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
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!
Sign up to become one of our VIPs. When you do you will get one email per week talking about the big ideas that can help you move your business forward. Sign up here.
by Kirby Hasseman
The New Year is an exciting time. It can mean new goals, new budgets, and a clean slate for you and your organization. When it comes to the branded merchandise world, it usually means it’s time to check out new products. And while this year there have been fewer new product rollouts (can you say supply chain?), there are still some new ideas to consider. So at Hasseman Marketing, we are here to help. Over the past couple of weeks, we have attended several trade shows (you can see a video about the big show here) in order to scope out just a few of the best and brightest. Here is a list of 5 Hot New Branded Merch ideas for 2022.
Sync Truly Wireless Earbuds and Bluetooth® Speaker Set
It’s a Bluetooth speaker! It’s your wireless earbuds! And it’s a carrying case…all in one! If you have a workforce or client base that loves tech, then this is a wonderful option for you. You and your team can clip this to your backpack and be ready to travel with tunes at all times. Click here to learn more.
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! Click here to learn more.
LAPGEAR Lap Desk with Device Ledge and Cushion Back
Most of us have set up amazing home offices and what do we do? We work from our couch! Whether you’re collating spreadsheets or indulging in a full-season binge of your favorite show, this Lap Desk is there for you. The 17″ x 13.2” work surface is made from durable, high-impact polystyrene and accommodates up to 15.6-inch laptops. Thanks to the reinforced carrying handle and compact size, you can take this desk with you wherever you go. This is the “tech” item that is not really tech. Click here to learn more!
Stress Pop Flyer
Want something decidedly less “tech” and more “touch?” We have you covered here. This stress pop flyer is fun for kids or seniors (think improving circulation) and everyone in between. This is a product that helps your brand to get back to fun. Click here to learn more.
McStreamy – microphone and light ring
Look good, sound good, upgrade your virtual meeting game with the McStreamy kit. The bright 10″ ring light will keep you well lit and the studio-quality mic will make sure your audience hears every word. This is the perfect gift for your virtual team or your content team. And with this item…you can order just one! Click here to learn more!
Those are just 5 of the Hot New Branded Merch ideas we saw over the past few weeks! Now let’s talk about how we can help you create marketing that is “hot” this year. Please reach out to your HMC rep and set up a time to chat about your needs. Don’t have a rep? No worries. Click here to book a time to chat!
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by Kirby Hasseman
When done right, branded merchandise can be an absolute game-changer for your business. Most of us have been on the receiving end of a quality piece of branded merchandise. It can be a powerful bonding experience between you and the brand you love. On the other hand, most of us have also been on the receiving end of a crappy promo experience. You know the one. It’s where someone in the organization clearly decided to throw their organization’s logo on the cheapest item they could find. They might have “checked the box” in having something to give away…but they missed the mark for the brand.
They created “Brandfill.” You don’t want to do that!
This sort of useless, cheap promotional product decreases the brand value in the customer’s eyes. And let’s face it, most of the time it makes it straight to the landfill. That’s why we call it “Brandfill.”
So how do we avoid adding to the noise? How can we make sure that the next branded merchandise purchase is on point? It’s all about being intentional. Let’s get started with 3 questions to ask before you buy branded merchandise.
Where Is Your Perfect Customer When They Realize They Need You?
One of the superpowers of branded merchandise is the fact that they are incredibly targeted. You can use a great promotional product to reach directly into a customer’s office, kitchen, car, or even on their wall. One of the ways that organizations “get promo wrong” is when they create merchandise and just spray it out to everyone. Everyone is not your customer. You want to create branded merchandise that is specific to your prospect or client. That is why we spend the entire first lesson of our 5 Day Marketing Course on defining who that perfect customer is. (You can sign up here for free).
Now that you know EXACTLY who that perfect customer is, it’s time to dig one step further. Ask the question, “Where is my perfect customer when they realize they need me?” Are they in the car? In their office? Once you know who you are trying to reach and where they are…you can really be more specific with a piece of branded merchandise that will actually hit the mark!
What Is The Item’s Perceived Value?
Now that you have your perfect customer in your mind’s eye, and you know where to reach them, you can start to select items. As you begin to narrow them down ask yourself, “What is this item’s perceived value?” In other words, what will my customer THINK I spent on this? In a perfect world, I like to find an item that has a high perceived value. In other words, the customer or prospect feels like you spent more than you actually spent. It increases the value in their mind. That is why I love doing Double Walled Vacuum Sealed Tumblers…and why I have said that you should never buy a branded Yeti.
The goal is to find an item that your customer perceives as a $20 item, but you only spent $15. This is not the only reason to buy a piece of branded merchandise, but it’s a good tool for narrowing your list down.
What Would My Perfect Customer Love?
Finally, if you want to create raving fans, this last question is simple but powerful. When selecting your next piece of branded merchandise, will your perfect customer love it? Will they be over the top excited to receive it? If it’s a piece of drinkware, will it become their favorite? If it’s a t-shirt, will it be the one they always take out of the laundry basket first? If not, why not?
I can hear the “yeah-buts” now. I get that you don’t always have an unlimited budget. That is why finding your perfect customer is so perfect. You are not trying to create an amazing piece of branded merchandise for everyone. You are creating something that your tribe will love.
And if you are not creating something that will elicit a response, it begs the question, “Why do it at all?”
Those are 3 questions to ask before buying branded merchandise. If you want help in making your next branded merchandise campaign a winner, let us know if we can help. And in case you missed it above, feel free to sign up for our FREE 5 Day Marketing Course. We would love to help you get your marketing back on track!
