Wendy Spang Joins Hasseman Marketing

(Coshocton, OH)—Coshocton-based marketing firm and promotional products distributor Hasseman Marketing & Communications is excited to welcome Wendy Spang to their team.  Spang will be joining the team as a Finance Specialist.

“We are so excited to welcome Wendy to the team,” says Hasseman Marketing CEO, Kirby Hasseman.  “Wendy has a great personality and brings a wealth of knowledge to the team.”

Wendy has a wealth of knowledge in the finance space.  She has over 17 years of experience with companies like Oxford Mining, International Paper, and, most recently, Guggisberg Cheese.  In her new role, Wendy will be managing the finances, sending invoices, and other responsibilities aligned with the HMC finances.  Wendy loves spending time with her grandkids, dirt track racing, and having fun in the casino.  She can be reached via email at finance@hassemanmarketing.com.

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/.

7 Mistakes Organizations Make When Buying Branded Merch

You have heard of the 7 Deadly Sins.  Well on today’s DMJ 1 on 1, we break down 7 mistakes we see organizations making when buying branded merch.  We want to help you avoid these mistakes and level up your marketing.  Watch or listen below!  Oh, and please subscribe to the Youtube channel so you never miss an episode…or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts by searching “Delivering Marketing Joy.”

7 Mistakes Organizations Make When Buying Branded Merch

Watch the video and take notes, but we have also broken them down for you here.  Let’s dive in!

They Don’t Identify The Perfect Customer

Many organizations talk about the budget, the timeline, and the event, but they skip a crucial step.  Who is the piece of branded merch for?  And when you truly understand that…how do you want them to feel?  When you really understand the perfect customer, then you can make a much better decision on what piece of branded merch will dazzle them.  We dive deep into how and why to do this here.

They Don’t Give Themselves Time

The good news is that the branded merch industry has gotten better at doing fast, last-minute orders.  That’s great.  But that doesn’t mean it should be a way of life.  We know that it happens sometimes.  We get it!  But many organizations habitually wait until the last minute to order everything.  It creates stress, costs more money, and makes them settle for worse branded merch.  Give yourself more time than you think you need on your next order…and it will be a better experience!

They Don’t Set a Budget (and Share it)

As we mentioned, things pop up.  And when that happens, you might not have an established budget.  But obviously, it’s best to have a budget.  And when you have that number, don’t keep it a secret.  Share the budget with your distributor so they can guide you to the best items for your pocketbook.  In addition, they can help you understand what it will cost to ship the items and land in time and not break the bank.

They Do Not Have Good Vector Art

If you don’t have great art, you won’t have great merch.  So either provide great art or be willing to invest in it.  If not, your merch (and your customer’s experience) will suffer for it.

They Don’t Request A Proof (And Look At It)

We all get in a hurry.  I understand.  But it’s worth the 2 minutes to request a proof and really give it a look.  We request a proof on every order.  But the fact is, only the client can really tell if it’s exactly what they want.  So if you are going to order branded merch, request that proof.  Then take the time to make sure it’s exactly what you want!

They Don’t Think About Distribution

If you order amazing branded merch, but then it sits in the corner, it does you (and your brand) no good.  Take the time to think about how you are going to get the product into the hands of your best customers.  Are you going to have to ship it?  Will you deliver it?  And how will you package it? You want it to look special when it arrives.  Consider those factors if you want your next campaign to knock their socks off!

They Don’t Have A Theme or Message

While you certainly CAN just slap your logo on a shirt, not everyone will want to wear that.  When you create a theme or a message that your brand can rally around, your best customers will want to rally around it too.  Build a theme into your campaign and you will give it extra life and extra value.

So those are 7 Mistakes we see organizations making when buying branded merch.  We hope this has helped shine a light on how to do better branded merch.  Let us know if we can help!

And as always, we want to provide you with value.  So if you want to create marketing campaigns (and appreciation gifts) that really hit the TARGET, check out our TARGET marketing playbook here.

 

Our Favorite Products From This Year’s Show

Every year we welcome some of our very best suppliers to join us in Coshocton, Ohio for our annual Customer Trade Show.  The show this year was amazing!  But we understand that not every person can make it the day of the show.  Life gets busy.  So we did some of the work for you.  Here are a few of our favorite products we saw at this year’s show.  You can check them ALL out on our shop here.

5.5″ x 8.5″ Seed Paper Bound JournalBook

The 5.5″ x 8.5″ Seed Paper Bound JournalBook features a seed paper cover and 80 sheets of FSC®-certified recycled lined paper. Includes elastic band, pen loop, ribbon page marker, and back pocket.  This was a great item to give to our guests as they walked in the door.  Learn more here.

Thor 40oz Eco-Friendly Straw Tumbler

The Bullet Thor 40 oz Eco-Friendly Straw Tumbler features durable double-wall construction to keep your beverages hot or cold in any environment. Food-grade recycled straw is included for easy reuse daily. The Thor has a 40-ounce capacity for fewer refills and features a slim base that fits into most cupholders, a comfortable carry handle, and a splash-proof press-on lid with two openings and a swivel closure, friendly to both Sippers and Chuggers!

12-Month Custom Planner

You might love the calendar on your phone, but many people still love to have the monthly planner calendar to keep things straight.  This one includes a full-color imprint on the front and back cover in order to show off your brand.

Colorwav Soundbar

The ColorWav sound bar adds a new dynamic to your home sound system with its slim black construction and RGB-illuminated grill. Its multi-colored lights behind the grill light up your logo and create an impressive statement while high-quality sound fills the room. The compact size is perfect for various spaces, and the full-color packaging makes it an ideal gift for staff or VIP clients.

27 oz Denali Stainless Steel Vacuum Tumblers

Help your clients get excited for their morning commute with these 27 oz. Denali stainless steel vacuum tumblers! This attractive mug features double-wall vacuum insulation and a clear lid to keep your beverage at your preferred temperature and prevent any spills while on the go. The Ridge Deco-inspired design makes this tumbler stand out from the crowd of travel mugs and a product that people will be proud to bring everywhere. Not only is this tumbler secure, eye-catching, and large enough to hold as much of your favorite drink as you need, but it is also environmentally friendly with a BPA-free construction! Promote your brand on a mug you and your clients can feel good about!

These are just a few of our favorites.  See a larger list on our shop here.

And as always, we want to provide you with value.  So if you want to create marketing campaigns (and appreciation gifts) that really hit the TARGET, check out our TARGET marketing playbook here.

Thirsty Thursday: Jade Thinks it’s Beer

Thirsty Thursday is back!  What is Thirsty Thursday? Thirsty Thursday is the award-winning piece of content from Hasseman Marketing where we take a mystery drink out of a piece of branded drinkware! Be careful…it’s not for everyone.  This week we feature the Thor 40 oz Eco-Friendly Straw Tumbler.  It’s hot right now.  Watch the latest episode now!

Why You Should Consider the Thor 40 oz Eco-Friendly Straw Tumbler

The Thor is doing extremely well this holiday season.  And we like it so much, that we did an entire blog about why you might consider the Thor over the Stanley.  You can read that here.  But in a word, price.  The Thor tumbler is available at a lower price point compared to the Stanley tumbler. You can find the Thor tumbler for as low as $9.99, while the Stanley tumbler costs around $50. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Thor tumbler is the clear winner.  Check out the shop with all of our featured drinkware here.

Each Thirsty Thursday, we feature a cool piece of branded drinkware.  To learn more… head to our shop here.  And if this was just too much fun, you can watch more!  Check out our last episode here.

Thanks for watching!  Again, purchase for your team here…or contact your Hasseman Marketing team member.

Hasseman Marketing is your one-stop marketing shop.  We work hard to “Deliver #MarketingJoy to you.  Oh…and we want to ensure you hit the TARGET in your marketing.  If you want to learn now, check out our TARGET marketing playbook here for FREE!

How Do You Build a Real Brand?

What do Harley Davidson, Yeti, Nike, Apple, and Jack Daniels have in common?

These brands are all larger than life. And they have a huge group of Enthusiastic Brand Ambassadors who love their brand. The company doesn’t pay people to wear their brand. Their customers pay them for that opportunity! Those are enthusiastic brand ambassadors. There is incredible power in having that type of brand.

So, now that you have started to gain customers intentionally, how do you start to build Enthusiasm for your company? How do you build a real brand?

Let’s start with the foundation.

Step 1: Fulfill your promise.

If you don’t do what you said you would do…you are dead on arrival. You have to deliver. Say what you will do…and do what you say. It’s basic…and it’s foundational. If you don’t do this…you are done.

This is one of those moments when everyone nods and says, “Yeah…I know that.” And I am sure you do. But then why, as customers, are we so often disappointed? It’s because even though we know we are supposed to live up to our promises, we don’t always do it. So, if you want to build a brand that lasts, you have to start there.

Step 2: GLUE

A friend of mine named Stan Phelps talks about this concept in his book called The Purple Goldfish.  It helps you create a brand “that sticks.”

It’s an acronym that stands for Give Little Unexpected Extras.

Now that you have delivered on your base promise, it’s time to level up the experience. When you take just a little extra care of your customers, they stand up and take notice. The bad news is, we hear all of the time about the lack of customer service in the business world. The good news is, that means it’s easy to stand out!

Let’s break it down.

Give: Provide some extra value. Do just a bit more than advertised or promised. When you do,

you surprise and delight your customers in a wonderful way.

Little: Great news…it doesn’t have to cost a lot! It can be an extra sticker in the box. Maybe it’s one extra item for free. Maybe it’s an extra special email response that makes them laugh.

Unexpected: It shouldn’t be every time. If it’s an every time occurrence then the customer will come to expect it. Just occasionally…make them smile.

Extra: As we said, find a little way to do just a little bit more. A little bit more can mean a lot.

The fact is, when you add GLUE into your marketing, you give people a reason to talk about you in a great way.

Step 3: Own Your Mistakes.

No matter how hard we try, we will all screw up sometimes. None of us are infallible, as a person and as a brand. When that happens (not if), own it and fix it. Don’t play the blame game.

Again, I know this sounds like a no-brainer. But it’s not. We all want to fight the urge to be blamed for mistakes. But the sooner we lean into the mistake, the faster we can fix it. And problems that are fixed quickly and respectfully turn haters into enthusiastic ambassadors.

As I tell my team, “Remember, everyone looks good when everything goes right. When things go wrong, we have a real opportunity to shine.”

Appreciation Marketing

Now that you have the foundation set, it’s time to supercharge your opportunity to create real Enthusiasm around your brand. Showing real appreciation to your customers is a pretty easy thing…but so few companies really do it. As a matter of fact, check out this statistic.

69% of customers that leave you, will do so because of perceived indifference.

Think about that! Nearly 7 in 10 customers will leave because they don’t know if you care. So, gratitude and appreciation are superpowers in business. I find myself singing Billy Joel as I type this and urge you to “Tell Them About it!”

And while it’s important to show appreciation for every customer and every order, your bigger customers might mean even a little bit more.

You see, most businesses follow Pareto’s Rule when it comes to revenue. That’s the 80/20 rule. It means that 80% of your revenue likely comes from around 20% of your customers. If one of those 20% leaves you, it can be a big blow to your bottom line. So, it’s even more important for you to make sure you show those customers real appreciation.

Quarterly Appreciation Program

The fact is, we all get busy. So even though we want to show gratitude, the whirlwind of life can often get in the way. That is why I recommend creating a quarterly appreciation program to really make sure your 20% is recognized regularly.

How does it work? It’s pretty simple.

First, decide the budget. How much can you spend on each client per year? Remember, this is one of your best clients. Consider this your marketing budget for reaching them. The fact is, we all spend a lot of money on new client acquisition (and we should). But maintaining our current (and best) clients is often just as important, and creates a higher margin!

Now that you have that number, simply divide by 4. This establishes your quarterly budget. Now, choose a piece of branded merchandise that fits in the budget for each quarter.

Why a piece of branded merch? First, because it lasts. You want your top clients to see this item and remember you (and your appreciation) every time they use it. And second, because this is how you start to build a tribe of raving fans. You want this group carrying these cool items and repping your brand…everywhere they go.

Now that you have the items selected, make sure they are ordered to be delivered a couple of weeks before the beginning of each quarter (or when you want to ship them or deliver them). This will give you time to work that into your schedule, so they are delivered in a timely fashion.

Then, just like in sales, the fortune is in the follow-up. Follow up with this top 20% with a call and just let them know how much you appreciate them. This personal touch will push this idea over the edge.

These are the steps to taking your brand to the next level and creating Enthusiasm for your organization.

Want to dig deeper into this? I cover it in my new book Hit The TARGET.  Head to HitTheTargetBook.com/video to sign up for the video course today. We will email you a short video for each letter in the TARGET marketing framework in order to help you level up your marketing faster.

Featured Year-End Gifts: Cooler Bags

At Hasseman Marketing, we are committed to helping fix the Appreciation Gap.  We do that by assisting organizations to find really cool Branded Merch to gift to their team and their best customers.  Our challenge is, there are so many categories of products that fit the bill!  It’s a great problem to have!  We work with amazing suppliers with great products…and that’s great!  So we are going to feature different cool year-end gifts each time.  This week we feature one of the most functional categories in the industry…cooler bags.

Quarry 6 Can Lunch Cooler

The Quarry 6 Can Lunch Cooler features a zippered front pocket to store your favorite snacks and beverages securely when you’re on the go. The interior has a foil lining and fits up to six canned beverages. This stylish lunch cooler measures 7″ H x 8.5″ W x 5.75″ D, making it compact enough to carry and store with ease.  Learn more here.

Arctic Zone® Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Cooler

Arctic Zone® Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Cooler

The Arctic Zone® Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Cooler features Deep Freeze™ high-performance insulation with a radiant heat barrier and a triple layer ColdBlock™ base to create superior cooling. There is a “flip-open”, patented Zipperless™ lid that provides quick access to food and drinks and an insulated front pocket. The Rhino-Tech® exterior is tough, water resistant and wipes clean easily. The interior features a durable HardBody® liner and can fit up to nine cans. Designed for convenience and usability, this cooler also features an adjustable Backsaver® padded shoulder strap that centers load weight to reduce muscle stress.  Get more information here.

Urban Peak® CB161 / SL234PR Gift Set

Urban Peak® CB161 / SL234PR Gift Set

This is a great time of year for a Gift Set! The Urban Peak Gift Set features the 20 oz Urban Peak® Trail Vacuum Tumbler (SL234PR) packaged inside the Urban Peak® Waterproof 12 Can Hinge Cooler (CB161).  The cooler bag is constructed of rugged waterproof 55C PVC Mesh Tarpaulin and the drinkware is constructed of Stainless Steel, double wall copper-lined vacuum insulation with a powder-coat finish.  This is a really nice gift for employees or top customers!  Get more information here.

It’s hard to believe we are in Appreciation Season, but October is almost here.  Please check out the shop.  We have even more to select from there!  But if you need additional ideas, we would love to help!

And of course, if you want to make sure your marketing and appreciation “hit the TARGET,” you can get our TARGET marketing playbook here for free!