by Kirby Hasseman
At Hasseman Marketing, we are believers in constantly learning! Sure, lots of people say that. But at HMC we try to back it up by reading, listening to podcasts and even attending the best industry events. These events can be extremely beneficial because of great opportunities to network, re-energize and even see the latest products. Recently, several of our team members attended an Ohio Promotional Products Association (OPPA) event called the Sales Safari. You can read more about the event here. And we did come away with some cool product ideas! Here are just a few of our favorite products that we saw at the Sales Safari in Kalahari! Music Link: You have probably heard us say it before, anything that brings value to your phone or your electronics, can provide amazing value for marketing! The Music Link product is a perfect example. This new product turns any “older” radio, or boom box, or device with a headphone jack into a bluetooth connected device! So if you have an older radio in your car, plug this in and you can now connect your phone! Click here to check it out! Switchback Headphones: We are consistent. This next piece is also connected to the phone. These are nice, noise cancelling headphones, and then they “switch” so they act as speakers as well. These are a great corporate gift and are sure to get attention this summer. Check them out here. Sherpa Vacuum Insulator: Let’s face it. With the word Yeti, vacuum drinkware is all the rage. If you want to make an impact with your clients, you need to know about it. But this new piece is cool. It works as a drink insulator or you can drink right from it. Very nice…and with a high perceived value. Check it out here. So there are just 3 cool new products you might want to consider. Need more ideas, let us know! You can shop online here….or you can email us for more information. As always, if you don’t want to miss any content or update or special, make sure to join our VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the latest Delivering Marketing Joy episode, and this time Kirby gives a call out for potential guests…and gives three tips on productivity! It’s a short and sweet episode that you won’t want to miss. So watch it here. 
As you can see from watching today’s episode, it’s a little different! First off, we are always on the look out for exciting guests for the show. We do Delivering Marketing Joy each and every week. So if you, or someone you know, might be a great guest, please let us know. Just email us here to let us know who to contact! But wait! There’s more! In addition to a call out for potential guests, Kirby touches on three things that help to create content or to get more done. Creativity: There is a common misconception about creativity. People believe that you have to be “creative on the spot.” It’s like when you meet a comedian and blurt out “say something funny!” This idea of spontaneous creativity takes away from the hours of work it takes to really create something. You have to create a lot of bad, in order to create the good. So just create. Squeezing the Most: The most impressive people tend to get the most out of every minute. If you have a gap in your schedule, you could check email or surf Facebook. We have all done that. But instead, try to milk 3 more calls out of that time. Get the most out of every minute and you will get a lot more done in your day. Consistency: If you want to create a brand, build a business or have success in sales, consistency is nearly always the key. It’s simple…but it’s not easy. Delivering Marketing Joy is no different. There are times when it’s a struggle to get a show out. That’s when you get creative to keep them coming. It shows respect to yourself and to your audience. The best of the best show up…every day.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page here. As always, you can shop online here. And if you are a Promo Pro, you can get our Sales Playbook here.
Finally, feel free to sign up for our VIP list if you want to get updates and special each week.
by Kirby Hasseman
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: “You have be willing to fail.” This is great advice, but I seem to hear it so much right now, that it’s kind of lost it’s meaning. What does it even mean? What does it look like to “be willing to fail?” As Seth Godin said to me once, “you have to be smart. If you are skydiving, failure is not an option.” If you want an example of an organization that is willing to try new things (and therefore willing to fail), look no further than the Ohio Promotional Products Association (OPPA). OPPA recently held a new event (The Sales Safari) that included 20 some suppliers and distributors in a different type of meeting format. In an industry used to trade show after trade show, OPPA decided to offer its members a format where each group got 20 minutes with each supplier. It was fast and furious…like speed dating for business. In addition, whereas most trade shows are free to attend, this event had a cost for both. The event was a commitment of time and money, and the hope (I am sure) was to gain partners that were willing to invest in their business. At Hasseman Marketing, we really enjoyed the event. Not only did it give us a great deal of information to take back to our clients and prospects. It gave us the opportunity to meet with business partners in a totally different setting. OPPA took a chance. They felt like this was a chance to offer something different. It may work (long term) and it might not. But their willingness to try new things created an experience worth having. OPPA was willing to fail…so they created a successful event.
If you want ideas for your next campaign, you can shop on line here. Or you can reach out to us and we can help create a campaign that is perfect for you. Just email here.
Finally, please make sure you never miss an update. Sign up for our VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Let’s talk BEER! As Ben Franklin once said “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” We agree!
And if you want to market your company or organization, you might want to consider this growing demographic. As you may already know, the Craft Beer industry is exploding in the United States, and more and more people fall into the category of “beer drinker.” So reaching this valuable demographic might be a smart business move for you!
So let’s take a look at some great promotional items that are sure to reach the beer drinkers heart.
Stainless Growler: If you are not familiar with the Growler, it is a 64 oz container to transport beer in. Craft Beer drinkers will buy them and take them to each Tap room they visit so they can take home some of the sweet nectar. This new stainless growler is single walled and beautiful. Check out this cool product here.
Standard Glass Growler: Don’t like the stainless look? No worries. We have the traditional growler as well. You can see that here. Contact us for a quote on these!
Bottle Shaped Opener: This is a great looking new product for the Craft Beer enthusiast…and possibly the Craft Beer establishment. Maybe the bottle opener idea does not sound new, but the shape and look of this product mimics the look of the bottle. And with a full color imprint, you can make the opener really mirror the brand. Cool stuff…check it out here.
Flight Kit: When we head to any craft beer establishment, we want to know if we can order “a flight” of beers. The idea is you get to try small samples of several different styles so you get a sense of what the establishment has to offer. The best beer drinkers (and home brewers) would love to do that at home! Check out this cool flight kit. What a great gift for any beer drinker on your list!
Craft Beer Calendar: Do you want to check out new beer all of the time? If you do, then this Craft Beer Calendar might be a great promotional piece. This is the perfect piece to put your logo on in order to “co-brand’ with craft beer. And as is the case with any calendar, you get exposure all year long! Check out this great price point too.
If you want more ideas about ideas for beer drinkers, you can shop on line here. Or you can reach out to us and we can help create a campaign that is perfect for you. Just email here.
Finally, please make sure you never miss an update. Sign up for our VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
As a business owner, entrepreneur, or even an employee, it is really easy to fall into the habit of designing solutions based on ease of use…for you. You look at a challenge in the business, and you naturally come up with an idea that solves the problem in the easiest way for the company. It’s understandable. You are the person that has to take care of it. It’s natural. It’s logical. But you are not the person who needs the problem solved. I found myself doing that yesterday. For those that don’t know, I am working to start a microbrewery in Coshocton, Ohio…Hasseman Brewing. When starting any new project, especially at the beginning, you are faced with decision after decision. Where will this furniture be? What will the decorations look like? What type of SWAG will we have? How will we price it? Oh, and just about a million other decisions. When faced with that mountain of decisions, it’s natural to find the easiest way to solve them. What is the path of least resistance? How can I solve this so it is not a problem for me anymore? In that moment, I would like to encourage you (and me) to pause. Especially at the beginning of a business, you are making some “forever decisions.” These are the decisions that don’t feel like a big deal at the time, but then become the things that people later say “we always have done it this way.” (This is same process that you choose the side of the bed you sleep on, only to stay there for the rest of your life!) As you are making customer-facing decisions, don’t ask yourself how you can solve the problem. As yourself a different set of questions: 1. What will the customer actually want?2. What will delight the customer?3. How will this make them feel?4. How can I make them smile? You get the idea. Take the time to make your business (and your customer experience) remarkable.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page here. As always, you can shop online here. And if you are a Promo Pro, you can get our Sales Playbook here.
Finally, feel free to sign up for our VIP list if you want to get updates and special each week.
by Kirby Hasseman
“I don’t know what I want to do next,” my daughter was saying in a recent conversation. She was talking to me about the big question that many people struggle with (until late in life). The question is related to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For many, it’s a tough question. And for those struggling with it, it can seem overwhelming, partially because it feels like “we” are the only ones that don’t know. Here’s one quick secret…most people are not sure. It’s okay. We put enormous pressure on kids today to know exactly what they want to be or do. It’s unrealistic. But I digress. With this as the backdrop, I told her that she needed to lighten up. I explained that her age (and probably at your age) there were really only three things she needed to be focusing on. Make a Little Cash: Yes, making some money needs to be a focus. It doesn’t, however, need to be her only focus. This is not a time (for her) to give up the last two to chase this one. As a matter of fact, the only reason this is on the list is for her to the next two. Create Memories: This is a great time to go out and make the most of each day. Do have fun. Do try new things. (It’s the reason I said yes immediately when I was asked about a helicopter ride). There is value in keeping our nose to the grindstone. But we all need to create a life worth remembering. Gain Experiences (and learning): I have saved the best for last. In today’s world, we have the opportunity to try, and do, and learn a ton of new things. At her age, gaining experience and learning is more important than money. So take that internship with a non-profit so you can take on new projects. The experience will bring money down the road. Oh…and done right, this will create memories too. After the conversation was over I realized that this was not only good advice for my daughter. These are three things I need to be doing each day too.
Want to learn more about Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page here. As always, you can shop online here. And if you are a Promo Pro, you can get our Sales Playbook here.
Finally, feel free to sign up for our VIP list if you want to get updates and special each week.
