by Kirby Hasseman
One of the best pieces of advice I got when I first got in the promotional industry is simple. “The cost of a promotional item is not determined at the point of purchase. It is determined at the point of usage.” To translate into simple terms, it means “you get what you pay for.”
The cost of any item matters. Regardless of what you are going to purchase, whether it’s a car, a refrigerator, or a branded t-shirt, you have a budget. It’s important to stay smart about your money. And this blog is not about trying you to spend more. I cannot tell you how many times I have told a client, “You can do that. But if it was my money I would not!”
That being said, I would like to make the case that there are times when spending a little more makes a huge difference for your brand. It’s the difference between the item being in your client’s kitchen or the landfill. It might determine whether your logo is in the closet or at Goodwill.
ButterSoft T-shirts
One of the places I think it makes the most sense to upgrade is on t-shirts. Yes, we can all still get you the “promotional t-shirt.” These are the cheap, scratchy, ill-fitting shirts that our industry was known for for years. And there is (probably) still a place for them. But would YOU wear them? The answer is simple…not if you don’t have to! So why would your clients? If you want your clients to want to rep your brand, give them a shirt they get excited about. Yes, it costs more. Yes, it’s worth it. When we did our first “soft” shirt, we never looked back. Now people tell us that our shirts are their favorite shirts to wear. THAT is what you want your customers to say to you.
Premium Beach Towels
Studies tell you that the average lifespan of a beach towel is 7 years. At my house, I think that is low. A nice beach towel is not a cheap branded item…but it’s worth it. Not only do your customers, employees, and prospects keep them for years, but they tend to use them on a fun occasions. That means your brand is being tied (with a quality feel) to some good times in the person’s life. That, my friends, is a good place for your brand to be.
Vacuum Sealed Tumblers
If you want to reach just about everyone with a branded item, drinkware is a great space to live in. You don’t have to worry about gender, sizes, or many other factors. Everyone drinks something. But don’t go cheap…not if you want someone to use your drinkware! This does NOT mean you need to buy a branded Yeti product. You shouldn’t and here’s why. But there are some great Vacuum Sealed Tumblers in the promo world that are amazing. These are the branded drinkware items you targets will use over and over again.
Custom Calendars
Calendars continue to be a very cost-effective way to reach customers every day of the year. But the trend is that stock calendars slip. But if you want to buck that trend and get in front of clients all year around, think custom. When you create a cool custom calendar, you get your “who, what where” message on the wall of the client…and it goes even deeper. Essentially you hand your brochure on walls all over. Yes, custom is a bit more expensive…but in most cases it’s very worth it.
Personalization
If you want to make sure someone keeps one of your branded premium promotional items, put their name on it. It’s as simple as that. There is nothing we humans like to hear or see as much as our own name. It’s music to our ears. When you have the chance, add personalization to your branded merchandise and you will expand your impact. Yep…it costs more. And yes, it’s worth it.
Here’s the thing, there is still a space for less expensive promotional items. We get it. But if you want to have more impact for your brand (you do right?), and create less crap in a landfill, think about doing better SWAG.
It’s true in every area of life. You get what you pay for.
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by Kirby Hasseman
One of the most talked about topics in the last few months in the promotional products world has been Tariffs. It’s been talked about because it can and WILL affect your marketing.
Our goal at Hasseman Marketing is to keep you up to date with what you need to know…so let’s dig into what this means for you and your marketing budget moving forward.
Previously, I wrote a blog post about how tariffs will affect your marketing. You can find that post Here.
Just as a reminder, at my most recent visit to the PPAI Expo in January, tariffs were the talk of the show. When it comes to branded merchandise, a huge percentage of the items that are sold in the industry are imported from China. I mentioned in the previous blog post that the “pricing could change.”
And that price IS changing.
David Nicholson from PCNA (one of the largest suppliers in the Promo industry) released a statement on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Currently, this is what we know.
- Tariffs on the existing $200 Billion of Chinese imports will increase from 10% to 25% effective June 1st (for shipments made prior to May 10th).
- The 25% tariff impacts the product categories originally included in the 10% tariff regulations that were enacted last September. The major categories relevant to our industry are: Bags and Stationery products, and portions of Drinkware, Technology and other Accessory categories.
- The US Trade Representative announced Monday that the US has begun the formal process to expand the 25% tariff to all other imports from China (i.e. those currently not subject to tariffs).
- This represents an additional $300+ billion of imports from China and would cover a large majority of product categories sold in our industry. The public hearing and comment period end June 24th – so the expanded range of tariff categories would not be imposed until after that date.
As I said, we at Hasseman Marketing want to be a great source of information for you and your team. Whether it be a great idea for posting on social media, tips on video or the trends and news of the day, we want to be a resource.
So what does this mean to you?
It means, quite likely, the price of promotional merchandise that you purchase will be rising. Now is a good time to start thinking about the items you are using to promote your brand. Here are a couple of questions to consider.
- Are you completely happy with the items you have been using? If the answer is yes, then the price increase might be acceptable.
- Can we look at new options that could better fit into the budget moving forward?
- Are there domestically made products that might fit our needs? We are going to be creating a list of some cool products that are made in the U.S. for you and your organization to consider. Be on the look out soon!
If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can discuss it! Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up to become a VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
One of my goals with this blog is to provide value to those that read it…and make sure we, as a company, help to keep you informed. Whether we show the latest promotional merchandise, or keep you up to date on trends, we want to help you in your marketing and branded merchandise efforts.
That’s why I want to talk about Tariff’s today. Wait! Don’t click away or fall asleep! I will keep it brief!
As I mentioned in this recent blog, at the PPAI Expo (the largest promotional trade show in our industry) Tariffs were the talk of the show. Everyone is talking about them, worrying about them, and asking questions about them. Why? Because when it comes to branded merchandise, a huge percentage of the items that are sold in the industry are imported from China. This is such a concern that there are suppliers in our industry that have printed their entire catalog without putting in pricing! Why? Even those that have included pricing have included less information or large disclaimers saying that “pricing could change.”
So what does that mean to you?
It means, quite simply, if you use branded merchandise, your budget very likely could be affected. This is not a threat or a political statement. It’s just a fact. If the tariffs continue, the price of your promotional material will go up.
So what can you do?
There are a couple of things I am recommending.
1. Begin to adjust expectations. As you move into 2019, just understand that the pricing for promotional items are in flux. If there are items that you order regularly, you might want to stock up a bit or check in on pricing.
2. Consider domestic options. Though I do not expect to see American manufacturers of promotional items start popping up everywhere, I do expect an uptick for those that already are here. When you are creating a marketing plan, make sure to include something made in North America. This is not the end of the world and the sky is not falling. I just wanted to spend a few moments to put this trend on your radar.
If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can discuss it! Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up to become a VIP here.
by Kirby Hasseman
We have a fun business. That’s why we say we “Deliver Marketing Joy.” When you receive something from us (if we get it right) you get a little piece of Christmas morning. We hear stories of teams gathering around a box to see the latest goodies that have arrived. That is so cool. We do fun stuff. As I have heard PPAI’s Paul Bellantone say, “It’s the only kind of marketing that your clients actually thank you for!” One of our challenges, however, is the diverse range of products and services we do offer. Being in this business, it’s easy to get pigeon-holed. We can become the “t-shirt guy” or the “pen gal,” or “weird guy who sells calendars.” Titles can be tough. 🙂 With approximately a million products to showcase, it’s hard to let our clients know ALL the things we offer. So how about a test? Did you know? Here are a few product categories where we shine. Custom Awards: A great way to make employees and team members feel appreciated is with a custom award program. Yes…we do that. We even helped one of our clients create a really cool award program for their top customers. Read more here. Regardless of who you want to recognize, a cool custom award could be the perfect way to leave an impression. Print: From flyers to calendars to business cards, we work to be a one-stop marketing solution. And with a full time graphic designer, we can help you look good! I mean, we know you look good, but we can help translate that to paper! Signage: One of the reasons I love our Trade show is that it gives people a chance to see this up close. We have a full selection of trade show displays, banners and so much more. Oh…and that design capability is super important here too. Food Gifts: This is a great time of year to talk about this! During the holiday season, food gifts are a great item for offices. Not only is it personal, but it’s shareable. And though you might normally think of the local grocery store (they are great) or a big box store (not so great at this), we can be a great option for personalized food gifts during the holidays. And those are just a few things you might not have known we offered. It’s not your fault! It’s hard to keep track. Make sure you never miss an update, or a product category! Sign up for our VIP newsletter. How does it work? We gather all of the content we create and send one email per week to catch you up! Sign up below.
by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time to bridge the Appreciation Gap. It’s time to tell our best customers, employees, board members (and others) how much we appreciate their time, effort and money that they give us! In short, it’s time to say “thank you.” This is the time of year to find those ideas…and we are here to help! That’s why we wrote this blog about 7 Spectacular gift ideas for the year end. These are sweet. On the other hand, not everyone has the same budget! So we want to give you options! With that in mind, here are some really cool branded merchandise items that are under $25! UL Persona Power Bank: Though you might be thinking that not everyone on your list is perfect for a tech gift, nearly everyone has a phone! And if you have a phone, you know the frustration of having it get low on battery. Here is how you swoop in to help! This cool looking power bank will charge their phone quickly and efficiently…and look cool in the process! iRock Elite Bluetooth Speaker: You can help your team keep the holidays festive with this bluetooth speaker! It’s small and cool looking with a good sound. In addition, it has a built in microphone so you can even take calls while using it. It’s perfect for that “business in the front, party in the back” kind of day! Pivot Stand Worklight: For the people on your list that love to “get work done,” this one is super functional. With a design that allows the light to be set up a different angles, this throws out a lot of light so you see it tight spaces. Urban Peak Quest 12 Can Cooler: If you want to give the people on your list something super functional AND fun, then this might be for you. The thicker inside liner is designed for longer lasting lift and more wear and tear (think better quality). Do you know anyone on your list that might need a cold beverage during the holidays? We do too. So that’s just a quick list of cool items under $25! Want more ideas? You can email your Hasseman Marketing rep! Don’t have one? No problem. Click here to find more “marketing joy.” Or click here and we can get you hooked up with someone right away. Finally, make sure you never miss an update. Sign up for our VIP newsletter right below!
