if you want to do some branded merchandise outside of the t-shirt…here are a few options that will make your race stand out.
The Arm Sleeve
The Arm Sleeve certainly makes a statement. You can get different colors to coincide with your event, and you can make each of your participants feel like they are in an Under Armour commercial! This is a fun item that is apparel…but you don’t need sizes.
Reflective Knit Cap
Most of us are excited about warmer weather right now, but runners run all year round. So for those folks that run outside, or for events that are in cooler temperatures, this is a great item. Oh…and if you are planning your event at night…home run city!
Barrel Duffle Bag
Most races have a bag where they put race bibs, flyers, and other materials that every racer gets. The problem is, many of these bags are cheap plastic. They have no long-term value to the racer or the organizations. One way to up your game in the eyes of the participant is to up your bag game. Check out this cost-effective duffle that racers will keep for years.
These are just a few ideas that can help your race stand out. And when you create a race with great merch…it’s a great marketing tool for next year too! Want more ideas? We have created this shop so you can browse it now for your event. Oh…and let us know if you have questions.
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by Kirby Hasseman
(Coshocton, OH)—Coshocton-based marketing firm and promotional products distributor Hasseman Marketing & Communications is growing again. Hasseman Marketing is excited to welcome Briar Swigert to their team. Swigert graduated from Coshocton High School and brings enthusiasm and a hard-working spirit to Hasseman Marketing.
“I am thrilled to have Briar on the team, and cannot wait to see what amazing things he brings to the table,” says Hasseman Marketing CEO, Kirby Hasseman. “Not only does he have a great attitude and is willing to learn, but he is also very diverse in his talents. That will be great for us and our clients!”
In his new role, Briar will lead the print production for Hasseman Marketing and clients as well. This includes business cards, postcards, invitations, letterhead, envelopes, books, calendars, etc. for Hasseman Marketing clients. In addition, Swigert has a creative mind and is learning the digital marketing design side of things as well.
“I am so excited to see what all I get into here,” says Swigert. “I am learning something new each day, and am eager to help Hasseman Marketing and our community with their marketing needs.”
Hasseman Marketing headquarters is located at 432 Main Street in Coshocton, Ohio. They can be found online at www.HassemanMarketing.com. In addition, you can follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hassemanmarketing. You can also find more out about our staff at https://hassemanmarketing.com/about/.
by Kirby Hasseman
I love football, marketing, and music. So you could say that the Super Bowl is like my, well, Super Bowl. To me, it’s one of the best American holidays…and yes, I want to be able to sleep in the day after. And since it is the most-watched television spectacles each year, companies from all over spend millions to advertise on it. So from my perspective, there is a lot to learn from the best ads. But more than that, there are marketing lessons all over the event. So here are the marketing lessons from Super Bowl 56.
Guerilla Marketing Still Works
Ryan Reynolds is not just a bankable Hollywood star. While some of you were not paying attention, he has also become a genius marketer. He has done some amazing work to promote his own brands including Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile, and he was at it again. While this is not one of his best ads, Reynolds and his team shot the ad upside down to grab our attention. This is an old-school Guerilla Marketing tactic, and it still works. When things are different, they stand out and make you take notice. This was an ad that made me pay attention.
It Pays To Give First
Every year it blows my mind that the NFL gets some of the biggest acts to perform for the Halftime show…for free. Why would Prince, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and now Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem do that? Because this is the biggest act of exposure you can get…and it will pay off in the form of selling music and merchandise. In essence, they are giving first. When you provide value upfront (in the right setting and to the right audience) wonderful things can happen. In that spirit of giving first, you can get my book on the subject for FREE here.
Using Short-Form to Drive to Long-Form Content
When you spend the kind of money that BMW spent to have Arnold Schwarzenegger and Salma Hayek in their ads, they want to get some bang for their buck. So leading up to the Super Bowl I kept seeing short-form content that teased the spots on the Super Bowl. In addition, they encouraged you to head to their website to see the full story. Using that short content to build interest and drive traffic to your site is a cool way to increase the value of your marketing.
A Call To Action Still Works
The best commercial on Super Bowl 56 was the Coinbase ad. Was it cool and fun? Nope. Did it have amazing celebrities and a funny storyline? Not at all. It was just a QR code that looked like a 90’s screensaver on the screen for 60 seconds. So what did people do? They scanned the QR code! More than 20 million people hit the landing page and took Coinbase from 186th place on Apple’s App Store to 2nd. So many people did it that it crashed their website! While crashing the site is not ideal, it shows you the power of giving people a call to action.
Many marketers and advertisers work so hard on “the creative” that they lose sight of the goal of the ad. What do we want customers to do? What do we want them to remember? Let’s make sure we focus on that.
Oh…and as a side note, sometimes NOT having a crazy creative message is really creative. And yes…I downloaded the app.
There are plenty of lessons to learn from the best of the best in marketing. And the Super Bowl certainly showcases the best of the best. What was your big takeaway?
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by Kirby Hasseman
We have been talking about the importance of bridging the Appreciation Gap for years. What is the Appreciation Gap? Most employers, leaders, and entrepreneurs believe they are showing their team appreciation. But studies show that most employees don’t feel appreciated or valued. That creates an “appreciation gap” that leads to dissatisfaction on both sides.
And while there are plenty of ways to show appreciation, Employee Appreciation Day is right around the corner. It might be time to step up and show your team you care with some amazing branded merchandise. And if you like any of these, we have created a shop you can check out right here.
Employee Appreciation Day
Employee Appreciation Day is the first Friday in March and it gives a formal “excuse” for you to show your team how much they mean to you! So here are a few really cool items to help you show up as a hero on Employee Appreciation Day!
Urban Peak® 20 oz Altair Vacuum Tumbler
This copper-lined, vacuum-insulated deep draw liner maintains optimal drinking temperatures. In other words, this is an awesome-looking piece that also keeps your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold. It has a very high perceived value and you can even personalize it to make it extra special. Learn more here.
Ultimate Utility Tote
This sturdy tote features a large compartment with a wire rim to give the tote shape and total functionality. It also has a sewn-in hard bottom for extra durability. Aside from its main compartment, it has a front pocket to store your smaller items and a 14-inch handle drop height. Your company name or logo can be imprinted onto the side of the bag, which is available in a variety of different colors. Fellow travelers and grocery shoppers alike will be jealous of your consumers for having such a useful and colorful item from your company! Learn more here!
48″ arc – The Rebel Inverted
The Rebel is an umbrella featuring a revolutionary design that allows the water to push away when closing, making it easy when entering or leaving a car or through a door and keeping you dry in the process. Plus, the inverted closing action keeps the dry side of the umbrella on the outside when brought indoors. Learn more here.
Desk Qi
The Desk Qi is a tabletop charging hub and stationery holder, featuring up to 10W of fast wireless charging (powered by type-c), and 2 additional USB-A ports for your electronic devices. Showcase your brand or message up to a full-color imprint with this must-have at-home or office tech item! Learn more here.
But wait there’s more! We have created a shop that includes these amazing items and more here. Browse, shop and buy right here.
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by Kirby Hasseman
No matter what business you are in, you need to promote yourself if you want to succeed. As Henry Ford famously said, “A man who stops advertising to save money is like a man who stops a clock to save time.” We all need to let our prospects and customers know that we are here to serve them. But you can still do that responsibly. There is a growing number of products in the marketing space that have an eco-friendly component. That way you can promote your business…and do good while you are doing it.
Skylar Hasseman helped us find our favorite pieces of branded merchandise that are eco-friendly. Let’s take a look!
Koozie® Collapsible Eco Can Kooler
This is a staple of the branded merchandise world. Check out this product if you want to make parties more eco-friendly…one beverage at a time! Click here to learn more.
Wood Bottle Opener
Portable and pretty, this custom engraved wooden bottle opener is ready to travel. Its slim 7″ profile makes carrying it in a pocket or purse a breeze, while the metal jaw easily pries open drinks. Perfect for breweries, executives, barbecues, and more. Oh…and did we mention you can get one? Click here to learn more.
Eco-Friendly Reusable Stainless-Steel Straw In An Anodized Travel Container With Carabiner Clip And Cleaning Brush
You are contributing to the 8 million tons of global plastic waste (yearly) every time you order a drink that comes with a straw. And do you know how many straws Americans use in a single day? About 500 million! In view of the staggering figures, it’s easy to figure out how big of an impact we can make just by making small changes to our habits and actions. Click here to learn more.
Budget Balm
This Budget Balm provides promotional value without breaking the bank. It is made using petroleum, mineral oil, coconut oil, paraffin wax, and ozokerite wax. It’s also Vegan and Made in the USA. There is a lot to love about it and you can find more information here.
Next Level – Eco Heavyweight Tee
You want a really cool t-shirt to promote your brand…but you want to feel good about it. Right? This might be your answer. This t-shirt from Next Level is made of approximately 4 recycled RPET bottles per shirt. Learn more here.
And friends…this is just the beginning. If you want to create a promotion that not only creates attention for your brand but also does some good in the world…we can help. If you want to order one of these awesome products right away…click here to make it happen!
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