by Kirby Hasseman
This has been true for years. There is an appreciation gap. It’s the gap between how much companies think they show appreciation…and how much employees and customers feel appreciated. It’s probably always been true. Studies show you that 69% of customers that leave you will do so because of perceived indifference. Nearly 70% of them leave because they don’t think you care!
And that was before a pandemic, quarantine, wildfires, racial injustice, murder hornets, and the Big Ten postponing football! So showing your customers and your employees that you really care about them is more important than ever before.
But let’s be honest, it can be harder now. With those challenges, many events have been cancelled. The places where we saw customers have been shut down. So while we need to say “thank you” more than ever, it’s harder than ever before to do it. That is why some companies are thinking outside of the box with appreciation.
Create A Party In A Box
Many companies are looking at the fact that traditional Holiday parties are going to be difficult this year. We want to show our team appreciation, not get them sick! On the other hand, the holidays is when many of us take the time to show appreciation to our employees and our customers. And since we just said, we need to show more appreciation this year, what can we do?
What about a virtual Party In A Box? The idea is simple. While we might not be able to physically get together, what if we did it virtually? We create a Zoom meeting (or pick your platform) and then ship each of your team a box with some amazing items so you can all celebrate together. Depending on your team (and your budget) you can create a branded package that might include an apparel item you want everyone to wear, a bottle of wine, a set of glasses, some sweet treats to eat, and even hand sanitizer! You could create a “party in a box” that really dazzles. And just think, you won’t have to rent a facility or cater a meal…so you can use that budget to build your team, your culture and your brand.
As a side, many of our suppliers are working hard on drop ship programs so you can do this more efficiently and cost effectively than ever before.
What do you think?
If you are interested in exploring an idea like this to show your team or customers that they are special, let us know. You can reach out to your Hasseman Marketing rep…or you can click here to reach out to us!
by Kirby Hasseman
I believe we are living in a “Give First Economy.” What I mean by this (and I talk about it more here) is that the best and most successful brands, salespeople, entrepreneurs, etc. provide value up front. They “give” before they go for the sale. This is great for people who want to “do business right,” because they are poised to do this anyway. They want to help. But there is one mistake that I see people make all of the time around this “give first” economy. They want to say “thank you,” but they mix it up.
Let me explain. I got a box in the mail the other day from one of our suppliers. They are a great company, and we do a decent amount of business with them. The box said it had a gift inside, so I was excited to break it open. Let’s face it, it’s always nice to get a “thank you gift.” However, when I opened the package, there was a sales flyer and samples. Don’t get me wrong. They were nice samples. They even had good information on the sales flyer. It was a quality sales piece…and it got me to open the box.
But it was NOT a thank you gift. It was a sales pitch.
I immediately felt duped. I was a disappointed. I went from being excited to being (mildly) annoyed.
It was not the most egregious mistake in the world. It’s not like I won’t forgive them. But I guarantee you it was not what they wanted me to feel (at least I hope not).
So just a quick word of advice for Succeeding in the Give First Economy; don’t mix up appreciation and sales. If you want to say “thank you,” then just do that. Show the appreciation. Be sincere. Give first. Don’t work in a sales pitch. You are smart enough to see through that…and so are your customers and prospects. It takes away from the original intent. It also decreases the likelihood that I open the next package.
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by Kirby Hasseman
Okay, I am guilty. I love beer. And if you read this blog on any regular basis, you know that I love to “Deliver Marketing Joy!” All of us at Hasseman Marketing love to provide amazing branded merchandise for our customers and friends. As we often say, that moment when you get that cool box of swag is a little bit like Christmas morning. So we thought…why can’t we combine the two? That is why we are partnering with Hasseman Brewing (yes, we know them really well) to offer our clients Private Label Craft Beer. What does this mean? It simply means that you can get bottles of high quality craft beer with your organization (or event) logo on it! We feel like this is a great, one of a kind gift idea. And of course, since we are in the Branded Merchandise business, you can combine the personalized beer with branded coolers, mugs and more! Check out the flyer below to get your wheels turning! 
If you are interested in more information, now is the perfect time! Please contact us here for more information. Oh…sorry for the pure sales blog post. We are just excited! Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for our VIP newsletter below.
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!
