It’s a tradition like no other. For over 15 years, Hasseman Marketing has hosted an “End User” trade show and has invited our customers. It’s evolved and grown over the years and we are quite proud of it. This year’s event will be Thursday, October 14th from 11 am to 3 pm at Coshocton County’s Lake Park! And since we missed hosting the event last year, we are ready to get back after it!
But why should you come? We want this event to be fun AND add a ton of value. Here are 6 reasons to attend The Hasseman Marketing Trade Show.
Incredible Product Access
We invite some of our top (and favorite) supplier reps to showcase their lines at the show. I like to say “There is no way I could fit all of this in my trunk.” You get to see and touch and feel the product and see what it’s really like. We all know that many products look the same online or in a catalog. But when you get them up close you can really see a difference. This is the perfect place to make sure your brand materials are on point.
Idea Generation
As you walk around and see the latest and greatest in Promo, you will come up with some great ideas for upcoming projects. The reality is, the show is at a great time of year for year-end gifts for your team or customers. But some of our best customers come every year and start to plan their marketing for the next year and beyond.
Great SWAG
Nobody leaves empty-handed! We put on a fun event where (with the help of our suppliers) we invest in putting some really cool SWAG in your hands. In addition, we build the event around a theme so you can see how we use a bunch of different items around a theme!
Additional Services
You may think you know all that we do at Hasseman Marketing, but we find that most people discover some new ways to promote their organization! Having all of the ideas in one place can be very illuminating! For example, did you know we do website development or in-house print services? We do. And you can find more about them at the event.
Tasty Food
You have to eat right? We have food and drinks as well. Each year we get compliments about the tasty treats and we know this year will be no different. The event this year is on Thursday, October 14th from 11 am to 3 pm at the Lake Park Pavilion (in Coshocton). Our goal is to create an event that provides value and fun…and you never want to miss.
Things Have Changed
I am not sure if you heard about it, but a lot has changed since we were able to do this event last! And while we are excited to get back together to get back to normal, there are some real business reasons you should attend. Your organization might have changed logos, brand messaging, go-to-market strategies, where people work, and so much more. Or, like some of our clients, you might just need to update your materials because it’s been 18 months since you’ve needed them!
The County Fair comes around each year, and people come out from all around in order to attend and get that “fair” experience. The animals, the food, the games, the rides, the agriculture, the projects, and even the crowds…it’s all a part of the experience.
For many people, the fair is their favorite time of year, and so your brand has the chance to make them feel special. One way you can stand out is by handing out fun, memorable promotional products they can use. Not only does it make people feel appreciated, but it also is a great marketing opportunity for a potential customer in the future.
It’s a win-win situation!
But County Fairs can really draw a crowd! You don’t want to break your marketing budget. So here are a few affordable, useful promotional products that would be perfect to market your brand at the County Fair!
Who doesn’t need a Fly Swatter? This is an inexpensive, taper-shaped 16-inch fly swatter with an easy, clear place to put your logo. In addition, while you are spending time at the County Fair, you will be reminded that, sometimes, pesky insects can be a bother. So your customers and prospects will line up to get theirs. Perfect giveaway choice! Check it out here.
This is not your average drinking cup, it includes the lid and straw, which also have color-changing capabilities. If you put in cold liquid, the cups change color! Super fun for kids of all ages! This 12 oz Mood Changing cup set has lots of different color options to choose from and are dishwasher safe to ensure the best product for you and your customer! Check it out here.
The Yardstick is light, handy, and a great way to get your name out there! A Yardstick can be the perfect gift at the County Fair. Why? They are functional with a large imprint area, and can be seen all of the fairgrounds! This is an item that will draw people to your booth…and they will keep it long after the fair is over. Check it out here.
If you have ever opened a bag of chips and not finished them, you might feel like a quitter! Just kidding! But when you make that healthy choice, you still want to keep the chips fresh for next time. The round bag clip is perfect to help you do just that. Oh…and with a magnet on the back, you will always know where to find it! Check it out here.
Koozie’s are such a fun giveaway for many reasons and so easy to take with you wherever you go! They collapse into as small as you need them, to fit in your pocket, purse, etc. And, there are so many color options to choose from! This is a great, low-cost item to promote your brand at the County Fair. Check it out here.
The original mood cup has been a winner for years. Why? Because it works. It’s fun and functional. This 17 oz color-changing cup comes in a large variety of colors to choose from, for the perfect marketing tool. We recommend getting them in an assorted color range so that each cup is a small surprise for your prospect or customer! Check it out here.
Any of these products would be a good choice to continue to promote your brand and market yourself effectively. And County Fair time would be the perfect time to do so, with so many new and old faces visiting your area, seeking a great experience, why not be a part of that? Enjoying the County Fair, supporting the community, and creating new business relationships…sounds like a perfect marketing situation to me!
For more affordable County Fair marketing ideas, let’s talk. We can help you create the perfect marketing plan for any event on your calendar. Oh…and never miss an update, sign up for our VIP newsletter here.
When I first entered the world of promotional products (or branded merchandise) I was so hungry to create business and opportunities that I would do nearly anything to make a sale. Oh, nothing illegal of course, but I was not choosy. I was not particular about the clients I took on or the vendors I worked with. I just needed to put food on the table, so “a sale was a sale.” In that season of my career, that was what I needed to do.
But as time went on, I learned and evolved.
I learned that one of my jobs was to curate products. That’s pretty straightforward. There are millions of options and our clients simply don’t have the time or the knowledge to sift through them all. If I could narrow the search to just a few appropriate selections, I would be serving my clients. I could help them create a cool branded campaign that fit in the budget and (hopefully) moved the needle for their desired results.
Then I realized I was also curating something else…my vendors.
After a great deal of time in the business, I realized that not all suppliers are created equal. This is not as simple as some suppliers are “good” while some are “bad.” That is a wild over-simplification. The reality is, we are all better at some things than others. Some of our suppliers have an amazing selection of low-priced branded merchandise. A few of our suppliers have totally creative art teams that can dazzle us with mock-ups. And a few vendors can turn our branded products really fast, but they are not the cheapest. Each of the suppliers has its strengths and weaknesses.
That leads me to an important lesson.
When it comes to branded merchandise, you can have it:
Cheap
Correct
Fast
You get to pick two out of three.
While this lesson almost certainly applies to many industries, I can say for certain that it does to branded merchandise. As a distributor in this industry, it’s our job to do our best to guide you to the product AND supplier that can most effectively meet your need. As much as we want the industry to be amazon, it’s not. So if you want a branded campaign to be done in a week, there are options. They just probably won’t be the least expensive (or they won’t be done right).
As a side note, as I write this the challenge is doubly difficult. It seems nearly every industry is being affected by challenges in the supply chain (can’t get the product) or the labor force (can’t get people to work). It’s a reality we are all facing.
So my advice to you…plan ahead.
While that has always been the case, it’s really true right now. Stock is here today…and gone tomorrow. So please give yourself lots of time to make sure the item you want for your next campaign can make it on time. And if it’s not, it gives time to find a replacement.
There are plenty of reasons you might want to do business with Hasseman Marketing. We have that bubbly personality, our engaging smile, the ability to tell dad jokes, and more. But our goal is certainly to provide more reasons than just being fun at a party! We want to make sure we stay up on all of the latest trends that will affect our business…and yours. That is why we come to you today to discuss some of the trends we see in promotional products and marketing now.
The Costs Will Be Rising
We hate to be the bearer of bad news…but here we are! Challenges with shipping items into the country are no secret. For the past few months, getting large ships into port has been a challenge. We can blame any number of factors…but more and more shipments have been affected. Combine that with the ship that was stuck in the Suez canal that backed up shipping for days and cost billions, and you have a recipe for increased costs. It’s not just in the promotional industry to be sure. But it will be coming, as soon as later this year. This is not a doomsday prediction. Everything will be fine. But just be prepared. As a matter of fact, if you are planning for events later in the year, you might get ahead of the game by getting orders moving sooner rather than later.
Work From Home Is Still A Thing
While some companies are calling people back to the office, a large number of organizations may have changed the way they work forever. While I personally wonder what this means for company culture moving forward, many point to increased flexibility and productivity. And let’s face it, for many organizations it means a decrease in rent! What does that mean for you? It means you still need to consider delivery in your promotional products campaigns. Some suppliers have really become amazing at creating drop-ship programs that can reach your team or customers right where they are. Make sure you factor that in your cost and your timeline when you create your next campaign.
Doing Brand Good Is Important
We have talked about this for over a year now. Brands want to not only tell their story. They want to leave some bread crumbs of “brand good” behind. This means creating promotions with a purpose. You can do that in a ton of ways. One of them is to support suppliers or products that have a giveback component to each item. There are more than you might think. One example is the Basecamp line of products from Sweda. Every purchase from this amazing brand donates money to the Wounded Warrior product. They donated $100,000 in 2021! You can learn more here. There has never been a better time to use your brand to do good.
Online Learning Is Here To Stay
While no one is more excited to get back to in-person events than me, online learning is here to stay. The technology has been here for years, but now we have come to accept that we can level up our game from home…then use it right away. This has created the chance to learn at a much more affordable cost. That’s great news. That is why we have helped to create Better Business University. Our goal is to create a low-cost learning option for those that want to level up…and help their team do the same. You can learn more about this project here...and help us shape it as well.
These are just a few trends that we see in promotional products and marketing. As I said, we love that you do business with us because of our sparkling personality, but I hope this adds some value to the relationship as well! If you want to chat more about any of these, please reach out to your rep or click here to schedule a time to chat!
When I first got into the promotional industry, I had a sales trainer (who also happened to be my dad) ask me a simple question. “What is the worst thing that can happen to a promotional product?” Being the young smartass I was (as opposed to the older one I am now), I grabbed the calendar he was holding out, looked at it, and then threw it in the trash can in the corner.
Smiling. He looked up at me and said “Exactly!”
He went onto explain that I noticed the promotional item. I looked at it. Then I discarded it. “That is the worst thing that can happen to a calendar (or any piece of branded merchandise). But that is the best thing that can happen with most other advertising!” This might sound like a simple story, but it has powerful implications for your marketing. When you are deciding how to market, you should consider the results you get with promo and other advertising.
I tell you that story to tell you this one. Sometimes there are problems when ordering branded merchandise. I have actually talked about that before here. So let me tell you about the time a Beach Towel order went sideways…and what happened.
It started like any other order.
I met with one of my favorite clients. Lisa Reed, Executive Director at RHDD, and I have a great relationship. I work hard to understand her business. She talks about that here. In addition, she asks me to push her on deadlines. She has so many details in her brain running RHDD (an amazing organization that serves people with Developmental Disabilities) that sometimes she needs me to help keep her on task on promotional projects.
I tell you this because of what happened next.
Lisa and I had discussed getting beach towels to recognize her team. She wanted to do something other than just her logo. She wanted a message recognizing how much she appreciated her team. We had bounced around a few ideas and landed on a message that said “My boss kinda thinks I am a big deal!” We had our theme and worked on a design to make it fun on the towel. In addition, we had discussed our deadline. Lisa had an event where she wanted to hand the towels out…and it was coming up quickly.
I sent over the proof for approval and did not hear back. As I mentioned, Lisa is super busy, so I sent another reminder. Still nothing in response. After I sent the proof over a third time with no response, I was starting to get nervous. The deadline was coming up fast. I got a message from the supplier that if we did not the proof approved today, they would not have their towels on time.
So I made the decision to approve the towels.
The supplier worked their miracles and the towels arrived on time for the event. There was one really significant problem. Lisa and her team had decided they were not going to do the beach towels. They had not approved the proof because they did not want to move forward. It’s not that they did not want to recognize their employees, they were not just not sure about the design. Lisa called me to tell me the “good news/bad news” situation. The good news is that the towels arrived on time. The bad news is, they had decided they did not want them.
Lisa was gracious and kind. It was my mistake. While I was trying to do the right thing to take care of my client (and keep them on deadline) I had most certainly over-stepped. But after seeing the towels, she decided to give them to her team anyway. At the designated event, Lisa and her leadership team gave the towels to her employees. The response at the event was great…but then something cool and unexpected started to happen.
One by one, when her employees went on vacation, they started to post pictures of themselves on the beach with their new towels! Without being asked, the team tagged RHDD on Facebook to show how much their boss “thinks they are a big deal!” For an organization that is proud of their employees, this was magic.
As a matter of fact, I would say “it’s kind of a big deal!”
While the situation was not ideal (I will never do that again), the outcome was really great. It does go to show you that, when you recognize your employees using beach towels (or other branded merchandise), good things happen. Even when the delivery does not go as planned, the outcome really can be powerful.
Special thanks to Lisa Reed for her leadership and understanding on this project! If you are looking for a great place to work that really does value their team, you can learn more about RHDD here.
And if you want to discuss an appreciation project for your team, let’s talk!
I was on a call with a bunch of amazing content creators the other day and the topic of “re-posting content” bubbled to the surface. The people on this call are talented. They create great content that is created for the audience. They “give first.” That is to say, they create content that provides value. Even this group struggles with this simple question.
Is It Okay To Post Content More Than Once?
Let’s start with the assumption that the content is evergreen. In other words, it’s a blog post, podcast, or video that is just as timely today as it was when it was created. We also can assume that it was well-done.
If the answer to both of those questions is “yes,” then the answer is very simple. Yes.
To me, this is a funny discussion. And the reason most people struggle with it is a combination of hubris and insecurity. It’s a funny mix, I know. The hubris comes from the idea that everyone has already seen the content. Intellectually, we know this is not true. Even the best blog post is not read by even a tiny percent of the population! That is why I mentioned the group of content creators. This group understands the metrics better than most. Most of the time, we are frustrated because only our “25 readers” are seeing our blog post. But somehow we can’t repost it because “everyone has already read it.”
That is silly. If you believe the post has value to your audience…share it again.
But that leads to the second reason, our insecurity. We don’t want to re-post because we are fearful we will get called out. Or even worse, we think people will notice and think we are being insincere. These fake opinions of imaginary people hold many people back in life. Don’t let them hold you back from sharing (or re-sharing) your content in the world.
We watch movies and television shows again all of the time.
The same commercial airs on a loop, and no one thinks the advertiser is not being creative.
Facebook has even created “memories” to share because we like revisiting things from the past.
So set yourself free from the chains of insecurity. If you have a great piece of content, share it with the world…again and again.
