U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 — Bizarre Promotions Inc has been selected for the 2009 Best of Romulus Award in the Promotion Service category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org

When it comes to their Return of Investment (ROI) the study shows that 48% of those that participated in the study indicated that promotional products will deliver a positive ROI and plan to spend more this year than they had in years past.

Larry Basinait, executive director of research services at the Advertising Specialty Institute said “First, buyers clearly see the value of promotional products. Second, distributors who train their salespeople to be creative partners to their clients are in hot demand right now. Most buyers are looking for smart ideas, rather than simply the lowest-priced items.”

The study concludes that educated buyers will increase their sales if they know how to use promotional products as an advertising vehicle verses just a freebie to give a way at a tradeshow.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

The Sweda Line has a great special going on the Color Accent Cotton Shopper Tote Bag
Item # TB7001

Natural 160 GSM cotton sheeting bag accented with contrasting bold color cotton web handles, Great for the grocery store and all kinds of shopping! Compact, lightweight and ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY!

Colors: natural cotton sheeting with orange, blue, lime green, red and brown handles

* Special Ends November 6, 2009
* Price includes one color/one position imprint
* Screen charge: $50.00 per color/position/style
* Embroidery: add $2.50 includes up to 5,000 stitches and 9 thread colors
* Tape Charge: $90.00
* Size: 15-1/2”h x 14-1/4”w x 2”
* Imprint Area:  5”h x 5”w
* Production time: 7 - 10 working days after paper proof approval
* Shipping and Sales Tax Additional
* Pricing based on high res “vector” artwork 

To Order Now – Use Promo Code: BLOG103009

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

Keeping your current clients is crucial to surviving the economic storm we have been hit with.  Corporate Gifts are an excellent way of maintaining a good relationship with your customers.  Yes you need to provide quality products and outstanding service with sharp prices, but it’s not enough.  You need to show your customers that they are a vital necessity to your company’s survival and that you have taken the time to get them a gift and spend money on them as well.

Your company can easily stand the test of this bad economy if you successfully maintain good relationships with your client base.  Corporate Gifts with your company logo never fail to achieve this task.  There are over 750,000 items that can be imprinted with your company logo with an item for every budget.

Two for One

A Corporate Gift with your logo services two purposes, 1. You are showing your customers you care and appreciate their business. 2. Your logo or brand will get exposure over and over again.

Statics show that 68% of customers that leave and or never do business with a company again, left because they did not feel appreciated.  So DO NOT lose your customers this year because you didn’t give them a gift of appreciation.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.
Marketing and Advertising Solutions To Help Your Business Grow.

Regularly $1.99 each with a 500 piece minimum – for a week only you can get 100 for $0.79 each which includes a one color imprint plus shipping. (Sales tax for Michigan businesses is additional).

Estimated shipping on 100 units is $12.00 so for $91.00 you can have 100 great promotional products to help expose your business.  ($96.46 for Michigan businesses).

Valid From October 15 through October 23, 2009

Order Now Using This Discount Code:  SWEDAPROMO1009

HL15 Two in one highlighter / ballpoint pen combo with rubber grip.

2-in-1 highlighter / ballpoint pen combo with smooth white barrel, matching color accents and soft textured rubber grip. Black ink ballpoint and bright colored highlighter.

Color: Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow
Minimum Production Time: 7 day – for 24 hour rush add $50.00 Set-up

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

Direct Mail is still one of my favorite marketing methods, but you have to think outside the box so your mailing will stand out and get noticed.  If you want your marketing materials to be opened and read every time you simply need to jazz up your envelope.

Yes, it’s just that simple –

Most people that use direct mail as a marketing method use the cheapest envelope available, totally oblivious to this simple technique.  Most are not thinking about the packaging of their mailing, and are not really thinking “Marketing”.  They assume that when they mail something to a consumer or business owner, and they will open it immediately, but these days you will be lucky if it is ever opened.

Start rethinking your next mailing right now and put more focus on the design of your envelope.  Below are a few points that will get your direct mail marketing piece opened every single time.

Use Real “Stick-On” Stamps. When doing a bulk-rate mailing (200 or more pieces) be sure to use real “stick-on” stamps, they are available for first class and presorted standard (bulk rate) mailings.  Never let your mailing house use a printed on indicia or printed in red metered mail stamp.  This puts a red flag of suspicion up tagging your mailing as Junk Mail, and it may never get opened.

Use a Hand-Written Font.  No you do not have to hand write each and every envelope (but do consider doing this for smaller mailings – it is powerful).  Just have your mailing service use a font that looks like it was hand written.  If your mailing house is really talented they can angle the recipients address just a bit to make it look more authentic.

Use Blue Ink Instead of Black Ink. Using Blue Ink combined with a hand-written font has been proven to be more personal and will effectively result in getting your piece opened over another piece addressed in Black Ink.

Do NOT Put Your Business Name in The Return Address.  Use the same hand-written font and blue ink on your return address – but do not include your company name or logo.

Use An Odd Sided Envelope.  Using an odd sized envelope will grab the attention of the recipient.  Also consider a unique envelope or even something odd like a Zip Lock Baggie or even a tube.  I remember receiving a mailer in a Zip Lock Baggie and it defiantly stood out and grabbed my attention - it was the first thing I opened that day.

If you put some thought into the packaging of your direct mail piece your marketing materials will get opened every single time without question – just pay attention to the mail you receive every day for the next few weeks and you should be able to generate some great ideas for a powerful and effect direct mailer.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

For just $3.25 each you can leave one behind at all your clients and prospects offices, giving your company exposure each and everyday.

With the Flu season upon us Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer is one of the most popular promotional items this time of year.  There are many styles and sizes available.

Antibacterial 8 oz. counter top pump hand gel (item number ABL 850), dries quick and clean protecting your hands. FDA approved and hypoallergenic, no sticky mess.

To Order Click Here and use BLOGPROMO in the comments to get the special price.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

A few years back I started out using LinkedIn and then Facebook to help promote my business, along with some other social networking sites and business forums.  I am also a “tweeter” and find that all of these venues have helped my business grow and gain exposure that traditional marketing and advertising could never achieve.

I had been using a 90/10 mix, 90 percent business and 10 percent personal but find myself adding more and more personal information and personally related posts as my Social Networking usage continues to grow.  I was and still am a bit concerned about allowing my two worlds collide.

An old episode of Seinfeld makes light of “Colliding Worlds” showing how colliding worlds could be a negative thing for some.  It is very important to know that some of your personal activities could hinder or hurt your business.  A night on the town with the boys, slamming shots and caring on should not be posted on your Facebook profile, more than likely this and acts like this will have a negative effect on your business.

Remembering that everything you say and do, every picture, video and comment can be taken wrong by some or all of your business associates, clients and prospects.

Take a few minutes and enjoy this classic Seinfeld clip regarding “Colliding Worlds”:

You should also take caution with who you associate with on Facebook, Twitter and other such Social Networks.  Being friends with someone that is overly obnoxious could also have a negative effect on your business.  A Facebook friend that makes a post on your wall bashing the president or a religious group will very likely have a negative effect on you and your business, even if you agree with them don’t let these types of posts stay on your wall.

That said, mixing a bit of your personal life can open the doors to business relationships that may have never been developed otherwise.  A good example is when I put a picture of our new puppy (Maggie) on my Facebook profile, I was overwhelmed with comments on how cute she was and welcomed with open arms to an entirely new group because I now was a dog owner.

It is becoming clear that people want to know more about whom they are doing business with or considering doing business with.  Social Networking will give you an edge over the competition if you use this amazing medium wisely the possibilities are endless.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc
Marketing and Advertising through the power of promotional products.

Did You Know…that Pens have on average 7 different owners – so 500 pens equals 3,500 exposures to your logo or message.

Regularly priced at .90¢ each we are offering a special price 38% off or .55¢ each for a minimum order of 500 pens.

Colors: Solid Silver, Silver with Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Red or Black Grip.
Translucent: Blue, Green Teal, Orange, Pink, Red or Purple with matching grip.

Price includes a one color screen printed imprint.  Featuring a Swiss nib & German ink cartridge.  Blue ink is available in selected colors: Silver, Translucent Blue and Red.

Shipping and Sales Tax are additional and to be determined.  Set-Up Charge of $50 applies.  Production time is 48 hours, plus 3-4 days in transit.

To order now or view all our custom printed pens click here.

Be sure to just the following discount code when ordering: BPNASH091609

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

The last thing you want to do is nothing, you need to keep your name in the game and follow up effectively and frequently. Here are three ways you can keep your name and proposal from being lost in the shuffle.

Leave a “final” message.  You need to put some sort of closure to the process by leaving a voice mail that sounds something like: “Hey Joe, I haven’t heard from you regarding the XYZ project and realize that it is not going to happen in the timeframe we had discussed. We are still interested in producing this project for you, if and when you are ready to move forward.  I will be in touch again next month to follow up.”  You should also send the same message via email – sometimes you will get a prompt response from an email that was fueled by the earlier voice mail.

  This is even more critical if the project was awarded to another firm.  Call just to see how things are going and ask how the project turned out.  You may find that they selected the lowest bid and got just what they paid for – if this is the case, be sympathetic and concerned, never say anything like “I told you so” or “that wouldn’t of happened if you would have used my company”.   Then simply ask if any new projects are coming up or if you can help fix the current problematic project.

Stay in touch.  Don’t be a stalker, but you need to keep your name and your company’s name in front of your current clients and even more so in front of your prospects.  A well though out Marketing Plan that includes keeping in touch is essential to retaining customers and gaining new ones.  Using Promotional Products, Greeting Cards, Email Newsletters and Social Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are some of the best ways to keep your name in front of decision makers in turn keeping you and your proposals out of La La Land.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc.